Submitting an Early Decision 2 application is a good option for those students who didn’t get into their ED1 pick and/or missed the ED1 deadline at their dream school. Over the past few years, we’ve seen more and more schools add in Early Decision 2 options, and it’s worth taking advantage of if you’re serious about attending Syracuse.
But how do you make your application stand out? Here are our tips:
Figure out exactly why Syracuse is where you want to go to college.
Before you start writing, you need to figure out why Syracuse is the best fit. You’re going to need to explain exactly why you want to attend, so start by making a list. It can go from broad to specific, but it can be helpful with mindset. Why is Syracuse your top (or second) choice? Location? Special programs? Academic offerings? Write down everything that comes to mind. You won’t use everything from your list, but you can refer back to it while you’re writing your supplement.
Open up your common app essay and edit it until it’s perfect.
Our blog is full of resources. We’ve written a lot about editing, brainstorming, and perfecting your essay. Start by reading this, this, and this. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just keep this is mind: your common app essay should be a story with a beginning, middle, and end, that tells a story about one of your personality traits or characteristics.
Write a strong supplement.
Let’s take a look at their prompt:
Why are you interested in Syracuse University and how do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive and respectful campus community?
Who doesn’t love a two-part question? We’ve got the traditional “Why Us,” but you need to take it one step further. We like this question because it forces the applicant to consider how they’ll be contributing to the community on campus, which means that your response should position you as a person who A) has something to gain by attending Syracuse and B) will add depth to the student body. Here’s what you should include:
An origin story. A brief anecdote about how your academic interests came to be. This doesn’t need to be a huge story, just explain why you want to major in X major. The story should align with the major that you’ll write about (in the next step.)
A major: Tell Syracuse what you plan to major in.
1-2 upper-level classes you want to take and professor with whom you’d like to do research. It’s critical that you write about upper-level classes because those are more likely to be specific to Syracuse. Once you find the classes, write about why you’d be a good fit. Think about the classes you’ve taken, books you’ve read, online courses you’ve taken, and projects that you’ve really loved. Write about how your past experiences will make you a strong addition to the class, and do the same for a professor. Find someone with an expertise that you’re interested in, and well versed in, and write about why you’d be a good fit for their research team.
An extracurricular activity you plan to join. Start by googling “Syracuse student clubs and organizations” and find something that is similar to the extracurricular activity that you did in high school. The club that you choose should align well with your profile and make sense within the context of your application. Write about why you plan to join.
Then, you’ll address the second part of the question: "How do you see yourself contributing to a diverse, inclusive and respectful campus community?” The words “diverse, inclusive, and respectful” can be jarring, but we like to read it like this: what soft skill, or regular skill, will you be bringing to Syracuse? Think about who you are as a person and the kind of things you’re interested in. Let’s say you’re really into community engagement, or journalism, or making new friends. Write a few sentences about how you’ll continue that work, or quality, at Syracuse. The good news is that if you thoroughly research the school, you can include additional ways that you’ll be contributing throughout the rest of your supplement as well.
You won’t have much space left, so simply put a bow on it and then edit, edit, and edit some more until you can fit all of the necessary information into your supplement.
Follow these steps if you’re serious about applying to Syracuse Early Decision 2. The deadline is January 1, and you’ll find out in February – if you start today, you’ll have plenty of time to get everything submitted.
If you’re rushing to finish an Early Decision 2 application and you need help, contact us here.