Supplemental Swagger Series: Your guide to essay success

Academic Interest Essay

Welcome to the first in a four-part series designed to help you tackle the most common supplemental essays with clarity, strategy, and substance.

Many colleges ask a version of this question: Why do you want to study what you say you want to study? This first guide focuses on the Academic Interest Essay, one of the most important (and overlooked) ways to demonstrate fit, curiosity, and direction.

Inside the guide, you’ll find
– A breakdown of what admissions officers are really looking for
– A clear structure to follow
– Two standout sample essays
– A brainstorming tool to help you build strong content before you write

This month’s lineup will also include guides for other frequently asked supplements:

• Why Us? — Your genuine connection to a specific college and what draws you there.

• Calling All Bookworms: The Book and Poetry Supplemental Essay — A book, poem, or piece of writing that inspired or shaped your thinking.

• Community Essay — Where you come from, what you value, and how you contribute.

Start here with Academic Interest, and keep the rest of the series on your radar. Each guide is designed to give you practical tools and thoughtful examples so you can write with confidence and purpose.