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CADM1UM wrote:My undeniable top choice is Vanderbilt and while I have an alright chance of getting in (below 25th GPA but at 75th LSAT), I want to do all that I can to get in. I applied back in late October and many splitters like me have had to wait longer than the easy admits as is typical. I plan to visit Vandy in mid January and was wondering if writing a letter expressing how much I love the school, how it is my top choice, and pointing them towards my strong upward trend in GPA (went from 2.8 in my freshman year to averaging 3.6/3.7 my last several semesters) would benefit me at all?

Thanks!

mwells56 wrote:

CADM1UM wrote:My undeniable top choice is Vanderbilt and while I have an alright chance of getting in (below 25th GPA but at 75th LSAT), I want to do all that I can to get in. I applied back in late October and many splitters like me have had to wait longer than the easy admits as is typical. I plan to visit Vandy in mid January and was wondering if writing a letter expressing how much I love the school, how it is my top choice, and pointing them towards my strong upward trend in GPA (went from 2.8 in my freshman year to averaging 3.6/3.7 my last several semesters) would benefit me at all?

Thanks!

This is what is known as a Why X essay and is very common and generally helps ones chances at any school.

I wanted to know at what point in the season you would think it appropriate to send in a Letter of Continued Interest if we applied earlier in the season, such as in September or October?

If you’ve not heard from us, it is indeed appropriate to send in a letter of continued interest. While the primary reason of this letter is to show us that you remain interested in SLS, it also shows me that you are an active and engaged participant in this process. Many applicants take the approach of “I’ve done my part and now I just need to wait it out” or “I’ve met all the application requirements and I’ll just sit back and wait for SLS to do their part.” Fair enough. This approach works. However, is it a bad thing to stay a bit more engaged? You just need to exercise some good judgment, though, and decide how much is enough versus becoming a pain.

personpitch wrote:Some schools appreciate a Why X essay submitted a couple months after apps are received/marked complete. For example, Dean Faye at SLS was asked:

I wanted to know at what point in the season you would think it appropriate to send in a Letter of Continued Interest if we applied earlier in the season, such as in September or October?

Faye's Response:

If you’ve not heard from us, it is indeed appropriate to send in a letter of continued interest. While the primary reason of this letter is to show us that you remain interested in SLS, it also shows me that you are an active and engaged participant in this process. Many applicants take the approach of “I’ve done my part and now I just need to wait it out” or “I’ve met all the application requirements and I’ll just sit back and wait for SLS to do their part.” Fair enough. This approach works. However, is it a bad thing to stay a bit more engaged? You just need to exercise some good judgment, though, and decide how much is enough versus becoming a pain.

(The full exchange can be found here: https://law.stanford.edu/2010/12/07/adm ... it-begins/)

I don't know if the admissions people at Vandy feel similarly, but it's not an unheard of practice at least.

(This is also largely a repost of info I've posted elsewhere, but it's the only on-topic example I have on hand lol)