{"id":60502,"date":"2020-12-03T17:39:30","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T17:39:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/?p=60502"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:24:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T18:24:20","slug":"why-this-college-essay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/why-this-college-essay\/","title":{"rendered":"The &#8220;Why This College&#8221; Supplemental Essay Prompt: 7 Tips for Responding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The &#8220;Why This College&#8221; Supplemental Essay Prompt: 7 Tips for Responding<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Expertise provided by Kate (a Princeton graduate with over a decade of experience in essay editing) and reviewed by Mike Kleynman (PhD in English, 10+ years of experience in selective admissions coaching). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bonus Material: <\/strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" data-sumome-listbuilder-id=\"da99eabe-aefc-4369-843f-5996849dc415\">Download 50+  Supplemental Essay Examples <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many U.S. colleges and universities now require students to answer supplemental essay prompts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are <em>in addition to <\/em><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/college-essay-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the college essay<\/a><\/span> or personal statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common supplemental essay prompt asks students to reflect on why they\u2019ve chosen to apply to a specific school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This can be one of the most challenging prompts to respond to! Many of our students turn to us for advice in crafting a compelling and competitive \u201cWhy This College\u201d essay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve compiled that advice in this post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Readers also get access to our over 50 sample supplements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #ffffff;\" data-sumome-listbuilder-id=\"da99eabe-aefc-4369-843f-5996849dc415\"><button class=\"btn\" style=\"background-color: orange;\">Download 50+ Supplemental Essay Examples<\/button><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll find:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#why\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">The \u201cWhy This College\u201d Supplemental Essay Prompt<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#tips\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">7 Tips for Responding to this Prompt<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#next\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color\">Bonus: PrepMaven&#8217;s Supplemental Essay Spreadsheet<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">1) The \u201cWhy This College\u201d Supplemental Essay Prompt<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every college is likely to ask this question differently, but here are some <strong>examples<\/strong> of what this prompt might look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Why UVM?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How will the University of Michigan\u2019s curriculum support you in pursuing your interests?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tell us why you decided to apply to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Word limits are likely to vary with this question. For example, some only give students 50-150 words to respond to the \u201cWhy This College\u201d prompt. Others might allow students up to 650 words to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why do colleges ask this question?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In general, this essay prompt is designed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Give admissions officers more insight into what specifically has attracted you to this school<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Help them figure out if you\u2019re a good fit for their student body<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide details about how you might contribute to that college\u2019s communities (academic or otherwise)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can use the following 7 tips to write a response that ticks all of these boxes (and more).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"tips\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">2) 7 Tips for Responding to the \u201cWhy This College\u201d Essay Prompt<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Start by building a must-have list<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don\u2019t already have a college must-have list, now is the time to build one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is a must-have list? It\u2019s a list of everything you\u2019re looking for in a college. Here\u2019s an example must-have list:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Study abroad opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mid-sized student body<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proximity to a city<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excellent career resources<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong psychology department<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Undergraduate research opportunities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interdisciplinary curriculum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On-campus housing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Diverse, spirited student body<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emphasis on community service<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most students have an idea of what they\u2019re looking for in a college, but might not have these ideas outlined in a coherent list. Building this list, however, will be helpful for creating an outline for your \u201cWhy This College\u201d essay response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Try to be as specific as possible in crafting this list. It doesn\u2019t matter how long it is, either!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Compare this list to what a college offers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now hold up your must-have list to what this college specifically offers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If \u201cstudy abroad opportunities\u201d are at the top of your list, for example, what <em>specific <\/em>study abroad opportunities does this school offer? If you are eager to participate in undergraduate research, what will that look like on this specific campus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It can be helpful to build a table for this part. We\u2019ve constructed a sample table based on <strong>part of <\/strong>the must-have list above for Tulane University:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>My Must-Have<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>What Tulane Offers<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Study abroad opportunities<\/td><td>Extensive for psychology majors: from New Zealand to Israel<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mid-sized student body, proximity to a city<\/td><td>6,968 undergraduates, urban setting (New Orleans)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Strong psychology department<\/td><td>B.S. in Psychology; interdisciplinary majors available; Psi Chi and Psychology Club; renowned faculty; research-based<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Undergraduate research opportunities<\/td><td>Undergraduate research assistantships in Psychology department (strongly encouraged); Honors Thesis<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Emphasis on community service<\/td><td>Undergraduates must do public service in order to graduate<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Be specific<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is vital to cater specifically to the college when crafting your response. This means <em>doing your research <\/em>so you can mention specific study abroad programs, faculty members, classes, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compare the two sentences below to see the difference between a general response and a specific one. Notice how the specific sentence also offers information about the student\u2019s own relationship to community service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Too General<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Specific<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>I love Tulane\u2019s community service opportunities.