" Why (insert college here)" Essays?

Parent Cafe
21

<p>Okay, I'm still not understanding this. I've never even heard of using a cover letter until now and I've read at least four admissions books. It seems redundant to mention what will be included with my admissions materials. I've always heard adcoms time is precious and you don't want to waste it. Why would it be better to include this "cover letter" that tells them what they're getting and randomly throw in a paragraph about why I want to go there instead of just writing a Why Middlebury essay, which is really all I'm looking to tell them. Is there something that I'm just not understanding about this cover letter? Also, I'm the type of person that learns by example...so does anyone have an example of what a cover letter looks like so i could format mine accordingly. And wouldn't a cover letter seem pretentious. Every book I've read mentions that a resume seems like you think you're more important than you really are...wouldn't a cover letter be even worse?</p>

<p>I'm sorry if this sounded like I'm attacking you opinions. That wasn't my intention, I'm just trying to understand the concept and just coming home from a long frustrating day of school doesn't make it too easy.</p>

22

<p>A cover letter would be a standard part of sending a package of materials in business correspondence. No more than one page, providing the "executive summary" of what is in the package, who is sending it, and why you are sending it.</p>

<p>It would generally start with a simple statement that you are applying as an Early Decison (or Regular) for the Class of XXX. Followed by two short paragraphs, one providing the facts of your background -- type of town, type of high school, key academic and EC strengths, the other providing the key reasons for selecting Podunk -- how many times you've visited, who you've met with, etc.</p>

<p>Finally, it should contain a list of the materials in the package as well of a list of materials being sent separately.</p>

<p>Closing with the key nuts and bolts facts: Name, Address, e-mail, phone number, soc. security number for easy filing and reference.</p>

<p>The goal of a good cover letter (and the goal of every part of a college application) is to make it easy for the adcoms to picture an "identity" for you in their minds and see how your "identity" could add something to campus life. A strong cover letter is a one-page summary of to highlight what you have selected to emphasize in the overall application.</p>

<p>Does it make any difference? Depends on the school. At the very least, it should make it easier for someone to file your application properly, ensure that they have the relevant contact information, and provide a checklist of materials being sent.</p>

23

<p>Pyewacket asked:
"My D is applying to a school that does not require a "Why here?" essay. She will be using the Common App essay "your own topic" which will be a reflection of some aspects of her personal experience --should she include in this essay specific references to why This College offers her unique opportunites to fulfill her personal goals and how her experience would enable her to contribute to the College community? Or is it better to create a more "literary" thematic unity for the essay on it own terms?"</p>

<p>I would not use the regular essay prompts for a Why X college essay. The regular essay would indeed bring out something about her personally and hopefully those qualities are attractive to the college and the essay helps them get to know her better. If there is not a Why X college essay, the kinds of things you might have said in that about why this college specficially appeals to you, could be included in the cover letter. </p>

<p>Cathymee asked: " how would you suggest including a cover letter when using the online application for a school..as an accompanying document?
Maybe I'm naive, but this is the very first time I've heard of using a cover letter...DS is currently finishing the U Mich application.Do you think someone actually takes the time there to read a cover letter?"</p>

<p>Good question. For many reasons, my kids did not use the online applications. You can't have a cover letter with an online application. You can't included an annotated activity/award resume either. We preferred paper apps for that and because of how it could be presented and in one package. I can't tell you if they read the cover letter. A very large school may not. But my kids wrote them to their regional adcom. It was a nice introduction to them and their application. You don't HAVE to do this. The applicant comes across as organized and polished in their presentation. They can let them know what is in this package, what else is coming and from who, when score reports were sent, etc. What if the college is the student's first choice? Where else can you let them know that? A cover letter is a good place. What if there is no Why X college essay? How would you let them know why you want to go there? What if the student has met with several adults and students on campus in various capacities....how would they ever know that? That can be brought up in the cover letter. The personality can come up in the cover letter. Maybe the student can be humorous or give a flavor of who they are. It is a way to introduce oneself, let them know what they'll find in the package and why they want to go to the school and where the school stands for them (if it is a first or top choice, etc.). It is not a MUST. </p>

