Supplemental essays · 2026–27 application
Whittier College supplemental essays.
The essay question Whittier College asks this year, word for word, with the word limit and how to approach it.
Checked against whittier.edu and the Common App application on October 17, 2026
What you write: One essay, 150–700 words.
Why Whittier
150–700 words
What is the most influential factor in your decision to apply to Whittier College?
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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