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Supplemental essay grader

The supplemental essay grader is an AI tool that scores a why-us, why-major, community or short-answer supplement on six criteria against the word limit you enter. Your first 2 grades are free with Google sign-in (total and per-criterion scores); quotes and fixes come with paid grades, from $6.99 for a pack of 25.

Used only for the swap test.

Swap test: the grader checks whether a sentence would still work with another school’s name. It cannot verify that a course or program exists.

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What supplemental essays are

Colleges add their own questions on top of the personal essay. On the Common App, many colleges include short answer questions or essay prompts in their own section, and some use a separate writing supplement. Not all colleges have one. Word limits differ by school, so always enter the limit from your application.

The Common App keeps a list called “Writing Requirements by College” with every Common App college and its essay prompts.

Source: Common App, first-year application guide, read Nov 3, 2026.

Common supplement types, and what each must prove

The descriptions are ours. The quoted prompts are the schools’ own words, copied exactly from the pages linked below each one.

Why us / why this college

A specific match between what you have done and what this school offers.

Duke, 2026–27 (250 word limit)“What is your impression of Duke as a university and community, and why do you believe it is a good match for your goals, values, and interests? If there is something specific that attracts you to our academic offerings in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences or the Pratt School of Engineering, or to our co-curricular opportunities, feel free to include that, too.”

Duke also says applicants should communicate “demonstrated knowledge” rather than “demonstrated interest”.

Source: Duke Undergraduate Admissions, Resources and FAQs, read Nov 3, 2026.

Why this major

Where the interest came from, proof that you pursued it, and how this school’s program fits.

Princeton, A.B. or undecided, 2026–27 (250 words or fewer)“As a research institution that also prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, Princeton allows students to explore areas across the humanities and the arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. What academic areas most pique your curiosity, and how do the programs offered at Princeton suit your particular interests? (Please respond in 250 words or fewer.)”

Source: Princeton, Princeton-specific questions, read Nov 3, 2026.

Community

A community you belong to, your role in it, and what you would bring.

Duke, 2026–27 (250 word limit)“We all belong to communities defined by place, faith, family, culture, interests or shared experience. Tell us about a community that has shaped who you are, any way it has set you apart, and what you’ve learned from being part of it that you hope to bring to Duke.”

Source: Duke Undergraduate Admissions, Apply, read Nov 3, 2026.

Activity

One commitment in depth: your specific role and what changed because of it. We describe this type in our own words and quote no school prompt for it.

Short answers

At 50 to 100 words, one specific detail beats three general ones. Princeton’s “More About You” section is an example of the form: “Please respond to each question in 50 words or fewer.”

Source: Princeton, Princeton-specific questions, read Nov 3, 2026.

The swap test

Replace the school’s name with another school’s. If the paragraph still works, it is too general. The grader flags sentences that would survive the swap, such as rankings, “world-class faculty” or the weather.

Duke’s own advice points the same way: “Don’t just talk about what everyone knows about the college; think about the specific match between you and the college.”

Source: Duke Undergraduate Admissions, Resources and FAQs, read Nov 3, 2026.

Honest note: it checks whether you named something specific. It cannot verify that a course, lab or professor exists or is current. Check the school’s own catalog.

How the supplemental essay grader scores an answer

Six criteria, scored 1 to 6 each, total out of 36. This rubric is ours. Schools do not publish one for supplements, and we explain ours on how we grade.

The six supplemental essay grader criteria and what a 6 looks like
CriterionWhat a 6 looks like
1. Answers the promptEvery part of the school’s question is answered, within the word limit.
2. Specific to the schoolNames concrete offerings the writer chose (a course, program or tradition) and passes the swap test. For types other than why us and why major this becomes “Specific detail”.
3. Connection to youEach school detail is tied to something the writer has already done or wants to do.
4. Evidence and roleShows what the writer personally did, with one concrete example.
5. New informationAdds something that is not already in the personal statement or activity list.
6. Concise and clearNo setup or filler. Every sentence earns its words at this length.

A scored example: before and after

A “why us” paragraph for a fictional college, written by us, scored twice: the generic version and the revised one.

Halvering College is fictional. Every course, dataset and group named here is invented for this example. No real school or student is described.

