Coastal Carolina University 2026-27 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Coastal Carolina University 2026-27 Application Essay Explanations

The Requirements: 2 essays of 250 words

Supplemental Essay Type: Why, Activity

Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. (250 words)  

Activity Essays like this one are more common than noise-canceling headphones in college dorm rooms. The most strenuous part, however, is selecting the activity you want to write about. So, we return to our favorite mantra: tell admissions something they couldn’t glean from anywhere else in your application. If you wrote your Common App essay about your time scooping ice cream at your local creamery, focus on a different activity or work experience that reveals a new aspect of your personality. This can be a great opportunity to highlight your leadership skills and any accolades you may have received. Were you nominated as captain of your ultimate frisbee team? Were you tapped to manage volunteer staff at the food pantry? No matter what you choose, it should probably be something you’ve been involved in for a while, so you can demonstrate your growth and the impact that you have had on others. 

Why are you interested in Coastal Carolina University? (250 words) 

Admissions wants to know why you are interested in applying to and (hopefully) attending Coastal Carolina University. Maybe Coastal Carolina is close to home and will enable you to study Marketing while still working at your family’s business on the weekends. Perhaps you’ve always preferred warmer weather and want to leave your snowy Midwestern town to study Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography near the shore. What will you get out of this experience that you couldn’t possibly get at any other school? Though the essay may be short, we suggest you give yourself a good chunk of time to research the school and learn about what it’s actually like to attend. Gather as much information as you can so you can pack your 250 words with detail. You’ll demonstrate your commitment to the school while also showcasing your unique perspective!