Why [Insert College Name] Essay

[Anonymous]

Totally disagree.

If a kid can't tell the school why they hope to be accepted...

I mean come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are ridiculous.

What are admissions offices looking for? How much genuine interest can a 17 year old have for a school they’ve only seen on a virtual tour and clicked around online to look at classes, professors, sports? What truly is there to say that would make such an essay stand out?

Unless you know the school personally because someone you know well went/goes there, or the schools has a highly specialized program in a particular area or in interest, what could a child honestly say about why College [Name]?

+1. I think it’s ridiculous as well. And I have a kid who threw stuff against the wall and will see what sticks. I think the parents who are like - they need to research and know exactly what they want out of college at age 17 have drunk the kool aid and are doing the schools’ work for them! The schools are laughing all the way to the bank. The only exception might be if you have a kid who has known since childhood what they love and want to study and know they want to study X at Y university. But the vast majority of kids are not like that and shouldn’t be forced to pretend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These are ridiculous.

What are admissions offices looking for? How much genuine interest can a 17 year old have for a school they’ve only seen on a virtual tour and clicked around online to look at classes, professors, sports? What truly is there to say that would make such an essay stand out?

Unless you know the school personally because someone you know well went/goes there, or the schools has a highly specialized program in a particular area or in interest, what could a child honestly say about why College [Name]?

+1. I think it’s ridiculous as well. And I have a kid who threw stuff against the wall and will see what sticks. I think the parents who are like - they need to research and know exactly what they want out of college at age 17 have drunk the kool aid and are doing the schools’ work for them! The schools are laughing all the way to the bank. The only exception might be if you have a kid who has known since childhood what they love and want to study and know they want to study X at Y university. But the vast majority of kids are not like that and shouldn’t be forced to pretend.

It's not a matter of knowing what you want to major in...some kids do know that but most don't. But just saying "I want to go to U Chicago because Chicago is a great city and U Chicago has a lot of great programs" isn't going to cut it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:are doing the schools’ work for them!

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are doing the schools’ work for them!

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.

THAT'S DUMB.

If you're an adult applying for a *specific* job at a *specific* company, you have *specific* reasons for wanting that job (money, prestige, it's your dream job, a good stepping stone, etc.). You probably aren't going to be entirely truthful as to why you want the job. ("I just want the big bucks. Hire me!" "My wife got a job in this city so now I have to, too." "My cousin knows the CEO and I thought it would be easier to get a job") You're going to say what you think they want to hear.

But unless your kid is applying for a *specific* program or truly has a distinct interest, how can a 17 year old who hasn't even visited a campus and who might have no idea what he or she wants to major in be able to truthfully say why they want to attend that specific college? If they want to study the philosophy of cats and the school best known for that is Middlebury, then you can honestly say why you want to go to Middlebury..

Otherwise, it's the kids trying to figure out what the college wants to hear. Because they don't know, and if they don't know, they can't say: "I just want to go there because it's an Ivy." "I want to make money and it has the highest income after graduation." "I want to live in Chicago." "My dad went there." "My counselor told me to apply." "I thought I could get in." "It's a party school and I want to party."

[Anonymous]

You want to throw 400K at these people, and you can't come up with compelling reasons why??? SMDH.

Kids that understand the immense opportunities being offered at the institution and how they can impact their future goals... They deserve those spots. Not you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are doing the schools’ work for them!

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.

THAT'S DUMB.

If you're an adult applying for a *specific* job at a *specific* company, you have *specific* reasons for wanting that job (money, prestige, it's your dream job, a good stepping stone, etc.). You probably aren't going to be entirely truthful as to why you want the job. ("I just want the big bucks. Hire me!" "My wife got a job in this city so now I have to, too." "My cousin knows the CEO and I thought it would be easier to get a job") You're going to say what you think they want to hear.

But unless your kid is applying for a *specific* program or truly has a distinct interest, how can a 17 year old who hasn't even visited a campus and who might have no idea what he or she wants to major in be able to truthfully say why they want to attend that specific college? If they want to study the philosophy of cats and the school best known for that is Middlebury, then you can honestly say why you want to go to Middlebury..