<p>I've given some general help here but will not be outlining it step by step in a post. InterestedDad also gave some ideas. If you want examples or individualized help with preparing pieces of the application, though the cover letter is a more minor piece but part of a package that should all have some "key points" about you to it, I'd be happy to assist you with college counseling, be it for a single piece like this, or for the whole application. </p>

<p>What I have described in these posts was hopefully meant to be beneficial to many readers. Individualized help or providing samples, or ongoing assistance, I cannot do on the forum. If you need further assistance individually, you can contact me.</p>

24

<p>'You can't included an annotated activity/award resume either'
im doing the online application...but im still going to send in a resume with the other supplementary material ( ill mention that in what else do you want the college to know area).
is that not ok??</p>

25

<p>Sure, you can send stuff under separate cover. We just preferred to have it all in one package and simply liked paper applications better as they offered more flexibility overall. Another example on the paper app was being able to compose the activity chart and to paste it onto the application and make it fit what was in it more easily.</p>

<p>But you can just mail them your resume if you are using an online app.
Good luck.</p>

26

<p>soozievt,</p>

<p>you said:
<<i would="" not="" use="" the="" regular="" essay="" prompts="" for="" a="" why="" x="" college="" essay.="" indeed="" bring="" out="" something="" about="" her="" personally="" and="" hopefully="" those="" qualities="" are="" attractive="" to="" helps="" them="" get="" know="" better.="" if="" there="" is="" essay,="" kinds="" of="" things="" you="" might="" have="" said="" in="" that="" this="" specficially="" appeals="" you,="" could="" be="" included="" cover="" letter.="">></i></p><i would="" not="" use="" the="" regular="" essay="" prompts="" for="" a="" why="" x="" college="" essay.="" indeed="" bring="" out="" something="" about="" her="" personally="" and="" hopefully="" those="" qualities="" are="" attractive="" to="" helps="" them="" get="" know="" better.="" if="" there="" is="" essay,="" kinds="" of="" things="" you="" might="" have="" said="" in="" that="" this="" specficially="" appeals="" you,="" could="" be="" included="" cover="" letter.="">

<p>Thanks,for your response, but I think the themes my D will touch on in her essay are in fact central to her specific preference for This College--her life experience is what shapes her preference in this case--so do you think that would be OK? </p>

<p>I confess, I'm also a little uncomfortable with the cover letter idea -- is that in fact common practice these days?</p>
</i>

27

<p>thnx..
i really prfr the paper app. as well but sadly i can not use that option as the only method of payment I have is thru credit card.</p>

28

<p>hopeful219 - you are not alone with your inability to visit. My D was unable to finance visits as well. She found that, after reading material from several colleges, she could easily figure out what the college thought they were offering that was different from other colleges. If that fitted her, she used it in her essay and explained the match. In the UK this is known as "feeding them back their prospectus", but there obviously needs to be a match. Also, Soozievt's thoughts about contacting people from a club or two that you would want to join was a very successful tactic that worked well for my D. When the contact was a positive one, D felt it was another plus for attending and wrote about that. Most clubs post a contact person and there are always questions about how the club operates which can usually be asked by email. While I agree that accepting a place without visiting is less than ideal, my D did exactly that and is so happy that she will not consider any study abroad plan. Interestingly enough, her off-campus interviewer had done the same thing. I have wondered if this inability to visit didn't also confirm our family's requirement of significant need-based financial aid in order to attend. Hope this helps.</p>

