Appendix B: 'Why Our School?' Essay,Heading to College?
WebSep 5, · Essentially, Penn asks you to identify how your interests, goals, and values connect to Penn Law’s core values. This concept is a great direction for any Why X Law WebNov 14, · There are a few things to keep in mind when writing your why x law school essay. First, research the school and find out what sets it apart from other law schools. WebJul 12, · In short, these essays want to know what experience you will bring that matches the interests and culture of the law school. Talk about specific programs, WebIf someone can articulate specific reasons why they want to go to X Law instead of Harvard, X Law then has reason to believe they'll actually attend, and more incentive to admit WebJul 22, · If a law school wants to know "Why School X" in an essay, they will ask you to address that either in the Personal Statement prompt or in a dedicated optional ... read more
There is no guarantee that an addendum will get read even if you take the time write it. Such is life, and life is sad sometimes, but there's nothing you can do to change that outcome. You could have the greatest reason for attending X Law School in the world, and your addendum may never get read. However, most people applying for a particular school are doing so because they have at least some chance of being admitted there. If you have numbers even within a certain range of what it takes to enroll at X Law, they will start digging deeper into your application and trying to get a greater picture of how to weigh it as a whole.
Every positive aspect gives you more help in eventually getting in, and every negative aspect holds you back a little more; obviously you want to have as many positives as possible. If you plan on submitting your application to X Law, and you believe or at least hope that they will get all the way to the end, wouldn't you want to have something that could give you even a little extra help once they get that far? Of course you would. If your application is good enough to be admitted once they're done reading it, but they have a lot of other good applicants similar to you, then you want whatever tiebreaker they use to go in your favor.
That tiebreaker could be your Why X addendum because it could show that unlike those other guys and gals, you really do want to go to their particular school. This is true for more than just people whose numbers are low or just at the median and are looking for an edge to claw their way in. It also applies to people with really absurdly high numbers too, because of what's called yield protection. YP is a system where schools reject applicants because their application is so good that the applicant can obviously go to a better school. Why should X Law waste an acceptance on this person when they are obviously going to get into Harvard and go there?
This also is done because it affects USNWR rankings. Schools want a high number of applicants and a low number of acceptances, because a low acceptance ratio makes them look good. This and the policy reasons behind it are beyond why I'm writing today, so I'm not going to go any further on it, I'm just making you aware that it exists. A Why X addendum can help here too. If someone can articulate specific reasons why they want to go to X Law instead of Harvard, X Law then has reason to believe they'll actually attend, and more incentive to admit them instead of yield protecting them to protect their admissions numbers.
Thus if your numbers are really high for a school, it may make sense to let them know why you want to go there to reduce your odds of becoming a victim of the larger admissions numbers game. There are valid arguments for why you shouldn't write a Why X addendum for a school. First of all, if you're just applying to a school because it's a safety or you got a fee waiver, and you cannot bring yourself to research specific things to write about in a Why X addendum, do not write one. A bad essay is going to be worse than no essay, because it will probably make clear how much you don't care whether or not you get accepted there.
You are better off not saying anything in that case. Second, if you're applying Early Decision, a Why X addendum is redundant. Applying ED tells them you are certain to go there if accepted, and with that already true, they probably do not care about your reason. In a sense, applying ED is the ultimate Why X essay, with an action that says more than a word addendum ever could. Lastly, there are a few schools that are so prestigious that they already know why you want to attend. Harvard Law is not a good place to send an addendum like this.
Everyone and their dog wants to go to HLS; it doesn't need explanation. The reasons for wanting to go are so obvious to everyone, there is no point in writing an addendum about it. Practically everyone who applies would actually go there if accepted, so there's no advantage to spending an extra sheet of paper trying to tell them you would too. The "Top 6" schools are so prestigious they are in a class by themselves, and they know it. Really, the Why X addendum is mainly worth it when you want to avoid YP or for schools you consider "reach" schools that you do have a chance to get into but need what help you can get. Every applicant should have at least a couple realistic "reach" schools, the ones they are most hoping and praying to get into, and the ones they are likely to feel the most eager to attend.
That feeling is what you want to convey in your Why X addendum. If they like your numbers enough to read that far, you want them to see your enthusiasm in the hopes it will make them like you that much more. The more they like you, the more likely they are to accept you. But what can you say to make them like you more as an applicant? This method can produce a very generic essay, though. If it feels like fluff, it most likely is a bit superficial, and admissions committees will quickly make the same determination. They have seen this all before.
