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Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Strategies for a banging 'Why Us' essay – Help needed!

Hey friends! I'm prepping to write my 'Why Us' essays and I'm kinda stuck 😅. How do I start this thing without falling into cliches or sounding like I'm just praising the school non-stop? Is there a formula or approach that's worked for you guys when you were highlighting what connects you to the school? Cheers for any advice!

a year ago

Hey there! Ah, the 'Why Us' essay – always a golden opportunity to shine. A great approach is to focus on specifics that truly resonate with you. Begin by doing some deep-dive research into the college's unique programs, faculty, extracurriculars, or even philosophies and traditions. After you've gathered enough material, reflect on how these align with your own goals, interests, and experiences. For example, if you're fascinated by environmental science and the school has a cutting-edge sustainability program, link that to your own efforts in starting a recycling program at your school. And remember to keep it personal; admissions officers love to see genuine enthusiasm coupled with evidence that you've thought critically about what you can both offer to and gain from being part of their community. Good luck – you've got this!

a year ago

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