Case Western Supplemental Essays 2025-26

Case Western Supplemental Essays

If you’re here to learn more about the Case Western supplemental essays, you’re in the right place! Located in Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University is known for its many high-powered academic programs. To gain acceptance to Case Western, first-year applicants must submit a personal statement essay. However, applying to Case Western’s Pre-Professional Scholars Program requires a few extra steps.

The Case Western supplemental essays are one of the most important parts of your Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP) application. Of course, the Case Western acceptance rate is already selective at 38%, but admissions to Case Western PPSP is far more competitive — only a handful of students are selected each year. So, if you want to impress admissions, you’ll need to write standout essays.

In this guide to the Case Western supplemental essays, we’ll go over everything you need to know about tackling the Case Western essay prompts. First, we’ll take a quick look into Case Western admissions and explain what the Pre-Professional Scholars Program actually is. Then, we’ll break down each of the Case Western essay prompts and give practical advice to strengthen your essays.

Case Western Admissions: Quick Facts

Please note that essay requirements are subject to change each admissions cycle, and portions of this article may have been written before the final publication of the most recent guidelines. For the most up-to-date information on essay requirements, check the university’s admissions website. 

Does Case Western have essays?

Yes, there are Case Western supplemental essays — but only for students applying to the Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP). If you are not applying to Case Western PPSP, you do not need to answer the Case Western PPSP essays.

Regardless of whether you apply to Case Western or to Case Western PPSP, all applicants must submit a personal statement. You will need to submit your personal statement through either the Common App or the Coalition App. Need help writing your Common App essay? Check out our webinar on Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement and read through our Personal Statement Essay Examples for inspiration.

How many essays does Case Western require?

As previously stated, the majority of applicants are only required to submit one essay to Case Western. However, PPSP applicants are required to submit three essays in total: one personal statement essay and two Case Western supplemental essays.

The Case Western PPSP essays help the admissions team understand why you are a strong candidate for the program. The first of the Case Western PPSP essays asks why you are interested in your area of study. The second asks you to share something that makes you proud. Both essays have high word limits, requiring students to write anywhere from 500-750 words.

Before discussing the Case Western supplemental essays in detail, here is some additional information about Case Western Reserve University and the Pre-Professional Scholars Program.

Is Case Western Reserve University hard to get into?

Let’s start with the numbers. The Case Western acceptance rate is 38%, according to U.S. News. Looking at Case Western’s admissions statistics, the middle 50% of admitted students have SAT scores of 1440-1520 or ACT scores of 32-34.

While these scores are impressive, it’s important to note that 40% students chose not to submit any test scores. That’s because Case Western Reserve is test-optional. Students don’t need test scores to qualify for scholarships or acceptance into any of Case Western’s undergraduate programs, including Case Western PPSP!

Applying to Case Western PPSP

The Case Western PPSP acceptance rate is much lower than the overall Case Western rate. It sits at about 1% — that’s roughly thirty times lower than the general Case Western acceptance rate! While the total number of accepted students varies from year to year, typically less than 20 students are accepted into Case Western PPSP.

However, don’t let the Case Western acceptance rate (or the pressure to write amazing Case Western supplemental essays) intimidate you. Instead, focus on the benefits of gaining admission to Case Western PPSP. Upon completion of all program requirements, both the medical and dental Case Western PPSPs guarantee entry into Case Western’s professional schools. They also provide you with structure to guide your pre-professional studies during your time in undergrad.

While the Case Western PPSP acceptance rate may be low, remember that admissions decisions depend on a variety of factors. Writing authentic and reflective Case Western supplemental essays might just be exactly what you need to give your application a competitive edge.

Beating the Case Western acceptance rate is all about preparation. Take our free quiz below to test your knowledge of the college admissions process.

What is the Case Western Pre-Professional Scholars Program?

Case Western PPSP grants selected students a conditional commitment of admission to Case Western’s Professional Schools of Medicine or Dentistry. The Case Western PPSP is an excellent opportunity for students who are confident in their future career path. It’s also a significant commitment, one that will span across the next seven to eight years of your life:

• 8-year Medicine Program: Admitted students spend four years in undergrad, then four years earning their MD at the School of Medicine.
• 7-year Dental Program: Admitted students complete their undergraduate degree in three years, then spend four years earning their DMD at the School of Dental Medicine.

