Essay guide · 2026–27 cycle
The “Why us” essay
Almost every selective school asks some version of it: why here? It is the most common supplement and the most commonly wasted one. The reader does not need to be told the school is good. They need to see that you have a plan only this place can serve, and evidence that you'll actually follow it.
No card. Paste a draft and Admitify reads it line by line against the question it has to answer. It never writes for you.
What the question is really asking
Not "why is the school good" but "what will you do here that you can't do elsewhere, and what in your past proves you'll actually do it." The reader already knows the school is good.
Opening with the campus, the ranking or the "world-renowned faculty." Every sentence that would survive with another school's name swapped in is wasted. Listing three programs with no explanation of any of them is the second trap.
Start with the specific thing you've already been doing. Name one or two concrete resources at the school (a course, a lab, a program, a professor's actual work) and say what you'd do with each. End on the next step, not on a compliment.
How to write it, in order
Write down what you are already doing: a project, a subject, a question you keep returning to. The essay starts there, not with the school.
Spend thirty minutes on the school's own site, not rankings pages. Find two or three specific things: a course by its number and name, a lab and what it studies, a program and what it requires, a professor and the actual work they published.
For each one, write one sentence that says what you would do with it. “I would take CS 161” is nothing; “I would take CS 161 because my own attempt at a file-system project stalled on exactly the concurrency problems it covers” is an essay.
Cut anything about weather, campus beauty, rankings, “world-class faculty,” or “vibrant community.” If a sentence would survive with another school's name swapped in, it goes.
End on the next step you would take on campus in the first semester, not on a compliment.
Before you submit
- Cover the school name and read it. If it still makes sense, it is a brochure.
- Count the specific resources named. Two explained well beats five listed.
- The first sentence is about you, not the school.
- Nothing in it appears on the admissions homepage.
- No sentence begins with “I have always dreamed.”
Every school that asks it
37 schools, 38 prompts. Click a school for all of its supplements, word counts and a prompt-by-prompt guide. Schools marked with a cycle year show last year's wording; the 2026–27 version was not yet published when verified.
- Columbia Universityup to 150 words
“Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia.”
- Columbia Universityup to 150 words
“What attracts you to your preferred areas of study at Columbia College or Columbia Engineering?”
- University of Chicagono stated word limit
“How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.”
- University of Pennsylvaniaup to 400 words
“The Huntsman Program supports the development of globally-minded scholars who become engaged citizens, creative innovators, and ethical leaders in the public, private, and non-profit sectors in the United States and around the world. What draws you to a dual degree in international studies and business, and how would you use what you learn to address a global issue where these two domains intersect?”
- Dartmouth Collegeup to 100 words
“As you seek admission to Dartmouth's Class of 2031, what aspects of the college's academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? How is Dartmouth a good fit for you?”
- Duke Universityup to 250 words
“What is your impression of Duke as a university and community, and why do you believe it is a good match for your goals, values, and interests?”
- Cornell Universityup to 350 words
“What draws you to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)? Reflect on the learning, community, or impact opportunities that matter most to you, and share how they align with Cornell CALS (as you understand it currently).”
- Rice Universityup to 150 words
“Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you?”
- Tufts University75-150 words
“Please describe how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts during your college search process”
- Claremont McKenna Collegeup to 250 words
“CMC's mission is to prepare students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions. With this mission in mind, please explain why you want to attend Claremont McKenna College.”
- Davidson College250-300 words
“There are just under 4,000 4-year colleges and universities in the United States. Being as specific as possible, what interests you most about Davidson College?”
- Washington and Lee Universityup to 250 words
“There are over 8,200 accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. alone. You have chosen to apply to Washington and Lee University. Please describe how you have familiarized yourself with W&L and what aspects of its community are most exciting to you.”
- Wake Forest Universityup to 100 words
“Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution.”
- Villanova Universityup to 250 words
“'Villanova' means 'new home.' Why do you want to call Villanova your new home?”
- Lafayette College20-200 words
“Why Lafayette? Students identify Lafayette as an excellent fit for countless reasons. In your response, be deliberate and specific about your motivation for applying to Lafayette. Why do you see yourself at Lafayette?”
