“How many supplemental essays do colleges require?”
“What do I do when my kid has no college essay ideas?”
“How do I help my teen start writing their college essays?”
Most parents don’t see it coming:
Applying to college today involves writing 35 or more essays, as each college requires students to answer 3-5 school-specific prompts. These supplemental essays matter just as much as the personal statement. Sometimes more.
Why? These prompts are designed to reveal the values and character admissions officers are looking for to decide whether a student belongs on their campus.
But here’s the good news:
The right prompt can often be the unlock for a teen who feels like they have nothing to say.
That’s what happened with Owen.
When your teen has no essay ideas
Owen barely looked at me on Zoom.
He didn’t say much. He didn’t ask questions. He certainly didn’t seem excited about college.
Figuring out his essay strategy felt like trying to start a car with no gas.
As it turned out, Owen had just come from a 4-hour swim team practice. He was exhausted. We scheduled our next meeting for a different time and he was a bit more alert, but still not giving me much to work with.
I decided to change tack.
I put a pin in the personal essay, and took a look at Owen’s supplemental essay prompts. That’s when something shifted.
His eyes lit up. He sat up straighter.
We were talking through a prompt about academic curiosity, and Owen launched into a story about debating politics with his friends.
They’d been throwing around terms like authoritarianism and fascism, and Owen felt his understanding was surface-level. So he decided to read dense, high-level political philosophy in his spare time. That’s how important it was for him to hold his own in the conversation without bluffing or parroting the news.
Now I had an idea of who we were trying to capture in Owen’s application.
This story showed real intellectual curiosity and integrity. When Owen spoke, he wanted to be sure he knew what he was talking about. No wonder he was on the quiet side.
Parents don’t always get to see these parts of their kids.
No matter how close the relationship, teens usually need some distance to explore who they are. Working on college essays is the perfect opportunity — including the supplemental prompts.
They’re often the thing that gets a reluctant student to open up, just like Owen did. A specific question gives them a way in and suddenly, there’s authentic passion, insight, and character on the page.
That’s exactly what these prompts are designed to surface.
Again, admissions officers read them closely, alongside the personal statement, to gain a 3D picture of who a student truly is.
That’s why they matter. And why they deserve a plan.
How to approach essays strategically
1. Consider the holistic story your essays tell.
Each prompt is a chance to show a new side of your teen—not repeat what’s already in their personal statement. That’s why it can be helpful to map out all the supplemental questions before choosing a main essay topic.
For example, if your teen wants to write about their cultural background, but half the schools on their list ask a diversity question, it may be smarter to save that material for those prompts.
2. Start early — don’t wait for the pressure to kick them into gear.
Many parents figure that once deadlines are looming, their teen will knock out those essays in one go. But that’s exactly what leads to overlapped content, boilerplate answers, and Frankenstein Applications.
Instead, get organized now. Review the full list of prompts and keep track of what you’re talking about, where. This way, your teen can pace the work and be deliberate in how they’re presenting themselves.
3. Avoid the trap of surface-level responses.
Generic, resume-rehashing essays are one of the biggest missed opportunities. Encourage your teen to go deeper. Consider why schools are asking each question:
Admissions officers want to see how your student thinks and what they really care about, not just what they’ve accomplished.
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This last piece—avoiding surface-level responses—is exactly where most teens need expert guidance.
Even the strongest writers (and their parents) struggle to know what will resonate with admissions officers. Tutors and professional writers in the family may correct grammar and flow, but are unlikely to help your kid dig deeper.
A skilled coach knows how to listen for what matters.
They know how to get teenagers to open up and craft essays that reflect their voice, character, and fit with each school.
We’ve seen it hundreds of times: even the most procrastination-prone, overwhelmed teens feel ready and willing to get started after just one 15-minute call with the right coach.
So i f your teen hasn’t started writing yet—or they’re still stuck on what to say—now is the perfect time to start the conversation.
Book a free consultation with us to get expert feedback on your teen’s college list, resume, working style, and what it would take to achieve their goals.
Walk away with clarity on your next steps, no strings attached.
