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Supplemental Applications

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You can create a supplemental application to include program-specific questions for the applicant, such as additional essays, questions on work experience, etc. You can also opt to collect a fee for the supplemental application after the applicant completes the questions. If you require a fee, applicants will enter their credit card and address information.

To create a supplemental application, click the Supplemental App link on the App Gateway Editor page.

Create Introductory and Finishing Text

The text you include in the Activity Introduction displays to the applicant before they begin the Supplemental Application. You can use this space to describe how your program uses the information provided by the applicant, any applicable fees, and how to contact your admissions department.

The text you include in the Finishing Statement displays when the applicant completes the Supplemental Application. You can use this space to explain the timeframes within which the admissions team reviews applications and any additional steps the applicant needs to complete.

See Content Formatting Tips below for additional guidance when completing this section.

  1. Enter a header/title for the Activity Introduction.
  2. In the next field, enter your introduction text.
  3. Enter a header/title for the Finishing Statement.
  4. In the next field, enter text that acknowledges the applicant successfully completed the activity.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Click Continue to move to the next section.

CAS App Gateway Editor Supplemental App Intro Text Dec 2025.png

Content Formatting Tips

  • Header text is limited to 200 characters.
  • Introduction and Finishing Statement text is limited to 1,500 characters.
  • Use the bold and italic options to format your text, as needed.
  • Underline only when using a hyperlink.
  • Use the bulleted list, numbered list, and indent options to structure your text.
  • Use the link icon to add links to websites or email addresses. Links open in a new browser window.

Configure Questions

In this section, you can add program-specific questions for the applicant. These questions can be required or optional, and there is no limit to the number of questions you can ask. Note the following:

  • The Activity Display Name defaults to Supplemental Application. You can change the name, if desired.
  • The activity expiration defaults to 60 days, but you can adjust this in the Activity Expiration drop-down. The following options are available:
    • Default Expiration: use the default of 60 days from activation.
    • Number of Days from Activation: specify the number of days from activation that the activity will expire.
    • Calendar Date: enter a date on which the activity will expire.
    • Rolling: activity will not expire, and applicants can submit it on a rolling basis.
  • Expired activities are not visible to applicants.
  • You can opt to allow applicants to submit their answers after the program’s deadline date.
  • Use the Applicant Instructions field to give additional details about the questions.

CAS App Gateway Editor Supplemental App Question Settings Dec 2025.png

Add Question Sets

Questions Sets can be used to group questions together in a specific category, such as additional essays, work experience, etc. You must create at least one Question Set.

  1. Click + Add Question Set.
  2. Add header text. This appears above your question(s) and can be used to summarize the questions or provide other relevant details.
  3. Add an optional description.
  4. Click + Add.

CAS App Gateway Editor Supplemental App Question Set Dec 2025.png

Add Questions

Once you create a Question Set, you can add questions to it. There are several question types you can choose from, depending on the format in which you expect applicants to answer each question.

  1. Click + Add Question.
  2. Select whether the question is required.
  3. Enter a Question Description.
  4. Select a Question Type from the drop-down. See additional details about each question type below.
  5. Configure additional options, depending on the Question Type selected.
  6. Click Add.
  7. Add more questions and question sets as needed and click Save.
  8. Click Continue to move to the next section.

CAS App Gateway Editor Supplemental App Question Example Dec 2025.png

Multiple Choice Question Type

Questions can be either single or multiple answer:

  • Single answer questions can appear with radio buttons or drop-downs for applicants to select. Applicants can choose only one response.
  • Multiple answer questions appear with checkboxes for applicants to select. Applicants can choose one or more responses.

Note that if you use Multiple Choice Question Types, the answer options will not be visible in the Applicant Gateway once the activity is activated. We recommend keeping a separate record of Supplemental Application questions and answer options.

Essay Question Type

Questions appear with a text box where applicants can type their response. You can set the maximum number of characters that applicants can enter (up to 9,999 characters).

If you want the question to appear as a short, one-line answer, set the character limit to 50 characters. If you want applicants to enter a longer answer, set the character limit to 250 characters or more.

Either/Or Question Type

Questions appear with radio buttons where applicants can choose from two responses.

Note that if you use Either/Or Question Types, the answer options will not be visible in the Applicant Gateway once the activity is activated. We recommend keeping a separate record of Supplemental Application questions and answer options.

Configure Payment

You can choose to require applicants to submit a fee as part of their supplemental application. Payment options are configurable via the Applicant Gateway and can be used in conjunction with PayPal, TouchNet, and CashNet. See Configuring Payments for more information.

If you do not want to configure this option, select No and click Save. Otherwise, follow the steps below.

  1. Select Yes to indicate you want to add a payment.
  2. Enter a Payment Name (e.g., Supplemental Application Fee). This name will display for the applicant.
  3. Enter the fee amount as a whole number with no decimal points (e.g., $25, not $25.00).
  4. Click the Waive fee if applicant is approved for financial assistance checkbox if appropriate.
  5. Click Save.

CAS App Gateway Editor Supplemental App Payment Dec 2025.png

Submit for Review

Visit the Submitting Activities for Review page to learn more about submitting your activities for review by the Client Support Specialist team.

 

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