Emory is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia—well, part of it is in Atlanta Georgia. Emory has two academic pathways for freshmen: Emory College of Arts and Sciences and Oxford College. The College of Arts and Sciences is the main campus with 5,400 students in the heart of the ATL. Oxford is about 40 miles outside Atlanta and only has about 1,000 students. Junior year, the schools combine at the Atlanta campus. Emory is currently test-optional, and last year, its acceptance rate was 14.5%. Although Emory’s supplement is relatively short, we wanted to share our tips for it. Let’s break it down.
What academic areas are you interested in exploring at Emory University and why?* 200
The biggest trick of this essay is the word count. There is a lot to fit into 200 words; make sure you use all your words well. The first step to answer this question is research. You want to look into the majors that Emory offers and the opportunities in those majors. Once you have done that, your essay should follow this rough outline.
Introduce why you love your intended major.
You want to tell a short personal story about how you became interested in what you hope to study at Emory. Think of it like an academic origin story for your major. For example, if you hope to study Poli-Sci, maybe you volunteered for a campaign or read an exciting book on 1800s politics. Then, state what major you wish to pursue at Emory.
We know they say “areas,” but keep it simple. Focus on one intended major unless you have a very specific dual major or minor plan. Whatever you do, don’t be wishy-washy about your major. It should be obvious. We want to know precisely what you are passionate about studying and that you have a plan.
Back it up with facts about Emory.
This question asks not only “What do you want to study?” but also “Why do you want to study it at Emory?” You want to mention two higher-level classes and how they align with your interests, passions, and/or past academic experiences. You should also talk about a professor who you would love to assist in their research and why you find their research interesting. Once you have done this, you can speak to any specific academic opportunities that led you to apply. You want to show the overlap between what Emory specifically offers and your interests.
Wrap it up.
This essay is too short for a formal conclusion, but you want to leave the reader with the feeling that Emory is the right place for you academically and that they should want a student like you for their program.
The second essay lets you choose between several prompts; however, some are easier to tackle than others, especially because they have a very short word count.
Please answer one of the following questions:* 150
Which book, character, song, monologue, or other creative work (fiction or non-fiction) seems made for you? Why?
We like this question because it is creative, but there are some pitfalls. You want to choose something unique that allows you to say something interesting about yourself. This means you should avoid anything too obvious. If it feels too popular, your choice won’t feel unique. Avoid top-40 songs (sorry, Chappell and Taylor…. Not now) and books that feel like they would be on an English class’s reading list (you can do better than The Great Gatsby and To Kill A Mockingbird). We would also avoid anything from YA books and anything too controversial.
Out-of-the-box thinking is really what makes this essay sparkle, but you also have to have a great reason why you connect with this work. Tell us the story about why you love this creative work and bring us into your world.
Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness.
This question seems more complex than it is (really, the hardest part is that it needs to be really short). You want to tell a story about when you learned about another culture. This doesn’t have to be a huge story. It can be as simple as attending a friend’s little sister’s Bat Mitzvah, your town’s Greek festival, or a Step show. Honestly, these smaller stories will work better since the word count is so low.
The important part is also showcasing what you learned or took away. Make sure your story is intentional. You don’t want to be passive; you need to educate yourself and not let those around you do the work.
Emory University's core mission calls for service to humanity. Share how you might personally contribute to this mission.
This question isn’t for everyone. You need to be already doing the work to answer this one. If you aren’t deeply involved in service, skip this question. If your entire thing is community service, you can choose to tackle this one.
For this prompt, you should tell a story about your service work and why it is important to you. This essay is short, so you will have to keep it brief, but your passion for service work has to come through.
Emory University has a strong commitment to building community. Tell us about a community you have been part of where your participation helped to change or shape the community for the better.
This is a question that colleges love to ask. Sometimes, students hear the word “community” and get confused. A community is just any group of people that share a common interest or goal. You can write about any community that is important to you, from book clubs to neighborhoods to dance studios. Choose one that you feel especially connected to and active in, and then tell a story about a time when you stepped up to help.
Remember, this is a short essay. Keep your answer to one simple but meaningful story.
Emory’s supplement is short. They don’t give you a lot of words, so you need to make sure each word has an impact. The stories you choose to tell will be the make-or-break in your application. This makes planning and editing essential to crush this supplement. Give yourself time, and if you need help, we are here for you!
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