College Essay Guy’s “Why us?” Essay Research Chart 2.0
“Why This College?” essays should also cover extracurriculars, as colleges are also interested in how you’ll contribute to their community.
TIP #2: Write your “Why Us” statement for a school you are actually excited about... then switch out the variables.
Okay, for any “Why us” statement to work, you need specifics--and not just about the school--about what you’re interested in doing while attending the school. For example :
The spreadsheet began on a typical school day when I left my physics class following the most confusing test I’d taken. The idea was born spontaneously at lunch, and I asked two of my friends if they were interested in pursuing this exercise with me. We thought the practice would last only a couple of weeks or months at most, but after reaching 700 days, we now wonder if we’ll ever stop. To this day, I ponder its full importance in my life. With every new number I enter, I recognize that each entry is not what defines me; rather, it is the ever-growing line connecting all the data points that reflects who I am today. With every valley, I force myself onward and with every mountain's peak, I recognize the valleys I’ve crossed to reach the summit. Where will the Happiness Spreadsheet take me next?
Here’s an outline for a basic, solid “Why this College” essay:
Your “Why This College” essay doesn’t necessary have to have artistically crafted prose and metaphors to be effective. Instead, focus more on concrete reasoning as to why this college is, without a doubt, the perfect place for you. Connecting your own skills, passion, and values will illustrate how the school can help you achieve your goals, while showing what you can contribute back to the community.
Why writing the “Why us” essay, many students turn to the language on the college website or brochure as inspiration. While this can help you get a feel for the college environment and attitude, don't plagiarize or paraphrase the phrases on the school’s promotional material. It gives the impression that you didn't spend a lot of time considering the school. If you really loved a specific quote or phrase from the school's promotional material, discuss specific reasons why you felt connected and drawn to it.
At the end of the day, "Why Us?" is really "Why You and Us?," and can only be answered by a story so personal to you that no other applicant could have written it.
Showcase how this specific school is going to cultivate you into the person you want to be. Discuss your desired career path, and what major you would pursue at this school to help you get there. Cite specific classes, and detail what skills they would provide you with in order to help you achieve your goals. Incorporate certain clubs the school offers, that aligns with the extracurriculars you were involved in during high school. Or talk about certain communities you’d join that align with you identity. Making the “why us” essay as personal as possible shows why you would thrive and grow in the college’s environment.
The Why Penn “Why this College” Essay Example
The prompt may be phrased in one of two ways: "Why us?" or "Why you?" But these are sides of the same coin and will be addressed in your essay regardless of the prompt style.
The Why Tufts “Why this College” Essay Example
It was on my official visit with the cross country team that I realized Tufts was the perfect school for me. Our topics of conversation ranged from Asian geography to efficient movement patterns, and everyone spoke enthusiastically about what they were involved in on campus. I really related with the guys I met, and I think they represent the passion that Tufts' students have. I can pursue my dream of being a successful entrepreneur by joining the Tufts Entrepreneurs Society, pursuing an Entrepreneurial Leadership minor, and taking part in an up-and-coming computer science program.
The Why Cornell “Why this College” Essay Example
A “14” etched on November 15, 2018, marked the first Lakeside Cooking on the Stove Club meeting. What had started as a farcical proposition of mine transformed into a playground where high school classmates and I convene every two weeks to prepare a savory afternoon snack for ourselves. A few months later, a “16” scribbled on February 27, 2019, marked the completion of a fence my Spanish class and I constructed for the dusty soccer field at a small Colombian village. Hard-fought days of mixing cement and transporting supplies had paid off for the affectionate community we had immediately come to love. The Happiness Spreadsheet doesn’t only reflect my own thoughts and emotions; it is an illustration of the fulfillment I get from gifting happiness to others.
The Why Bowdoin “Why this College” Essay Example
At this point, it'll be helpful to take a look at a "why us?" essay that works and figure out what the author did to create a meaningful answer to this challenging question.
This is an impressive âwhy usâ essay for the following reasons:
When you've put together the ideas that will make up your answer to the "why us?" question, it's time to build them into a memorable essay. Here are some tips for doing that successfully: