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How to Approach the "Why Us" Essay

Writer's picture: Aled LinesAled Lines

When most students think about the college application essays, they think of the essay. Yes, you know the one, the essay, the Common App essay. But that’s not the only essay to think about. In fact, for many schools, the “Why Us” essay can make all the difference for a successful application.




“The more selective the college and the more competitive its pool, the more often the supplemental essay is likely to be the difference-maker in admission decisions; in fact, a number of highly selective institutions have found that the supplemental essay served as the top factor in the majority of their decisions.” - Rod Skinner



The “Why Us” essay is your chance to show the school that you’re a good fit for their community. It might seem relatively straightforward, but there is actually quite a bit to take into consideration when you’re planning your “Why Us” essay. Let’s take a closer look. Your Common App essay is all about you. It’s a Hero’s Journey and you are the hero. The “Why Us” essay isn’t quite like that, but it’s not all about the school either. In fact, the “Why Us” essay involves a blend of you and the school, requiring a level of introspection as well as research skills in order to write well.


You should begin the writing process by thinking about what you value in a school. Perhaps you’re looking for a university of a certain size, or maybe there’s a particular program that you’re fascinated in. This will be unique to you, and you should do your best to honestly think about what you want to find in a college. Some aspects to consider might be the location, the academic options, the extracurricular options, the culture of the school, professor research areas, the size of the school, or internship and graduate options. You should make a quick list of some of the main areas you’re looking for in a school and keep it handy.


Next, it’s time to take a look at the schools on your list. This is your opportunity to make use of those research skills. Just take the time to explore the university’s website. Don’t overthink it, just look around and see what they offer. More importantly, use your own list of aspects you’re looking for as a checklist and make notes of how the school you’re looking at matches what you’re looking for.


Now you can do the most important step: linking what you want with what the school offers. When you just write about what you want, you’re simply writing a wish list. Similarly, an essay about what the school offers is just a research paper. You want to blend the two by explaining how the school is a match for you, and you’d be a good fit for them as well. It’s a two-way street! When admissions officers read these essays, they are trying to gauge your commitment to the school, but also how well you would align with the university and its values. You can begin with general values by seeing if the mission statement or core principles align with what you believe, and then progress towards a description of what you’re looking for and how they fulfill those conditions.


As we mentioned at the start of this post, the “Why Us” essay is actually a key aspect of a successful application. Make sure that you budget the time to write it well and remember to proofread your work. Good luck!


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