Types of College Essays

Generally, you must write a few standard essay questions to your potential colleges. These vary in word count, and some questions overlap, but these are the basics.

The Academic Interest essay

Yale: Tell us about a topic or idea that excites you and is related to one or more academic areas you selected above. Why are you drawn to it?  (200 words)

Stanford: The Stanford community is deeply curious and driven to learn in and out of the classroom. Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning. (250 words)

This is an essay that asks to understand your relationship with the subject and how you have cultivated it through the years. Who/What inspired you to explore this subject? How did you learn more things about it? What did you do with this newfound knowledge? Any blog articles, awards won, or internships pursued? Lastly, how are you hoping to build on this academic interest in university? Your Academic Interest Essay should pick a subtopic within the field of study you want to pursue at the institution. Eg: A student aspiring to be a linguistics major can write an essay about their fascination with studying the creation of fictional languages like Klingon and Dothraki.

The Why Major essay

USC: Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250 words)

Emory: What academic areas are you interested in exploring at Emory University and why? (200 words)

The Why Major essay is a largely future-focused essay. It asks what you want to do with the subject you have cultivated yourself in so far. Look for words like “academic” or “major” and “at XYZ” university to identify a Why Major essay, as it is different from an Academic Interest and Why College essay. This essay wants to know the specific courses and programs, research institutes, if available to undergraduates, and any other academic platforms you may be interested in at that university.

Why Subject + Why Major

UMichigan: 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?* (550 words)

Cornell: At the College of Arts and Sciences, curiosity will be your guide. Discuss how your passion for learning is shaping your academic journey, and what areas of study or majors excite you and why. Your response should convey how your interests align with the College, and how you would take advantage of the opportunities and curriculum in Arts and Sciences. (650 words)

These are examples of essay prompts with a large word count. For these, you can combine an Academic Interest and Why Major to make a structurally sound essay that starts by explaining how you came about to enjoy and cultivate your interests in the subject of your choice and how you plan to continue this academic passion in the college/university of your choice. Do not attempt to describe your non-academic interests in this essay. Eg: sports, art, dance etc.

The Why College essay

Duke: What is your sense of Duke as a university and a community, and why do you consider it a good match for you? If there's something in particular about our offerings that attracts you, feel free to share that as well. (250 words)

Columbia: Why are you interested in attending Columbia University? We encourage you to consider the aspect(s) that you find unique and compelling about Columbia. (150 words)

Prompts that ask to understand your interest in the college overall are known as the Why College essay. These essays must describe your interest in the college/university because of its uniqueness. Please note that this must connect with your interests. A student applying to the biology major at Brown can explain, “At Brown’s John Hay Library, I am excited to go through the highly detailed illustrations of human anatomy in De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem, bound in tanned human skin.” It does not make sense for an economics student to describe this interest, for it is oblique to their profile.

To write an essay for a Why College prompt, refer to this chapter about the creation of a good “Fit”. Here are some things you can search about the institution. Check if

• the college/university has a unique residential program,
• if it is located near places that align with your academic interests,
• if the college offers some particularly special course/program that may be reserved for post-graduates in most other places,
• if the college has a culture you particularly resonate with, as seen in its motto, mission statement or Honor Code,
• if the college has a generous platform for you to cultivate your non-academic interests in. Eg: a robust sports team, an internationally famous dance group, a student organisation that advocates for something you genuinely believe in.
• anything else that establishes a connection between your goals and the college’s beliefs.

The Why Community essay

Columbia: A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community. (150 words)

Harvard: Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard? (200 words)

A “community at XYZ college/university” essay prompt can be answered in many ways. 

• How have your extra-curricular pursuits and community service work taught you how to exercise teamwork and leadership, and through which club do you want to continue these interests at their institution?
• If the college/university has a solid community of people you want to join, Eg: A women in STEM club, a South Asian arts and culture club, etc. you can mention those too. Connect it to something in your personal life and explain why the college/university is the best place to explore these interests further.
• Another recommended method is a life experience that imparted a perspective unique to an average teenager. E.g. for a student who grew up witnessing ableism towards their loved ones and has repeatedly wondered about accessible environments, they want to advocate for a disability-friendly campus with wheelchair ramps, tactile paving and mandatory training sessions for anyone known for slighting people with special needs.

The Community Service essay

University of California: What have you done to make your school or community a better place (350 words)

Notre Dame: Notre Dame fosters an undergraduate experience dedicated to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual development of each individual, characterized by a collective sense of care for every person. How do you foster service to others in your community? (150 words)

The Community Service essay is relatively straightforward. It asks you to explain a community that you worked with due to an obstacle you witnessed it facing. It can be a community of students suffering from issues of poor infrastructure in schools, a community of women unable to pursue their dreams in a lucrative STEM career or a community of artists struggling to fund their pursuits. This essay needs to be action-focused, and your contribution to improving your surroundings should not look like a part of a group initiative. Even if you were acting as a group member, your essay should be centred on how you performed your duties and what you learnt from this experience. Finish this essay by mentioning your desire to join a similar community service group at the college/university you’re applying to.

The Optional Essay

Wharton: Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)

Carleton: Anything missing? Do you want to share more with us? If so, use this space to fill any gaps you think would assist us in reviewing your application. (250 words)

The rare Optional Essay must only be answered if there is something you are yet to convey to the Admissions Officer. It must be a detail that does not overlap with your other college essays + CommonApp essay + Activity Lists. This essay can be as silly or serious in tone as you like, but it must build on your personality or address a major weakness in your application. E.g., A unique childhood experience that has shaped your growth, otherwise, a low GPA or test scores.


Conclusion
Step 1: Carefully read your essay prompt and identify what the college wants to hear from you.
Step 2: Be thorough with college research. Make sure that the information you put in the essay is meaningful and correct.
Step 3: Follow a complete narrative by referring to this article.

Step 4: Refer to this How-to Article with sample essays.