The Why Penn “Why this College” Essay Example
Don't be afraid to make a connection and simply be a curious human. It’s a great way to engage with the world. Even if you’re doing something as specific as researching an essay about why you chose this college.
Sometimes seeing a real essay can give you a better idea of how you can approach and work on your own statement. Below we give you two University of Michigan essay examples written by a real admitted student, along with analysis as to what makes them work.
Try putting the word out on social media: “Anyone know a current or former student at Purdue?” Ask that person for 15 minutes of their time. Then ask a short set of questions that you’ve prepared beforehand. Ideally these are questions that will help you write your “Why this College” essay and will be interesting, specific, and open-ended.
If you have already written a Why Us? Essay,
If your child is a connoisseur of a school, then she should be able to explain to you why she has chosen one major over another. This is a powerful argument to make in the essay: Major X is better than Major Y because Major X lets me do A, B, and C.
"All this is great," you might be thinking, "but how do I turn this info into an essay?" I bring you glad tidings. It's not complicated. This whole essay is basically, "One thing led to another, and yadda yadda yadda, that's why I'm a good fit for your school." Here's the general outline I keep in my head when I am working with students:
Of all the supplemental college essays out there, the “Why Us?” essay is the most difficult to master, especially when you have to write one for each school on your college list. So, how do you convince admissions officers at each college you belong there, while staying true to yourself?
With AdmitSee’s database of successful application files we will show you essay examples that address key elements every “Why Us” supplemental essay should include.
It’s essential to talk about the school you’re applying to. After all, you are answering the question “Why Us”? What makes this specific school you’re applying to stand out from others?
The Why Cornell “Why this College” Essay Example
While visiting the University of Michigan, I noticed the treelined campus. I pictured myself meeting peers in the dorms and classrooms. I was overwhelmed when I stepped into the Big House. But the thing that stood out the most was the diversity of Ann Arbor. Being in a place where a variety of ethnicities is so prevalent was a wake-up call to what I have been missing my whole life.
The Why Bowdoin “Why this College” Essay Example
With this essay, you'll need to be extremely specific to be effective. The admissions committee wants to see that you know what distinguishes U-M from other equally renowned universities and that you have a clear idea of how you'll take advantage of the benefits offered here to further your own intellectual and professional pursuits.
The Why Swarthmore “Why this College Essay Example
“Throughout high school, I discovered that I enjoy a variety of subjects; therefore, I am entering Michigan with an undeclared major. However, I am not exactly undecided; rather, I am multi-interested. I love the areas of mathematics and statistics, yet the economy and government fascinates me as well. Still, the field of art history beckons me, and luckily the University of Michigan has enough museums to pursue endless hours of thorough art appreciation. Thankfully, LSA allows me to explore a plethora of majors found in the various colleges of the University of Michigan. With forty top ten programs, no matter what major I ultimately chose, I can feel assured that I will be working with the most talented and experienced faculty. In addition, University of Michigan’s research program, one of the best in the United States, will allow me to make discoveries and contributions as an undergraduate student. The University of Michigan is the ideal school for me, and has been my number one since I first saw the maize and blue uniforms take Michigan Stadium by storm.” –
In this excerpt, the author starts by talking her interests in a number of fields, thereby leading her to show off her knowledge about UMich’s academic programs. She is concise about how each of her interest can be furthered by the opportunities that University of Michigan can offer her if she’s accepted. In a paragraph, she demonstrated how her interests and resources at UMich are an ideal match without simply regurgitating informative facts about UMich.
The Why Johns Hopkins “Why this College” Essay Example
One of the most challenging questions for our students shows up on the University of Michigan supplement: Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?
Strategies for addressing the “Why us?” essay:
Before we even get to the details of what to include in the "why us" essay, we need the right mindset -- namely, we need the connoisseur mindset. To write a good essay for a college, your child has to appreciate (or at least try to appreciate) that college's unique traits. That college wants to be treated like a bottle of wine of some stunning vintage, not like a bottle of Arbor Mist collecting dust on the bottom shelf at your local Walgreens.