Top Law Schools

padthai wrote:What about sending in an Why X essay to prevent getting YPed?
I'm referring to the schools in the lower ranks of the top 14.

This is the best reason to send a Why X.

bk187 wrote:

padthai wrote:What about sending in an Why X essay to prevent getting YPed?
I'm referring to the schools in the lower ranks of the top 14.

This is the best reason to send a Why X.

Got it, thanks!

what's the best way to send the "Why X" after the application has already been sent? e-mail or mail? should I address the Dean of Admissions directly?
thanks!

justhoping wrote:what's the best way to send the "Why X" after the application has already been sent? e-mail or mail? should I address the Dean of Admissions directly?
thanks!

Send it in an E-mail as an attachment (probably Word .doc format). Politely ask them in the E-mail to add the attached file to your application. Make sure you identify somewhere on it who you are (probably by name and LSAC number) so it gets added to the right file. And you're done.

thanks vanwinkle, this is quite helpful.
one more question, which schools place special importance on the Why X?

I've heard Duke, Penn, Michigan.
Any others (among T14)?

I'm currently writing a why essay and I started out saying that "although I do not know with certainty what type of law I will pursue I have two strong interest, international law and public interest."

Vanwinkle, do you think this is a good idea for me to say that I have two interest? Or does it come off as indecisive?

I've heard Dean Zearfoss address a similar topic, but what about "Why X" essays that dabble in the more personal. For example, what if I want to go to a certain school, because then I can be close to my long-term s.o. That would never be the only reason to attend a school, but what is the best way to approach that, especially if he's from the area that the school is located in and I'm not.

framboozer wrote:I've heard Dean Zearfoss address a similar topic, but what about "Why X" essays that dabble in the more personal. For example, what if I want to go to a certain school, because then I can be close to my long-term s.o. That would never be the only reason to attend a school, but what is the best way to approach that, especially if he's from the area that the school is located in and I'm not.

That's a very valid reason. You're convincing this school that you would attend if admitted and that you're approaching the decision with a level head. Considering how to work out a serious relationship is doing exactly that.

what do you all think about sending one in for an app which has already been sent, and has been under review since 1/19? I asked this elsewhere, and most said that the chance of annoying them is probably too high to try it. I just really want to attend this school.

thanks

I am pretty sure the only reason I got into one of the schools this cycle that I did was my why x school essay. They can be very useful.

vanwinkle wrote:If it is your first choice, go ahead and send a LOCI that says that now. You don't want to wait until you get WL'd as a general rule since it's often hard to get off a WL. For some schools a WL is just a very kind way of rejecting you.

I'd just send a LOCI saying you're still eagerly awaiting a decision and that you're now certain you will attend if accepted. You gotta place your bets before everyone shows their cards if you want any kind of payoff.

I never considered doing this. I'm still waiting to hear from my number one preference and I think I'll write a LOCI. Can you give me pointers as to how to write an effective LOCI (i.e. length, content)?

There is a lot of great information in this post. Thanks!

Much appreciated vanwinkle.

I am wondering if there is a list of schools that do not accept "Why" statements? I know you've already read my list of schools from a previous post, but a refresher (and I've added a few as I worked down the list reviewing them):

YHS (Harvard no, Yale? Stanford? all obvious enough to be a no?)
Chicago
UVA (already answered yes in the TLS interview)
Penn (answered already, yes)

Any concerns with writing a "why" Chicago essay? Or any other T-14 schools besides Harvard that I should avoid doing so?

MumofCad wrote:Much appreciated vanwinkle.

I am wondering if there is a list of schools that do not accept "Why" statements? I know you've already read my list of schools from a previous post, but a refresher (and I've added a few as I worked down the list reviewing them):

YHS (Harvard no, Yale? Stanford? all obvious enough to be a no?)
Chicago
UVA (already answered yes in the TLS interview)
Penn (answered already, yes)

Any concerns with writing a "why" Chicago essay? Or any other T-14 schools besides Harvard that I should avoid doing so?

He's answered this before, so I'll chime in. Don't write a why x for a t6, because they know that everyone wants to go there

chem wrote:
He's answered this before, so I'll chime in. Don't write a why x for a t6, because they know that everyone wants to go there

Great, thanks. I must have missed that in my skim. I was looking for school specific names.

I'm worried about YPing at my top choice. Mind you, I haven't decided on a top choice. Just scanning numbers on LSN and here, I've noticed alot of people getting into HYS and then wait-listed at schools lower-ranked. That made me nervous. Suppose you get WL at all of them, I guess you have to rely on your LOCI to convince a T-6 you will accept their offer? Less than ideal, but I suppose a viable fall-back plan.

Tag.

(MumofCad, I feel your anxiety.)

..

Tag!

Does anyone want to trade Why X statements?

Hello,

I love this post, so thank you Vanwinkle.

Quick question as to avoid a new thread (and to bump this for good measure)... Basically I want to why x a school a bit above my numbers and say not only is it my dream, etc, but it is within an hour from my home and being close to my family is something important to me and I think that in doing so I will only be in a better position to exceed in law school.

tl;dr - Can I claim ties to area as a why x ? CLS btw.

Tagged- great poast

Tag