The Foreign Service Journal, June 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2019 53 Francesca Huemer Kelly, the spouse of a retired Foreign Service officer and former ambassador, has worked as a freelance writer and an editor, and is currently coaching high school students on their college application essays. She is a co-founder of Tales from a Small Planet and a former FSJ AFSA News editor. S omewhere in the middle of the college application process, just when you’ve patted yourself on the back for finish- ing your main Common Application essay, you realize that many of your chosen colleges request at least one more piece of writing. Often, it’s what I like to call the “Why This College?” essay. The prompt for this supplement can be worded several ways, but the EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT This requirement for college applications is more important— and easier to write—than you may think. BY FRANCESCA H . KE L LY Inside College Admissions Colleges want students who want them. Demonstrating interest is impor- tant even if it’s because the college wants a higher yield (i.e., percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll). Because yield is both a financial and a rankings concern, it can be a determining factor in admission. When it comes down to two equally qualified students, the college will accept the student more likely to enroll. Finally, will you not only enroll, but will you be happy during your years on campus? Satisfied students are, in the end, what make a college successful— both in reputation and in a generous alumni base. These are some of the things going through admissions officers’ minds as they read your application, particularly the Why This College? essay. The truth is, while rankings and enrollment are sig- The “WhyThisCollege?” Essay inherent question is clear: Why do you want to attend this particular college ? Far more important than you might think, this essay is your golden oppor- tunity to demonstrate interest —a phrase admissions folks frequently bandy about. That’s because after they consider your transcript and standardized test scores, they start looking for “fit”: Do your inter- ests and even your sense of purpose line up with the university’s? What will you add to the campus community? ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/WAVEBREAKMEDIA