Sample answer written by us, not a real student’sBefore · 104 words

Halvering College is the perfect fit for me. It is ranked highly, has a beautiful campus, and its world-class faculty are leaders in their fields.2 I have always been passionate about biology, and Halvering’s many opportunities would let me grow as a student and a person. I am also drawn to the strong sense of tradition and the many clubs that make a school feel like home. I am excited by the diverse community and the chance to explore my interests, and I know I would thrive in such a supportive environment. Halvering’s strong academics and vibrant campus life make it my dream school.

2

Specific to the school

2/6
“It is ranked highly, has a beautiful campus, and its world-class faculty are leaders in their fields.”
Why
Swap “Halvering” for any other college and this sentence reads the same. Rankings, campus beauty and “world-class faculty” could be said of almost any school.
Suggestion
Name one thing the school offers that you chose, and tie it to something you have already done.
Rewrite example (this sentence only)
I want Halvering’s Field Statistics seminar because I have counted snail shells for six weeks and cannot tell what the numbers mean.
Sample answer written by us, not a real student’sAfter · 109 words

Last spring I spent six weeks counting snail shells along the creek behind my grandmother’s house, then realized I had no way to tell whether the numbers meant anything. I have since read about sampling bias and suspect my counts favored the easy-to-reach bank. That is why I want to take Halvering’s Field Statistics seminar, which pairs first-years with the college’s Marsh Station dataset.2 I would bring my shell counts to the seminar’s open data hour and ask how to test them. Later I hope to join the Tidewater Reading Group, because I learn most when someone who read the paper more closely than I did argues with me.

2

Specific to the school

5/6
“That is why I want to take Halvering’s Field Statistics seminar, which pairs first-years with the college’s Marsh Station dataset.”
Why
It names a seminar and a dataset and ties them to the writer’s own shell counts. Swap the school name and the sentence breaks.
Suggestion
Say what you would do with the dataset in your first year to reach 6. In a real essay, check on the school’s own site that the seminar exists and is current.

Estimates from our rubric, not an admissions score.

Common mistakes it flags

  • Praising rankings or campus beauty.
  • Listing programs with no link to your past.
  • Repeating the personal statement.
  • Going over the word limit.
  • Spending a 50-word answer on setup.

Word limits and deadlines

Each school sets its own limit. Duke’s required short essays have a 250 word limit; Princeton’s “More About You” answers are 50 words or fewer, its academic-interest answer is 250 words or fewer, and its “Your Voice” essay is 400–500 words.

Deadlines differ too. For example, Duke says Early Decision applications are due November 2 and Regular Decision applications are due January 4. Always confirm in your application portal.

Sources: Duke Undergraduate Admissions, Apply and Princeton, Princeton-specific questions, read Nov 3, 2026.

Honest limits

This is an estimate from a rubric we wrote, not an admissions score. It does not know the school beyond what you paste. It never writes or rewrites your answer; rewrite examples are one sentence long.

Questions

What is a supplemental essay?

A college-specific question added to your application. On the Common App, many colleges include short answer questions or essay prompts in their own section, and some use a separate writing supplement. Not all colleges have one (Common App, read Nov 3, 2026).

How long should a supplemental essay be?

Each school sets its own limit. Duke’s required short essays are 250 words; Princeton’s “More About You” answers are 50 words or fewer and its academic-interest answer is 250 words or fewer (both read Nov 3, 2026). Enter your limit and the grader flags overruns.

Can it tell if my “why us” essay is specific enough?

It flags sentences that would still work with another school’s name. It cannot check that a course or program exists, so verify those on the school’s own site.

Can I reuse one “why us” essay for several schools?

You can reuse your own experiences, but the school details must change. Run the swap test on each version.

Will it write my supplemental essays?

No. It grades your draft and quotes your sentences; rewrite examples cover one sentence.

Is this different from the college essay grader?

The college essay grader is for the personal statement. This page adds the supplement type, the swap test and a required word limit.

How much does the supplemental essay grader cost?

Your first 2 grades are free with Google sign-in and show the total and per-criterion scores. Quotes, reasons and suggestions come with paid grades: an essay pack is $6.99 for 25 grades, and Pro is $12.99 a month.

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