Our Collegewise counselors spent yesterday morning discussing application short-answer questions—those essay prompts of 150-300 words, one of the most common of which is some version of “Why do you want to attend this college?”
Those of us who’ve worked in admissions all agreed that the worst responses come from students who rely on vague generalities (“It’s a great school”) or who parrot back information they researched on the school’s website (“You have four Noble Prize winners and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio”).
The best way to avoid those outcomes? Find the why before you’re asked.
Too many students add colleges to their lists based just on the schools’ prestige. Then they struggle to come up with compelling answers when colleges ask why they have applied.
As you consider schools to add to your list, find the answer to why. Your answers may vary depending on the schools. But the very act of finding the answer will force you to be thoughtful about your college search. You’ll find more colleges where you could ultimately be happy and successful. And you’ll likely have a lot more offers of admission next spring.