Recently a YouTube video caught my eye for its unique approach to college essay writing, and, for lack of better words, I’ll refer to it as the “Day in the Life” method. Full disclosure, I have not used this strategy myself although the developer did find much success with it as he was able to gain admission to his dream school (UC Berkeley) as well as others (Georgetown and Cornell).
This strategy requires applicants to demonstrate deep interest, excitement and knowledge about the university, and takes the form of a hypothetical narrative in which the writer portrays what his or her typical day would look like as a student at that respective university.
The active ingredient here is the college-specific information sprinkled into these essays, such as building names, club organizations, professors, and traditions.
It is important to note that this method only applies to prompts that inquire about why you are applying to a particular university (i.e., “Why this school?”).
For example, if I was applying to UCLA, I could write about dipping my hands into the inverted fountain before the start of my first quarter as a newly minted Bruin.
On a typical day, I imagine waking up in my dorm room at Rieber Vista 8 (my actual dorm) and running down to B Plate for a quick bite.
Then I’ll make my way up BruinWalk towards Franz Hall for my cognitive psychology class with Dr. Michael Fanselow – whose lab I would be a part of.
As a research assistant in his lab, I want to gain experience working with veterans suffering from PTSD with the hopes of eventually completing a research paper on the moderating effects of chronic pain on combat exposure and PTSD.
After class, I’ll get a quick workout at the Wooden Center before I lead a club meeting as president of United Khmer Students.
This particular club is meaningful to me because it was founded by my aunt and I want to continue our family tradition of promoting Khmer culture while also providing a safe space for all voices in the hopes of achieving mutual understanding.
Before I end each day, I will sneak a quick study session at the renowned Powell Library with the company of newfound friends.
Throughout the quarter, I will continue to touch the Bruin Bear’s paw before every exam and skip the sixth step of Janss Steps for good fortune.
And finally, when I am ready to graduate, I’ll return to the inverted fountain to consummate this age-old tradition and become a true Bruin.
Of course, the essay would be more refined than this but you get the general idea. This example is just a quick run-through of all of the major points you should add to your essay.
This is a great example for six reasons:
- Includes university-specific information naturally.
- Has personal significance (e.g., reason for joining club).
- Explains how I plan to contribute to the college.
- Ties loose ends (e.g., inverted fountain).
- Signals high likelihood of matriculation if admitted (e.g., living on campus).
- Demonstrates more than a superficial knowledge of the campus.
First, it is important to note that the bits and pieces of information you include must flow naturally and not sound forced otherwise it gives the impression that you only did a cursory Google search without actually knowing the school, which makes you look calculating and disingenuous.
Second, if a particular university has personal significance then use it to strengthen your essay because the more admission officers can learn about you and recreate a coherent story, the easier it is to sway them to your side.
In my case, the Cambodian club was important to me since it is exclusively at UCLA and was founded by my aunt. Additionally, as a proud Cambodian-American, I wanted to promote Khmer culture and continue my family tradition at UCLA.
Third, my intent to join the club also serves another purpose: contribution to the campus. Sure, all applicants want to benefit from the high-quality education these elite universities offer but this is also a reciprocal relationship – how do you, in turn, plan to make the university a better place?
In my example, I indicated my intent to support a marginalized group and provide a platform for open dialogue between different cultures with the goal of achieving mutual understanding, which aligns with any university’s mission of cultural diversity and inclusion.
To satisfy this criterion, I recommend providing specific and concrete ideas you would bring as a student.
If you learned a valuable skill, such as coding, robotics, or research, indicate how you would use it to contribute to research at these universities.
Alternatively, if you have extensive volunteering experience, indicate how you would extend these efforts to these institutions.
Fourth, do your best to tie loose ends by the concluding paragraph (e.g., introduced/concluded with the inverted fountain) to ensure your essay stays organized and is easy to follow.
A great essay is one that introduces an interesting plot/hook and takes the reader for a ride but still manages to address all of the unanswered questions by the end in a fun and refreshing way.
Fifth, any indication that you would immediately matriculate if admitted (e.g., dream of dorming at Rieber Vista 8), will be viewed favorably and incentivize admission officers to admit you because they will have the peace of mind that their yield rate will remain competitive.
The point is to show universities that they are your first choice – it doesn’t have to be true but you just have to give them the impression that it is. Think of it as a date or a job interview and it is your job to make them feel special.
Related: Not a psychic? Want to know what colleges really look for? Check out this article to learn what universities really want from applicants.
Sixth, delve into the history and traditions of these universities before you apply because it will make your essays and interviews more genuine and authentic.
It will help if you are already enthusiastic about these universities in the first place so choose wisely. I recommend going on university tours, talking to current students, attending informational sessions, and exploring the campus on your own time.
Related: Don’t know what major to choose or which college to apply to? Check out this article to find the perfect major and the right colleges.
Overall, the Day in the Life method is extremely effective because it details why you are applying to a particular college as well as show off your knowledge about these institutions.
This is important because, at the end of the day, every selective university wants to maintain its yield rate so if you are both qualified and can demonstrate historical interest then there is a good chance that you will get that coveted spot.
Related: Want to know which colleges factor demonstrated interest in the admission process? Check out this article to find out more.