29

<p>Pyewacket....there are no hard and fast rules and I doubt a cover letter is all that common with many applicants. I don't think you should do anything you feel uncomfortable about. Everyone approaches these things differently. I realize your D's main essay gets to the heart of her personality, experiences, which dovetails with the specific school nicely. My kids' many regular app essays also showed who they were and one could infer that these things were a bit of a match with the school. But those essays did not discuss specifics AT the school or anything about the visits or people they've talked to. The essays showed who they were and obviously that shows why they might be a good fit with the school to some degree. But the Why X college essay was different. It was specifically discussing what about that particular school the kid found appealing and what she might do when she gets there, as well as who she talked with or what she did to investigate the school. For some colleges, they had a couple regular app essays AND a Why X college essay, so you see, they were not one in the same. But if they did not have the Why X College essay, my kids included that stuff in a paragraph within the cover letter. The cover letter, however, even without that stuff in it, still served a purpose in terms of effort and attention and a sense of organization/polish and an introduction to the student and what was included, what was coming from others, or possible mentioning if this school was a first choice or top choice and why, etc. It was simply a different purpose than the essays. A cover letter is NOT essential. I do think if a school has no Why X College prompt, that there is no place else to really discuss why you want to go there (this is not exactly the same as talking about yourself where they infer you are a good match for them), or to mention who you have met with or what you have done on visits (hopefully beyond info. sessions and tours), and so forth. </p>

<p>Some place you really want to express interest. Just where in your materials you do that, is up to you. If the app comes across as the same app the student sent to ten different colleges or one that was tailored to this college, might make a difference in someone's eyes. It does not get you in but when there are many who are qualified and someone is reading many apps, it is nice to show effort, attention to detail, organization, and specific interest in THEIR school. Just my opinion. There are no rules of how to do this but something to think about and plan. The upshot should be that when someone is done reading the application, they have come to KNOW you (could describe you with some adjectives or bullet points) and also to be able to ascertain just how interested you are in them, and if you fit what they are looking for. A Why X college essay or a cover letter can drive those points home in addition to the rest of the application that might speak to these matters. Some place they need to learn that you like A, B, C about this specific school, and you can offer D, E, and F that dovetails so well with A, B, and C. And that you plan to participate in these things if you attend (showing how you will contribute to the student body). </p>

<p>The regular essays deal more with who you are, your experiences, your personality, your writing skills. I feel my kids' regular essays were not written in the same style as an essay of why they want to go to Podunk or the cover letter. Those were more explanatory or straightforward, whereas the regular essays were written with more style. </p>

<p>Hope that helps. What my kids did doesn't imply someone else needs to do those things. Further, doing these things is no guarantee that they work or got them in. They may very well have done none of those things and still gotten in where they did. We'll never know. I just think this is one time when they went all out to do everything possible to show themselves in the best light with the most effort. </p>

<p>This is akin to the discussions on whether or not to include a resume/activity sheet. You don't HAVE to do this. But I can simply say when a reader read the application that included an annotated activity document, they surely learned way more about the kid than from the little two inch chart on the application. </p>

<p>It is up to the applicant to decide what they want to do to really SHOW who they are, plus why they want to go and how they fit. This is one time to not just do what is required but to go all out and create a document that shows the most you can, with optimum effort. It may NOT be needed but it can't hurt.</p>

<p>Susan</p>

30

<p>As Susan says, cover letters are not common.</p>

<p>It's up to every student to figure out what to do with their application to make them stand out in a good way. Sometimes it's a fine line to walk between individualizing one's application in a good way or adding too much excess or even bizarre material that simply irritates the adcoms.</p>

31

<p>I will add to the great comment by Northstarmom....I am not into adding too much excess....like extra essays or lots of supplemental materials or anything bizarre or kooky to get attention. I don't see an activity/award resume or cover letter in that light. Adding lots more, however, is cumbersome and might have the opposite affect as to irritate the adcoms. I just know that my own kids used resumes that were annotated activity/award sheets, and topped the app package off with a cover letter to their materials. They were successful applicants and thus I do not think these things hurt them. Whether they helped, we'll never know but I would advise others along these lines. Ultimately it is up to the individual how they want to present themselves. My kids were not using any tactics to make them "stand out" as much as using the materials to show WHO they were (and why they wanted to go). They wanted to do that and the application is the only place, besides an interview, to show yourself, as well as your interest. A student needs to do that, but should figure out the best way that makes sense for him/her to do so. I would not get involved in gimmicks or excessive pieces sent to the admissions office. I would not do extra essays. I would not exceed the ballpark limit on the word counts, and so forth. Resumes or cover letters are not excessive in my view. But certain things are. Determine what feels right for you.</p>

