Fingers placing W on wood block stack reading why, blocks with question marks

How to Write the "Why Us?" College Essay Prompt

Many colleges and universities offer a "Why us?" essay prompt on college applications. Do you know the best way to approach it? Find out with this advice.

College admission essays often have specific prompts to both get the gears in your mind turning and tell the story you really want to tell. In particular, many schools ask students to write an essay about the reasons they feel that college or university is right for them. We call these “Why us?” essays. Lots of students misunderstand the prompts—and miss out on an important opportunity to stand out to their top colleges of interest.

Examples of "Why Us?" essay prompts

Not all colleges and universities will approach the "Why Us?" essay the same way. Some of the prompts you come across might look something like this:

  • Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual-degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?
  • Describe why you are interested in joining the Tulane University community. Consider your experiences, talents, and values to illustrate what you would contribute to the Tulane community if admitted. 
  • Designed as a short-answer question to be responded to in 100 words or fewer, Tufts University asks students to finish the sentence “I am applying to Tufts because…” 

Avoiding common mistakes 

I read an essay once that was a beautiful story from a student answering the “Why us?” prompt for a Big Ten university. Full of descriptive details about the school’s location and football stadium, the story painted a vivid picture of the long drive to and from the school in the family car with his dad, an alumnus. This boy was clear he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, he was comfortable inside the stadium, and he was certain he would feel at home at this university. Unfortunately, this story did not respond adequately to the prompt.

Students often tell admission officers how much they love the big city, how badly they want to escape their small towns, or how much they love the old buildings on campus. Be careful! This is not what admission officers are looking for. They want to know why you are a good fit for their campus, whether you have the chops to succeed academically if there are clubs and activities to support your interests, and if you are likely to graduate from this institution.

To get moving in the right direction, consider what you want the college to know about you that is not evident from the rest of your application package. How do the college’s curriculum, clubs, and campus life support your interests? Why are you a good fit for the institution? This task can be difficult, even for students who spent their childhoods wearing sweatshirts emblazoned with their parents’ alma maters. Most students have no idea what a school offers academically, socially, or culturally. You have to do the work to prove to them you want to be there. 

Related: College Admission Essay Ideas That Just Don't Work

Tips for "Why us?" essay success

After speaking with admission officers from small liberal arts colleges, elite universities, and state institutions, I’ve found that regardless of size, status, or essay prompt, they all offer similar tips:

  • Don’t overthink it.
  • Tell admission officers what you want them to know about you, not what you think they want to hear.
  • Answer the prompt honestly.
  • Make sure your essay is focused and written in your own words and your own voice.

You should never be thinking, “What are they looking for?” The better question is, “What do I want them to know about me?” They know how great they are; your job is to let them know how great you are and why you're a good fit for their school or program.

Related: Admission Granted: Examples of Successful College Application Essays, Volume I

The college admission process is long and your essays can feel like one of the most intimidating parts. As stated above, don't overthink it. You have the story in you already, and you know why you want to attend the schools you're interested in. Now, it's just about showing those schools the passion and drive you have to reach your academic goals on their campus.

Looking for more advice on admission essays and college application tips? Check out our College Admission articles and blogs!

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

About Kim Lifton

Kim Lifton

Kim Lifton is President and Co-founder of Wow Writing Workshop, which teaches students and educational professionals a simple, step-by-step process for writing effective college essays so they can stand out and tell their stories. Kim supervises a team of writers and teachers who understand the writing process inside and out. Since 2009, Wow has been leading the college admissions industry with their unique approach to communicating messages effectively through application essays, including personal statements, activity and short-answer essays, and supplements. From Farmington Hills, Michigan, Kim is also a board member of the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling.

 
 

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Salve Regina University

Newport, RI


Alexandria

Alexandria

High School Class of 2021

For a long time, I've been searching everywhere to find the perfect website I can get scholarships and information from. Needless to say, I could never find the right one. That was, until I found CollegeXpress. Through my journey of finding the right scholarships for me, I was able to find articles about different things. They've all been helpful, especially in times like this! I was even able to connect with some of my favorite colleges! I love CollegeXpress. Thank you!

Katelyn

Katelyn

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress gave me options of schools with my major and from there I was able to pick what was most important to me in a school. Everything was so organized that I could see all the information I needed.

Monica

Monica

High School Class of 2023

Being a sophomore in high school, I never really worried about college. I thought it wasn't important to worry about until senior year. Through this program opportunity I came across, I realized how important it is to start looking at colleges early and start planning ahead. CollegeXpress has opened my eyes to what colleges require, what colleges are near me, and what they offer. The daily emails I get from CollegeXpress really help me look at the different options I have and what colleges I fit into. Without this website, I would not be taking the time out of my day to worry about what my future will be nor what opportunities I have. I could not be more grateful for such an amazing and useful website. It's thanks to CollegeXpress that not only me but my family now know how much potential I have in to getting into these colleges/universities that we thought were out of my reach.

Victoria Fuss

Victoria Fuss

March Madness Scholarship Winner, Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me dramatically. Moving on to the next level has been a dream of my mine since I was just a young kid, and the support and help CollegeXpress has given me will help me further my education. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone at CollegeXpress!

Rhiannon Teeter

Rhiannon Teeter

$2,000 Community Service Scholarship Winner, 2012

I have spent a lot of time aggressively searching for scholarships. It was a long and frustrating process until I found the CollegeXpress network. This site made my search so much easier. With the simple check of a few boxes, the site sorted out scholarships I was eligible for and led me directly to the correct websites. Winning this scholarship has definitely given me and my family some financial relief, and CollegeXpress has allowed me to improve my chances of winning further financial aid. Thank you so much!