Before beginning your Case Western supplemental essays, check out the Office of Undergraduate Studies Case Western PPSP page. The page has a wide variety of information on each program’s courses, timeline, and requirements. You can also check out our guide to the best BS/MD programs in the country to learn more about these types of accelerated programs.

Every student applying to the Case Western PPSP will have outstanding academic credentials. So, it is important you take your time with the Case Western supplemental essays. Your essays must demonstrate not only why you are interested in your field of study, but also why you are well-suited to it. For your best chance against the Case Western PPSP acceptance rate, you need to do all you can to show admissions exactly what makes you prepared for an intensive pre-professional program like PPSP.

Case Western Supplemental Essays: Prompt #1

The first of the Case Western PPSP essays asks about your chosen area of study. This is your opportunity to show Case Western why you are passionate about pursuing a career in either medicine or dentistry. Therefore, you need to reflect not only on your past experiences that led you to your chosen career path but also on your long-term goals and why you’ll succeed at Case Western and beyond.

Your essay should fully address all three questions that this prompt asks. One way to approach these questions is to split up your brainstorm into three categories: ‘Why am I interested?”; “Why will I be successful?”; and “When was I inspired?”

Address each question

For the first question, focus on the why rather than the what. For example, if you want to go to medical school to become a surgeon, it is not enough to simply state that. Firstly, ask yourself, in specific terms, why you are interested in surgery. Does the physiology of the body interest you? Do you want to help people and save lives? The more specific you are, the more your interest, knowledge, and passion will shine through.

The second question asks about you: your traits, your skills, your beliefs, and everything about you that makes you a good fit for the medical or dental field. To answer this question, you should apply your traits to traits that lead to success in your desired field. For example, if you want to become a dentist and think you are empathetic, your essay must show how being empathetic will make you a good dentist.

The third question should include specific anecdotes from your life. If you are having trouble thinking of a specific moment, try remembering your firsts. If you want to go to dental school, when did you first decide you wanted to go? When did you first learn about dentistry? What was your first experience with a dentist? What was a moment when you felt capable, like you had the ability to become a dentist?

Constructing the narrative

Once you have your ideas laid out, you can start forming them into a smooth and engaging Case Western PPSP essay. Consider how best to tell your story, starting with organization. Do you want to progress chronologically, beginning with your first moment of inspiration and ending with the person you are today? Or do you want to start with what you hope to accomplish and use anecdotes to showcase how you will succeed? Remember, these are not three mini-prompts, but three parts of a single prompt. This means your response should tell one coherent story that touches on each of the given questions.

No matter how you organize your essay, be sure you take time to brainstorm and explore every possible avenue for your Case Western PPSP essays. As you edit your essay, remember to answer all aspects of the prompt. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to write a Case Western PPSP essay that stand out, even given the low Case Western PPSP acceptance rate.

Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Does my essay answer all three questions in the prompt?
• Are my responses a reflection of who I am, what I’ve experienced, and why I will be successful?
• Do I communicate the ideas in my essay clearly, specifically and in my voice?
• Does my essay tell a coherent, unified story?

Case Western Supplemental Essays: Prompt #2

The second of the Case Western PPSP essays asks you to describe something you are proud of. Case Western wants you to share something new — something they won’t find anywhere else in your application. This prompt can be tricky since you might already describe many of your greatest accomplishments elsewhere in your application. Take this constraint as an opportunity to think outside the realm of academic achievement.

Consider the activities you do outside of school, what you do for your family, and what you do for yourself when nobody’s watching. If no awards or achievements come to mind, think about times when you overcame a challenge, learned a new skill, or took action.

For example, maybe when you were eleven you won an 8th place medal in synchronized swimming, a sport you no longer participate in. Perhaps it was the first and only medal you’d ever received and influenced your development through high school. Or maybe you were scared to learn how to drive but knew you needed to learn so you could take you and your little brother to school while your parents were working.

Be yourself

Whatever you write about, make sure you feel genuinely proud of the thing you did. See what emotions come up when you think of that event or achievement. If you feel happiness, satisfaction, or joy, it’s probably a great starting point for your essay.

