Mount Holyoke is a private liberal arts college located in South Hadley, MA. Mount Holyoke is a women’s college—the oldest of the famed Seven Sisters—but it also describes itself as being “…a women’s college that is gender diverse.” The school is also part of the Five College Consortium, meaning students can take classes at four other nearby universities. The student population is just over 2,000 and the student-faculty ratio is 9:1. The acceptance rate is 38%.
One Note: The first thing to note is that Mount Holyoke says its supplement is optional. A hard and fast rule for us at TKG…nothing is optional!
The Prompt
Submission of the Writing Supplement is OPTIONAL: Please respond to one of the three prompts below. Your essay should be between 250-400 words. Also include the number of the prompt you answer.
Tell us why you are interested in attending Mount Holyoke College.
If you had a superpower, what would it be and how would you use it?
How has social media influenced your life?
Where to Begin
Before you do anything, keep in mind what the purpose of this exercise is. The essay is, first and foremost, an opportunity for you to show your choice university something about your personality that’s not present elsewhere in your application, like your resume. Start thinking about which of these prompts gives you the best opening to do so. Secondly, in this essay, you need to show Mount Holyoke that the two of you are a perfect fit. Almost every university supplement’s essay can be read as “Why x school.” This one is no exception. But instead of just answering the question as “I want to attend this school because…” you need to also answer the question “why should they pick you to attend?”
Do Your Research
Now, spend some time taking a deep-dive into Mount Holyoke. Learn all there is to know about the culture and the offerings, particularly in your academic area of interest. Generally speaking, the school is very clear about its vibe and its commitment. One section says:
“Mount Holyoke exists to open minds. It’s where you explore new ideas, let your imagination run wild, debate vigorously and have the freedom to examine any topic or issue—no matter how controversial or polarizing “
Yet another section says the school’s mission is “…grounded in the conviction that women can—and should—make a difference in the world.”
Keep all of these things in mind when writing your essay and establishing a connection between you and the university.
Choosing Your Prompt: #1
Prompt #1 is probably the best one for about 80 percent of respondents. It allows the writer to clearly make the connection between themselves and the school. If you choose this prompt, identify your academic niche, that is, the specific academic area you’ve pursued throughout high school. Hopefully, your class choices, your extra-curriculars, and even the SAT IIs and APs you took will reflect a specific area of expertise. Even if you don’t intend to pursue that area of interest any longer in college, for the purposes of this essay, say that you do. The first paragraph of this essay should be about how you became interested in that academic niche. Tell a lighthearted story that is only a few sentences long. Details are important. Next talk about the classes, professors, and clubs that are an extension of your area of expertise that you intend to pursue at Mount Holyoke. Get specific. Show that you’ve done your research. Next, talk about why this is an extension of what you’ve been doing—perhaps you did a report in school that was particularly standout. Don’t regurgitate info that’s already on your resume or transcript.
Choosing Your Prompt: #2
This will likely result in the most memorable essays for those who choose it…that is, if they’re unique and well-executed. If you’re worried about accidentally making your answer cringe-worthy, don’t’ pick this one. You want to be creative and stand out, and we’ve found there is a lot of room for error in this prompt. Refer to the details of Mount Holyoke’s mission and culture for this prompt. Note the qualities in students they value. Choose your superpower accordingly.
Choosing Your Prompt: #3
This prompt has the most opportunity for pitfalls. So, we wouldn’t recommend picking it unless you’re Charli D’Amelio. Pus, prompt #2 lends itself to the most creative responses. If you’re confident you can do it well, go that route. Being memorable is key.
Need help crafting a unique essay? Reach out to us here. We’re great at helping students show their personalities in writing.