Writing a School Essay
If you’re applying to a prestigious school like Tufts, the “why our school” essay is an essential part of your application. Admissions officers are looking for applicants who are a good fit for their school. This isn’t the time to brag about how great the school is; instead, show the committee that you’re a good match for the school. A school essay should be focused on showing the committee why you’re a good fit for their institution.
While writing a school essay, make sure you’re specific about the opportunities you hope to take advantage of. Schools want to know you’re excited about the school and its courses, so spend some time researching the classes and programs you’re interested in. If you’re a student of a certain subject, mention it briefly in the essay. Students should be passionate about the school in which they’re interested, as this will help the committee understand why they should apply there.
To make your school essay more specific, research the opportunities offered at the school. Choose your top three academic reasons and a few extracurricular activities that you’d enjoy participating in. One of the biggest mistakes students make in their school essays is not focusing on the opportunities, but on their interests. Then, you need to describe how these resources will contribute to their goals. The personal aspects of the school are just as important as the academic ones.
Whether the school is an elite institution or a small liberal arts college, the essay should reflect your interests and unique qualities. The school should be your first choice. It’s important to remember that the essay needs to be concise, but it must also convey why you want to attend the school. In addition to being specific, the essay must be engaging. A good example of a personal school essay is one that lists the activities a student can participate in at the university and why those activities are important to them.
While writing a school essay, students should make it specific to the school. For example, they should describe the courses or programs they’re interested in. This way, students will not feel like they’re being asked to write a generic essay about their own interests. A good essay should show that the school is unique in some way. If the school has many extracurricular activities, mention them in the essay. If there are a lot of opportunities at a school, a student should focus on those.
While writing a school essay is important, it’s not enough to list all the opportunities that a school offers. Rather, the essay should highlight the unique features of the chosen school, which is usually the most compelling. For example, the economics curriculum at UChicago is very market-oriented, and the arts community at Tufts has a diverse student body. Moreover, the admissions officer will want to know that the applicant has a genuine interest in the school.