The “Why University X” supplemental

The “Why University X” supplemental essay is NOT a “Why University X is great” essay. Instead, it’s a “Why University X and I are perfect for each other” essay.A very common mistake applicants make is explaining only the things they love about a school while ignoring the value they can add to a campus through their background, personal characteristics, or perspective.So here’s what you can do to make connections between the things you love about a university and yourself:Grab a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Label the left-hand column “Me” and the right-hand column “University X”. Then add 8 to 12 bullet points why you and the school are a perfect match. Be specific. For example, if you want to learn photography in your spare time, write it in the left-hand column. In the right-hand column, write down any photography classes or clubs University X offers. If you love that University X has a double major in Environmental Science and Russian, put it in the right-hand column. In the left, explain why that’s important to you.This exercise not only shows you exactly how you and the college fit together, but your points can be quickly chunked into categories (e.g. academics, experiential learning opportunities, extracurriculars, location, etc.) and turned into an outline for the “Why University X” essay.This exercise also turns common, boring writing into strong, specific writing. Here’s an example from a recent client: