What are college supplemental essay prompts really asking?

RReaders in Stanford's admissions office know exactly what each supplement prompt is meant to measure, even when the prompt sounds like small talk. Prompts such as tell us about something meaningful, or write a note to your future roommate, are written to sound casual, and the tone invites a casual answer. That is where many strong applicants lose ground. They answer the friendly question on its surface, while the reader on the other side is looking for evidence of something specific and finds a pleasant paragraph instead. Each prompt was written by an office that knows what it wants, and Stanford's own short essays show it more clearly than most.