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Olin

Olin College of Engineering

One required mission-and-values essay (and one optional add-on) for a tiny engineering school that reads for collaborators, not lone geniuses.

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Required supplemental essays

1

Optional supplemental essays

1

Main essay length

250-500 words

Test policy

Test-optional through 2026-27

What Olin rewards

Olin keeps it short. There is one required supplemental essay of roughly 250 to 500 words asking how Olin's mission lines up with your values and how you want to use engineering to change the world. There is also one optional essay (about 250 words) that lets you add a story the rest of your application missed. Olin is test-optional through the 2026-27 cycle, so the writing carries real weight.

The core challenge is that Olin is tiny and specific. It is not a generic "I love STEM" school. It rewards applicants who actually understand its hands-on, collaborative, project-first culture and can show, not just claim, that they belong in a class of under 100 people who build things together.

01Collaboration over solo brilliance. Olin's whole model is teams. The strongest essays show you working with people, listening, sharing credit, and making a group better. A lone-genius story reads as a culture mismatch here.
02Building, not just thinking. Olin is project-based to the core. Concrete evidence that you make things, with your hands or with code, beats abstract talk about loving math or physics.
03Engineering with a human purpose. The mission is about impact on people's lives. Olin wants to see that you connect technical skill to a real problem you care about, not engineering for its own sake.
04Genuine knowledge of Olin. Because the school is so distinctive, vague praise falls flat. Naming a specific Olin program, course, or value you researched signals you actually want Olin, not just any engineering school.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

2 prompts for Olin, each broken down with annotated examples.

Mission and values (required)250-500 words

Olin is a community striving to change the world and positively impact people's lives through engineering education. How does Olin's mission align with your own values? How do you hope to use your engineering education to change the world?

Anything missing (optional)~250 words

Think about all the things we will learn about you throughout your application to Olin, from your application materials and recommendations and through your own words in your other essays. Is there anything missing? If there is, you may share a specific story that tells us something about you that we don't yet know. If not, don't worry: this question is optional.

See all 2 prompts and get a read

Your chance

See your chance

Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at Olin and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Application deadlineJan 5 (check Common App for current date)
Supporting materials dueJan 10
Decision timelineCandidates' Weekend invites late January
Plan typeSingle round (no separate EA/ED/RD)

Cost

Sticker price$87,013
Avg net after aid$40,370
Meets full needYes
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Explore Olin
How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Olin weighs most Supplemental essays2 prompts, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $40,370/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Olin interview? Format, tips, and practice The Olin Reader ProScore your draft against Olin's exact prompts
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Olin FAQ

What is Olin's acceptance rate?

Olin reads holistically with an unusually personal process. There is one review round (no separate Early Action or Regular Decision), and admitted applicants are invited to a required Candidates' Weekend where they collaborate on hands-on activities. Test-optional through the 2026-27 cycle. With under 100 students per class, fit and authentic enthusiasm for Olin's project-based, team-driven model matter enormously. At Olin, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Olin require?

Olin requires 2 supplemental essays on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does Olin cost?

Olin's published sticker price is about $87,013 per year, but the average family pays $40,370 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Olin require SAT or ACT scores?

Olin is test-optional: you can apply without SAT or ACT scores, and strong scores are just one factor among many when you do submit them.

When are Olin's application deadlines?

Olin's application deadlines are Supporting materials due Jan 10; Decision timeline Candidates' Weekend invites late January; Plan type Single round (no separate EA/ED/RD). Add Olin to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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