<p>Susan</p>

32

<p>I also think you can read here about what others have done and decide for yourself if that feels right for YOU. An example.....three years ago when I first came to CC, there was one poster who no longer participates, who had many helpful hints based on his two D's experiences. One suggestion he had that his D's did was to copy all corresondence the kid had with those on campus....professors, club people, coaches, directors, dept. heads...whomever the student spoke with or contacted. While my kids also contacted and met with people on their campus visits along these lines and had email contact with them as well, they did so for their own selves, to learn more about the school. They did not do it so much for the adcoms to find out. I could not see copying the many emails they had with such people to the adcoms as that is SO much for them to read. However, I gleaned from his advice and rather than my kids copying every contact they had with those at the college, they summarized in the Why X college essay (IF the application had one, or if not, then in the cover letter) who they met with, what they gleaned from that contact, and what was appealing or why that helped them to realize this was the school for them, so to speak. They did include such information but they did not send extra materials really to accomplish this. They did not copy the correspondene to them. If the school had a Why X College Essay, then they simply included such specifics in that essay. And since they were writing a cover letter to the application anyway, they put this same summary in there if there was not Why X College essay in the application.</p>

33

<p>online application. You can't included an annotated activity/award resume either. >></p>

<p>Actually, Susan, this is not exactly true. The Common Application does allow space for additional information and a well-written activity resume fits quite nicely there. There is also a space on the online common application to list awards. Many of the online individual school applications include a similar space. Additionally, there would be nothing wrong with sending an activity sheet under separate cover, along with the afforementioned cover letter, if you did not want to include it in the online form. One caveat: make sure to include your name, address and social security number on any additional information sent to the school in a separate package to make sure it gets into your folder.</p>

34

<p>My d. used the "Why X?" essay to show what she knew about the school. She expressed strong reservations about going there, noting that the chief professor she wished to study with had just retired (and mentioned him by name), but that, nonetheless, she felt that the opportunities in her field of interest were still strong enough to make her interested in attending. She received their highest academic scholarship.</p>

<p>She didn't use a cover letter - but a "bio in brief" - 10 bullets, short and to the point.</p>

35

<p>I wanted to add a word about visits. It is untrue that you must visit in order to be accepted at a university or college. In fact, many of the Ivy schools dont even track prospective student visits. Colleges and universities do understand that not everyone can afford the time and cost of visiting, especially to schools that require plane flights of many hours. Obviously there are cases where you must visit - say if you have to be there in person to do an audition - but for most students the lack of a visit is not going to wreck your chances as long as you show demonstrated interest in other ways. If this wasn't the case, most international students would never be accepted to US Schools.</p>

<p>That said, demonstrated interest is important at some colleges, but research done annually by the National Association of College Admissions Counselors show that it is most important to small liberal arts colleges and some mid-sized universities. It is also, at best, a TIP factor in admissions, i.e., if it comes down to two candidates with similar stats it may tip the decision in the favor of the person who the admissions committee feels is most likely to attend. The NACAC research shows that demonstrated interest is also more important to less selective schools than to highly selective schools. Demonstrated interest will NOT get you into a school where your stats don't put you in the realm of accepted student stats.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that visiting is not the only way to demonstrate interest. Many schools these days use sophisticated enrollment management tools that allow them to track whether you send back those "send me more information" business reply cards and even how many times you sign on to their web site using that little "personal access code" they've sent you in the mail. Do so, and you demonstrate interest.</p>

<p>If you can't visit, you can email or call the admissions rep for your area and ask if it would be possible to interview over the phone. Large universities may not be willing to do this, but smaller LACs and mid sized private universities often will. This gives you a chance to ask questions, establish a personal connection, and it certainly demonstrates your strong interest. </p>

<p>Find out the admissions rep's travel schedule for when he/she will be in your local area. Contact them and see if they will be doing interviews then and if so, set up an appointment. Even if they are just doing a presentation locally, go and make sure you sign any guest book. Introduce yourself afterwards. Send a follow up email afterwards thanking them for their time and asking more questions. Doing so demonstrates interest.</p>

<p>In the same way, it's possible to contact faculty members to ask questions without visiting. Many admissions offices will even put you in touch with current students or alumni in your local area. </p>

