"Why X" addenda opinions? Forum

[brinicolec]

deleted.

[benwyatt]

This makes you sound indecisive and I wouldn't recommend it.

Also, you're way overthinking the campus thing, just call it a campus because calling it a territory is weird

[brinicolec]

This makes you sound indecisive and I wouldn't recommend it.

Also, you're way overthinking the campus thing, just call it a campus because calling it a territory is weird

I agree territory sounds weird. It was more of a place-filler than anything else because I couldn't think of another word at that moment.

What exactly makes it sound indecisive to you? Do you think if I took out "I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving," and changed "reasonable decision" to the "right decision" it would be better? Sort of like this...

I developed a true love for the energy of the city, and because of this, even though transferring was a right decision that allowed me to gain that traditional experience I yearned for my undergraduate career, I concluded that the chapter of my life involving New York City was not over, but simply to be continued at a later date, and I cannot think of a better place to continue that chapter than where it began: New York University.


I don't have specific ties to any particular region so I want to focus on the fact that I like NYC, as well as maybe explain transferring from NYU because I feel like, if I were them, it'd be strange for someone's top choice to be the same place that they left in undergrad.

[MyNameIsntJames]

Hi all. This isn't completed, but I wanted your opinion on the beginning of this rough draft because I want to make sure that I'm approaching things properly. I attended NYU as a freshman and did well there academically but ended up transferring and decided this would be a good place to start. Just want opinions on whether or not you think it works.

I understand posting on here is requesting criticism but please keep in mind there's a difference between constructive criticism and being an asshole.

Following this paragraph, I plan to get into specifics of why NYU specifically (versus say.... that school on the other side of the city lol) since it's not the only law school in NYC. I will probably talk some about how appealing I find their array of clinics to be, as well as their centers. I also like that they have that 1L Lawyering course that averages a small class size and focus on leadership training in their curriculum. I plan to do some more in-depth research on these things before adding them to my addenda.

Also, I have an italicized sentence or two in there that's like an author's note to you all.

Thanks for any help!

The addenda

It was a little over four years ago that I first stepped foot on New York University’s territory I wanted to say campus here but I wasn't sure about it since NYU's campus isn't really a campus campus, does anyone have an opinion on this? as an undergraduate student, enthused by the opportunity to attend such a well-known, competitive university and excited to be one of the many students getting to immerse themselves into the hustle and bustle of the city. Unfortunately, after attending New York University for a year, I realized that although New York City was a place I loved calling home, I was longing for a more traditional setting for my undergraduate experience, which led to me transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. However, it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window, the Best Buy near Union Square that was open until at least midnight, and, more importantly, the experience of being a student at New York University with what felt like such a diverse world in front of me, and around me, both inside of – and during the ten-block walk to – the classroom. I developed a true love for the energy of the city, and because of this, I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving, concluding that, even though transferring was a reasonable decision that allowed me to gain that traditional experience I yearned, the chapter of my life involving New York City was not over, but simply to be continued at a later date, and I cannot think of a better place to continue that chapter than where it began: New York University.

Like the other user said, call it a campus. Don't overthink that.

Not sure I'd read this and be convinced NYU was for you. As great as you said the city was, you admit that it couldn't even hold you there for a year. It would be hard for someone to read this and be convinced that NYC is really the place for you. Think its better to accentuate why NYU specifically. I could read this and think, "Well you might like Columbia too." I think the purpose of 'Why X' is primarily to assess why you want that law school. Sure, area is a factor, but there should be some sort of information there that indicates why that particular law school is preferable because you can get the NYC experience at plenty of other law schools.

I think you gotta remember that your 'Why X' has to read in a way that conveys that 'This is my number one choice of school and this is why I want to go here.' If your Why X reads like a 'This is one of the schools I"m considering for these reasons', then it might not be worth it. Also, if its overly cheesy (not to say yours is) then I've HEARD it could have a negative effect as well but only adcomms could really tell you that. I think you should find an element unique to NYU that really entices you. And if you can't find one, it may even be best to skip this part. You don't want anything in your app to sound like you're trying to bullshit someone. Not saying that you are, but you don't want them to have that impression.

[brinicolec]

Hi all. This isn't completed, but I wanted your opinion on the beginning of this rough draft because I want to make sure that I'm approaching things properly. I attended NYU as a freshman and did well there academically but ended up transferring and decided this would be a good place to start. Just want opinions on whether or not you think it works.

