If you’re tempted to round out your college list with these low-effort applications, just know that everyone else is, too. Colleges have a few key motives for asking no supplemental essay questions: 1) to drive application numbers up and acceptance rates down (see Northeastern’s 5.2% acceptance rate in 2028 ) 2) to make it easier for admissions offices to process a large application volume and 3) to streamline the application so that it’s more accessible for under resourced students to apply.

What does all this mean for you? Without supplemental essays, you’ll have fewer opportunities on an application to distinguish yourself and show that you’re a strong match for the school. Admissions readers will put more emphasis on your academic record, Common App personal statement, and extracurricular profile. But as long as you’re aware of the competitive context in which your application will be read, and you’re presenting a strong application to a balanced list of schools, then nothing’s stopping you from throwing your hat in the ring at these colleges and universities.