Essay on why a university is a good match for me????

Mandi · October 23, 2004, 5:43pm

For several colleges that I'm applying to, one short answer question wants to know why I think they're a good match for me.

However, the prompt says that I can't talk about size, location, reputation, or the weather. "Besides these valid reasons to choose ___ as a possible college choice, why is this university a particularly good match for you?"

So, what, I'm supposed to talk about INvalid reasons?

I really don't know what I'm supposed to say. "Yes, I like your university because it starts with the letter A and I like things with the letter A, such as acorns, applications, and angels."

Aghhhhh.. Does anyone know what you're supposed to say in these kinds of essays?

zantedeschia · October 23, 2004, 5:51pm

lol i hate those kinds of essays. talk about a particular program or how you expect it to help you reach your goals in life.

Xanatos · October 23, 2004, 5:55pm

Mentioning a specific program that the school is known for or a particular professor's name or something tells a school that you're interested and you've put in the time to research them, which always looks good.

sakky · October 23, 2004, 6:38pm

If I may digress, essay questions like that are precisely why people get cynical about the whole admissions process. I've heard people say that applicants shouldn't be treating the admissions process like it's some sort of a game or a beauty pageant. Well, when you're required to answer questions like the one above, where the most obvious reasons are not "valid" answers, then I think it's rather difficult to blame people from drawing the conclusion that it's nothing but a game.

Reputation, size of the program, location, weather, cost and those sorts of things are precisely the top reasons as to why practically everybody chooses the school they attend. Let's be perfectly honest here. The truth is, the majority of college students in the country are in the college they are in because of reasons of reputation, size, location, weather, and/or cost. Yes, some students have other reasons. But I'm talking about the majority here. For example, a lot of students apply to Harvard just because of the name "Harvard". A lot of students apply to Stanford just because of the name "Stanford". Some do not. But many do. I think we all know that's the truth. And if those applicants were allowed to be perfectly honest on their essays, they would admit it. But those aren't "acceptable" essay answers, so they have to find some other answer - which almost always means making something up. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

So I would agree with Xanatos, I think the question is basically "code words" for regurgitating something about the curricula and/or a prof. That's the "rules of the game". It's a stupid game, but I guess you have to play it. You're not allowed to say your honest answer, so looks like you have to make something up that sounds decent.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that everybody should go around making up stuff to answer their essay questions. But when you face stupid essay questions like that, what other choice do you have, really? I think the onus lies on the adcom committee to not go around asking questions that applicants know they can't answer honestly.

Xanatos · October 23, 2004, 6:48pm

Way to go, sakky, I think you hit the nail on the head. The point of these kinds of essays is to kiss up to whichever college you are writing it for. That's it.

Mandi · October 23, 2004, 7:16pm

Thanks for the feedback from everyone, especially sakky. =)