This concept is a great direction for any Why X Law School essay. These are just some of the suggestions that may help, and it is always good to have someone read the essay before you submit. It is essential to make sure that the essay comes across as well written and sincere—and the more personal connections you can make to the school, the more genuine you will seem. Some schools ask for this type of essay specifically, which is a clear indication that you should write one. In this narrative of evolving interest, the author explained how she became more and more convinced that school X had the qualities she most valued. I hope I get a chance to do the same thing at X Law. I want to go to X Law so I can lie on the law quad and laugh with students like Elle and Vivian.
I want to go to X Law so I can work with fellow advocates for asylum seekers. I want to go to X Law so I can learn from Professor Callahan and fight for the next Brooke Windham. Finally, I want to go to X Law so I can become a proud student ambassador, introducing the school to prospective students at home. As you might have gathered from that last example, enthusiasm really shines through. Learn about our admissions consulting and editing services. You must be logged in to post a comment.
You might start by saying what first piqued your interest—a comment from a friend, an interview you saw with a dean—and then explain how your interest grew as you did more research. Describe your visit to the school, if you made one, or your conversation with a student or alumnus, if you spoke to one. Conclude with the strongest possible statement of your interest. It might look something like this:. When I began to consider studying law, I wrote a list of the qualities that I was seeking in a program. In this narrative of evolving interest, the author explained how she became more and more convinced that school X had the qualities she most valued. I hope I get a chance to do the same thing at X Law. I want to go to X Law so I can lie on the law quad and laugh with students like Elle and Vivian.
I want to go to X Law so I can work with fellow advocates for asylum seekers. I want to go to X Law so I can learn from Professor Callahan and fight for the next Brooke Windham. Finally, I want to go to X Law so I can become a proud student ambassador, introducing the school to prospective students at home. As you might have gathered from that last example, enthusiasm really shines through. Learn about our admissions consulting and editing services. You must be logged in to post a comment. You can get a free account here. Your browser does not support html5 video. I am beyond excited about the possibility of attending school X. It might look something like this: I founded my first company in college. Describe your history of social entrepreneurship.
Startup BerkeleyLaw will help me bridge my experience with my new ambition for the future. Describe how Berkeley Law will prepare you to advise startups or some such. Describe what else draws you to Berkeley Law. Strong Openers Here are a few examples of openers that work: When I began to consider studying law, I wrote a list of the qualities that I was seeking in a program. Four years ago, I found a dog tied to a street sign by a railroad. In , X Law invited the former president of Taiwan, Lee Teng-Hui, to deliver a public speech. You can also reiterate the reasons you want to go: I want to go to X Law so I can lie on the law quad and laugh with students like Elle and Vivian.
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Explaining Why You’re Applying to Their Law School (The "Why X" Essay),Trending Writing Articles
WebNov 14, · There are a few things to keep in mind when writing your why x law school essay. First, research the school and find out what sets it apart from other law schools. WebJul 12, · In short, these essays want to know what experience you will bring that matches the interests and culture of the law school. Talk about specific programs, WebMost "Why X" essays read like Mad Libs in which the applicant plugs various classes and clinics into a template. This one feels like it was written for Penn from the ground up. It's WebSep 5, · Essentially, Penn asks you to identify how your interests, goals, and values connect to Penn Law’s core values. This concept is a great direction for any Why X Law WebI spoke with a current student at a T14 and she told me that she cited her interest in a very specific clinic they offer that aligns with her goals (in her PS, albeit, but same concept of WebJul 22, · If a law school wants to know "Why School X" in an essay, they will ask you to address that either in the Personal Statement prompt or in a dedicated optional ... read more
And outside of battling a lack of interest, writing itself can be a tedious, frustrating, and scary process that most students do everything they can to avoid. Unlimited ways to learn Get lessons, drop in on live classes, or just read up—you set the pace. Third, be specific in your essay and avoid using clichés. Also related: If you can make one of the virtual admissions events to get a better sense of the school, go ahead and do that. Second, if you're applying Early Decision, a Why X addendum is redundant. Site Search TLS home Law School Admissions Law Schools Law Students TLS forums TLS wiki Terms of Service Privacy Policy Copyright Policy Contact Career Coaching © Top Law Schools LLC all rights reserved. If a law school wants to know "Why School X" in an essay, they will ask you to address that either in the Personal Statement prompt or in a dedicated optional essay.
There of course the usual reasons why I would like to attend the University of Michigan Law School, such as the impressive history, architectural beauty, and collegial environment. Columbia Law School could stand to be a bit more explicit, but they want a Why Columbia element in the main personal statement. Schools want a high number of applicants and a low number of acceptances, because a low acceptance ratio makes them look good. Overpopulated states, including Ohio, Illinois, and Massachusetts, are experiencing an influx of law students. Book A Call.
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