Question on the "Why do you want to go to this college" Essay

<p>I'm really confused about this essay. Are colleges looking for a straightforward answer, with you listing and explaining several reasons for why you want to go to that college, or is it more like a "story" of how you would fit in? </p>

<p>more straight forward, the better </p>

<p>I wouldn’t write about what the school could offer you as for the reason you want to go the school. As an example, School X has the best business, hotel, CS…department with great campus, blah, blah, blah. The reason being is they already know that. They don’t need you tell them what they have to offer to their students. I would write more about what YOU could offer to the school. It could be along the line of, I am very interested in blah, I have done extensive research (volunteer) in this area, I know your school has a strong program in this, if I should attend your school I could contribute or continue my area of interest. This is another good opportunity to showcase yourself.</p>

<p>My daughter’s “why Uofwhatever” essay for her first choice school began with an anecdote from her school visit, discussed their unique curriculum and how that fits her plans for the future, and focused on what SHE loves about the school’s vibe. When I saw it, my thought was “don’t change a thing” because it did a great job of explaining what makes that school the place she wants to be. All in 250 words. It was not a cookie-cutter response, but one that came from the heart.</p>

<p>^ I usually do something similar - mine for my ED school is much different than this format, but I usually start off with an anecdote about my parents forcing me to go visit the school (which is usually how it goes), but then slowly realising that I love it and how certain aspects of my visit or the school (classes, professors, clubs, etc.) fit in with what I love.</p>

<p>Ooooo, the why question.</p>

<p>I agree with oldfort. Telling the school what you would do and the things you would love to participate in if you attended gets you big brownie points. make sure to not just say, oh, well i wanna get a career and be successful, write how you plan to do it if the school were to get you in. Start off with anything like, a story of how you want to be in your career and then why you think the school is the best for that. do your research, if you haven’t already, and mention clubs or sports or research that the school offers that you would love to join. All the while remember that admissions reads an extensive amount of essays, and yours should stand out. the best way to do that is to write honestly.</p>

<p>sorry for my bad letter-case and punctuation I’m doing this from my mobile and its a pain in the you know wheres.</p>