The landscape of college admissions is undergoing a significant transformation. At least six major universities, including Georgia TechUNC-Chapel Hill the University of Georgia the University of MiamiTulane University and the University of Washington have completely removed their supplemental essays for the 2026-27 application cycle. Several other institutions have also scaled back their essay requirements.
Admissions officials cite several reasons for this change, including the essays’ lack of differentiating value, the exhaustion of reading staff, and the potential to deter qualified applicants. The rise of generative AI has also played a role, though only Tulane has publicly acknowledged this factor.
Which Schools Have Dropped Their Supplemental Essays
The following universities have fully eliminated their supplemental essays for the 2026-27 application cycle:
- Georgia Tech
- Tulane University
- UNC-Chapel Hill
- University of Georgia
- University of Miami
- University of Washington
Other institutions have reduced, but not entirely eliminated, their essay requirements:
- Cornell University (Retired the university-wide essay, but colleges may still have specific essays)
- Washington University in St. Louis (Removed the optional writing supplement)
- Wake Forest University (Reduced to one prompt, but added a recommendation letter)
- Yale University (No ‘Why Yale’ question and short takes trimmed to three)
It’s important to note that some honors colleges and scholarship programs may still require essays, even if the university does not. For example, the Morehead-Cain and Robertson programs at UNC have separate applications with their own writing requirements. Additionally, some universities have not updated all pages of their websites, leading to potential confusion.
The Reasons Behind the Change
The primary reason for this shift is the sheer volume of applications. Through March 1 of the 2026-26 cycle, the Common App counted 1,429,747 distinct first-year applicants submitting 9,423,621 applications, a 5% increase. Students are applying to more schools than ever before, helped by no-fee applications and fee waivers.
This increase in applications has led to exhausted admissions staff. David Graves the University of Georgia‘s executive director of undergraduate admissions, admitted that by the end of the review process, his team has ‘a lot of tired eyes and exhausted counselors.’ He also noted that the second essay did not provide much additional information beyond what the Common App prompts essay gave them.
The removal of essay requirements has also led to a significant increase in applications. For instance, the University of Virginia saw a 37% increase in early action applications after removing its supplemental prompt for the 2026-26 cycle. However, it’s important to note that this increase cannot be solely attributed to the essay removal, as other factors were also at play.
The AI Problem
Tulane University‘s Shawn Abbott vice president for enrollment management and dean of admission, mentioned that the rise in students using generative AI to write applications was a factor in their decision to cut the essay. However, other universities have not publicly acknowledged AI as a significant concern.
Research suggests that AI use in applications is rising, particularly among lower-income and fee-waived applicants. However, the impact of AI on admissions decisions is complex and not fully understood.
What This Means for Families
For most applicants, the removal of supplemental essays means less work and stress. A student applying to ten schools may write four to six fewer essays than last year’s senior. This reduction can also cut into the billable hours of college admissions consultants.
However, the tradeoff is that the remaining signals, such as grades, course rigor, and test scores, carry more weight. Several universities, including the University of Miami and the University of Georgia have reinstated testing requirements. Common App data shows that applicants reporting test scores rose by 10% in 2026-26 while non-reporters fell by 6%.
This shift in admissions requirements is a rational response to a shrinking pool of high school graduates. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) projects that U.S. high school graduates will fall by roughly 13%, to 3.4 million, by 2041. Reducing friction in the application funnel is one way universities are adapting to this demographic change.
