We call it the “Cupcake” Essay because there are two core parts to these types of prompts. Why you (the cake) and why THIS college (the icing). Oftentimes these are relatively short essays in the 150-300 word count range. Some key pieces of advice when tackling these essays:

For the cake, state your main goal of education, what you loved most about high school, and some of your goals for your college experience. What makes you, you? Why are you a compelling candidate? What makes you a good fit for their school?

For the icing, do some research on the nuances of that school. The mission statement, unique clubs, majors, classes, activities, etc. are all ripe areas to pick from. Dive into the school’s course list and you’ll often find some interesting topics and background information that go beyond the surface level. If you have time, tune into a webinar from the admissions team, you’ll get a hint of some of the admissions team’s favorite new offerings. We wouldn’t recommend talking about the football stadium, the city, or the academic status; those are definitively in the cliché category.

Connect the things that you found in the “cake” portion to your aspirations for the “icing”. There’s a reason why you don’t see carrot cake icing with a red velvet bottom. The flavors just don’t go together. If your “cake” is your passion for tackling complicated world problems, don’t pair it with the “icing” of the appeal of the school’s Greek life. Instead, find and write about the study abroad opportunity, the community service project, or the honors program that emphasizes hands-on learning.

Be careful to not turn this into a Mad Libs exercise though, they’ll notice if you are generic and non-specific. It’s not enough to say that you want to attend a school because it’s “good” or “competitive”. Instead, talk about the culture, the mission statement that demands innovation, and the new program that they’re rolling out to meet the challenges of the modern day. There are aspects that make each school unique and the admissions officers want to know that you recognize what makes their school special.

Lastly, don’t go all in on the icing. Nobody over the age of six wants a cupcake that’s only icing. You don’t need to convince the admissions officers that their school is cool. This essay must be about YOU and why YOU belong on their campus and will bring a measurable impact to their student body.