The Why Us Essay
For applicants, this is perhaps one of the most dreaded questions, however for admissions officers, it remains an important facet of a student's application. You see, colleges are concerned about yield, which is the percentage of students who decide to enroll after receiving their acceptance letters. Why is this important? Well, colleges don’t want to waste precious seats on students who are not interested in attending. This is an even bigger concern now that it has become so easy to apply to a myriad of schools with just a click. Students are applying to more schools while in reality, they can only pick one to attend. This is the reason the "why us" essay matters more than ever. Admissions officers want to see if you are really interested in their school.
So how do you make them believe you are truly interested? It comes down to one simple piece of advice: Do your research! Learn everything you can about the school. This doesn't mean a quick look at their "about us" page. I mean really digging deep and getting specific. Check out the department page of your intended major. See what special classes and programs are offered. What research or internship opportunities are offered? What is unique about your intended major at that particular school. Don't forget the school culture. Check out their social media pages, contact current students, watch YouTube videos posted by current students. There's plenty you can do to really learn about a school. There are even websites just for this which I will post at the end of the blog. The point is to find what makes the school unique and how that appeals to you. How is this university the right fit for you? By sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for the university, you will definitely please admissions officers.
Useful Websites
https://www.youniversitytv.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQRLb-_sXhwYIE8SFEjeiBw
