Why School X? in the personal statement Forum

[NCtoDC]

A couple of the schools I'm applying to ask you to include why you want to go to their school in your personal statement. Is it ok to just tack on a couple sentences or a paragraph at the end of the statement or should it flow within the whole paper?

[chrisnashville]

General rule of thumb - if you can substitute the name of the school in your "tack on" approach with any other school easily, you'll have wasted your breath (figuratively, of course) and the adcomm's time.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think you have to start "I always knew it'd be School X" and weave it throughout the narrative of the PS -- just make it apparent that you've researched the school enough to speak intelligently about it and make it apparent you and them would be a good match.

[BU2013]

A few sentences will be fine, if it's your top choice or a reach, might as well go all out.