Should I mention the student-faculty ratio as a reason for me to apply to a university?

Would that be a good idea?

Is this a “Why X?” essay? If so, there’s no need to parrot their own statistics back at them. I’ve heard what they’re looking for is more how you will take advantage of the opportunities they offer.

My opinion only: the teacher to student ratio is marketing fluff supposedly to highlight the accessibility of the instructors to the students. If any single student has the motivation to speak w/profs during office hours, they get the benefit automatically. The fact is very few students take advantage of it. For the vast majority of students, if the ratio was 1:1, it wouldn’t make much difference.

Perhaps you can mention that since you’re normally very engaging of teachers, that college X’s reputation for teacher accessibility is something you’re excited to utilize … or something to that effect.

That’s about as insightful and compelling as a guy telling a girl he’s attracted to her because she’s under 30.

Does that mean you’d be a pushover for any university that showed you a better ratio?

Unless the ratio for that school is very different from its peers, this doesn’t say anything. For example, if all similar schools were 30-1 and that school was 10-1, then maybe talk up why this is important to you. But, if that school has a ratio that is very similar to its peers then this isn’t a reason for choosing that school.