The school essay is a type of college application essay that asks you to talk about your academic and extracurricular interests in relation to the specific university. The goal of this essay is for the admissions committee to get a clear sense of how committed you are to their school and what unique perspective you will bring to the student body. It is especially important for schools that have a large applicant pool, because they may not be able to admit everyone who applies, so they need to see if students are really invested in attending their university and not just applying on a whim.

Compared to the personal statement and diversity statement, which are usually required for every application, these “why our school” essays are much more flexible and open-ended. This is why it’s essential to do your research and think through exactly how your past experiences will intersect with the mission, values, and goals of the university.

It is also possible to reuse parts of an essay you have already written, but make sure to customize it to each school and that each part contributes to the overall theme you are trying to convey. When using this strategy, I recommend opening a new document for each essay rather than editing an old one so you have more flexibility to tailor the essay to the individual university.

You can start this type of essay with a story or an anecdote, but be careful not to over-dramatize the significance of your experience. Admissions counselors read thousands of applications each year and can spot when a story is over-exaggerated. It’s also a good idea to have an outside reader or teacher look over your essay before you submit it, as they will be more apt to catch any errors that you may have overlooked.

If you are interested in writing a “why this school” essay, I recommend starting with an exploratory website visit to the university’s website to learn more about its mission, values, and programs. Take a look at the courses it offers, the professors who teach them, the research opportunities that are available, and any other notable aspects of the school to understand how your interests intersect with theirs.

In the example above, this student demonstrates that their background and interests overlap with those of the university by mentioning the university’s commitment to diversity and social justice. They also describe how their own research and activism intersects with the university’s mission and values. This student’s passion for the school shines through in their essay and is an excellent way to stand out as a potential student. The student also goes further by describing specific classes, research, and activities that they are passionate about at UPenn, which further solidifies their fit with the university. This is a great way to make your ‘Why Our School’ essay stand out! UPenn would be lucky to have this student.