Better to Include Extracurricular Activities or Career Plans in Personal Statements?

Hey guys, so I think we all know how important college essays and personal statements are when it comes to admissions. However, I’ve never really understood what college admission officers and advisors look for in them. When you include hundreds of candidates applying as well, I have doubts as to whether they truly hold such personal essays in high regard. The college essay prompts I’m working on seem to be geared as “Why be interested in us” questions. I’ve brainstormed a few ideas to take, most of them focusing on stories and achievements.

Environmental protection and nature are longstanding passions of mine, and they’re subjects that I’ve wanted to demonstrate through either extracurriculars, projects, or career interests. However, they aren’t exactly my ultimate career goals for college. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly want to integrate them in some way.

Overall, is it best to write mostly on my career plans and interests as a way to connect with what admissions officers are looking for? Or just stick to highlighting extracurricular activities that illustrate my passion for the environment?

So what sort of colleges? Any Why Us sort of question wants to learn what you know about them, how you’ve thought this through. Not, “I want to be X and you offer that program.”

I’m not sure how you think “stories and achievements” show why you’re interested in them. Not directly, at least. Nor what the deal is about ECs. Are they asking you to expain your ECs or career goals here? Or, “Why be interested in us?”

@lookingforward I’m mainly keen on applying to CSUs, particularly Cal Poly Pomona, and a couple of UCs, UCI being of great interest to me. Okay, so I understand then, by your viewpoint, that we share what we know about them. Then I’m uncertain how I would address that part. Doesn’t that become synonymous to a job interview then?

From my understanding, it seems to be phrased more as “Why be interested in us?”. But with respect to the stories and achievements I mentioned earlier, I meant rather that there were past accomplishments that exhibit some sort of quality, or some aspect of character. I had previously thought that perhaps ECs were an additional way to introduce different aspects of myself to them, but I have doubts on that now. I’m honestly unsure how one would respond to these kinds of prompts.

So, why are you interested in them? Think of more than, “Good college” in the CSU or UC system."
Once you catch that, yes, you can tie it to some experience. Just show some knowledge of the schools. This is less important for CSUs than others.

IMO, the essay is not the place to be rehashing ECs or accomplishments that are already address in other parts of the application. My daughter used the “why us” essays to highlight why that particular’s school’s program was the right fit for her. For one school it was because of a certain connection she made with a professor and her research. At another it was centered around her meeting with the dean of the eng. college. For her top school, she spelled out in no uncertain terms that they were her top school and had very specific reasons why. I believe that essay started by describing the robot that handed her a rain poncho during their summer session while tunes from the musical Hamilton were being belted out. The common thread was that what she wrote highlighted that she had done her homework on the school and she knew how her strengths would be a good fit for them.

I agree with the previous commenter. You have already told the colleges about your extracurricular activities. They want to know that you’ve done your research about their institution and you are genuinely interested in applying and attending. I would suggest putting specific references to clubs/facilities/professors/programs unique to their institution to show that you’ve done your research and are enthusiastic about what they offer.