Is saying the exact steps you would take at a college to achieve your goals an effective way to demonstrate why the college is right for you?
I’m finding it very difficult to justify by directly answering the question on “why” a number of colleges are best for me as it’s difficult to logically persuade myself that a certain college necessarily has opportunities that no other college would have, especially since I’m applying to multiple highly selective colleges. I feel like noting small class sizes, the city connections, reputation, and even the general atmosphere simply isn’t going to cut it when the acceptance rates range from 22% to just 7%.
If it helps, I’m applying to transfer to Vassar, Davidson, UPenn, Cornell, and JHU.
The “why XYZ college?” prompt is actually asking about you - why/how do you fit into the college. They already w about themselves; they want to know why they should pick you to be part of their community.
“I feel like noting small class sizes, the city connections, reputation, and even the general atmosphere simply isn’t going to cut it”
If those are why you want to go, then mention them. However, explain what you will DO with them and why they should want you. Also, I suggest trying to find something more specific than that; don’t be vague, because they’re going to get a ton of generic essays simply reciting the website back to them.
@Scholarme @marisa58 so would planning out my academic and professional career at the college be an effective way to answer the question?
Or should I focus on my personal traits and how they fit the atmosphere of the college? If it’s the latter, I’m not sure how I would do this, as though I can demonstrate my drive/empathy in the main common app essay, that just makes me a good fit for just about any college that takes pride in its academics and the philanthropic work its graduates do.
@screen8888 I think there are a multitude of effective ways to answer the question, it’s just how well you put it into words. Think of it as a first date; you’re trying to convince the college why it should like you.
First of all you must write why you want to study there and something information about you which can convince that you are clever. Don’t write just I’m better than other, write that you did before, you achievements, how you reached it, about your success at school. Read all information about college, show them that you must study there, that you are ready to study right now. Write about you’ll do in college: play in the soccer team, be a leader at a debates or anything else. Also you can read helpful information, look here http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/studyadvice/StudyResources/Essays/sta-planningessay.aspx try to find minds of other students to make your opinion. Write different kinds about essay and then read it, this way to have a structure of your essay. If you fell so hard in this, you’ll use special service I usually use this https://essaycool.com Try to control yourself, rewrite essay 2 or 3 times, and every day you will see you mistakes. I hope my advise is helpful. I sure that you will have success! Good luck!
Talk about yourself. And then in the end, relate that to the college. In all of mine, I wrote about my interest in space exploration and human curiosity and how it is a source of pride for all humans everywhere and so on. And just in the end, I mentioned the university’s programs and how it would help make my dream a reality or learn about the subject blah blah. The university knows it’s great. They want to know more about you and why THEY should pick YOU.
Of course, there are a number of ways to answer this question. Do whatever comes to you more naturally.
Edit: Oh but I haven’t gotten a decision from any of the universities I submitted this essay for so there is that heh.