The business and international relations arm of the Claremont Colleges consortium, Claremont McKenna, is located in just east of sunny Los Angeles. With an acceptance rate of just 9 percent, McKenna is a highly selective school. The school’s academic focus is largely finance, government, foreign policy, and related fields.

College is a transformative experience; an exciting time for you to discover yourself. During your four years of college, you will have opportunities that will allow you to learn, adapt, and develop into a young adult ready to take on the real world. Today, you believe Claremont McKenna College is a good match for you based on your aspirations and based on your knowledge of our institution. How can Claremont McKenna College both challenge and complement the person you aspire to become during your undergraduate career? (250 words)

This is not your run of the mill “why x school?” question. It’s a little aggressive and is pretty much challenging you to defend your choice to apply to McKenna. Consider that this question is not just “why do you want to go to Claremont McKenna?” But rather, “why do you want to go to Claremont McKenna instead of the other four schools?”

Remember that McKenna is virtually the business school of the Claremont Colleges. It’s natural that they would be invested, not just in their students’ academic interests, but also in their personalities.

So, start off by identifying the reasons why you want to attend McKenna and then identify what it is you have to offer, from your academic interests to your passions and extra-curriculars, even your outlook on life, and your interpersonal relationships. Where do these things overlap? Why are your offerings and interests better suited to McKenna than the other Claremont colleges?

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