Fall is here, and the college application season has kicked into gear. While many of you are brainstorming ideas and writing drafts for your personal statement, it’s important to devote adequate attention to all aspects of your college applications. Often, students spend so much time and energy writing their personal statements only to burn out and end up writing less-than-stellar supplemental essays. Admissions officers are trained to carefully pore over college applications. If you give them any reason to doubt your candidacy, your chances of admission decrease. Especially in today’s competitive landscape, you need to ace every aspect of the college application, including supplemental essays. Show
Supplements have gained significance because they provide additional insight that may not be reflected elsewhere in your application. They are prime opportunities to expand the scope of knowledge admissions officers have about you. And while supplemental essays can range from the expected (“Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences” from Harvard) to the more confounding (“What is square one, and can you actually go back to it?” from the University of Chicago), the most important supplement is arguably the “Why Us?” essay.
Your response to the “Why Us” supplement essay should be as original and distinct as your personal statement because the source for all of its content resides within you. And there’s no one else on this planet who can lay claim to your individual life experiences. My favorite analogy for this supplement it to think of it as dating someone. You want to put your best foot forward and communicate your likes and interests. If those likes and interests align with what the school (your date) has to offer, it could be a perfect match. However, there’s only one way to find out. You’ve got to do some research. We’ve all heard of love at first sight, but doing the initial work of discovering as much as possible about someone or something can save you from heartbreak down the road. You may think a school is perfect for you because of its ranking, its reputation, or its location. Or perhaps your parents or friends attended a school, so you feel the need to do the same. These could be perfectly valid reasons to apply, but they could equally be the absolutely wrong reasons. To protect against potential disappointment, do the legwork necessary to acquaint yourself with as much information about a school as possible. Go on a campus or online tour. Reach out to admissions officers and current students. Conduct and in-depth exploration of their website and the websites of any departments, programs, or clubs that appeal to you—and then do it all again. Search for articles, reviews, events, and more on your school of choice. Become an expert, and then translate that knowledge into your supplement essay. Tip: Create a detailed list of your top ten college “must-haves.” Think about what you ideally need to be successful in college, and then use your list to guide your research into the schools to which you are applying. ✅ Do
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Need a hand with college apps? With Elite Prep’s College Application Services, you’ll work with an experienced counselor and mentor to craft a winning college-application package that shines a light on exactly who you are and what you’ve achieved. Schedule a free consultation today!Contact Your Elite Branch Jon G. is originally from Houston, Texas. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and is currently one of the resident English gurus at Elite Prep Los Angeles. Nothing makes him more proud and pumped up than watching his students succeed. When it comes to hitting the books, Jon recommends starting early and studying in increments to avoid burnout. He's a huge basketball fan, loves green tea, and his favorite vocabulary word is "seditious." How do you start a why US essay?The beginning of your essay is an opportunity to introduce yourself, your academic goals, and your passions. Catch the reader's attention by starting out with a surprising statement or interesting anecdote. Then, give the reader a sense of who you are so they know why you believe you're a good fit for the school.
How do you write a why essay?For strong supplemental essays, try these moves instead:. Be honest. Say what you really connect to and like about the school, and what of your personal qualities and experiences fit there.. Be specific. ... . Be immediate. ... . Know their professors– who does what there?. What do you talk about in a why us essay?Here are three steps we recommend to get your essay underway:. Reflect on your academic and career goals.. Research unique opportunities related to your academic and extracurricular interests.. Pick your top academic reasons for applying, and your top extracurricular/social reasons.. How long should my why US essay be?Admissions Blog advises aiming for around 500 words. And former Tufts University admissions officer Becky Leichtling concurs. "The most common 'personal statement' length is in the ballpark of 500 words," Leichtling writes for Bright Horizons College Coach.
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