<p>So I've been struggling with the Why Yale essay. Most other colleges with a similar prompt give you at least a few hundred words, if not completely open (like UChicago...). However, 500 characters comes out to about 4-6 sentences, as I'm sure you know. </p>
<p>My question is, is Yale still looking for some kind of creative response relating YALE personally to YOU? If so, are there any suggestions on how you can do this with so little space? In other successful "Why _______" essay's I wrote for the Early round I used anecdotes and mentioned special aspects of THAT school and why they were important to me. Should I just do a shortened version of this for Yale?</p>
<p>It’s not a difficult question. Just write about why you want to go to Yale. 4-6 sentences should be enough. If someone walked up to you right now and asked you “Why Yale?”, what would your response be? </p>
<p>Like you, I struggled in formulating a response at first. Until I realized that it’s a really easy question once you figure out why you really want to attend Yale.</p>
<p>It’s a simple exercise – not a quest for some new hidden knowledge to mankind. They just don’t want to see “prestige” or “great network” or “Wall Street” or “Skull and Bones” in your reply! </p>
<p>When we visited Swarthmore with my daughter (they have a similar question), we were advised in the info session to make sure that you could not insert some other “small, excellent, liberal arts college” for Swarthmore in the essay. Same goes for Yale.</p>
<p>They just want you to summarize why you want to go to Yale in a few sentences. If you were asked blindly, “Why Yale?” what would you say? You probably wouldn’t start giving them a 10 minute explanation…</p>
<p>I would also note that this isn’t designed for you to praise the wonderfulness of Yale. It’s designed to explain why Yale is a particularly good fit for you. In my opinion, you could write a perfectly acceptable answer in a few words, i.e., “Excellent English department, acapella and theater opportunities, and an interesting student body.”</p>
<p>I agree completely with Hunt. That is pretty much what I did… I just took my main points (swimming, Economics, overall academics, network, etc.) and briefly explained each.</p>
<p>^^ what Donnaleighg and Hunt said… I think any school that asks the “why” question is looking to see whether you bothered to learn about the school and actually thought about why you are applying.</p>
<p>We had an adorable student guide the day we visited Yale, and my Dd decided after listening to him, and being completely swayed, that this is where she wanted to be. She actually wrote something to that effect in her “Why Yale” response. That was it. The cute guide. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>She was accepted, so don’t over-think this too much.</p>
<p>I tried to express an original (or at least to my knowledge original) impression that I had of what makes yale awesome and that was essentially that Yale’s unique emphasis on the arts has infected all of yale academics with creativity (because so many students involved in the arts, and those same students are also the main population of traditonally academic subjects at yale). And “What does creativity entail: affinity for experimentation, a hypersensitive intuition, and a more well rounded Omni culture of sovereign, fiercely independent, personal identities each discreetly contributing to a wholly more dynamic community.” --excerpt. I then talked about how every yale student I’ve met has been animated amiable and keenly creative in this way and concluded by completely out of no where saying how Yale’s magnificent libraries make me weep with joy.</p>
<p>This is clearly not a straightforward approach, and I fear that it is praising–as alexissss pointed out “they already know they’re awesome”. But this is genuinely what I would say to someone if they asked me on the street–someone did ask me that’s actually how i came up with the idea i just said it and realized “wow thats truely how i feel”. Can anyone conceive of a version of what I have expressed that ends up being effective? is anyone interested in reading mine? I’ll PM it to you!</p>
<p>The point of the question isn’t really to answer “why Yale is so wonderful” or “why I would love Yale so / why I’d be so happy if I got in.” They know why they are so wonderful, and they know all their applicants would be overjoyed to be accepted - but they aren’t trying to reward “those who love Yale most.” In your essay, try to link why you want to apply to Yale to what it is about you that would contribute to the community at Yale (whether in academics, ECs, or simply the kind of person you are).</p>
<p>Tie why Yale into what you pursued passionately in high school or plan on pursuing in college. There should be a cohesive thread throughout your application. As this is going to vary based on your passions, no one can answer this question for you. Some examples, if the residential colleges appeal, state so. If the orchestra appeals, ditto. It may be 6 things, it may be three. As long as it is sincere, it will work.</p>