Nail the Supplementals: A Guide to “Why This School?” and “Why This Major?”

Selective colleges don’t just care what you’ve done—they care why you want to join them. These two short essays—“Why This School?” and “Why This Major?”—are often the most overlooked parts of the application. And also the easiest place to get rejected.
This strategic, student-friendly guide from Future Finders teaches you how to write supplemental essays that are specific, thoughtful, and tailored to each college. You’ll learn how to avoid the biggest mistakes (like sounding like a brochure), research the right details, and structure your answers for maximum impact.
What You’ll Learn:
✅ What admissions officers actually want to see
✅ How to research programs, professors, and majors the right way
✅ Easy-to-use templates for each type of essay
✅ Real examples of weak vs. strong responses
✅ A bonus strategy for schools that combine both questions into one short prompt
✅ ChatGPT prompts to help you revise with clarity and precision
Whether you’re applying to 3 schools or 13, this guide helps you write answers that make it clear: you belong there—and you know exactly why.
Best For:
High school students applying to selective or competitive colleges
Anyone who’s tired of sounding generic or struggling to “make it fit”
Families looking for expert-level tools without hiring an essay coach