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Stony Brook

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook skips the supplement, so your Common App personal statement has to do all the work.

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Required supplemental essays

0 for first-year

Main essay

Common App, 650 words

Honors/STEM supplement

~250 words, optional

Test policy

Test-optional

What Stony Brook rewards

Here is the part that surprises most applicants: Stony Brook does not require a supplemental essay for first-year admission in 2025-26. Your only required piece of writing is the Common App personal statement (up to 650 words), which you can submit with the application or upload later to your StartSBU portal. That means there is no "Why Stony Brook" box to fill, and no second essay to hide behind. The personal statement carries the entire weight of your voice.

Stony Brook is test-optional for 2025-26, and the admissions office calls application essays "very important," so this is not a school where the essay is a formality. A few programs do add their own writing: the Honors College, University Scholars, and WISE ask for a roughly 250-word fit essay, and the Simons STEM Scholars and Scholars for Medicine/Dental Medicine tracks add their own prompts. But for a standard applicant, the move is simple and high-stakes: write one personal statement strong enough to stand alone.

01A genuine voice over a polished resume. Because there is no supplement to list your activities again, the personal statement is where readers meet the actual person. Stony Brook rewards essays that sound like a real seventeen-year-old thinking on the page, not a brochure. Specific, honest, slightly unpolished beats smooth and generic.
02Intellectual curiosity, shown not stated. Stony Brook is a research-heavy university with strong STEM, health, and humanities programs. An essay that shows you chasing a question, fixing something, or getting genuinely absorbed in a problem reads as a natural fit, even when the topic has nothing to do with your intended major.
03Follow-through and grit. With a large applicant pool and a holistic read, Stony Brook likes evidence that you finish things. An essay that traces a small effort over time, with a setback and a recovery, signals the kind of persistence that survives a demanding first year.
04Self-awareness. The strongest essays here end somewhere different from where they started. Readers want to see you reflect, not just narrate. A moment of changed thinking is worth more than a dramatic event reported flatly.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

1 prompt for Stony Brook, each broken down with annotated examples.

Common App Personal Statement650 words maximum

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you have already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

See all 1 prompt and get a read

Your chance

See your chance

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

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Deadlines

Early Action (non-binding)November 1
Regular DecisionJanuary 15
Notification (EA)Late January

Cost

Sticker price$33,275
Avg net after aid$20,992
Meets full needPartial
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How to get inAcceptance rate, the GPA and SAT profile, and what Stony Brook weighs most Supplemental essays1 prompt, each broken down with annotated examples Cost & financial aidAverage $20,992/yr after aid · net price by income + calculator InterviewDoes Stony Brook interview? Format, tips, and practice The Stony Brook Reader ProScore your draft against Stony Brook's exact prompts
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Stony Brook FAQ

What is Stony Brook's acceptance rate?

49%. At Stony Brook, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does Stony Brook require?

Stony Brook requires 1 supplemental essay 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 Stony Brook cost?

Stony Brook's published sticker price is about $33,275 per year, but the average family pays $20,992 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

Does Stony Brook require SAT or ACT scores?

Stony Brook 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 Stony Brook's application deadlines?

Stony Brook's application deadlines are Early Action (non-binding) November 1; Regular Decision January 15; Notification (EA) Late January. Add Stony Brook to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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