<p>Or should you write very objectively?</p>
<p>i think they just want straight forward essays more or less, not sure though.</p>
<p>make it personal but include objective info.</p>
<p>i feel info like “I love X school so much. I have wanted to go there my entire life.” is on the brown-nosing side.</p>
<p>I’m interested in this question as well, anyone else?</p>
<p>I believe this essay is fairly straight forward - but do show that you care enough about the school to have done some research about it. For example, do mention a program or activity that they offer that has piqued your interest. Don’t just talk about the location, ie, I want to attend college in Boston. That’s great, but it doesn’t speak to why you want to attend Boston University specifically. If you visited the school and had interaction with a faculty member, mention it. If you visited the school and ate in a dining facility, or attended a football game, mention it - how it made you feel - how you could see yourself in this environment. This essay should be an easy one - you don’t have to overdo it - but demonstrate enthusiasm for the school and what it has to offer.</p>
<p>Creatively written (I don’t mean written like a joke or a poem) answers to short answer questions on apps make a student stand out in a good way. One also can stand out if one’s answer reveals that you’ve done some research on the school such as citing an interest in specific courses, professors or extracurriculars. Unfortunately, most students kiss off the short answer questions instead of putting as much thought into them as they do their essays.</p>
<p>i think rockvillemom’s post is very accurate</p>
<p>Just don’t be generic-- about yourself and your motivations or about the school itself.</p>
<p>I think they want a straightforward essay. The creative writing has been shown on other parts of the application so now, I’d just get on with it and pinpoint the EXACT reasons for attending the desired institution.</p>
<p>Usually this is a VERY short essay, and they have heard it all. If there is something specific for you–good. But it is okay just to be you. I wouldn’t do a gimmick, though it could work here (ala Gatekeepers Carter Bays.) My kid’s WHY was lame-ish and generic, I’d guess, and she got in.</p>
<p>What the College Board says about short answer essays:</p>
<p>“Short-answer questions that ask for only a paragraph response should be approached with the same care and attention your child gives to the full-length essay. The writing process is the same. Your child should just reduce the introduction and conclusion to a sentence each. Your child should try to make her topic vivid in a few lines and never sacrifice specifics.”
[What’s</a> in a College Essay?](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>How to Write a College Application Essay That Stands Out – BigFuture)</p>
<p>More tips about short answer essays and more evidence that one should provide specifics for the “why our school” essay prompts.</p>
<p>"The short answer section of a college application carries less weight than the personal essay, but it still matters. To make sure your short answer shines, steer clear of these five common problems.
- Vagueness
Unfortunately, it’s easy to write 150 words that don’t actually say anything. College applicants often answer the short answer in broad, unfocused terms. “Swimming has made me a better person.” “I have taken more of a leadership role in my life because of theater.” “Orchestra has impacted me in many positive ways.” Phrases such as these really don’t say much. How are you a better person? How are you a leader? How exactly has orchestra impacted you? When you discuss the importance of an activity, do so in concrete and specific terms…"
[Short</a> Answer Mistakes - Five Mistakes to Avoid on the Common Application Short Answer Section](<a href=“http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/tp/short-answer-mistakes.htm]Short”>Short Answer Essays: Avoid These Application Mistakes)</p>
<p>I think specifics and/or humor can make a short answer memorable if really honest not fabricated. I once read a short essay that mentioned the student’s visit and while he spoke about how the academic fit (with very specific references to facilities and faculty) was perfect, the quality of the boston-creme pie at the cafeteria was an important element in the decision mix. I wrote about how the “traditions” I observed on campus made me feel welcome and excited to be part of Duke (the rivalry in the painting of the frat benches, the lines for basketball tickets, the gospel choir performance in the cathedral) and the admissions officer told me that this response was an important factor (for a 1250/1600 SAT applicant) in my admission.</p>