How to Write a Why This College Essay That Actually Works
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How do you write a “Why This College?” essay that actually works? Most people answer it backwards. Make the essay about yourself. Regardless of how the prompt is worded, every single essay is designed for you to positively differentiate yourself from others.
A “Why Us?” essay is no different. Frame what you’ll specifically do and why as a direct result of something the school offers. Keep yourself as the subject. Give the schools resources a dependent clause, but not more.
Because X program covers some specific topic, I’ll be able to continue my work on Y, which matters to me because of Z. That’s the structure. What doesn’t work is listing popular courses, mentioning a professor’s lab without connecting it to your own interests or writing an essay that could have been sent to any school with search and replace. Admissions officers already know the content of their website.
They need to learn about you.
Short answer: Make the essay about yourself.
Longer answer: Regardless of how the prompt is worded, every essay is designed for you to positively differentiate yourself from other applicants. A “Why Us?” essay is no different.
Frame what you will specifically do, and why, as a direct result of something the school offers. Keep yourself as the subject. Give the school’s resource a dependent clause, not more.
Because [X program] covers [specific topic], I will be able to continue my work on [Y], which matters to me because [Z].
That’s the structure. Don’t treat it as a template — treat it as a principle.
What doesn’t work: listing popular courses, praising a professor’s lab without connecting it to yourself, or writing an essay that could have been sent to any school with a find-and-replace.
Fun fact: Admissions officers already know the content of the school’s website. They need to learn about the “content” of you.
Reference: the Common App essay prompts.
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