<p>All of the above can provide plenty of fodder for the Why this college essay? as well as demonstrating your continued interest in the school.</p>

36

<p>DS is currently finishing the U Mich application.Do you think someone actually takes the time there to read a cover letter?>></p>

<p>A cover letter at a large public numbers-driven university like the U of Michigan is unlikely to significantly affect an applicant's chances. In fact, it is highly likely that it will not be even looked at or read by the admissions decision makers, except in rare instances (i.e., you are applying to a particular program at the university that has its own more personalized sub-admissions process).</p>

37

<p>I will echo Carolyn's wonderful posts that visits are not necessarily needed in terms of being admitted or to demonstrate interest. I would not do them for that reason. I would not meet with this one or that one to demonstrate interest. From a personal experience level, with my own kids, they did those things because they wanted to for THEMSELVES, in order to explore each school. You do not HAVE to do these things. IF you have done them, and genuine interest that is specfic has been derived from it, it can't hurt to let them know. But as Carolyn said and I tried to explain in one of my posts, there are LOTS of ways, besides visits, to learn about a school in depth. Do it for yourself. When it comes time to express interest on an application, it will naturally flow because you are indeed knowledgeable about the school and KNOW why you want to go. I have talked to some kids who have no clue what to write in a Why Podunk U essay and can't truly articulate why they want that school specifically. I have also interviewed kids as an alum from my university and it shows when a kid has really explored a school (visits or no visits, doesn't matter) and seems to know why he/she wants to go there. So, that is important.</p>

<p>Susan</p>

38

<p>Well I am going to speak up with the pros, Carolyn and Soozie. Most kids are in high schools like ours with overworked guidance counselors with limited personal exposure to selective colleges, and with over 500 students each. You simply have to take the initiative to get past the hype, visit and assess your chances on your own. So hard to do when you are also taking a hard courseload and as a senior you are in leadership spots in organizations counting on you.</p>

<p>Visiting matters for reasons that we didn't understand until it was December and application season careened into the Finish Line. It is truly hard to extract yourself from Senior ECs and AP courses and atheltic pursuits to tear off to sit in a class or do an overnight. This is about the time your S or D is going to feel true ownership of the process. You have done your missteps, had your ups and downs, fallen in love or out of love with schools and their reps and current students, and finally you have zero time left to make senior year stops or other kinds of explorations to your top schools. Your almost 18 year old is now awake to deadlines and pressure. He or she must polish those essays and meet the alum interviewers. The list is final. Who must be convinced the list makes sense besides adcoms? References and alum interviewers.</p>

<p>I guarantee that final visits make your essays come across with more authenticity and subtle communications that you "get" the school and its ethos and heart. Essays will be enriched by meeting students and staff at a college. Selective schools will choose students who can demonstrate they would be happy, are likely to attend and plan to contribute to their particular scene.</p>

<p>As Soozie said, your alum interviewer will know in five seconds that you only know what you saw online about the school, and he will be more engaged if you visited, or at least if you sought out alum or professors to gather info impressions relevant to you. If your nonverbal displays understanding of his or her alma mater, you are a stronger interview. The alum can "picture" you there if you can convey a visual image of your future Life there.</p>

<p>Most importantly over the autumn weeks, you should do "stop and chats" and focused contacts with those wonderful souls who are going out on a limb to write your reference letters. In our case, which I believe is mirrored in large public High Schools...reference letters were written over Christmas break, before New Years! Very nerve-wracking but our teachers seem to have worked their usual 50 hour weeks and after taking the tree down and saying good bye to company, sat down and churned out the reference letters near deadlines. In larger schools, it is hard to be more than a grade number average or a dim image of a deserving kid. It is hard for your reference to sit down near the holidays in their "free" time and write a letter that will help you at six different colleges. Imagine how confusing it is for your English teacher about December 29th to see you applied to a LAC, a state U and a mid size college! Who is she going to call about your strange list during a holiday...plus she is sort of embarrassed that your promised letter is going out about deadline time..so she isn't going to call you at home anyway and admit she didn't do it before the break. </p>

