Knowing Your “Why?” Writing the “Why Our School?” essay.
- Dane Copeland
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
On the surface, the "Why Our School?" supplemental essay prompt appears deceptive in its simplicity, especially if you have visited a school and listened to the tour guide highlight what makes their school unique. And all of that is essential information that helped guide your decision to add a college to your list, but the "Why Our School?" essay wants more. When reading the thousands of essays from applicants, admission readers want to know that your specific reasons for applying and their school are a perfect match.
While immersing yourself in college essays, this type of essay invites you to pause, think, and revisit each school's website, earlier information you discovered and noted, and possibly travel to visit again – especially if you are considering an Early Decision (ED I or ED II) application pathway.
In the book, “Choosing College,” the authors assert that there are basically five reasons students attend college. While this framework helps students and families understand the value of education beyond high school, your “why?” for college or a specific college may be more profound than simply going to college, leading to a job/career, financial stability, or being the next step in your educational path.
Do you envision yourself working in a lab or field study alongside researchers in an area that fascinates you?
Have you been itching to access facilities and tools to develop, create, or bring an idea in your head to life in 3D and the real world?
Does a school require an internship or a co-op program to provide hands-on experiences that might catapult you into a career or job you hadn't considered?
Are there programs specifically designed for first-year students that connect you with other students, facilitate stronger study skills, or facilitate a common academic theme to explore for the entire incoming class, whether by a course, book, or program?
Could you find your new pod of BFFs that will support you (and vice versa) through college years and beyond?
What dos, don'ts, and steps can you take to make a detailed and precise "Why Our School?" essay work?
DO:
1. Create a list of your top ten reasons you want to attend college.
2. Next, identify the specific programs, majors, opportunities, clubs, etc., at the college that align with your top ten reasons. The goal is to match your college aspirations with what each school offers.
3. Once you have compiled these two lists, you can begin to write by combining them, using details and reasons that reflect what you want at each school. This is your "love letter" to the school, an opportunity to align your college aspirations with what the school has to offer.
DON'T:
1. Avoid writing about what the school already knows, e.g., their state-of-the-art research facilities. Instead, write why you want those facilities and what you expect to do with them.
2. Skip writing about how beautiful the school is, the architecture, or location, Instead, focus on how the school is a fit for you and what you will be able to do specifically, whether the school is located in an urban environment, near green spaces, or otherwise.
3. Go deeper than listing clubs or programs that interest you. Explain what, in particular, aligns or extends what you have been doing, or what you hope to try or expand an interest in.
Taking the time to revisit and look more closely at each school’s website, your original notes and observations can affirm your "why" a school is compelling and how it aligns with your interests and goals, whether it's studying under a specific professor, department events, or internship partnerships with local corporations or non-profits. Writing the "Why our School?" essay is the opportunity to re-examine your whys: why a school is a perfect match for you, and affirm why attending their college is the best path for you.
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Even better, add dream.search.apply.A Field Guide for an Inspired College Journey, as a resource for your college journey, packed with insights and resources to help you navigate your college path, is available to order online.
Know someone starting their college journey? Feel free to share or connect us at dane@collegeu.solutions
