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Supplemental essays · 2026–27 application

College of Charleston supplemental essays.

The essay question College of Charleston asks this year, word for word, with the word limit and how to approach it.

Checked against admissions.cofc.edu and the Common App application on October 17, 2026

What you write: Optional. One essay, up to 350 words.

Optional: Know Thyself

Up to 350 words · Optional

Our community lives by the words “Know Thyself”, a consistent reminder of the personal, educational, and social growth opportunities that a College of Charleston education affords its students. How would attending the College of Charleston help you discover your unique purpose, identity, and goals?

How to approach it

  • Name things you could only find at this college: a class, a professor, a program, a tradition.
  • Tie every detail to something true about you.
  • Swap test: if another college’s name fits your sentence, it’s too general.
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