The "Why" essays

Can I send the same essay to all schools that asks Why “NAME OF THE SCHOOLl”?

I thought I write one “WHY THIS COLLEGE” essay and I change the college names.

<p>Whoa...no...</p>

<p>The admissions people could probably see right through that. They want to see that you're interested in their school specifically.</p>

<p>Sure, if you don't want to get in.</p>

<p>well i have alittle different thought on this. </p>

<p>if you choose schools that's similar(ones fit you), you'd be able to use them with minimal editing.</p>

<p>p.s ; i dont exactly understand how the admissions people could see right through that..</p>

<p>well there is another problem..</p>

<p>i am an international applicant and I don't know much about those schools, I thought I can write an essay about why I want to study in the united states;</p>

<p>I have the same problem as mrtambourineman: I'm an international student and I don't have the chance of meeting a college rep or visiting the campus, so all colleges appear to be the same. In my essay I wrote some universal stuff and (probably not only because of this) I got deferred from ED. Obviously, it was a mistake, but I still don't know how to correct it. I will appreciate any advice! Thx</p>

<p>well there is again another problem.</p>

<p>i don't have the time to write a "why" esssay for each college i am applying to.</p>

<p>A Why X College essay should NEVER be generic. If you can just substitute the college name, it is a bad essay. The point is to be SPECIFIC about the college, showing you have EXPLORED the college and have reasons that are CLEAR and ARTICULATED for feeling it is a good match for you. Colleges want you to express GENUINE interest in attending their school. They want to know that you have chosen a school, not by name, but for reasons why it fits you and you fit them. If you have visited, this is a good time to bring up what you did on the visit, who you spoke with, and what you found appealing. If you have had other contacts related to the college, bring those up. Discuss what you like about THEIR school....be it something in the academic offerings related to your interests, something about campus life there, etc. Bring up ways you see yourself contributing to their school and what you would be participating in if you attended. </p>

<p>If you have not visited, that is not an excuse to not know about a school. In this day and age, you have not only brochures for colleges but every college has a website where you can spend time clicking away and exploring all facets of the school. You should be able to come up with various things that you learned about the school that fits your interests and needs. In fact, if YOU CANNOT say why you want to go, then you have not truly put the time into selecting colleges to apply to and makes me think you are selecting schools by name. Even in casual conversation you should be able to say why you picked each particular school. If you are interviewed (I am am an alum interviewer at a selective college), you will be asked what you did to explore this college and why you want to attend. You will be expected to ask specific questions about the school that indicate you have already done some research. </p>

<p>Not only SHOULD you do this for yourself, colleges will expect and want candidates who have researched their school and found it to be a good fit and express interest. As there are too many qualified candidates to be admitted, things like expressed interest in a school DO matter. </p>

<p>Saying you do not have time to write this for each school is indicative of lack of effort into this process. If you don't want to put the time into your application, that is fine but it will show. My kids wrote Why X College for every single school on their list....if it was not a required prompt, they spoke to it in their cover letters. This is also where they let them know of many contacts/meetings etc. they had had on their campus visits. But you don't have to have visited a school to explore it. You just need to take the time. </p>

<p>Susan</p>

<p>I'm an international applicant who had the same problems.
Well, the only thing you can do is research. I spent hours looking through the internet and websites looking for information of the schools I was interested. And there are a lot of books out there about choosing the right school with tons of information so if you buy 2~3 of them you can know pretty much of any school. I read the books first and looked up the stuff I read in the websites and it helped a lot.</p>

<p>Elements of colleges to research:
1. Specific majors and academic programs (i.e. poly sci is different at every univ. my S applied to).
2. Specific professors you would like to study with and what they have done
3. Specific extracurricular activities (i.e. Debate Club, newspaper, radio station)
4. Specific type of housing offered (i.e. residential colleges offer a different lifestyle than off-campus freshmen dorms)
5. Location (i.e. urban or rural) and why it appeals to you
6. Specific study abroad programs or internship opportunities</p>

<p>The idea is to be specific in your essay, otherwise at your reach or match schools you could be rejected because they think you are sending out blanket applications and don't really care or connect with their school. </p>

<p>And yes, it takes work and time. A couple of hours online for each school, at the very least.</p>

<p>"i am an international applicant and I don't know much about those schools, I thought I can write an essay about why I want to study in the united states;"</p>

<p>That's not good enough. You find out about colleges by reading thoroughly their web sites, using sites like this one, and by following up with the colleges' admissions office if you have questions that the web sites don't answer.</p>

<p>Generic essays won't get you anywhere. Understandably, the colleges will figure that if you are too lazy to find out information about them, you will not have any idea what you would be getting into by going to their college, and you might not stay around.</p>

<p>well I did that, but I just tweaked them slightly to make them a little more personal. I got into both of them so I think you should be fine. haha just dont screw up and forget to change "yale" to "harvard" :)</p>