After a review of the last few years of essay responses and our review process, we will only be requiring the personal essay for 2027 and we will not have a second essay, as we believe the one essay response gives us what we need in our evaluation process. We hope that this decision takes some stress out of the admissions process for both students and parents, and we look forward to reading your applications (and great essays) next year.
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It’s one thing to make their essays optional, and another to eliminate them. I wonder how they will select students for competitive scholarships like the Foundation Fellowship.
I expect that Honors, FF, Curio, etc. will continue to have secondary apps that most likely will include essays. Those programs are not managed by UGA Admissions.
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Yes, many schools that offer “optional” additional essays will have required essays for merit applications.
I mean we really have no idea which kids are writing their own essays anymore.
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And that’s another problem. Perhaps why some schools (see the Tulane thread too) are dropping some of the supplemental essays perhaps because of AI crafted essays.
At a recent conference, I heard several AOs (none from UGA) tell counselors that they don’t think the availability of AI is any different than what we’ve already experienced with parents, counselors, and even teachers helping applicants with essays.
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AI may level the playing field so now everyone can cheat instead of just the privileged.
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But they’re still looking at the common app essay, right? Those potential problems still apply there.
I know UGA said the reason is they get all they need from one essay, but I have to wonder if the increase in volume of applications has something to do with it/just the time it takes to review extra essays as well. From 28k in 2020 to closing in on 52k this year.
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