Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Answering 'Why This College' Without Being Cliché?

Every college asks 'why us?', but how do I answer that in a way that’s unique and personal without just regurgitating the same stuff everyone else says or what's on the college's website?

a year ago

Hello there! It's fantastic that you're keen on crafting a distinct 'Why This College?' essay. A tip I often share is to think about your specific academic and extracurricular interests and then research how the college aligns with them.

Instead of mentioning general attributes like 'prestigious faculty' or 'beautiful campus,' you could, for example, talk about how a unique undergraduate research program in neuroscience at the college perfectly complements your passion for cognitive science, which blossomed after you led your high school's Brain Bowl team to a state championship.

Adding a personal narrative like this goes a long way in showing your genuine interest and how you envision yourself thriving and contributing to the school's community. Remember, specificity is key to making your essay stand out. For more tips and advice on this very topic, check out CollegeVine's article all about it: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-why-us-college-essay/

Best of luck with your applications!

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.