“Why This School?” Dos and Don’ts for School-Specific Admissions Essays

“What is it about [insert name of your dream school] that led you to apply?” Or, “Why are you interested in attending [insert name of another school you’d love to attend]?”

Chances are, at least one of the colleges you’re applying to will ask you some version or another of these questions. After all, they want to know you’ve taken the time to think carefully about why you want to go there and what you’d do as a student—that you’re not just applying because the school is highly ranked, or because you like the city where it’s located. But how do you write a strong answer to a deceptively simple question like the ones above? What should you mention, and what should you keep to yourself?

Read on for some tips I’ve developed through my work with students. (And reach out to me to book a session if you’re looking for more individualized support with your essays!)  

Do: Speak to specific aspects of the school that appeal to you.

Colleges want to see that you’ve done your research on them, and a perfect way to do that is to mention specific things about the school that you like. But which things should you mention? That’s where careful research comes in. Take some time to explore the school’s website; or, if you’re able, talk to a current student about their experience. (Some students I’ve worked with have even told me they’ve been able to learn a lot from perusing a school’s subreddit on Reddit!)

Think about things you might like to major in, and visit the websites for those departments; there, you can take note of classes, professors, programs, and research opportunities that intrigue you. Then, think about how you’d take advantage of all of those things, and write it down. You should do the same with extracurricular activities and clubs, starting with the school’s Student Activities website. Consider what you like to do outside of class in high school, what you might want to keep doing, and what you’d love to try in college. Find clubs or activities that sound like they’d be fun, and take note of them. Finally, use all of your notes to start writing.

Also: Make sure your information is correct! I’ve edited essays in which students describe things about a school that I’ve found to be inaccurate—for example, mentioning wanting to start a club at the school that already exists. Do careful research, and double-check whatever you’ve written for accuracy.

Don’t: Simply state facts about the school.

Trust me, schools already know how many majors they offer, how many Nobel laureates they can count among their alumni, or how many NCAA championships their teams have won. Listing facts like these doesn’t tell an admissions officer anything meaningful about you, or give them real insight into why you want to attend the school. Challenge yourself to go deeper by mentioning specifics that go beyond surface-level (see the “Do” above). Keep the focus on you, and talk about why everything you’ve found through your research tells you this school would be right for you.   

Don’t: Talk about superficial things.

When I was applying to colleges (a million years ago in the early aughts), I remember seeing various ranking lists of the country’s biggest party schools, or the ones with the best food, or the ones with the most beautiful campuses or best locations. You get the idea. And it’s absolutely fine if these are among the reasons a college appeals to you! But they’re not things to mention in an essay. Instead, keep the focus on meaningful things that relate to the academic experience—for example, successful students I’ve worked with have talked about professors whose academic interests match their own, or about research opportunities they’d pursue. When you’re talking about extracurriculars, stick to clubs and organizations that you’d like to join, and talk about why they appeal to you. Remember that the why is important here—you’re not just listing things classes you’d like to take or things you want to do, but helping the school understand the reasons you could envision yourself attending.

Also: While we’re on the subject, don’t talk about rankings. Schools know where they fall on this year’s U.S. News list, so they don’t need you to tell them. And they don’t tend to appreciate students whose essays cite rankings as a top reason for wanting to attend, as it’s ultimately a superficial factor that says little about what your experience as a student would really be like.

Do: Take the time to think about what it would be like to be a student at the school.

A former colleague of mine used to encourage his students to ask themselves this question about each school on their list: “What could I find here that I couldn’t find anywhere else?” This is a great starting point for a “why this school” essay, especially if you’re feeling stuck. If you’ve visited the school, think back to the time you spent there. What were some of the things you saw or learned that you liked best? How did you feel walking around campus? If you haven’t visited, think about what you learned from the school via their website, a virtual tour, or other sources.

Next, go a step further, and picture yourself as a student at the school. What does a typical weekday look like for you? What classes would you be excited to go to, and what clubs’ meetings would you be planning on attending that evening? Why would you be looking forward to these things? Write it all down, and go from there.

Don’t: Just write about things you think the school “wants to hear.”

When you’re writing about why you want to attend a particular college, you’re not just talking about why it’s your dream school. As you share these details, you’re also offering insights into what you value, what you prioritize, and what kind of person you are. It’s important to be honest with schools when you do this, so they can get to know the real you.  

It might be tempting to fill your essay with the names of programs that sound “impressive,” or that you think sound “better” than what you’re really interested in doing. For example, maybe you think you’d look like a stronger candidate if you mentioned a school’s renowned clinical-research institute than you would if you talked about its theater program—even if theater is one of your passions and you don’t actually want to spend extra time in a lab. Avoid doing that! College admissions officers tend to have an almost-magical gift for discerning when something they’re reading is true or not. It’s also much easier to discuss something you’re genuinely passionate about, and that will shine through in your writing. Stick to what you really want to do and why, and schools will appreciate the chance they’re getting to learn about you.

Do: Think about the role you’d play in the campus community.

While “why this school” essays aren’t an excuse to simply re-list your accomplishments and activities, you can certainly mention them as you talk about the role you envision yourself playing at a college if you’re accepted there. This can also give the person reading your essay greater context and insight into you. For example, seeing that you’d like to continue doing a volunteer activity that you did in high school tells the admissions officer that you’re committed to this work. Similarly, talking about how a class you enjoyed in high school inspired you to want to explore it in more depth during college signals that you’ve developed strong, genuine academic interests. Think about what’s mattered most to you in high school and why, and connect it to the college experience you envision for yourself.

Hopefully these tips have helped shed some light on what goes into a strong school-specific essay (and what doesn’t), and you’re feeling ready to write. Good luck! And remember you can always book a one-on-one session if you’re interested in more individualized support with your essays.

P.S. One final “don’t”: Don’t use generative AI when you’re writing these or any essays! That’s a topic worthy of a separate post, but remember that AI tools don’t know your story. Only you do.