“Why Yale” Essay

by Simon White Supplemental Essays

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During high school, many high achievers dream about the college admissions the nation has to offer. One of the giants among the top colleges in the country is Yale. It was founded in 1703 and then in the 1950s, became part of the Ivy League – a collection of elite colleges in the US.

There is no doubt about the lucrative nature of opportunities Yale University graduates can enjoy. That’s why it is always a tough competition to get admission due to tough selection criteria and limited vacancies.

Yale employs many tools to gauge the abilities of its undergrads. One of these tools includes Yale supplemental essays. A specific essay, “Why Yale”, to see in what light future students see their relations with the school.

The “Why Yale” Essay Prompt

What is it about Yale that has led you to apply? (125 words or fewer)

During the college admissions process, the students will see this prompt. At first look, this may seem too easy to worry about because these are just a few words. In reality, if someone truly wants to get into Yale, he or she would do anything but.

Many of the aspirants think about sifting through previous “Why” essays from other schools and then pasting them into the application with necessary “editing”. This could not be farther from the ideal case scenario.

The most obvious thing one can come up with is the Yale course and its stellar alumni that enjoy deep respect around the globe. But the admissions officers know all about it – more than aspirants can know.

What they want to get from them is their potential relationship with the college, in this case, Yale University. Those who can showcase that with impressive writing and deep thoughts are welcomed to learn and earn through one of the best colleges in the world.

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What Makes The “Why Yale” Essay More Acceptable

Many people are of the view that essay writing is quickly becoming a lost art. This could not be farther from the truth. One look at colleges and their admission criteria reveal that it is still going strong. So, high school graduates who want to become Yale students need to master the craft of creative writing.

It is the art of telling big stories and ideas with only a few words. In the case of Yale University, it is only 125 words!

Supposing that some aspirants have already mastered the essay writing craft, they can still have a hard time nailing down the essay because they don’t know the nitty-gritty details about it. The small word count makes it all the more difficult because it means almost no room for oversight or error.

What To Avoid In “Why Yale” Essay

When someone needs to write a concise and brief essay, it is best to learn both what to do and what not to. In the same spirit, the following are some of the no-nos that every aspirant must avoid to ensure their admission to Yale:

  • Generic writing full of fluff or “beating around the bush” kind of essays. They might have big words but small or sometimes no ideas at all. It must have an original idea and thought about why a student should become a part of the school.
  • Lack of interest in the details of the Yale course. Instead of telling what they want to do once they get admission, many aspirants tell public information about the school, such as its reputation and renown around the globe.
  • Show of indifference is also a big no-no when it comes to Yale admissions. Everyone knows that students apply to multiple colleges so that they can have a choice when the time comes. This should not be reflected in the essay. The essay prompt should be written as if only Yale exists and no other school.
  • Plagiarizing famous alumni or simply from the web will not get anyone anywhere. The committee wants to know that the students will appreciate the opportunity that is provided by the school. This gratitude and honor should be reflected in the essay.

Now that the don’ts are out of the way, it is time to explore what makes the essay prompt more acceptable.

What to Highlight In Your “Why Yale” Essay

Yale is world-renowned for its academic and intellectual environment as well as its alumni. Everyone knows this. The purpose of the “Why Yale” prompt is to let aspirants explore their potential relationship with the school.

Following are some of the areas that students should touch or explore with a personal twist on top:

  • Major disciplines and departments that coincide with a student’s future endeavors through original academic direction, such as Aviation or International Relations department.
  • Professors and instructors that are still teaching at Yale with different academic interests. Students can shed light on these professors’ excellence and how they want to learn from them or conduct research with them. In this case, the classroom encourages students to follow their developing intellectual interests wherever they lead.
  • Extracurricular activities such as clubs for pursuing arts, or sports houses to further their interest in leadership and outdoor activities.
  • Abundant research and placement opportunities can set students to fast-track hiring at the biggest firms in the world.
  • Alumni of Yale that students admire and want to follow verbatim – by going to the school and learning under the same teachers in the same department.
  • Yale students embrace professional and volunteering opportunities during their studies. For instance, a summer relief program in Africa, participation in a study in Europe, etc.
  • The longing for a vibrant Yale’s campus life that students can enjoy at Yale. The best students from around the world come to Yale to further their education.

One thing to keep in mind is that no matter the point a student chooses, it should be unique to his or her life and that of Yale only. That’s why it pays to research Yale and its admissions office and then start writing the essay prompt.

Tips To Ace The “Why Yale” Essay

It does not matter the angle or specific point a student chooses, learning and abiding by these tips will result in guaranteed success. This way, they will be sure they are providing something that the admissions officers want to read.

  • Doing Research Before Writing
  • Sticking to The Specifics
  • Being Passionate About Yale
  • Proofreading and Getting The Essay Critiqued

Doing Research Before Writing

The best way to tackle any writing problem, especially the essay prompt is by starting with research. It is clear that one loves Yale and desperately wants to be a part of it. But the big “WHY” needs to be as clear as the day in the essay prompt, which requires research.

Sticking To The Specifics

Out of that research, one should establish clearly why Yale is the best school for furthering one’s education and career. The arguments should be specific to the core. For instance, Yale is renowned for academics but which department would serve the students the best.

Being Passionate About Yale

There are dropouts in every school. Many of them go on to become famous and successful in life. But Yale’s extensive faculty always wants them to complete their degree. That’s what they want to hear from the aspirants.

By showing passion for one’s academic interests to write the essay, and having an affinity for developing intellectual interests at Yale, students can improve the odds of acceptance at Yale.

Proofreading and Getting The Essay Critiqued

This essay should be the essence of a student’s writing and creative acumen. It is because that is the thing that will be before the admission committee when they decide whether it should grant admission to that individual or not.

Before submitting the essay prompt, it is best to follow these steps:

  • Check grammatical errors
  • Look for creative inconsistencies
  • Read it out loud
  • Get it critiqued from parents, teachers, and friends

A “Why Yale” Essay Sample & Why It Is Perfect

To give a better and more concrete idea to students about how they should go about writing an “Why Yale” essay example:

With the sun on my back and my eyes set on the original manuscript of Milton’s Paradise Lost, I felt the journey; the pain; the suffering of that protagonist belongs to me. That was the time when I fell hard for literature.

My first short story was about a pickpocket who was a school teacher. He was stealing money from others to pay the money he owed. Then a week later, I came up with another story; then another; and another.

Yale is the place where pens get the fuel to run and minds get the dare to run free. I want to give Yale a chance to nurture the next potential Milton. In the end, the pleasure is all mine!

Why It Works

The above prompt shows how to write the essay. Following are the reasons why it is one of the greatest Yale supplemental essays:

  • It shows boldness and directness from the aspirant
  • It gives the history of why someone wants to pursue writing
  • It exudes confidence and sureness of footing
  • It shows love and longing for Yale’s extensive course offerings
  • It does not mince words and thoughts are clear on all fronts
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