<p>Who should the letter be pitched to and why would this kid apply to such different colleges, she wonders? UNLESS YOU HELP YOUR REFERENCES ALSO VISUALIZE YOU AT EACH PLACE, you may end up with a generic reference letter xeroxed six times. You can change this by practically providing your reference with a couple well-described images of you immersed and successful at each school. </p>

<p>If you visit, or correspond with anyone at each college, go by your reference's writers office and stick your head in and tell him or her how it went and what you most appreciated about each place in the fall, they will begin to root for you and to imagine each school as a possible fit. Thank them for what they did to get you ready for college! Make sure they can see that you are matured and ready for the next challenge. My S gave each reference a sheet with the addresses of each Admissions Office, stamped envelopes and with a bulleted summary of about three sentences on each school --reviewing why he would be honored to attend, and exactly where he would fit into each place. Skeptical teachers became "sold" that he was indeed making accurate choices, even though he applied to three Reaches and four Matches, ranging from medium privates, large public and a small LAC. Teachers are human, too. They have to sort out their own prejudices about certain schools, so give them images that clarify things.</p>

39

<p>"As Soozie said, your alum interviewer will know in five seconds that you only know what you saw online about the school, and he will be more engaged if you visited, or at least if you sought out alum or professors to gather info impressions relevant to you."</p>

<p>I'm an alum interviewer for Harvard. It doesn't concern me if a student has not visited Harvard. I know that it can be expensive to make those trips, and not everyone has the time or money. I also know that when it comes to places like Harvard, which are longshots for everyone, for many it makes sense to visit only after being admitted.</p>

<p>Consequently, I don't hold not visiting against students and I know that adcoms view things the way that I do.</p>

<p>I do, though, hold it against students when it's clear that they haven't done any research about Harvard. What bothers me about this is that their lack of research reflects a lack of curiosity, critical thinking skills and resesarch skills -- all of which are important when one is taking classwork at a top university.</p>

<p>I also do wonder about the common sense of students who'd apply to a college without knowing any basics about it.</p>

<p>For instance, I've had students who thought that Harvard was in a bucolic suburb (How difficult is it to learn that Cambridge is a congested city with a big city aura?), who planned to major in "business" at Harvard (it doesn't offer an undergraduate business major), and who volunteered enthusiastically that they planned to write for Harvard's student newspaper, but never had bothered to look at it on-line.</p>

<p>Every time that someone has said something that showed such a lack of basic research, when I've asked them about research papers that they've done for class, that research reflected a similar lack of thought. </p>

<p>Anyone who's applying to college should take the time to at a minimum thoroughly review the college's web pages, including looking at information about academics and ECs that the student is interested in. Students also can connect with other students by either asking the admissions office to connect them or by contacting officers of campus ECs as typically e-mail addresses of officers are listed on the clubs' web pages.</p>

40

<p>I so much agree with Northstarmom on this as an alum interviewer myself. It is not so critical that they have made a visit. It is telling, however, when a student does not seem to know the school that specifically. I also give them a chance to ask me any questions about it and more times than not, they really don't have much to ask at all or it is general or so basic that they should know it already if they had researched the school. It makes one think it is just another school on the college list. I would imagine the same holds true about the application and whether it comes across as a duplicate of what is sent elsewhere or that the kid really wants THAT school and why and that they actually looked into it (which does NOT have to include a visit if unfeasible). As mentioned in several posts, there are many ways to explore a school beyond visiting and that is the issue. To know the school and have a reason for wanting to go to that certain one and what you'd be contributing to THAT campus. It is amazing to me the students who can't think of what to write in a Why X college essay. To me, that shows they really don't have articulated reasons for why that college is on the list (besides, "I like the location or it has a pretty campus"). If they can't vary their Why X college essay from school to school, then they have not really looked into the school and one must wonder if they came up with effective matches for themselves or simply just names of schools. And like Northstarmom says, it shows lack of effort or research to not inquire about a place they are going to be spending four years of their life at. I would imagine this comes up with some Harvard applicants who applied merely cause it was HARVARD. They don't have another reason, lol ! </p>

<p>Susan</p>