Why are you interested in attending Bentley University? Why do you want to study your major at Georgia Tech? If you’re a rising senior, you probably ran into one of these “Why Us” supplemental essays already (if not, one’s likely right around the corner!).
My students often ask me what the colleges are gaining from these types of essays. The biggest benefit is that they let colleges know you truly want to go to their school - you didn’t just add the college because you saw it mentioned on your favorite TV show, or your best friend from camp’s sister went there. A well done “Why Us” essay allows the admission counselor to see that you did the research and it helps them understand why you belong at their school.
Here are three tips & tricks to help you knock the “Why Us” essay out of the park:
1. Specificity is the name of the game.
If asked why they’re interested in the College of Charleston, most people would probably mention the cool location, pretty campus, and maybe a great she-crab soup they tried after their tour. That essay would likely be fairly easy to write; however, it’s not going to be a strong “Why CofC” essay.
For these essays, you want to make your responses as specific as possible. Instead of talking about CofC’s great academic programs in a general sense, mention their Grice Marine Lab where you hope to research evolutionary biology with Professor Strand. If you’re able to explain how researching evolutionary biology connects to your personal interest and/or career goals, you’ve reached ultimate personalization status! Even though it’s a “Why Us” essay, you want to make sure that the readers are still able to learn about you through your answers.
I completely understand that it can be awkward to be so specific. You probably don’t go walking around talking about how CofC’s 7360 Crew “piqued your interest” on a daily basis. Just like anything else, it gets easier the more you practice. First focus on finding the details you want to talk about - then worry about the wording!
2. Use the college’s mission statement as a guide.
All colleges have a mission statement, which is basically a breakdown of what they value in their community. Muhlenberg’s mission statement, for example, highlights that they want a community of independent critical thinkers that are part of a diverse community and inclusive campus. If you were writing a “Why Muhlenberg” essay, I’d suggest essentially using this as an outline. What Muhlenberg classes or opportunities might allow you to grow as a critical thinker? How might you add to Muhlenberg’s diversity or its inclusive environment?
While you usually don’t want to actually quote the college’s mission statement, using it as a guide will help the admissions counselors see how the school’s a fit for you. It’s also a good way to confirm that your values align well with the college’s mission!
3. Proofread more than ever before.
As you get the hang of these “Why Us” essays, you’ll probably start using the same type of structure for multiple applications. Maybe you’ll start off by talking about your visit, go into the more college-specific details, and finish off by referencing a unique tradition. That’s totally fine - there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel unnecessarily! However, that means that it’s more important than ever before to review each essay draft carefully. You don’t want to be writing an essay for the University of Michigan and leave an Ohio State reference in there!