What does it mean for a college essay to be a 'fit' for the school?

When people talk about an essay being a 'fit' for a college, they're usually referring to how well your interests, values, and personality line up with what the college values or looks for in their students. This doesn't mean you have to name-drop programs or write with the school’s website open next to you for every essay. Here’s how it breaks down:

For your main Common App essay, the main focus should be on telling your story as authentically and vividly as you can. Adcoms are trying to get to know you—your creative problem solving, your drive, your curiosity, your resilience. It’s not usually necessary (or even desirable) to mention a college’s specific programs or names in your Common App essay. Instead, a 'fit' comes through the values and traits you embody in your story. For example, if you write about starting a recycling initiative after noticing how much waste your school produces, you’re showing leadership, environmental awareness, and initiative—all qualities certain schools value, even if you haven’t listed the campus’s environmental science research center by name.

Supplemental essays, on the other hand, are the right place to discuss a college’s specific resources, values, or programs, and why those align with your interests. If you’re writing a 'Why Us?' essay, this is where you can mention that you’re eager to work with a certain professor, participate in a field research project, or join a particular club.

To avoid feeling fake or overreaching, focus on honest self-reflection and choose specific examples that are meaningful to you. For instance, instead of saying, 'I want to join your environmental science program because it’s the best,' talk about how a research lab at the school aligns with a composting project you ran, or how a sustainability initiative they've launched connects with what excites you about the field.

A strong fit means the college can clearly picture you thriving and contributing in their community, and that should come through in the sincerity of your experiences and how you talk about your future goals. Think of it like putting together a puzzle: you don’t have to force the pieces, but the edges should line up naturally.