One of the most often asked questions on a college application is "Why are you a good fit or match for this school?" Colleges want to know why you're interested in them and if you understand what they are all about (their mission, their vision for the future, etc.). Do you know more about the school than they have a good football team? Have you investigated their academic departments? Do you know what courses you will have to take? Is it a socially conscious campus or a politically active one? How important is service to the school community? The questions you could ask are almost endless.
More often then not, when I ask a student what she liked about a university, she starts with something very vague (like it's pretty). On the surface, she is intrigued by the campus, but she hasn't really taken the time to look below the surface, often relying on first impressions or what she's heard about the school from friends and alums. So when she has to write an essay about why it's a good fit for her, her answers are non-specific and cliche.
So how do you answer that particular essay question? Fortunately, Jeannie Borin, the founder of College-Connections, has written some great advice that just might help you focus. It's not a question you can take lightly, nor is it a question you can answer quickly. You may have a word limit, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't take just as much time on this short question as you do on your essay. That means it will take several drafts until you get it just right. However, in the end, it just might make a difference.
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