Look, let’s be real. Applying to Claremont McKenna College (CMC) isn’t like applying to just any other liberal arts school. It’s a different beast. While other schools are obsessing over your "intellectual curiosity" in a vacuum, CMC wants to know if you can actually do something with it. They have this whole "learning for the sake of doing" vibe that you have to nail in your Claremont McKenna supplemental essays. If you write a flowery, abstract essay about how much you love "learning," you’re probably going to miss the mark.
I’ve seen a lot of students treat these prompts like a standard checklist. Big mistake. CMC is looking for leaders—but not the "I was president of three clubs" kind of leader. They want the "I can sit in a room with someone I totally disagree with and not lose my mind" kind of leader.
Why CMC: It’s Not Just About the Weather
The first prompt is a classic "Why Us?" but with a CMC twist. The prompt explicitly mentions their mission: preparing students for "thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions."
Don't just say you like the small class sizes. Every liberal arts college has small class sizes.
Instead, talk about the Athenaeum. If you don't know what the "Ath" is, go look it up right now. It’s basically the heart of the school where world leaders, CEOs, and poets come to eat dinner with students and get grilled with questions. If you can’t see yourself at a table there, why are you applying?
You need to connect your specific career goals—whether that’s ethical crypto trading, international diplomacy, or social entrepreneurship—to the actual resources at CMC. Maybe it’s the Kravis Leadership Institute or the fact that they have 11 different research institutes where undergrads actually do the work.
Be specific.
Mention a class like "Government 70: Introduction to American Government" or a specific professor whose research on behavioral economics actually keeps you up at night. If your essay could be sent to Pomona or Harvey Mudd by just swapping the names, it’s a bad essay.
👉 See also: Why 1185 Park Avenue Is Still the Most Coveted Courtyard Building in NYC
The Open Academy: The Prompt That Scares Everyone
The second prompt is where things get tricky. It’s about the Open Academy. They want to know about a time you engaged with someone who had a different viewpoint and how that changed you (or them).
Most people play it too safe here. They write about how they "learned that everyone has a story."
Boring.
CMC wants to see "Constructive Dialogue." This means they want to see the messiness. They want to see the moment you felt your face get hot during a debate and how you managed to keep listening anyway.
- Did you change your mind? That’s great. It shows intellectual humility.
- Did you change someone else's mind? Also great, but only if you did it through logic and empathy, not by "winning" an argument.
- Did you both walk away still disagreeing but with a mutual respect? Honestly, that’s often the most realistic and impressive answer.
One student I knew wrote about the ethics of plastic straw bans. She was all for the ban until she talked to a student with a disability who explained why paper straws were a safety hazard. She didn't just "feel bad"; she went back to her club and helped rewrite the policy. That is a CMC answer. It’s pragmatic. It’s leadership in action.
👉 See also: Why Every Dress With Brown Boots Actually Works (And Why You're Overthinking It)
Avoiding the "Polished" Trap
The biggest vibe-killer in these essays is sounding like an AI or a brochure. CMC students are known for being intense, pragmatic, and incredibly social. If your writing is too stiff, you won't sound like you'll fit in at the North Quad.
Use your real voice. If you're a bit of a policy nerd, let that show. If you're someone who thinks about the economic impact of literally everything, lean into it.
I’ve noticed that the most successful applicants don’t try to be "well-rounded." They are "pointy." They have a specific thing they care about—maybe it's urban planning or the philosophy of law—and they show how CMC is the only place they can truly sharpen that point.
✨ Don't miss: Baskets for hanging on wall: Why your home decor feels flat and how to fix it
A Quick Reality Check on Stats
While we’re talking about essays, let’s not ignore the elephant in the room. CMC is test-optional through the Fall 2027 cycle, but that doesn't mean it’s "easy" to get in without scores. If you have a 1550 SAT, send it. If you don't, your essays have to carry twice the weight. They are looking for a GPA around 4.13 and a transcript full of the hardest classes your school offers. The essays are your chance to prove you aren't just a grade-grinding robot.
Practical Steps for Your CMC Supplementals
- Audit the Mission: Read the CMC Mission Statement three times. If "responsible leadership" doesn't excite you, you're going to struggle with these prompts.
- The "Ath" Test: Go to the Athenaeum website and look at the past speakers. Pick one. If you were sitting at dinner with them, what would you ask? Work that level of curiosity into your "Why CMC" essay.
- Find the Conflict: For the second prompt, don't pick a "safe" disagreement like "we couldn't decide what movie to watch." Pick something that actually mattered to you.
- Cut the Fluff: You only have 250 words for each. Don't waste 50 words on a "hook" about the California sunshine. Start with the meat of the story.
The goal isn't to be the most "impressive" person on paper. It's to be the person who the admissions officer wants to sit next to at dinner in the Ath. Show them you can handle a tough conversation and that you're ready to put your education to work the second you step on campus.
Next Steps for Your Application:
Map out your "Why CMC" essay by identifying one specific Research Institute (like the Rose Institute of State and Local Government) and one specific student organization that actually matches your high school track record. Then, for the Open Academy prompt, write down three times you were genuinely frustrated by someone’s opinion—choose the one where you actually stayed in the conversation instead of walking away.