Can anyone share strong examples of 'Why This Major?' college essays?

Here’s a framework you can follow, plus a sample to illustrate how a 'Why This Major?' essay can be constructed effectively. The key is to blend storytelling (show, don’t just tell) with specific discussion of your interests and the college’s strengths. Colleges want to see that your interest is genuine, informed by real experiences, and tied to their academic offerings.

Framework to follow:
1. Start with a moment or experience that sparked your interest in the major (it’s even better if this moment is unusual or specific to you).
2. Explain how you explored or deepened your interest (classes, projects, activities, personal learning).
3. Connect your past experiences and interests clearly to what you hope to do in college and beyond.
4. If space allows, mention a unique program, resource, or professor at the school that excites you.

Here’s an example for a Computer Science major:

"Last summer, my younger cousin’s voice, high with frustration, came through the phone: her math app kept crashing, leaving her stuck on her homework. After fixing the bug in her code remotely, I realized problem-solving through programming is not just an intellectual challenge for me—it’s a way to help others directly.

To learn more, I took CS50x online and joined my school’s Robotics Club, where I led the software team for our competition robot. Debugging issues at the last second taught me focus and teamwork under pressure. Most rewarding was seeing our bot go from static to sentient (well, nearly)—and the pride on my teammates’ faces when we placed first regionally.

At [School], the opportunity to work in the Human-Computer Interaction lab is what excites me most; I hope to research accessibility tools for students with learning differences. Courses like 'Operating Systems' and 'AI for Good' would give me both foundational and practical skills, and I’d love to collaborate with Professor Lin, whose work on inclusive design inspired my own side project—a customizable text-to-speech app inspired by my cousin’s struggles.”

Notice how this student moves from a personal anecdote, to continued growth and self-driven learning, then ties that journey specifically to what the college offers. It’s focused on one or two key experiences, not a generic list.

Whatever your major, drill down to one or two big moments or projects that shaped your interest, then highlight exactly how you’ll pursue those interests in college. Specificity and sincerity go a long way in making these essays compelling.