<p>There was a thread about this a few months ago that, despite my searching, I have been unable to dig up. If you can find it, great. If not, I have a couple of questions:</p>
<p>How do you approach the "Why _<strong><em>?" essay without sounding contrived?<br>
How can you write about "Why _</em></strong>?" without echoing what thousands of other students will say (and is that even possible)?<br>
Which approach is more effective - a day in the life or a paragraph about the things you like?
Is it better to focus on one or two aspects or is it better to name a couple of factors, like four or five?
What should you do if you main reason for choosing a college is a combination of weaker factors + location or financial aid?</p>
<p>What in particular about Yale has influenced your decision to apply?</p>
<p>“I want to go to Yale because it’s freakin’ prestigious. All of my friends have heard of it, and so if I go I’ll get some serious ego stroking; I can’t possibly pass up such a glorious opportunity. Furthermore, since I can only see myself being a doctor, lawyer, or investment bankerI mean, what other jobs exist?going to a school ranked high up on various ranking lists is clearly my only option. Finally, despite the fact I don’t know jack **** about your college other than what’s on its Wikipedia page and from what I read on an Internet forum, I feel I would fit in perfectly. I also have small genitalia.”</p>
<p>For more handy tips on “Why X” essays, there are a few more threads consolidated here:</p>