Otherwise, it's the kids trying to figure out what the college wants to hear. Because they don't know, and if they don't know, they can't say: "I just want to go there because it's an Ivy." "I want to make money and it has the highest income after graduation." "I want to live in Chicago." "My dad went there." "My counselor told me to apply." "I thought I could get in." "It's a party school and I want to party."

I mean, the schools that are asking "Why us" are literally just trying to gauge interest and see if the student would actually be a good fit. It's a perfectly reasonable question to ask. If the only reason your child is applying to a school is because it's an Ivy, maybe they shouldn't be applying. Being able to articulate why you want something should be the very bare minimum for actually getting that thing. C'mon.

[Anonymous]

Not to mention in less than 5 minutes an applicant can search the school's website, find something, anything that interests them and write about wanting to know more about it. A class, a research paper written by one of the professors, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to mention in less than 5 minutes an applicant can search the school's website, find something, anything that interests them and write about wanting to know more about it. A class, a research paper written by one of the professors, etc.

That's the point. It's just kids searching the website and finding something that sounds good.

[Anonymous]

It's not that it can't be done or that kids don't know why they want to go. It's that writing a thoughtful, non-cliché sounding response in 250-300 words is tough to do. If colleges wanted bullet points, that would be one thing; but space is tight and word choice is critical when you're trying to include a solid opening, 3-4 reasons that a kid hopes won't be what everyone else is saying, and an ending that isn't cheesy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are doing the schools’ work for them!

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.

THAT'S DUMB.

If you're an adult applying for a *specific* job at a *specific* company, you have *specific* reasons for wanting that job (money, prestige, it's your dream job, a good stepping stone, etc.). You probably aren't going to be entirely truthful as to why you want the job. ("I just want the big bucks. Hire me!" "My wife got a job in this city so now I have to, too." "My cousin knows the CEO and I thought it would be easier to get a job") You're going to say what you think they want to hear.

But unless your kid is applying for a *specific* program or truly has a distinct interest, how can a 17 year old who hasn't even visited a campus and who might have no idea what he or she wants to major in be able to truthfully say why they want to attend that specific college? If they want to study the philosophy of cats and the school best known for that is Middlebury, then you can honestly say why you want to go to Middlebury..

Otherwise, it's the kids trying to figure out what the college wants to hear. Because they don't know, and if they don't know, they can't say: "I just want to go there because it's an Ivy." "I want to make money and it has the highest income after graduation." "I want to live in Chicago." "My dad went there." "My counselor told me to apply." "I thought I could get in." "It's a party school and I want to party."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are doing the schools’ work for them!

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.

THAT'S DUMB.

If you're an adult applying for a *specific* job at a *specific* company, you have *specific* reasons for wanting that job (money, prestige, it's your dream job, a good stepping stone, etc.). You probably aren't going to be entirely truthful as to why you want the job. ("I just want the big bucks. Hire me!" "My wife got a job in this city so now I have to, too." "My cousin knows the CEO and I thought it would be easier to get a job") You're going to say what you think they want to hear.

But unless your kid is applying for a *specific* program or truly has a distinct interest, how can a 17 year old who hasn't even visited a campus and who might have no idea what he or she wants to major in be able to truthfully say why they want to attend that specific college? If they want to study the philosophy of cats and the school best known for that is Middlebury, then you can honestly say why you want to go to Middlebury..

Otherwise, it's the kids trying to figure out what the college wants to hear. Because they don't know, and if they don't know, they can't say: "I just want to go there because it's an Ivy." "I want to make money and it has the highest income after graduation." "I want to live in Chicago." "My dad went there." "My counselor told me to apply." "I thought I could get in." "It's a party school and I want to party."

YES! This is what I was trying to say - with my "dumb" post about kool-aid above. And the people who think that the highly rated universities are really offering "immense" opportunities and "unparalleled" experiences are deluding themselves. Or maybe just consoling themselves about spending so much $$ on a school that's slightly higher ranked than another one. DCUM is obsessed with these rankings and prestige, and are - I repeat - doing the schools' work for them! A kid can get a terrific education at a third rate school, and we all know bonehead legacy kids who get terrible educations at the Ivies or wherever.

