<p>Hello! As I begin my common app application, a common question I notice among universities is the "Why Us?"</p>
<p>I have been doing extensive research on all the schools I plan to apply to, but I am afraid of giving them cookie-cutter responses. For example, I like Tufts because many of it students are able to study abroad and it is in a great city - Boston. But those same things apply to Harvard and Brandeis, for example...</p>
<p>How should i "get specific" when I answer these questions? I haven't visited most of the colleges I am planning to apply to - and unfortunately I won't be able to.</p>
<p>You need to be specific. A moment on the tour…a line in the advertising…a story about an alum. Something irrelevant and insignificant…but something only you might have felt or noticed. Everyone wants to be in Boston, so it’s not about location, it’s about people. Everyone loves to hear what they said played back to them.</p>
<p>Also…show interest as much as possible. Spend a night if offered. Go to meetings at school or in the region. Observable, measurable interest level matters.</p>
<p>If you spend enough time with / at the school…the answer will present itself. </p>
<p>^^^^^^ that is too generic.</p>
<p>Talk about specific programs that only the school has. </p>
<p>@WhartonnotHYPS. Yeah, I think that’s a good idea too. I’m applying to U-Rochester because I am very interested in their optical engineering/optics program, a degree that is unique to that school. Funny enough they aren’t asking ‘Why Rochester’?</p>
<p>As for Tufts, I don’t know what to say. At a first glance, these selective rigorous universities all have generally the same programs, and I can’t really say much about their vibe/culture, because I can’t and will not visit their campuses.</p>
<p>Something only you might have felt of noticed…generic? </p>
<p>I’m sure the Wharton folks don’t get too many essays about access to Liberal Arts courses. It’s got to be more personal than “you offer” rhetoric. </p>
<p>@Ctesiphon that could be your “Meliora” experience haha.</p>
<p>When a school ask you to write about “why x school,” they are not as interested as what the school could do for you (because they already know what they bring to the table), they are more interested in what YOU could bring to the school. I would write about your academic interests, as well as your ECs, and how your interests could be real assets to the school. This should make it easy for you because you could use the same essay for all schools.</p>
<p>“For example, I like Tufts because many of it students are able to study abroad and it is in a great city - Boston.”</p>
<p>You need to tell them something they don’t already know. They already know that they offer study abroad programs and they already know that they are in Boston. They also know they have lots of smart students, very good professors, an attractive campus, and so on. Do not say those things. </p>
<p>Oldfort is exactly right. The question is not REALLY “what do you like about us?” but “what is it about you that would add to our life here on campus.” What you can do for them – not what they can do for you. They already know what they can do for you.</p>
<p>Why would you be a worthwhile addition to their campus? Why you, as opposed to Joe Schmoe next door?</p>
<p>Thank you for the answers</p>
<p>I want to make it clear that the the example I put in the OP is not something I said - I was more so just looking for ways on how I should make it “unique”. I shouldn’t be able to copy a “Why X University” essay and paste it elsewhere.</p>