Writing the “Why Us” Supplemental Essay
So, you’ve finished a stellar Common Application essay. What’s next? It’s likely that some of the colleges you’re applying to require one or more supplemental essays. A supplemental essay is a school-specific writing prompt and can range drastically in word count and content, depending on the institution and the prompt. A very common supplemental essays is the “Why Us” essay. In this type of prompt, a university attempts to zero in on exactly why a student has chosen to apply.
Let’s consider a couple of examples.
Example 1: Yale University
What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (Maximum 125 words)
If the “Why Yale” supplement were a food, it would be a few tiny bites of an appetizer. So, before you go mapping out a lengthy manifesto outlining your love for this picturesque campus and the academic rigor that unfolds there, take a moment to remind yourself that a 125 -word essay is a very, very short essay. While you aim to create an impactful supplemental essay, you’re working with a minimum word count. The admissions committee is already well versed in Yale’s prestige, but they’re wondering why you would choose Yale over another highly selective institution.
The key here is to focus on a few specific details and that reveal how your interests align with Yale specifically. Here are a few additional suggestions:
Focus on specific opportunities that would not be available elsewhere; this could include a specialized course offering, club, or research opportunity. For example, “As a young woman of color, I am eager to participate in Yale’s STARS program, which would allow me to pursue my passion for engineering while building meaningful connections with other students traditionally underrepresented in STEM.” Show how your unique passions connect with the university’s offerings. For example: “I’m interested in Yale’s Walden Peer Counseling program,” tells an admissions officer very little about you. “My passion for wellness and personal commitment to active listening skills makes me the ideal fit for the Walden Peer Counseling program; I look forward to supporting my classmates through participation in one of the most renowned peer counseling programs in the country.”
Consider your impact carefully before name dropping specific professors. This may be appropriate to include if the professor’s research covers a specific academic interest of yours or if you’ve read a book they’ve published. However, steer away from browsing the school’s website just to drop in a professor’s name. While this may show you’ve done some research, it can come across as a bit misplaced.
Example 2: Tulane University
Please describe why you are interested in attending Tulane University (optional; 50 word-800 words.)
This prompt is wide open! Here are a few questions that may immediately come to your mind:
Is this prompt really “optional?” Yes and no. While your application would technically be complete without a written response to this question, I highly advise students to thoughtfully respond to all supplemental essay prompts, even the optional ones. Not responding is throwing away a great opportunity to showcase your interests and why you’d be a great fit on that particular college campus.
2. How long should my essay be? 50-800 words feels like a really wide range. That’s right—it is a pretty wide range. My suggestion is always to aim for somewhere in between these two extremes. A 50-word essay is very short and doesn’t allow you to fully express yourself, while an 800-word essay is pretty lengthy for this type of prompt, and you may risk restating the same content.
3. Can I mention how much I love the city of New Orleans? The geographic location is one of the reasons I want to attend. While the geographic location may feel important to you in the college search process, I recommend being cautious about how you incorporate this aspect of interest into your essay, especially if you are applying in an urban area (for example Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, etc.) You want the admissions committee to fully recognize your interest in the university itself, not just in the surrounding areas, so this probably isn’t the best time to mention your love for beignets or Mardi gras. However, if you can connect a personal interest or passion to the geographic region, it may be worthwhile to do so. Here’s an example: “Other than a trip to Quebec during my freshman year of high school, I’ve had few opportunities to use my French-speaking skills. I look forward to joining the Tulane Undergraduate French Association (TUFA,) and joining my classmates on a trip to New Orleans’ French Quarter; the language, food, culture, and architecture provide the perfect backdrop to my collegiate experience.”
Make sure you proofread your essay very carefully before submitting it! The “Why Us” supplemental essay is designed to be relatively brief, and there is no room for error. As tempting as it may be, do not copy and paste information from one college’s supplement to another. Each of these schools is unique, and your essay in response should be unique as well.