- Occidental Collegeup to 250 words
“Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests?”
- University of Central Floridaup to 250 words
“Why did you choose to apply to UCF?”
- Auburn Universityup to 600 words
“The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi used the word 'flow' to describe a state of deep immersion in an activity. Describe an activity that can put you into this flow state, when your attention, energy, and sense of self align. What draws you to this experience? What does it reveal about who you are, how you think, or how you engage with the world?”
- Baylor Universityup to 450 words
“What are you looking for in a university, why do you want to attend Baylor, and how do you see yourself contributing to the Baylor community?”
- Pepperdine Universityup to 500 words
“Pepperdine is a Christian university where all are welcomed and encouraged to challenge each other in the pursuit of truth. Students, faculty, and staff members from all backgrounds participate in conversations of faith inside and outside of the classroom. Considering that Pepperdine is a Christian university, why are you interested in attending and how would you contribute to conversations of faith on campus?”
- Purdue Universityup to 250 words
“How will opportunities at Purdue support your interests, both in and out of the classroom?”
- Syracuse Universityup to 250 words
“Why is Syracuse University a good match for your interests and goals?”
- Southern Methodist Universityup to 250 words
“SMU appeals to students for a variety of reasons. Briefly describe why you are interested in attending SMU and what specific factors have led you to apply.”
- Colorado School of Minesup to 250 words
“Why do you want to be an Oredigger? You can share what you want to study, your future involvement and activities, or anything else about the Mines experience that excites you.”
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Instituteup to 250 words
“Why are you interested in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?”
- Chapman Universityup to 200 words
“Out of the thousands of universities and colleges, what excites you about attending Chapman University specifically?”
- University of Massachusetts Amherstup to 100 words
“Please tell us why you want to attend UMass Amherst?”
- Yeshiva Universityup to 250 words
“How do you see Yeshiva University supporting your academic goals while helping you grow personally and within your values?”
- Texas A&M Universityup to 100 words
“We know you have a lot of options. In a few words, why did you choose to apply to Texas A&M?”
- Cornell Collegeup to 350 words
“What draws you to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)? Reflect on the learning, community, or impact opportunities that matter most to you, and share how they align with Cornell CALS (as you understand it currently).”
- Pitzer Collegeup to 650 words · 2025-26
“At Pitzer, five core values distinguish our approach to education: social responsibility, intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, student engagement, and environmental sustainability. As agents of change, our students utilize these values to create solutions to our world's challenges. Please answer only one of the following prompts: 1. Reflecting on your involvement throughout high school or within the community, how have you engaged with one of Pitzer's core values? 2. Describe what you are looking for from your college experience and why Pitzer would be a good fit for you.”
- Scripps College100-200 words · 2025-26
“Why have you chosen to apply to Scripps College?”
- Mount Holyoke College250-400 words · 2025-26
“What unique characteristic about Mount Holyoke makes you interested in attending?”
- Illinois Institute of Technologyup to 250 words · 2025-26
“Why are you interested in Illinois Institute of Technology?”
- Marist Collegeup to 250 words · 2025-26
“Why do you think Marist is a good match for you?”
- Texas Tech Universityup to 800 words · 2025-26
“Why have you chosen to apply to Texas Tech University?”
- Virginia Commonwealth University250-650 words · 2025-26
“Please submit a personal essay explaining your interest in attending Virginia Commonwealth University. Your essay should be between 250 and 650 words in length.”
- George Mason Universityup to 400 words · 2025-26
“What is your motivation for pursuing higher education? Why do you believe George Mason University is the right institution for you?”
Common questions
- How specific does a “why us” essay need to be?
- Specific enough that a reader from that school recognises the thing you named and believes you looked at it. A course number, a lab's actual research question, a program's structure. Not the mascot, the weather, or the ranking.
- Should I mention a professor by name?
- Only if you can say what their work is and why it connects to something you have done. Naming a professor you have not read reads as research done in ten minutes, which it was.
- Can I reuse a “why us” essay across schools?
- The opening about you, yes. The middle, no. If more than a third of the essay survives a school swap, it will read as a template at every school.
Prompts verified September 2026 against each school's published application. Browse all schools A–Z. Spotted a change? Tell us.