<p>When writing your personal statement, is it a good idea to mention the college that the essay is for?
For example, writing "And thats why I want to attend college X" or "I believe I can contribute y to college X..." (of course, more elegantly phrased). </p>
<p>Or do colleges not care one way or the other?</p>
<p>I think its a good idea to reference the colelge, but only if you have some valid reason.
Don't just say something like : i want to attend XYZ because its highly ranked in this field...</p>
<p>I don't quite understand what you're saying... what would qualify as a valid reason?</p>
<p>I'd say not to. They know you want to attend...and unless you cite other characteristics of the college, in a subtle way while writing about something eles (unless it is the prompt). Just tacking it on a sentence or two to the end of an essay is...probably not a good idea. It had been done before and can be seen as cliched.</p>
<p>The only exceptions might be if the prompt said "why do you want to attend XYZ College, and what do you offer to the rest of the campus community?" If they mention the college in the essay, I'm thinking you should too. YMMV.</p>
<p>It really depends on your prompt. If it asks what you can offer, then you might mention it somewhere. If its something else like what did you get in your educational experience so far, it shouldnt include the college.</p>
<p>What i'm trying to say is it'll work if you find a unique aspect of that particular college that you really like.
Example if you want to study anthropology and they have a really unique course structure for anthropology, you could say that you're really interested in that.
or look up the professors, if anyone's research interests you, you could say you'r really interested in working with that person</p>
<p>Well, you already have a "why X university"..
You do have to know how to sell yourself. But instead of just repeting "BUY ME ! BUY ME!", try "this is what i'm selling". If what you're selling is what they're looking for, thay'll buy you. And they know what they want, no need to remind them.</p>
<p>thing is.. if you didnt want to attend XYZ college, why the heck would you apply? so it jusst looks like a verbose attempt to make the essay look personal.. just write a nice essay... they know u want to attend</p>
<p>Antarius, thats generally true...and thats the way it should be.
But with most of the top universities, lots of people apply for the heck of it (prestige, peer pressure, parental pressure etc.)... so its good if you can demonstrate that you're truly interested in attending the college.</p>
<p>hm.. point taken badman89</p>
<p>i rephrase that to say "If you REALLY want to attend from the bottom of your heart, it shows even without the verbose facade"</p>
<p>"i rephrase that to say "If you REALLY want to attend from the bottom of your heart, it shows even without the verbose facade""</p>
<p>I don't understand how you can REALLY show you want to attend a specific college from the bottom of your heart without including them in the essay. A personalized essay is probably your best attempt (and ED obviously)</p>