This Case Western PPSP essay prompt gives you plenty of space to tell your story, so it’s important you do just that. Instead of simply stating what happened, be sure to include how you felt and why this is experience matters to you. Overall, use your voice to capture your unique experience. Show admissions not only what it meant to you at the time, but what it means to you now as you prepare to begin your pre-professional studies.

Essay Draft Key Questions:

• Does my essay describe a unique experience not found anywhere else in my application?
• Have I discussed why I am proud of this experience?
• Does my essay tell a clear story?

Does Case Western care about essays?

Yes — the admissions team cares deeply about your essays. Your Case Western supplemental essays are how admissions gets a sense of why you’re applying to such a rigorous pre-professional program. They’re also the main way applicants are chosen as PPSP finalists and invited to interview with Case Western faculty and admissions officers.

Grades and test scores still matter, but your essays are the biggest factor in deciding who gets an interview. With so few spots available in the medical and dentistry Case Western PPSPs, admissions really looks to your essays to understand what makes you a strong candidate.

If Case Western is one of your top-choice schools, you’ll want to take your time writing your Case Western supplemental essays. By submitting the best Case Western PPSP essays possible, you can maximize your chances of admission despite the program’s extremely low acceptance rate.

How do I write the Case Western essays?

The Case Western supplemental essays are your chance to show admissions who you are and what matters to you. The Case Western PPSP essays have complex prompts and relatively high word limits. This means you’ll have plenty of space to answer the prompts specifically and completely.

Having extra room to share your thoughts can be freeing to some students. However, completing the Case Western supplemental essays — and making sure every word counts — can be a challenge. Here are some steps to help you as you begin writing your Case Western supplemental essays.

Before you start

Brainstorm and make a plan. Break down the prompt to individual questions and categories, then try some free-writing before you begin your actual draft. Write down moments, thoughts, feelings, ideas — any important details or information that you might use in your essay. The more initial thoughts you get down on paper, the more material you’ll have to generate your draft.

Write, edit, and rewrite. Then, once you’ve completed your brainstorm, you can begin drafting your Case Western supplemental essays. As you start writing, remember this is only a first draft. While you’ll need to review and edit your Case Western supplemental essays to make them the best they can be, this is not that time. Start with getting your words on paper, then edit for clarity and specificity.

Edit and reflect

Go line by line. The Case Western supplemental essays have word limits, and the admissions team reads thousands of essays. Therefore, every sentence must add something to your essay. As you read over your drafts, go line by line and check that each sentence shares something. Each sentences should either answer the prompt or showcases an important part of your identity.

Take a step back. Once you think you have a strong draft, step back and review each of your Case Western PPSP essays. What is the overall impression your Case Western supplemental essays give your reader? Is there a beginning, middle, and end to each essay’s narrative? Your Case Western supplemental essays should start with a strong hook that will engage your reader. Additionally, your essays for Case Western PSPP should flow through the middle, and finish with a compelling conclusion.

Ask for help

Get a second opinion. When you think you are ready to submit your Case Western supplemental essays, get another set of eyes to look over them. An outside reader can tell you how your Case Western supplemental essays read. Additionally, they can catch any spelling or grammar mistakes you might have missed.

For more tips on writing the Case Western supplemental essays, check out this video from Case Western Reserve University’s director of undergraduate admissions.

Case Western Supplemental Essays: Final Thoughts

Your Case Western Reserve University supplemental essays are your opportunity to show admissions why you belong in their Pre-Professional Scholars Program. Given the low Case Western PPSP acceptance rate, your academic successes will likely be well matched by other applicants. Thoughtful and compelling Case Western PPSP essays can help you stand out.

While writing the Case Western Reserve University supplemental essays may seem time-consuming, remember the opportunities the Case Western PPSP provides. If you know you want to attend medical or dental school, use your passion and insight to write the Case Western PPSP essays and save yourself the pressures of medical and dental school applications after graduation.

This guide to the Case Western supplemental essays was written by Stefanie Tedards. For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources, click here. Want help crafting your Case Western Reserve University supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a no-cost advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272.