Begin RD supplements

Overview

Begin drafting Regular Decision supplements for schools due January. Most RD supplements mirror EA/ED prompts, so you may be able to adapt existing work.

RD Supplement Types

Similar to EA/ED

• "Why this school"
• "Why this major"
• "Community/diversity"
• "Extracurricular elaboration"
• "Intellectual curiosity"

School-Specific

• Unique questions
• Creative prompts
• Different approaches

Research Required

• Each school specifics
• New programs or faculty
• Current events
• Unique offerings

Adapting EA/ED Essays

Common Prompts

• Often similar across schools
• Adapt specific examples
• Change school-specific details
• Maintain core story

Transferable Content

• Personal values
• Key experiences
• Academic interests
• Future goals

School-Specific Edits

• Professor names
• Program specifics
• Campus details
• Unique opportunities

December Timeline

Early December

• List all RD schools
• Identify supplements needed
• Research requirements

Mid-December

• Begin drafting
• Research each school
• Adapt from EA/ED work

Late December

• Revise drafts
• Get feedback
• Polish writing

January (continue)

• Final revisions
• Submit by deadlines

School-Specific Research

Deep Dive on Each

Program Details

• Specific major requirements
• Faculty in your interest area
• Research opportunities
• Special programs

Recent News

• New buildings
• New initiatives
• Awards and recognition
• Student achievements

Current Students

• Their experiences
• Favorite classes
• Campus life
• Advice

Unique Opportunities

• Research with undergrads
• Internship networks
• Study abroad
• Industry connections

Sources

• School website
• Student newspaper
• Alumni connections
• Campus visits

Common Supplement Types

"Why This School"

Avoid

• Generic praise
• Rankings mention
• Surface-level details
• Repetitive language

Include

• Specific professors
• Courses you'd take
• Student communities
• Unique opportunities
• Alignment with values

Strong Example (Opening)

"When I learned about Professor Martinez's work on urban agriculture systems, I knew [School] was uniquely positioned to support my research in community food security. The combination of her Community Engaged Scholarship Program with your Urban Food Policy Lab..."

"Why This Major"

Depth and Specificity

• Personal connection to field
• Specific interests within major
• Long-term goals
• Academic curiosity

Strong Example

"My interest in biochemistry began with watching my grandmother manage her diabetes. I've since explored metabolic research, volunteered in a diabetes education center, and completed an online course in cell biology. At [School], I want to..."

"Community/Diversity"

Authentic Perspective

• Your specific background
• Unique viewpoint
• What you contribute
• Connection to school community

Avoid

• Tokenizing identity
• Generic statements
• Performative inclusion

"Extracurricular Elaboration"

Deep Dive

• Specific activity
• Your role
• Impact demonstrated
• Lessons learned

"Intellectual Curiosity"

Show Thinking

• Specific interests
• Books/articles you've engaged
• Questions you explore
• Depth of thought

"Failure" or "Challenge"

Growth Focus

• Not the failure itself
• What you learned
• How you changed
• Future application

Mental Health Caveat

• Be thoughtful
• Avoid crisis narratives
• Focus on resilience
• Not raw trauma

Essay Structure

Opening (Hook)

• Specific moment
• Strong image
• Draws reader in
• Sets up theme

Development

• Details and examples
• Growth shown
• Character revealed
• Impact demonstrated

Reflection

• What it means
• Personal connection
• Broader implications
• Forward-looking

Closing

• Return to opening
• Forward statement
• Your voice
• Distinctive

Writing Techniques

Specific vs. Generic

• Concrete details
• Named individuals
• Specific times
• Quantified impact

Show Don't Tell

• Action over description
• Dialogue sometimes
• Sensory details
• Evidence over claims

Active Voice

• Strong verbs
• Clear subjects
• Direct communication
• Engaging prose

Voice Consistency

• Match Common App essay
• Authentic to you
• Appropriate tone
• Personal style

Proofreading

Multiple Passes

• First: content
• Second: flow
• Third: grammar
• Fourth: proofread

Read Aloud

• Catches errors
• Awkward phrases
• Natural flow
• Clarity check

Trusted Readers

• 1-2 people maximum
• Different perspectives
• Specific feedback
• Voice preservation

