Colgate University is a small, private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York. Colgate is famous for its dedication to environmental consciousness, and went carbon neutral in 2019. Sustainability is a big mission for Colgate, and it is incorporated into every part of their campus, from the classroom to the dining hall. It is also known as a “Hidden Ivy” or “Little Ivy” and has a 22.6% acceptance rate. We recently did an analysis of how they’ve changed their admissions process here.
We’ll be honest, it was hard to track down these questions. At first glance, there is no supplemental writing on their Common Application. We thought, “that’s weird since we've written about their supplemental questions before,” so we dug a little deeper. Turns out, they changed the way they accept supplemental essays.
From their website: “To offer each applicant the opportunity to share additional information in their application, Colgate offers optional supplementary questions. Students can choose to respond to any or all of the essay prompts, which will be available in their Colgate applicant portal after their application has been received and processed by our office. Students who choose not to submit responses to supplemental questions will be at no disadvantage in the application review process.”
Awesome. First of all, there is no such thing as optional in the college application world. So, you have three essays to write! They range from great to horrible. Let’s get started.
A great institution is diverse. It brings students of different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and religions to campus. Colgate recognizes this and exposes students to a rich variety of perspectives and backgrounds in their educational and social experiences. Tell us in 150-200 words how you have prepared to immerse yourself in a community such as this or how you look forward to growing as a result of your experience at Colgate.
Diversity has been a big essay for colleges in the last few years. It’s important to remember that while identity can be a big part of this prompt, diversity of thought can work well here. You’ll want to tell a story that ends in you engaging with diversity at Colgate, so think of a time you were challenged on an opinion or opened your mind to something new. Maybe you got into it with Grandma at the dinner table about how she thought the election was rigged. Maybe you and a friend took each other to your respective religious services, or you were invited to a friend’s cultural event.
Please avoid telling stories about your mission trip to Guatemala or stories about traveling abroad on a family vacation. These often veer into not-well-deserved bragging about saviorism or poverty-watching. Stick to small moments that reflect diversity in your everyday life -- not hero moments.
Tell a story about a distinct moment in time, and use details to bring us into the scene. Use a solid beginning, middle, and end -- ending with what diverse experiences you hope to continue to have at Colgate.
Colgate cultivates a skilled and engaged student body. Through their achievements, our students reflect the University’s reputation as a great place to pursue one’s academic interests. Tell us in 150-200 words about an academic or personal experience that highlights your skill and potential as a Colgate student.
Thinking of your own skills can be tough. First, we recommend brainstorming some of your best traits. If you have a hard time thinking of a few, ask friends and family (and teachers, too) what your skills are. Once you have your skills narrowed down, it will be easier to think of a story to tell.
Maybe you’re a deeply empathetic person, and you’ve used this to help squash drama during a big group project. Maybe you’re an excellent public speaker and have gotten up in front of the school to talk about an issue that matters to you. Maybe you’re a talented creative type and have made zines or websites or songs about things you’re passionate about. You’re basically telling Colgate what you value, and how you demonstrate that value. Connect it back to your academic interests.
You want to tell a story that captures the moment in time -- you utilizing your skills to solve a problem or promote an interest. Use a beginning, middle, and end to give the story structure, and use your limited space to include details that make us feel like we’re there with you.
The academic community at Colgate is shaped by the unique talents, character, and personality of each student. Please finish each sentence in 75 characters or less so we can learn more about you.
Ok, we don’t love these kinds of prompts. These aren’t the worst we’ve seen (cough… Pomona) but it isn’t fair to reduce students down to sentences without any nuance. 75 characters is like, a quarter of a Tweet. You are more than a quarter of a Tweet. We think this is a good place to have some fun, since they are kind of annoying questions. They want you to dive into all these different parts of yourself without giving you the space to expand or explain. Whatever, let’s dive in for each question.
I am fascinated by…
People, places, things, ideas. Answer this truthfully, there isn’t much space to go wrong.
I want to learn all I can about…
Use this to talk about something outside of your academic interests and prospective major. Think of your last Wikipedia hole or niche interest you can’t stop telling your friends about.
My favorite book is...
Our main advice is don’t pick anything you’ve read in school or any classics. We’ve all read To Kill A Mockingbird.
My role model is…
Don’t pick anyone too controversial. Regular people are reading your essays and regular people have biases just like us. It’s okay to say a family member here.
In the future, I hope to ...
Don’t be super lofty here. Every scientist wants to cure cancer, and every politician wants to bring unity. Say a personal goal.
One thing I would change is…
Think local! Maybe this is just like, a stop sign in your neighborhood that should be made into a light. Maybe it’s your school’s mascot. Maybe it’s your hair.
I wish...
You can be a little loftier here. Wishes are harder than future goals.
I am most challenged by…
We think a person or idea would be a good thing here. Maybe it’s an academic subject that you have a hard time with, or a person who pushes you to be your best.
In 5 years, I…
Saying “will have graduated from Colgate” is tacky and sooooo already done a million times. Put a career or personal goal here.
After you’ve finished your three not-so-optional essays, make sure to proofread and edit them a few times before uploading them to the Colgate portal. You got this!
If you’re struggling with your college applications, feel free to contact us here. We specialize in one-on-one assistance with all your essays and supplements.