<p>You get this on almost every supplement. For me, it’s not that each school isn’t unique. It’s just, if you can’t afford to visit every school, say an Ivy, you really can’t pinpoint a significant aspect of that school from everywhere else. How would you guys approach this question?</p>
<p>btw, this is always my hardest question. does that make me uninformed about colleges and an apathetic applicant?</p>
<p>My theory is that if a school asks that question, they’d like to know you have visited and / or done enough research to know why you’re bothering to apply. If all you’re doing is applying to “every ivy,” then of course nothing stands out. Be sure, in the end, you know why the school you attend is different than all the others. Might as well figure that out now.</p>
<p>I can’t afford to go visit most of the places I’m applying to as well, however you can do some other things: </p>
<p>-Look to see if they have core classes/freshman seminar type deals, describe any interests you might have in them or the ability to try new things.
- search around the school site for Student Activity and Club listings, figure out where you might want to participate
- look at course listings for the current or previous year, or the department that contains your intended or possible majors
- search for campus traditions on the site, most of the Ivys and many schools that are not will list them somewhere
- look up special housing, see if you’d want to participate in any of them, if they have that option.
- Look at the school motto, or what the school is known for, and talk about it.
- Figure out the School’s personality. MIT is different from Yale and Yale is different from Cornell and so on. Is it a city school, or a suburb, or rural?
- talk about school spirit, if there is any. </p>
<p>Search around the site, and you’ll find something to talk about if you really love the school.</p>
<p>thanks yurtle!</p>