<p>These specific college topics seems to be the most limiting.</p>
<p>I'm sure most people apply because of a school's prestige or because it offers the "top" program (ex. engineering), but you can't directly say for its prestige without being superficial and other colleges have a greater or just as good program.</p>
<p>They want to see passion for their school, but how would you answer this question without the hackney cliche: "Oh I've passionate since I've been little about Stanford" kind of thing.</p>
<p>My strategy was naming very specific things about their school. Don’t write the kind of sentences where you can replace the college name with another college, and it’d still make sense. I named specific classes that I wanted to take, and some personal anectdotes that related to the school. For one school (with a studious, somewhat nerdy reputation) I mentioned the kinship I felt at seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on their campus bestseller shelf at the student store.</p>
<p>That’s a good argument for not doing what most people [allegedly] do. Select a school based on what about that school appeals to and interests you - other than supposed prestige - and write about that.</p>
<p>My DD has one essay already written in her head, something like: “I want to go to [college] because when I was at the open house, I was impressed by the neuroscience professor who talked about the way they work closely with their majors to make sure they’re prepared for graduate school, and I really liked how enthusiastic the Russian professor was about his subject.” She plans to include the actual names of the profs who she talked to in the essay.</p>
<p>At my suggestion, she wrote down what she did and didn’t like about each school as we were leaving our visits, while it was fresh in her mind. Therefore, she has something specific and positive to say in her essays about each school.</p>
<p>Of course, this implies that you actually take the time to learn something about each school you’re applying to instead of just picking it off an arbitrary and meaningless list published by a defunct magazine.</p>
<p>This essay boils down to your telling the school why they (the school) is awsome.</p>
<p>Half the essay should be easy – there should be some reason (i.e., size of school, programs, location, rural/urban, etc. etc. etc.) that led you to decide to apply to begin with. Once you establish an academic fit, then why is this school special. If you visited the school, what about the visit stood out? Did you go to a class – if so, you can always say something like “I went to Professor <strong><em>'s class and liked it because _</em></strong>” (btw, if you do go to a class introduce yourself to the prof and write a thank you email).</p>
<p>If this doesn’t work – go to the University’s web site, and find what their their ‘mission’ and philosophy is. You can always say that you note that the University claims that it is _________" and this fits in with your goals. (less good, but will get you through the essay – and it does show that you took the time to research the school).</p>
<p>Finally, if you visited, and all else fails – talk about ‘intangibles’ how you loved the campus and felt at home (btw, if you can’t any of this write this, you should probably consider why you are applying to the school at all.)</p>