What Are They Looking For...

nspeds
Sun, 17 Apr 2005 18:39:19 +0000

I am arguing that reasons dont really matter because the majority of what these people write will not play a role, and is definely not as importent as the other factors for admission.



What are your grounds for saying this?



If colleges distinquish between reasons they must benefit for doing so, better test grades get smarter students, race and location gets diversity, odd life stories adds to diversity, recs, essays and a few reasons can show positive values and drive. But what do the majority of reasons add, nothing.



Once again, I am not arguing that reasons are the sole factor. There are plenty of other mitigating factors involved. I would even go so far as to argue that SAT and GPA get your foot in the door, but reasons, ECs, essays, and recommendations get you in the room. In my belief, reasons are third in importance to the GPA and SAT.

This belief is not unsubstantiated, it has been forwarded to me by a counselor in IvyWise, numerous professors as well as adcoms. They want to know why you want to study at that specific school. If it did not matter, then Yale would not dedicate an essay to it, Rice would not spefically ask such a question on their application, and Georgetown would also not dedicate an essay to how their institution will help support one’s ambitions.