The "Why You?" essay is one of the best admissions essays because it can most clearly convey to the admissions committee why they should want to admit you. In your "Why You?" essay, write about something important to you, something you are passionate about, a life-changing moment or a challenge you overcame. The success of the "Why You?" essay depends on its ability to transmit information about you personally while remaining organized and focused. The admissions committee already has a list of your extracurricular activities and your transcript, so your "Why You?" essay needs to tell them something they can't glean from the information they already have in your file.
Essays about something -- an event, a location -- or someone who has inspired you are some of the best admission essays because they reflect your ability to think outside yourself and consider the effects of your upbringing and personal circumstances on your development. Who or what inspires you? The answer to this question could be a literary character, a parent, a mentor, a teacher, a sibling or a famous personality; it could be the Grand Canyon, a nonprofit you volunteered at or the Scottish Highlands. How were you inspired? What did your inspiration lead you to do or decide? Make your inspiration admission essay personal by tying it in with your goals and reasons for going to college.
Writing about your intellectual life can be a great way to craft a solid admission essay. Unless you are applying to a vocational school, in which case your professional experience and interests matter a great deal more than your academic background, reflecting on your intellectual personality and passions is an excellent way to convince the admissions committee to let you in. Bryn Mawr College, for example, has posed this question to their applicants: "To learn to think is to learn to question. Describe a matter you once thought you knew 'for sure' that you have since learned to question." This is a great question to answer in an admission essay because it will give the committee more information on what you're like as a learner. Communicate to the committee that you are willing to learn from mistakes and acknowledge responsibility as a learner.
For the college-specific admission essay, do your research. Answering "Why Us?" is easier said than done because it's so easy to make this essay a string of cliches. In order to make this an excellent admission essay, think about why you're applying to this college in particular. Is there a unique program of study you want to pursue there? Does the institution have an unusual commitment to a cause for the greater good? Does it have a religious or other affiliation that speaks to you personally? Finding more information about the answers to these questions is as simple as visiting the institution's website. Spend some time clicking around and getting to know the college before you write this essay so you can make sure your statement will stand out. The college-specific admission essay is often a required supplement to your application.