So I’m finding myself having to write a lot of these types of essay. While I’ve found compelling and specific reasons for each college, I find myself confused about what the best structure for these essays would be. Should I attempt to work in almost every reason why I want to attend or should I stick to one or two reasons that I can attach to a compelling background story about why they’re important to me? Similarly, should I try to make it more of a piece by piece list or should I write it in a story format? What method are you trying or what has worked for you in the past?
I’ve read a few essays written on this, I think it should be short and memorable. Not too short but not a long list. And don’t echo back whats on their brochures.
Don’t try sucking up to the colleges. Define yourself in a way that portrays you as a fit for the school.
At the end of the day, they want to know why THEY should accept YOU.
Tell them why their school would be a good fit… and why you would be a good fit for them.
Thanks everyone but I’m still looking for an answer to the question I actually asked if anyone has any helpful input they’d be able to add.
Skip the generic. They know if their college has a great rep, is pretty, offers study abroad, has satisfied students and great profs. Make it personal.
Here is what you need: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1705515-some-help-with-why-this-school.html
I keep forgetting that every year, a new crop of students check in here and might not see this from the year before.
Okay yeah that’s cool and all but I really just need an answer to what type of format the best essays of this type take. I appreciate your trying to help but let me assure you I already thoroughly understand about making sure it’s personal and using specific examples and so forth. What my question is asking is whether I should try to include a broad spectrum of things at the college I like or should I stick to just one or two and dedicate more of my word count to giving the background on those one or two interests. If anyone could just answer the question I asked that’d be great.
I thought I answered your question. Don’t include the whole list. It’s suppose to be short essay. Not a long essay. I saw the why Yale in one paragraph,
You are waaay over thinking this. It’s not an essay for AP class or some national contest. It’s a comfortable paragraph that shows why you think you and the college will be a nice match. If you really know a college and why you like it, this should be easy.
And that Stanford Why may have worked then, but it’s long and chatty.