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When to write a Why X and when not to

Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 8:44 pm
by TruHoosier
Hey guys, sorry if this has been covered on here. I looked around but didn't see anything about it.

I'm having a hard time deciding for which schools I should write a Why X essay for. My biggest question is about the school I will most likely go to. It is a local Tier 2 school, and tuition won't be too bad there. My numbers are a decent amount above what they usually admit. I'm two points above the top-75 LSAT score, and right around their median GPA.

I'm assuming I am going to get a scholarship from them. I am trying to decide if I should write a Why X essay explaining why I want to go there. Since it is in the city that I live in, and I am familiar with the school, I could write a decent one. But I am concerned that if they think I am a lock to enroll there, they won't offer me as much scholarship money.

What do you all think? Should I just include my personal statement in the application, or should I sit down and write them a Why X essay about why I like the school and what interests me about it.

Feels like I might be overthinking this a bit.

Re: When to write a Why X and when not to

Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:56 pm
by TruHoosier
Bump.

Does anyone have some sort of an answer to this? It's killing me.

Re: When to write a Why X and when not to

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:06 am
by krad
TruHoosier wrote:Hey guys, sorry if this has been covered on here. I looked around but didn't see anything about it.

I'm having a hard time deciding for which schools I should write a Why X essay for. My biggest question is about the school I will most likely go to. It is a local Tier 2 school, and tuition won't be too bad there. My numbers are a decent amount above what they usually admit. I'm two points above the top-75 LSAT score, and right around their median GPA.

I'm assuming I am going to get a scholarship from them. I am trying to decide if I should write a Why X essay explaining why I want to go there. Since it is in the city that I live in, and I am familiar with the school, I could write a decent one. But I am concerned that if they think I am a lock to enroll there, they won't offer me as much scholarship money.

What do you all think? Should I just include my personal statement in the application, or should I sit down and write them a Why X essay about why I like the school and what interests me about it.

Feels like I might be overthinking this a bit.
Are you applying to other schools that you could use as leverage when it comes to $ offers?

I'd write the Why X. If you really want to go there, I'd tell them. I'm doing a Why X for my current city's top law school even though I know I'm a lock (and will probably go elsewhere). I think it will primarily help when it comes to $ and if they yield protect (WL you because they think you'd go somewhere else with your solid #'s). You can always use it to push for more $ maybe too?

Re: When to write a Why X and when not to

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:17 am
by The Gentleman
Check out VanWinkle's great post on "Why X" essays.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =Why+essay