Many colleges and universities require applicants to submit samples of previous academic writing as part of their application packages. These writing samples, usually in the form of research papers or essays, allow admissions officers to evaluate an applicant’s research, analytical, and writing skills. While not all colleges mandate writing samples, several top institutions do explicitly ask prospective students to include such work in their applications.
Colleges that usually require sample research papers or longer-form writing include liberal arts colleges, where strong writing is emphasized. Schools in this category that routinely request samples include Amherst College, Williams College, Swarthmore College, Wellesley College, Middlebury College, and Pomona College. These top liberal arts institutions aim to admit students who demonstrate sophisticated research abilities through previous writing. Applicants must select one example that best highlights their critical thinking and composition talents.
Ivy League universities also tend to require sample papers from applicants. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Penn, Dartmouth, and Cornell all state on their websites that past academic essays, reports, or research should be contained within a student’s application portfolio. The purpose is to assess an individual’s demonstrated aptitude for conducting complex analysis of primary and secondary source materials. Examples should be 10-15 pages in typical length to reflect skills developed through previous course assignments.
Other top private research universities beyond the Ivies also frequently request sample writings. Schools like Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Chicago, Duke, and Northwestern commonly ask undergraduates to provide one writing exemplar to admissions staff for review. Public flagship universities of comparable prestige and selectivity, such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, Michigan, Virginia, and UNC-Chapel Hill, also tend to require submissions of past work. Writing samples at these schools assist in assembling a well-rounded picture of a candidate beyond just transcripts and test scores.
Of course, not all colleges demand prior papers from applicants. Many large public universities with open admission policies at the undergraduate level do not request writing samples due to applicant volumes. Similarly, career-focused institutions centered on programs like engineering, business, and health sciences may not need examples depending on program demands. For those aiming to attend the most competitive schools, having strong sample papers ready strengthens an application considerably.
Research paper topics should relate to coursework if possible but ambitious personal interests are also acceptable. High school junior and senior year compositions typically work best when polished and free of teacher comments. Papers examining both primary sources and secondary research display broad learning. Prudently selected excerpts also successfully highlight distinct skills. While daunting, developing sample writings showcases dedication beyond scores and boosts the chances of admission at selective schools that evaluate writing potential. Not submitting samples requested could conversely weaken an application at these top tier colleges.
Many of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges and private research universities commonly require applicants to submit examples of past academic writing as part of the admissions process. This allows schools to take a close look at a prospective student’s demonstrated research, analytical thinking, and composition abilities. Having high-quality sample papers prepared strengthens the candidacy of any student aiming to attend these most selective and competitive institutions of higher education that emphasize strong writing skills. While not mandatory nationwide, submitting requested materials could be the difference for candidates navigating admissions at the highest levels.