T14 Targeted Personal Statements Forum

[mccllln2]

I'm going to be applying in the next admissions cycle, and like a lot of TLSers I'll be blanketing the T14 and basically attending the best school that will have me. Is it worth my time to try and write targeted personal statements for each one? Maybe some but not others? Is it better to just write a "Why X" essay on top of a generic personal statement? Any advice is appreciated.

[Pneumonia]

Do not write targeted statements. Since you ostensibly have the time though, you should consider writing a Why X essay for each school though.

The only time to write a targeted personal statement is if you have clear and compelling reasons to attend a certain school specifically. You do not have such reasons for the entire T-14, nor does anyone else. If you manufacture them they will appear as such.

Some examples of clear and compelling reasons:
-spouse attends the school or lives in the area and can't leave
-a preexistent and longstanding relationship with a certain professor (shaky)
-for some reason (parents are paying etc) you can only attend law school if you attend X law school.

Things that are not compelling:
-basically anything that can be found on the school's website (this is appropriate for a Why X though)
-you like X city
-the school is prestigious and you like it
-your relative attended there

It's not that people are incapable of writing a decent targeted PS, its just that the opportunity cost of doing so is that you don't get to write a good/great/excellent PS. The schools want to know about you personally, so tell them something personal. If that involves why you want to attend there specifically then a targeted PS can be ok. Still though, why not just use the Why X? Even if your reasons are clear and compelling, why not still write a normal PS and then submit a Why X?

[papercut]

Do not write targeted statements. Since you ostensibly have the time though, you should consider writing a Why X essay for each school though.

The only time to write a targeted personal statement is if you have clear and compelling reasons to attend a certain school specifically. You do not have such reasons for the entire T-14, nor does anyone else. If you manufacture them they will appear as such.

Some examples of clear and compelling reasons:
-spouse attends the school or lives in the area and can't leave
-a preexistent and longstanding relationship with a certain professor (shaky)
-for some reason (parents are paying etc) you can only attend law school if you attend X law school.

Things that are not compelling:
-basically anything that can be found on the school's website (this is appropriate for a Why X though)
-you like X city
-the school is prestigious and you like it
-your relative attended there

It's not that people are incapable of writing a decent targeted PS, its just that the opportunity cost of doing so is that you don't get to write a good/great/excellent PS. The schools want to know about you personally, so tell them something personal. If that involves why you want to attend there specifically then a targeted PS can be ok. Still though, why not just use the Why X? Even if your reasons are clear and compelling, why not still write a normal PS and then submit a Why X?

+1 Great response.

[mccllln2]

Do not write targeted statements. Since you ostensibly have the time though, you should consider writing a Why X essay for each school though.

The only time to write a targeted personal statement is if you have clear and compelling reasons to attend a certain school specifically. You do not have such reasons for the entire T-14, nor does anyone else. If you manufacture them they will appear as such.

Some examples of clear and compelling reasons:
-spouse attends the school or lives in the area and can't leave
-a preexistent and longstanding relationship with a certain professor (shaky)
-for some reason (parents are paying etc) you can only attend law school if you attend X law school.

Things that are not compelling:
-basically anything that can be found on the school's website (this is appropriate for a Why X though)
-you like X city
-the school is prestigious and you like it
-your relative attended there

It's not that people are incapable of writing a decent targeted PS, its just that the opportunity cost of doing so is that you don't get to write a good/great/excellent PS. The schools want to know about you personally, so tell them something personal. If that involves why you want to attend there specifically then a targeted PS can be ok. Still though, why not just use the Why X? Even if your reasons are clear and compelling, why not still write a normal PS and then submit a Why X?

That all makes perfect sense and that's what I'll do. Thank you