denison supplemental essay

Denison University

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at Denison University?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Denison University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Common app personal essay.

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Does Denison have a supplemental essay>

Does Denison have a supplemental essay for the common app, optional or otherwise? I couldn’t find anything but if I look up ‘Denison Supplemental essay,’ its says the essay topic can be found on the Common app. As I stated before, I could not find any supplemental prompts on the common app page.

Here is the link I referred to https://denison.edu/forms/application-common-application-part-ii

There is no supplemental essay. From the Common App:

Writing Supplement There is no writing supplement for this college.

@scholardad Yeah I see that, but if I hover my mouse over the ‘questions’ link right next to the supplement, it says ‘writing,optional.’ Denison is my first choice so if there is any optional writing I would like to complete it.

So what did Denison Admissions say when you contacted them?

@scholardad No one picked up, I left a message

There’s no extra essay, but there is an optional “question” to upload a resume if you wish.

I’m replying late even though it’s probably no longer relevant for the OP: There is a supplemental essay. They sent it to my daughter after she submitted her application however. Apparently they had a record breaking number of applicants in 2018, and that’s why they did it.

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QuestBridge

Denison is a QuestBridge college partner providing top-tier education to academically outstanding students regardless of financial background.

Denison is honored to be a QuestBridge college partner

Denison is honored to be a QuestBridge college partner , continuing our shared mission of providing a top-tier education to academically outstanding students regardless of financial background.

QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that matches high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with the nation’s most selective colleges and universities. QuestBridge works with students from high school through college and beyond to promote student success in careers and life.

Applying to Denison through QuestBridge

Students who were selected as QuestBridge National College Match Finalists and who ranked Denison should follow the below steps to complete their application.

Step 1: If you are a Finalist who ranked Denison, QuestBridge will send us your National College Match application.

Step 2: We will email you instructions to activate and log in to your Denison Applicant Portal , where you can track the status of the materials you submit to Denison.

Step 3: You will need to submit the requirements detailed below through your Denison Applicant Portal by November 1 .

Students selected as QuestBridge National College Match Finalists, but who did not rank Denison and did not match with another institution, should follow the below steps if they would like to apply to Denison in the Early Decision 2 or Regular Decision rounds using the National College Match application materials that they have already submitted to QuestBridge.

Step 1: Complete Denison’s QuestBridge Application Activation form.

Step 2: Select Denison on the QuestBridge Regular Decision Form in your QuestBridge Application Management page between November 3 - December 11.

Step 3: We will email you instructions to activate and log in to your Denison Applicant Portal .

Step 4: Submit all additional required admission and financial materials by the applicable deadlines directly to Denison as detailed in the requirements below. To be considered for Early Decision 2, you must also submit an Early Decision Agreement that you can receive by emailing [email protected] .

Students who were selected as a QuestBridge National College Match Finalist, but who chose not to participate in the match process, are able to apply to Denison through the Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, or Regular Decision rounds using the National College Match application materials that they have already submitted to QuestBridge.

Step 4: Submit all additional required admission and financial materials by the applicable deadlines directly to Denison as detailed in the requirements below. To be considered for Early Decision 1 or Early Decision 2, you must also submit an Early Decision Agreement that you can receive by emailing [email protected] .

Students who applied to QuestBridge, but who were not selected as National College Match Finalists, are able to apply to Denison through the Early Decision 1, Early Decision 2, or Regular Decision rounds using the National College Match application materials that they have already submitted to QuestBridge.

QuestBridge Application Requirements:

• Denison QuestBridge Supplement: We ask that you complete a short supplement through your Denison applicant portal. The supplement collects basic information that is unique to Denison (e.g., academic interests). There are no additional essays.
• Official Transcripts: Transcripts uploaded to the QuestBridge application are accepted as official. Alternatively, your high school counselor can email transcripts directly to the Office of Admission at [email protected] .
• ACT/SAT Scores (optional): Denison is test-optional . If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they can be submitted directly from a testing agency, through official high school transcripts, or they can be self-reported. Any test scores submitted will be superscored.
• Due to the federal government’s delay in updating the FAFSA and federal financial aid methodology, the FAFSA will not be available until December 2023. In the meantime, applicants will need to complete the CSS Profile. While we do not have a specific date for the FAFSA availability, we will notify QuestBridge applicants when it is available. Any admission offers will be dependent on FAFSA completion once available.
• Each parent must complete a CSS Profile application. It is recommended that the student and the parent start the CSS Profile application first. The other parent will need to create a separate College Board account before providing their information.
• Students who do not have contact with their parent may request a waiver of the requirement by emailing the Office of Financial Aid at [email protected] .
• Federal Tax Returns and Forms: Signed, with all schedules, W-2 forms, and any other earnings statements. All documents must be submitted using the College Board’s free IDOC service .

Frequently Asked Questions: Applying to Denison through QuestBridge

Denison guarantees to meet 100% of every student’s demonstrated financial need. To apply to Denison, just activate your application and we’ll use the materials you’ve already submitted through QuestBridge to complete your regular application.

Yes! We know you have put a lot of time and effort into your National College Match Application; no need to do it twice. Simply follow the steps outlined above to have your QuestBridge application sent to us . Then you will activate your Denison Applicant Portal, and submit some additional requirements (don’t worry, no additional essays) to complete your application to Denison.

QuestBridge Finalists and Non-Finalists do not need to submit a Common Application or Coalition Application. QuestBridge will send your National College Match Application to us , so there is no need to do extra work of submitting additional applications. Please note, we do require a few additional materials (see requirements section above) to consider your application complete.

There is never a fee to apply for admission to Denison.

Frequently Asked Questions: National College Match Financial Aid Package

As a QuestBridge Scholar at Denison, you do not have to pay for standard direct costs for the duration of your program at Denison. Standard direct costs are considered tuition, housing, and food.

You are responsible for any additional costs beyond standard tuition, housing, and food. This includes, but is not limited to flights/transportation, books/supplies, and personal expenses. Those costs can vary by student, but are generally around $2,500 annually.

Additionally, all students attending Denison are required to maintain health insurance. Students with their own health insurance through a family member or exchange may choose to waive Denison’s health insurance plan. All others without sufficient health insurance are required to purchase Denison’s health insurance plan. For the 2023-24 academic year, the cost of this plan is $1,365.

There are other various charges that you could accrue throughout your program that you would be responsible for as well, depending on what optional offerings you choose to pursue .

The U.S. government considers grant or scholarship money that is applied to living costs (housing, food) to be a taxable benefit.

Not finding what you are looking for? Check out our general Financial Aid FAQ .

Contact information for QuestBridge applicants

• [email protected]
• 740-587-6276

All offers of admission are conditional based on Denison’s Conditions of Admission policy .

Denison University is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in matters of admission, employment, and housing, and in access to and participation in its education programs, services, and activities. No person shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, religion, creed, or disability.

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