This is concerning the “Why our university?” supplements that most universities ask applicants to write. In all of mine, I simply wrote an anecdote and elaborated on my curiosity and eagerness to learn etc etc.
I didn’t actually write “my curiosity” and “eagerness to learn” but I wrote about science and engineering in the context of space travel because I find that interesting and I thought that would show the university what sort of a student/person I was. I also wrote about what attracted me to space travel and engineering. And then I wrote 2, maybe 3, sentences on how some specific things within that university would help me achieve my goals in engineering and space travel and so on.
However, I’ve seen a LOT of applicants write about specific research projects, professors and courses. Some also talk about clubs and visits and how wonderful the campus and curriculum is. I personally didn’t go for that because I would just be looking up things about the university on their website and then reiterating them along with how much I liked them. It seemed tedious and I know I would have sounded insincere because I can’t even visit any of those universities.
My question is which is the kind of essay that adcoms prefer? I think I might have hurt my chances by mostly writing about myself in my essays. But then again, why would a university want you to tell them how great they are when they’re trying to admit you? They already know about the research projects and the courses and the professors and the curriculum. I’m just so confused about this. I know there’s no “right” essay but which kind is viewed more favorably and why?
A lot of applicants do write about specifics of a college, because that tends to be what they’re looking for when they ask “Why us?” Why are you a good fit for their university?
It would be easy to write about your curiosity and eagerness to learn and then copy and paste that into all of your supplements. Too generic. They’re looking to see that you did a modicum of in-depth research on their school, and that should be reflected in your essays. It isn’t writing about how great the university is; it’s writing about how you would contribute to the community at this school. Of course they know what resources their school possess, but they want to know if you know that as well, and you are going to utilize those resources.
I used this for writing my “Why” essays: https://www.collegemapper.com/handouts/display/Why-School-X-is-my-Top-Choice-School-Worksheet.
FWIW, @Enthouse, my son approached his essays the same way that you did and was accepted to every school he applied to, so I don’t think that method is necessarily wrong; it’s just different. His feeling was that the school already knows about their programs & professors, but they didn’t know him, his interests, or how he would make use of their resources. He wove info. about each particular college into an essay that was really about him wirh the goal of making himself appear as a 3D person to them. I like that approach better.
Good luck.
I included both perspectives into the “Why our university essays” I started with my interests and strengths, and tied it into how they will help me succeed with the specific resources provided at the university.
austinmshauri has it right. The school knows about themselves and they will see the same gushing essay (the programs, the professors, the …) over and over again. But the story of YOU and why the school would be a good fit for YOU (and vice versa) is unique to you.
In my essays I started talking about my career (major-wise) interests: how I got into them, why I like them, and what they mean to me. Then, I moved on to talk about specifics of the university that have to do with my interests and tastes Usually an interdisciplinary curriculum, labs, research groups/projects, professors. Maybe if I have space I would talk about clubs that I wanted to join because they seemed captivating to me (complemented the “college experience”).
Now, the most important part, in my opinion, about listing facts, is the so what? What will you do with this resources? What goals will you accomplish? I pretty much planned (estimated) what the next 4 years would look for me, having an emphasis on academics but I’d tried to briefly mention student life as well.
Colleges know the things that you are listing, what they don’t know is what you as a person will do with those things.
“Why our university?” is a very broad question. This includes things about the school that you like, but that’s because your reasoning in this response should show why you are a good fit for a college, not simply why you want to go there. It should show how you think you’ll fit in academically, show an interest in participating in various aspects of the campus life, want to participate in research, etc.