School-Specific Polish

Update Each Year

• Faculty may change
• Programs shift
• News current
• Accurate information

Verify Details

• Professor names
• Course names
• Program descriptions
• Current and correct

Avoid Outdated

• Old information
• Discontinued programs
• Former faculty
• Outdated news

Common RD Mistakes

Generic Copy-Paste

• Same essay different school name
• Not tailored
• Obvious laziness
• Poor impression

Over-Explaining

• Telling reader what to think
• Explaining obvious
• Too much context
• Preachy tone

Trying Too Hard

• Forcing connections
• Manufactured enthusiasm
• Inauthentic voice
• Reader sees through

Grammatical Errors

• Typos
• Grammar mistakes
• Punctuation issues
• Poor proofreading

Wrong School Name

• Forgot to update
• Sent to wrong school
• Embarrassing error
• Automatic denial sometimes

Time Management

Quality Over Quantity

• Better to have fewer strong supplements
• Than many weak ones
• Focus effort

Priority

• Top-choice schools first
• Essays take time
• Manage realistically

Balance

• School work continues
• Don't sacrifice grades
• Mental health priority
• Protect sleep

Application Planning

List All RD Schools

• Priority order
• Supplement requirements
• Deadlines
• Submission platform

Each School's Supplements

• Word counts
• Specific prompts
• Unique requirements
• Linked to application

Calendar

• Due dates visible
• Milestone dates
• Submission targets
• Buffer time

For Specific Situations

If ED Accepted

• Continue RD supplements for insurance
• In case of rescission
• Not strictly required
• Professional approach

If ED Deferred

• RD supplements prepared
• Submit as scheduled
• Deferred school may still work
• Continue other paths

If ED Denied

• Focus on remaining schools
• No prior commitment
• Fresh start on RD

If Multiple EA Admits

• Compare later
• Continue other RD
• More options

Getting Feedback

English Teacher

• Grammar and style
• Good for drafts
• Objective reader

Counselor

• Overall application view
• Strategic feedback
• Professional perspective

Peer Review

• One or two trusted
• Similar generation
• Grammar check

Family

• If helpful
• Not over-involved
• Authentic voice preservation

Writing Tips

Morning Writing

• Fresh mind
• Best ideas
• Before distractions

Regular Schedule

• Consistent time
• Dedicated focus
• Avoid cramming

Environment

• Quiet space
• No distractions
• Resources available
• Comfortable

Breaks

• Step away
• Fresh perspective
• Return with clarity
• Avoid fatigue

Final Polish

Multiple Revisions

• Not first draft submitted
• Revise thoughtfully
• Final polish
• Near-perfect

Professional Feedback

• English teacher read
• Counselor review
• Family input
• Expert polish

Technical Check

• Word count within limits
• Formatting appropriate
• No typos
• Submission-ready

Submission Strategy

3-5 Days Early

• Buffer for issues
• Time for corrections
• Calm submission

Verify Submission

• Confirmation received
• Materials confirmed
• Portal updated

After Submission

• Release focus
• Continue other work
• Trust process

Mental Health

Writing Fatigue

• Normal feeling
• Take breaks
• Hydrate
• Rest eyes

Imposter Syndrome

• Many students feel
• Work through it
• Authentic voice matters
• Trust your story

Comparison

• Don't compare to peers
• Your journey unique
• Your story valuable
• Your effort matters

Balance

• Applications are part
• Other parts of life
• Senior year joy
• Self-care

Long-Term Value

Writing Skills

• Transferable to college
• Professional life later
• Communication excellence
• Clarity of thought

Self-Reflection

• Understanding yourself
• Articulating values
• Future planning
• Personal growth

Application Process Growth

• Resilience built
• Professionalism learned
• Self-advocacy practiced
• Confidence earned