What truly makes a “Why are you interested in this university?” essay unique? I am currently a junior, so I have not yet researched everything about the colleges I plan on applying to, but I have been on many campus visits, and superficially, they all seem kind of the same. I have been given advice to go to the universities’ websites and read specifically about different programs they offer, but even then, I’m not fully convinced that this can allow me to write a “unique” essay; after all, if enough applicants write their essays based on the same programs, then the variance of the content of each essay will certainly be limited. Any advice?
FWIW (I’m a parent, not a GC of Adcom), I don’t think this where they are looking for unique as much as fit. I have heard from adcoms that they have read answers in which an applicant cited the strength of a non-existent program/major or wrote something really generic (i.e., good academics.)
If you can bring something to the school that they want (i.e., you have an interest in immigration issues and this school has volunteer programs in the city where it is located working with immigrant populations), that’s great. It also helps to mention something that you noted on one of those visits that appealed to you or something in a conversation with the rep when he/she visited your school. There are a lot of schools that are reluctant to admit someone who they don’t feel has a genuine interest – this is your chance to show that the connection is real and that you think it’d be a good fit.
I suspect that they do read a fair amount of the same and that’s probably fine. At the same time, I’m also going to guess that a number of applications reveal themselves to be “why not?” applications.
My kids sat in on classes when visiting, and sometimes looked at things beyond the tour that they had an interest in. That gave them some fodder. They also reviewed the website carefully to find specific majors or minors, courses offered, facilities specific to the college, and clubs they wanted to participate in. They thought about specific strengths of the college and how it fit with their background.
Obviously, your Why essay is probably not going to be super unique seeing as admission officers have read hundreds of thousands of essays. Just write from the heart. If it was sitting in on a class and feeling inspired by a particular Socratic discussion about ethics, write about that. If it was the campus vibe and the atmosphere, write about that. Don’t try to force some obscure facet of a school into your essay to try to stand out. Talk to alumni. Talk to teachers. Reach out to admissions. Research programs.
Here is a nice link http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/19126368
It doesn’t have to be unique. It just has to be engaging and revealing of something positive about yourself.
Another way to view the essay is this: it is more about what “you” bring to them, rather the other way around. If you can talk about the character traits that make you unique and connect that to the things you love/make you a good fit to the college, that would be ideal. The college already knows how awesome they are and how they might be a great “home” for many students, but they are looking to get to know you more and why you would thrive in such an environment while making sure you have taken the time to think about the question.
doesnt really have to be unique. Just make sure you elaborate on how you could contribute to the university
With thousands of applicants, being unique is next to impossible. Instead of fretting out on being unique, try to be genuine in your essay. You must have certain goals and aspirations that the particular university can help you in achieving it. Write about how university can contribute to your dreams and how you can contribute to taking the university forward. Read about the university carefully, write about the program of your choice and just be honest with your essay.
@gardenstategal - You have said it well. Students forget that the “Why X” needs to be about them and why the school is a good fit. Almost always they talk about the school and how great it is. Wrong answer.
btw, if you don’t have a good response to “Why X,” maybe it is not the school for you.
Presumably, they want to see that your reasons unique to that particular college (as opposed to unique to you), rather than reasons shared with other, more selective colleges that the college’s applicants also often apply to.
I think the emphasis should be less on unique and more on things specific to the school. What do you like about school x that you couldn’t find anywhere else?
The “Why” essay offers less opportunity to stand out than the Common App essay. So do not be too hard on yourself. My understanding is that what impresses admissions officers in an essay that shows that you have thought hard and researched the match between your abilities and the school’s offerings. They like to see that you are aware of exactly what they have to offer. My recommendation to students is to be as specific as possible about courses, professors, extracurriculars, and anything else that shows you did more research than other students who gave generic answers.
You know, I think for the most part my kids DID have unique “Why X” essays. One kid liked that you could get involved in bee keeping in the campus small farm – in combination with a fencing club and being strong in sending kids to grad school in her specific major. Also a quiz competition that is held on campus yearly appealed to her. She also mentioned the great Thai restaurant near campus. 
I am guessing they didn’t see that combo of interests from any other kid. What they want is to see that you took the time to dig into what the college has to offer. If they could take your essay and apply it to the college down the street – well, that is not good.
The Boston University admissions website used to have examples of bad essays posted. One applicant wrote an eloquent essay to answer “Why BU” in which he extolled the values of a Jesuit education. Boston University is secular, Boston College is the Jesuit school. The adcom did call the rejected applicant to inform him of his mistake.
Thanks for all of your responses. Here’s a followup question: when I’m researching what the school has to offer, I’d assume that when I’m writing my essay, I’d be using information taken from that college’s website or other sources. How would I cite in that instance (for one of the colleges I am applying to, I want to reference a book about that college) in order to avoid plagiarism, or is this not a big deal?