Sometimes you just don’t want to have to mess around with supplements. We get it. If you’re applying to a specialized arts program, an honors program, or for certain scholarships, you probably won’t have a choice since supplements or portfolios are nearly universally mandatory. But if you’re applying for general admission it is quite possible to craft a college list completely devoid of supplements. Not just without optional supplements, because those aren’t really optional, but free of any supplemental essays at all.

Before you jump at avoiding supplements altogether, though, it’s worth reflecting on the purpose of supplements. Supplements are often used by top schools as an additional mechanism for weeding people out, so saying no to supplements can mean saying goodbye to some of the best schools in the country. They are also an additional way of showing a side of you that isn’t quantifiable, like a bonus college essay. If you don’t have super strong test scores or a stellar GPA, well-written supplements can be a way into a school that otherwise would have been a far reach.

However, if you’re looking to add a few more schools to your list but don’t have the bandwidth to take on more writing, schools without supplements can be a great way to beef out your options while staying lean on the work. This isn’t an exhaustive list of Common App schools without supplemental essays, but it’s a collection of the ones we think you should consider if you want to go supplement-free.

Select Universities With No Supplements

Washington University in St. Louis
Case Western Reserve University
The Ohio State University
University of Connecticut
Fordham University
Baylor University
Clark University
Stevens Institute of Technology
University of Delaware
Marquette University
University of Denver
University of Massachusetts Amherst
SUNY Binghamton University
SUNY Stony Brook University
University of Vermont
Drexel University
SUNY University at Buffalo
University of New Hampshire
University of Dayton
University of the Pacific
Clarkson University
University of St. Thomas
DePaul University
Seton Hall University
New Jersey Institute of Technology

Select Liberal Arts Schools With No Supplements

Middlebury College
Colby College
Grinnell College
Kenyon College
Skidmore College
Connecticut College
College of the Holy Cross
Gettysburg College
Sewanee: University of the South
DePauw University
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Furman University
Denison University
St. Lawrence University
Beloit College
Willamette University
Allegheny College
Illinois Wesleyan University
Muhlenberg College
Spelman College
New College of Florida
Luther College
Southwestern University
Ursinus College
Albion College
Hope College
Washington & Jefferson College
Juniata College
Hollins University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Drew University
Goucher College
Siena College
Coe College
Hanover College
Ripon College
Calvin College
Susquehanna University
Eckerd College

So there they are; some of the best colleges and universities that don’t have a supplement! Not having a supplement changes the application process because you don’t have a chance to make a case for yourself in a school-specific way (like with “why us?” prompts), but, as we said, they can be a great way to round out your college list, especially if you have strong grades and scores.

If you’re overwhelmed by the options, send us a note. We’d love to help you sort through them to create your perfect college list.