There is just something "off" about the parents who are going on about how ordinary kids need to figure out how to lie about their interests in schools/campuses they've never visited and who have no idea what they want to study... It's incomprehensible to me. Be on the side of your KID! of all KIDS! not these institutions that are hoovering up your $$ and laughing at how effectively you all are doing their marketing for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are doing the schools’ work for them!

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.

THAT'S DUMB.

If you're an adult applying for a *specific* job at a *specific* company, you have *specific* reasons for wanting that job (money, prestige, it's your dream job, a good stepping stone, etc.). You probably aren't going to be entirely truthful as to why you want the job. ("I just want the big bucks. Hire me!" "My wife got a job in this city so now I have to, too." "My cousin knows the CEO and I thought it would be easier to get a job") You're going to say what you think they want to hear.

But unless your kid is applying for a *specific* program or truly has a distinct interest, how can a 17 year old who hasn't even visited a campus and who might have no idea what he or she wants to major in be able to truthfully say why they want to attend that specific college? If they want to study the philosophy of cats and the school best known for that is Middlebury, then you can honestly say why you want to go to Middlebury..

Otherwise, it's the kids trying to figure out what the college wants to hear. Because they don't know, and if they don't know, they can't say: "I just want to go there because it's an Ivy." "I want to make money and it has the highest income after graduation." "I want to live in Chicago." "My dad went there." "My counselor told me to apply." "I thought I could get in." "It's a party school and I want to party."

YES! This is what I was trying to say - with my "dumb" post about kool-aid above. And the people who think that the highly rated universities are really offering "immense" opportunities and "unparalleled" experiences are deluding themselves. Or maybe just consoling themselves about spending so much $$ on a school that's slightly higher ranked than another one. DCUM is obsessed with these rankings and prestige, and are - I repeat - doing the schools' work for them! A kid can get a terrific education at a third rate school, and we all know bonehead legacy kids who get terrible educations at the Ivies or wherever.

There is just something "off" about the parents who are going on about how ordinary kids need to figure out how to lie about their interests in schools/campuses they've never visited and who have no idea what they want to study... It's incomprehensible to me. Be on the side of your KID! of all KIDS! not these institutions that are hoovering up your $$ and laughing at how effectively you all are doing their marketing for them.

This is really the most basic, most expected question one could expect on any sort of application, for anything. As PP upthread mentioned, being able to articulate why you want something should be the bare minimum for getting that thing. I mean, have none of you just never applied to a job before? The sense of entitlement is alarming.

[Anonymous]

If the school admssion officials had a sense of reality, they would know whatever a student said to the school about his enthusiasm in the school is also the same he said to the other dozen of schools he also applied to. What do you expect the student to do given the nature of the crabshoot for college application? Yes, he did reasonable research on schools, and that's why he came up with the dozen of names. If the AOs really thought the kid was having a superlative love for the school as he said in the application, dumb on them. Realistically, kids' answers to this question give a school almost nothing to detect how they are interested in the school compared to the rest of their school candidates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are doing the schools’ work for them!

You are not talking about for competitive schools, right?

Do you think people who answer questions at job interviews are "doing the company's work for them"?

Pretty dumb comment, IMHO.

THAT'S DUMB.

If you're an adult applying for a *specific* job at a *specific* company, you have *specific* reasons for wanting that job (money, prestige, it's your dream job, a good stepping stone, etc.). You probably aren't going to be entirely truthful as to why you want the job. ("I just want the big bucks. Hire me!" "My wife got a job in this city so now I have to, too." "My cousin knows the CEO and I thought it would be easier to get a job") You're going to say what you think they want to hear.

Ok, you aren’t getting it. It’s not a sense of entitlement. It’s that the question at its core simply begs a made up response. If they want to see how the children write fiction, they’d be better off with a question like, “Imagine yourself at College Whichever.
Tell a story of what a typical day might look like.”