25 Genius "Why This Major" Essay Examples for Top-20 Colleges

Here's the secret to writing your "Why This Major?" essays:

Just like with your Why This College essays, you need to show that you're a perfect match for the program you're applying to through specific examples, ideas, and connections to the school's offerings.

Even if you're applying undecided or undeclared, which is common for students to do, admissions officers ask this question because they want to know these 3 things:

1. Do you have an idea about what you want your future to look like (what you want to study, possible career, etc.), and will our school help you fulfill that vision?
2. Do you have what it takes to be a successful student within your desired major or program?
3. How genuinely interested are you in this area of study? Or are you choosing it for superficial reasons (like money)?

What if you're undecided?

Even if you're undecided, you should have some idea about possible fields you're interested in.

It's impossible for you to have lived 17 or 18 years and not picked up some sort of interest that you could study in college.

After all, why are you applying to colleges in the first place? Probably to pursue a more in-depth education in a particular area.

So if you're applying undecided, you'll need to still talk about potential areas you're interested in, even if you aren't totally committed to them yet.

What makes a great "Why This Major?" essay?

The best "Why this major" answers show a deep level of interest and knowledge about the field.

Admissions officers want to know that you're serious about what you want to study.

Tip #1. Avoid superficial or cliché reasons

I often see students write generic remarks like...

These are OK starting points, but you need to delve deeper.

How do you go deeper? Try writing about specifics of the field.

Use some geeky or technical language. Instead of saying "biology," you could write about "molecular biology and its impact on genetic engineering."

Be specific and vivid in your writing, and show your interest in the field using specific anecdotes and moments that you haven't yet written about.

Tip #2. Ask yourself questions at the heart of the area of study.

If you're writing about math, some simple but deep question to ask yourself are things like:

• Is math discovered or created?
• What are the unsolved mysteries of math?
• How do the different branches of math (e.g. algebra, geometry, etc.) relate to each other?

These types of questions will get you thinking about what the major represents, rather than just what it literally is.

Focus on ideas, which are always most interesting.

Tip #3. Think about what the most common answer would be, and then say something different.

For computer science, I see a lot of students write about things like "automation", "artificial intelligence", or "problem solving."

For engineering, I see a lot of students write things about Legos or other "building" toys that they played with growing up.

For medicine, I see students write about "wanting to help people."

These are fine starting points for reflecting, but on their own it'll come off as cliché.

Tip #4. What will this school in particular offer to help you study this field better than other schools?

All colleges offer pretty much the same selection of majors and programs, so what is unique about this school's approach?

Again, you'll need to do some thinking and research.

Tip #5. Show how you've already explored the field.

Think about your classes, but more importantly, think about the ways you've gone beyond the classroom.

Those reasons are the most compelling for why you're a great fit for the major.

How to structure your "Why This Major?" essay

Here's formula you can use to write this essay if you're struggling to get started:

1. I am passionate about subject X and here's why (offer a short story or anecdote)
2. Here's is what I want to do with that passion in the future
3. This is what this school has to offer or will do in order to help me achieve my goals and how (specific and unique reasons)

Now, let's look at some examples of students who wrote successful "Why This Major?" essays.

I've gathered 25 "Why Major?" essays from students who got into top-20 schools like Brown, Georgetown, MIT, and more.

This huge list covers a variety of majors and programs—from Computer Science to English to Bioinformatics—so you'll be able to find one that's similar to yours.

Let's dive right into it.

25 "Why This Major" Essay Examples

1. "Why Bioinformatics?" Georgetown Essay Example

2. "Why Linguistics?" Brown University Essay Example

3. "Why Medicine and Surgery?" Pomona College Essay Example

4. "Why Education/Teaching?" University of Michigan Essay Example

5. "Why Business?" University of Michigan Essay Example

6. "Why Math and Accounting?" University of Southern California (USC) Essay Example

7. "Why Computer Science?" Columbia University Essay Example

8. "Why Engineering and Law?" University of Michigan Essay Example

9. "Why Psychology?" Carnegie Mellon Essay Example

10. "Why Biology and Environmental Science?" University of Pennsylvania Essay Example

11. "Why Finance and Political Science?" University of Pennsylvania Essay Example

12. "Why Engineering?" Duke University Essay Example

13. "Why Neuroscience?" University of Southern California (USC) Essay Example

14. "Why Journalism?" Ithaca College Essay Example

15. "Why Economics and Political Science?" University of Michigan Essay Example

16. "Why English Major?" Rice University Essay Example

17. "Why Political Science?" University of Michigan Essay Example

18. "Why Chemistry and Biology?" MIT Essay Example

19. "Why Neuroscience?" University of Michigan Essay Example

20. "Why Undeclared?" University of Michigan Essay Example

21. "Why Computer Science?" Cornell Essay Example

22. "Why Kinesiology?" University of Michigan Essay Example

23. "Why Mathematics?" Cornell Essay Example

24. "Why Computer Science?" Brown University Essay Example

25. "Why Journalism?" Emerson College Essay Example

What You Can Learn From These "Why This Major" Essay Examples