For many years, selective colleges required supplemental essays in addition to the long Common App personal statement. Recently, many colleges announced they would no longer require their own supplemental essays. Colleges like University of Virginia, Tulane University, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, and Washington University in St Louis have dropped all or some of their supplements.
Admissions officers for some of these colleges explained that they weren’t getting enough value from the supplemental essay responses to keep requiring them. This should be a red flare warning for students applying to the colleges that have chosen to keep supplemental essays. They aren’t asking for extra writing samples just for fun. They require them because they want the additional insights the response give them about students. Let me put it this way: the college is paying someone to read your response to this prompt, so give them something you’ve put thought and effort into.
One type of supplemental essay that frequently stumps students is the Why Us? college essay. Let’s consider what these prompts are asking for and how to answer them effectively.
What Is a Why Us Essay?
These are a few examples of Why Us? college essay prompts.
What about being a student at BU most excites you? (300 word limit) Boston University
Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (Approximately 250 words) University of Southern California
Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution. (100 word max) Wake Forest University
What are you looking for in a university, why do you want to attend Baylor, and how do you see yourself contributing to the Baylor community? (450 words max) Baylor University
How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom? (max 250 words) Purdue University
Why is Syracuse University a good match for your interests and goals? (max 250 words) Syracuse University
Why Bard? (max 250 words) Bard College
These prompts challenge students not just to describe themselves or list features they like about the college, but to connect their interests with characteristics of the college to demonstrate why the student and school are a good match.
Why Do Colleges Have Why Us? Essays
Before you sit down to write your response, consider how a college would use a Why Us? essay – what information would they hope to get out of it? Remember that any supplemental essay requires a college to expend time reading responses (and money for readers). If a college requires a Why Us? essay, there’s a good chance that responses are a big factor in their admissions review.
Colleges often require a Why Us? essay is because they want to admit students who will actually enroll if admitted. Asking students to clearly explain why they think their college is a good fit helps to identify students who are likely to arrive in the fall. Students who apply based on a rankings list, because their friends are applying, or because a parent said they should, will often struggle to write an effective Why Us? essay.
What to Include in a Why Us College Essay
Try to draw strong connections between your interests and the opportunities at the college. When you read about academic programs, extracurricular activities, or unique opportunities at the college, what make you think, “Hey, if I were there I could…” Which opportunities excited you and what ideas did they spark?
Make a list of 10-15 reasons you would like to attend the college.
- What are you looking forward to as a prospective student?
- What aspects of your future academic department intrigue you?
- Are there any particular classes you hope to take? Why those courses?
- What clubs or teams interest you?
- Are there particular outreach or networking programs that have caught your eye?
- If you could choose between several colleges, why would you choose this school over other colleges?
How to Write the Why Us? Essay
Now connect your interests to these unique college features. These responses might follow a pattern like:
Because I’m interested in (aspect of prospective major), I’m excited by (program, way of teaching, club, opportunity), because it would (possible outcome).
Or you can flip it around:
Because I want to (achieve goal or outcome), the (program, club, opportunity, way of teaching) attracts me, since it would let me (combine parts of your identity, have access to something special, be supported in a significant way).
The depth of your explanation will depend on the word limit for the response. An 650-word response is going to need a thoughtful response with vivid detail, while a 100-word response will only allow you to explore a few ideas.
Your response shouldn’t read like a laundry list of facts about the college (like popular food in that city, the fame of the football team, or its ranking). Instead you should connect your interests with what the college offers, with a “so what” type explanation. If you want to study computer science but can’t decide between artificial intelligence and the internet of things AND Georgia Tech has a Threads curriculum that lets you study both, THEN what do you hope to get out of that experience. If a college is well-known for its interdisciplinary programs, coop requirement, or individualized major; why does that make you sit up and take notice.
Other Tips for Writing Why Us? College Essays
If you are still struggling to write a Why Us? college essay, go back to the reasons you put the school on your college list in the first place. If you come up short on reasons why this school is a good match, take time to do more research.
Sign up for a virtual presentation from the admissions office, explore the options for potential academic majors, read social media news streams from departments and clubs as well as the main official account, and browse recent articles in the campus paper. Expect to spend several hours doing this type of research.
If you’re struggling with putting your feelings into words, try having a conversation with someone you trust about what you like about the college. Sometimes it’s easier to say what you’re thinking out loud before trying to capture it in writing.
General Tips for Writing Essays
- Use examples that are specific and reveal who you are. Don’t use general comments that might apply to any college — or any student.
- Don’t wait until the last minute. Give yourself time to research and think about how you would find your place at that college.
- Write in a word processing program where you can easily edit and check spelling and word count. When you are happy with your response, copy it into the application.
- Use the speech to text function in your writing program (typically under Accessibility) to capture your words as you talk about what you like about a college. Then revise the results.
- Use writing sprints. Set a timer for 10 minutes and write as much as you can. Then use that as a basis for your next draft.
- Resist the temptation to use AI to write your response. It won’t tell the college much about you and your interest in the school, and may not add value to your application.
Related: Use the summer to get a head start on your college applications.
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