Northwestern Writing Supplement Tips?

Hey, I'm working on my Northwestern application and I was wondering if anyone has any tips or advice on tackling the writing supplement. What are some approaches that might make it stand out? Any help would be great!

Hello! I'm glad you're looking for ways to make your Northwestern writing supplement stand out. While the supplemental prompts can vary year to year, they are often some variation on the classic "Why Northwestern?" question. So, the key is to focus on your personal connection to Northwestern and showcase your genuine interest in the school. You can do that by following these tips:

1. Do thorough research: Learn about specific programs, courses, research opportunities, clubs, and extracurriculars that align with your interests and goals. Demonstrate that you've taken the time to become familiar with Northwestern.

2. Discuss unique opportunities: Highlight opportunities at Northwestern that you can't find anywhere else, or are much stronger at Northwestern. This detail will make your essay feel more personal and show that you've thought about how this school specifically can help you achieve your future aspirations, which makes a much bigger impact on admissions officers than just discussing your broad goals for college.

3. Connect your interests to Northwestern: Don't just mention opportunities - you also want to explain how they align with your goals and passions. Share what excites you in general, and how attending Northwestern will allow you to pursue your interests further.

4. Be specific: Avoid general statements like "Northwestern has a great community" or "I love the location." Focus on particular aspects of the school that resonate with you.

5. Show your personality: Give readers a sense of who you are by incorporating your voice and a few anecdotes. Make your essay engaging and memorable so that it stands out from countless others.

6. Proofread and revise: As with any piece of writing, editing is crucial. Make sure to carefully review your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar.

7. Take advantage of CollegeVine's resources: CollegeVine's blog contains a breakdown of Northwestern's supplemental essays for the current application cycle (https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-northwestern-university-essays), and CollegeVine also offers both a free peer essay review tool and paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors.

Overall, the goal is to showcase your genuine interest in Northwestern and demonstrate how you'd be a valuable addition to their community. By focusing on your personal connection, unique opportunities, and how you'll contribute, your writing supplement will be more likely to stand out. Good luck!