<\/em><\/td><td><em>Given my passion for serving my community, I am excited that Tulane requires undergraduates to complete public service in order to graduate and look forward to participating in CACTUS.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where do you find these specifics?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should be able to find all details on that college\u2019s website. If you want more information about something, feel free to email a specific department or staff member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Identify why you want to study a certain subject<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some colleges also require you to describe why you\u2019re interested in a certain major. For this reason, it can be helpful to think about why you want to study a specific subject as you go about your research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is also a great chance to provide some backstory or narrative. You might wish to describe how that fourth grade Science Fair, for example, solidified your passion for Physics. Or perhaps your proximity to your local library inspired an interest in community engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, you don\u2019t want to spend too much time providing this backstory. But it can give colleges more insight into <em>you <\/em>as a scholar and individual, which is always valuable!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Use active language&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some students aren\u2019t sure what language they should use when responding to this prompt. Understandably&#8211;it can feel weird to outline everything you love about a school in a professional essay!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We tell all of our students to use <strong>active language<\/strong> when writing this essay. Here are some examples of what we mean:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I appreciate X College\u2019s emphasis on\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I look forward to participating in\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I am intrigued by\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>X College\u2019s urban setting is ideal given my\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The X Department\u2019s curriculum will best prepare me for\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>X College\u2019s values align with my own&#8230;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Lead with your must-haves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A great way to begin the paragraphs in your essay is to lead with your must-haves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s an example thesis statement that shows this in action:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Given my preference for hands-on learning, a strong Neuroscience Department, and research-based education, I am confident that X College will best prepare me for a career in medicine.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notice how this statement leads with what the student is looking for in a college&#8211;hands-on learning, a strong Neuroscience Department, and research-based education&#8211;and concludes with a gesture to that specific school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Avoid telling the school what it already knows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s easy to write what we call \u201ceducational statements\u201d that give the school information it likely already knows.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s an example of one of these statements, which doesn&#8217;t tell us anything about the student:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Community service is built into Tulane\u2019s curriculum.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you avoid these statements? Make sure they are part of a statement of opinion or interest, as in the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>I appreciate the fact that community service is built into Tulane\u2019s curriculum and look forward to deepening my relationship to volunteering throughout my academic studies there.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"next\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">Download the Supplemental Essay Prompts for the 50 Most Selective Colleges<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We recommend downloading our Supplemental Essay Spreadsheet, which includes the supplemental essay prompts for the 50 most selective U.S. colleges and universities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With this spreadsheet, you&#8217;ll get:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The supplemental essay prompt(s) for the most selective 50 U.S. colleges \/ universities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Word limits for each prompt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Application deadlines for each (early and regular)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #ffffff;\" data-sumome-listbuilder-id=\"da99eabe-aefc-4369-843f-5996849dc415\"><button class=\"btn\" style=\"background-color: orange;\">Download 50+ Supplemental Essay Examples<\/button><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are only a few of the tips we offer students navigating essay response in their college application journey. Check out other posts on supplemental essays below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top College Supplemental Essay Posts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/best-college-essay-service\/\">15 Best College Essay Services for 2026 (40 Services Reviewed)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/uchicago-supplemental-essays\/\">How to Write the University of Chicago Supplemental Essays<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/dartmouth-supplemental-essays\/\">How to Write the Dartmouth Supplemental Essays<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/write-yale-supplemental-essays\/\">How to Write the Yale Supplemental Essays<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/write-boston-college-supplemental-essays\/\">How to Write Boston College&#8217;s Supplemental Essays<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/uc-personal-insight-questions\/\">How to Answer the UC Personal Insight Questions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/how-colleges-read-your-application-a-4-step-process\/\">How Colleges Read your College Applications (A 4-Step Process)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/princeton-supplemental-essay\/\">How to Write the Princeton Supplemental Essays<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/college-essay-diamond-strategy\/\">The Diamond Strategy: How We Help Students Write College Essays that Get Them Into Princeton (And Other Ivy League Schools)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/harvard-supplemental-essay\/\">How to Write the Harvard Supplemental Essays<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/how-to-format-college-essay\/\">How to Format Your College Essay<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<hr>\n<h3><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-57269 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2R3A2936-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Kate_Princeton Tutoring_AuthorBio\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\"> Kate<\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 170px;\">Kate is a graduate of Princeton University. Over the last decade, Kate has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay.<\/p>\n<hr>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A college essay expert gives 7 tips for responding to one of the most common supplemental essay prompts: &#8216;Why our college?&#8217;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":60506,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[96,107,118],"class_list":["post-60502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-applying","tag-college-admissions","tag-college-essay","tag-college"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The &quot;Why This College&quot; Supplemental Essay Prompt: 7 Tips for Responding - PrepMaven<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A college essay expert gives 7 tips for responding to one of the most common supplemental essay prompts: &#039;Why our college?&#039;\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/prepmaven.com\/blog\/applying\/why-this-college-essay\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The &quot;Why This College&quot; 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