How to strengthen your Union College application

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What Union College weights most

Union values students who combine strong liberal-arts curiosity with practical, hands-on problem solving, especially those who will take advantage of its engineering program within a small-college context. They favor applicants who show intellectual engagement through sustained academic projects, research, or STEM-based extracurricular leadership, and who can articulate how they will contribute to close faculty-student collaboration; they are a bit more flexible on perfect grades than on demonstrated interest in applied learning and campus fit.

Supplemental essay strategy

For the "why Union" style essays, cite specific offerings: the Schaffer Library research support, the integrated engineering curriculum, the Union + IBM or other internship/industry partnerships, and the Honor & Community and project-based learning opportunities in the Engineering and Arts programs. Tie one or two concrete courses, faculty, labs, or long-standing student projects to a personal example of work you want to continue, and explain why the college size and cross-disciplinary model are essential for that plan.

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Where to focus next

If you only have time for one thing this month, do this:

1. Read 2 admitted-student essays from Union College (search official admissions site or Reddit r/unioncollege). Notice the level of specificity — that's the bar.
2. Write the ‘why this school’ supplement first, before anything else. If you can't fill 250 words with school-specific reasons, pick a different school.
3. Find one current student to ask about their experience — admissions offices often connect prospective applicants with current students. The follow-up email becomes specific essay material.