Samara wrote:
I don't think your example goes against TLS wisdom. First of all, the wisdom is to not write a separate Why X for YHS. I don't think I've ever seen anyone counsel against incorporating Why X into your PS, which is what your friend did. It's not necessary, but it's a good idea for many people.
Second of all, how many applicants have a professor at the law school willing to make a personal phone recommendation? I'm pretty sure that's why your friend got in, not some amazing Why Harvard paragraph in their PS.
Yes, people on TLS regularly advise against "wasting" space in your PS on Why HYS, especially H since they have the hard 2 page limit. The general wisdom is that HYS already know why. Nor did I say, her "why" got her in but just that it didn't disqualify her or put a black mark on her, since she couldn't afford such a thing. For her it made sense, for others it might not.
But whatever, you seem to have missed the point entirely of what I was saying, which is that there shouldn't be a "why" dogma. If you have good reason, go for it. If you don't, probably best not to. If you want to put something in your PS that makes sense for you, go for it. As long as you are crafting a compelling, complete picture of who you are as an applicant and why you make a good addition to the law school in question, the exact format of how you go about doing so is up to you. Know who you are as an applicant and craft that picture in the head of the adcom, using the potential tools you have at your disposal as effectively as possible.
