What Parents and Students Will Gain From This Session

Most students spend weeks crafting "Why Us" supplemental essays that admissions officers forget within minutes—essays filled with generic praise about "amazing programs," "school spirit," and "opportunities to grow" that could apply to dozens of schools.

For this very special session, I will be joined by my former admissions colleague and grad school classmate Andy Nguyen, former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at USC and current Senior Assistant Director at UC Berkeley.

Andy has read over 10,000 applications across both elite public and private institutions. He knows exactly what separates memorable essays from forgettable ones—and more importantly, what convinces admissions committees that a student will thrive and contribute, not just attend. At USC, Andy designed programming specifically for first-generation and underrepresented students, giving him unique insight into what authentic fit and contribution potential actually look like in practice.

Together, you'll learn from us why admissions officers can spot "college-pleasing" essays immediately, how to connect your student's deeper purpose to school-specific opportunities, and how to write essays that demonstrate they've chosen this school intentionally—not just because of rankings.

The result: Your student writes essays that stand out by revealing authentic purpose and contribution potential—showing admissions officers not just why they are choosing the school but the specific legacy they intend to leave once they graduate!
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Here's what we will cover in the webinar:

Part 1: Why Most "Why Us" Essays Fail (15 min)

Why This Matters: Admissions officers read thousands of essays saying the same things. Understanding what makes essays forgettable vs. memorable is the first step to standing out.

What You'll Learn:

• The #1 mistake students make: writing what they think will impress admissions rather than what's authentically true
• Why essays that could work for any school (with just a name-swap) immediately signal lack of intentionality
• What "college-pleasing" actually looks like—and why it backfires with experienced admissions readers
• Andy's perspective: The qualities that make essays forgettable vs. the qualities that make admissions officers remember an applicant

Part 2: What Admissions Officers Actually Look For (15 min)

Why This Matters: Schools don't just want students who are excited to attend—they want students who will contribute, thrive, and leave a meaningful impact.

What You'll Learn:

• Why admissions officers ask "Why Us" in the first place (hint: it's about predicting who will succeed and contribute, not who wants in most)
• The difference between demonstrating school-specific knowledge vs. demonstrating school-specific fit
• What "contribution potential" actually means—and how it shows up in standout essays
• Andy's insight: What convinces admissions officers that a student has chosen this school intentionally and will thrive once they arrive

Part 3: The Purpose Framework—Moving Beyond Generic Goals (20 min)

Why This Matters: Students can't write compelling "Why Us" essays without first understanding their own purpose beyond just "getting into a great school."

What You'll Learn:

• Why most students have internalized "college-pleasing" as their purpose—and how this leads to borrowed, inauthentic essays
• The framework for authentic purpose: Direction (long-term aim) + Action (concrete commitments) + Significance (impact beyond yourself)
• Real example: Feiyang's personal journey from surface-level "I want a great career" to discovering his actual purpose in mentorship—and how that would have completely changed his college essays
• Why purpose isn't something you "find"—it's something you build through reflection and intentional choice

Part 4: Connecting Your Purpose to School-Specific Fit (15 min)

Why This Matters: Once students understand their purpose, they can write essays that show exactly why this particular school enables what they want to create and leave behind.

What You'll Learn:

• How to map your purpose (Direction + Action + Significance) to specific school resources, initiatives, and communities
• The difference between surface-level research ("I'm excited about your biology program") and demonstrating authentic fit ("I want to launch X initiative using Y specific resource to leave Z legacy")
• Why the best essays articulate a legacy the student wants to create—something that will exist after they graduate
• Example framework: How to show admissions officers you're not just excited to attend, but ready to contribute in specific, meaningful ways

Part 5: The Questions You Need to Answer Before You Write (10 min)

Why This Matters: Most students struggle with "Why Us" essays because they haven't done the deeper reflective work. These questions reveal what's missing.

What You'll Learn:

• The 3-5 self-reflection questions that separate generic essays from standout ones
• Why most students can't answer these questions alone—and why that's actually okay
• How working through these questions transforms not just your essays, but your entire college decision-making process
• Next steps: How to get personalized support thinking through your purpose and articulating school-specific fit

Part 6: Live Q&A (20 min)

Why This Matters: Get personalized guidance on your student's specific situation, schools, and essay challenges.

What You'll Get:

• Answers to your family's specific questions about "Why Us" essays, purpose clarification, and supplemental essay strategy
• Insight from both a college counselor and former admissions officer on what works in practice
• Clarity on next steps for your student's specific application timeline
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The Bottom Line:

By the end of this 90-minute session, you'll have:

✅ Clarity on why generic "Why Us" essays fail—and what admissions officers actually look for
✅ Framework for understanding purpose beyond college-pleasing (Direction + Action + Significance)
✅ Strategy for connecting your student's authentic purpose to school-specific opportunities
✅ Real example of how purpose transforms essays from forgettable to memorable
✅ Questions to guide deeper reflection—and understanding of when professional support makes sense
✅ Confidence that your student can write essays showing they've chosen schools intentionally and will contribute meaningfully