I understand posting on here is requesting criticism but please keep in mind there's a difference between constructive criticism and being an asshole.

Following this paragraph, I plan to get into specifics of why NYU specifically (versus say.... that school on the other side of the city lol) since it's not the only law school in NYC. I will probably talk some about how appealing I find their array of clinics to be, as well as their centers. I also like that they have that 1L Lawyering course that averages a small class size and focus on leadership training in their curriculum. I plan to do some more in-depth research on these things before adding them to my addenda.

Also, I have an italicized sentence or two in there that's like an author's note to you all.

Thanks for any help!

The addenda
.

deleted

[MyNameIsntJames]

Hi all. This isn't completed, but I wanted your opinion on the beginning of this rough draft because I want to make sure that I'm approaching things properly. I attended NYU as a freshman and did well there academically but ended up transferring and decided this would be a good place to start. Just want opinions on whether or not you think it works.

I understand posting on here is requesting criticism but please keep in mind there's a difference between constructive criticism and being an asshole.

Following this paragraph, I plan to get into specifics of why NYU specifically (versus say.... that school on the other side of the city lol) since it's not the only law school in NYC. I will probably talk some about how appealing I find their array of clinics to be, as well as their centers. I also like that they have that 1L Lawyering course that averages a small class size and focus on leadership training in their curriculum. I plan to do some more in-depth research on these things before adding them to my addenda.

Also, I have an italicized sentence or two in there that's like an author's note to you all.

Thanks for any help!

The addenda

It was a little over four years ago that I first stepped foot on New York University’s territory I wanted to say campus here but I wasn't sure about it since NYU's campus isn't really a campus campus, does anyone have an opinion on this? as an undergraduate student, enthused by the opportunity to attend such a well-known, competitive university and excited to be one of the many students getting to immerse themselves into the hustle and bustle of the city. Unfortunately, after attending New York University for a year, I realized that although New York City was a place I loved calling home, I was longing for a more traditional setting for my undergraduate experience, which led to me transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. However, it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window, the Best Buy near Union Square that was open until at least midnight, and, more importantly, the experience of being a student at New York University with what felt like such a diverse world in front of me, and around me, both inside of – and during the ten-block walk to – the classroom. I developed a true love for the energy of the city, and because of this, I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving, concluding that, even though transferring was a reasonable decision that allowed me to gain that traditional experience I yearned, the chapter of my life involving New York City was not over, but simply to be continued at a later date, and I cannot think of a better place to continue that chapter than where it began: New York University.

Like the other user said, call it a campus. Don't overthink that.

Not sure I'd read this and be convinced NYU was for you. As great as you said the city was, you admit that it couldn't even hold you there for a year. It would be hard for someone to read this and be convinced that NYC is really the place for you. Think its better to accentuate why NYU specifically. I could read this and think, "Well you might like Columbia too." I think the purpose of 'Why X' is primarily to assess why you want that law school. Sure, area is a factor, but there should be some sort of information there that indicates why that particular law school is preferable because you can get the NYC experience at plenty of other law schools.

I think you gotta remember that your 'Why X' has to read in a way that conveys that 'This is my number one choice of school and this is why I want to go here.' If your Why X reads like a 'This is one of the schools I"m considering for these reasons', then it might not be worth it. Also, if its overly cheesy (not to say yours is) then I've HEARD it could have a negative effect as well but only adcomms could really tell you that. I think you should find an element unique to NYU that really entices you. And if you can't find one, it may even be best to skip this part. You don't want anything in your app to sound like you're trying to bullshit someone. Not saying that you are, but you don't want them to have that impression.

But see, what you said is part of why I want to talk specifically about liking NYC because I didn't leave NYU for any other reason than realizing I wanted a more traditional experience involving sporting events and Greek life (divine nine though, not white frats) in undergrad. I also had some pretty shitty roommates but hindsight's 20/20 & that wasn't gonna last forever. The city didn't intimidate me or make me uncomfortable. I actually don't like Chapel Hill because it's too small for me & I get bored lol. Basically, what you said about me leaving is exactly why I wanted to include something specifically about why I l ft in the addenda. I think my transferring from NYU will be misunderstood by adcomm without context & might serve as a possible ding against me if left without explanation.

My second paragraph (that I haven't written yet because I want to do more in-depth research first) is going to be specifically about why NYU rather than another law school in the city. Do you think I need to finish it before you can really assess this?

I completely believe you, I just don't want adcomms to take a cynical view on your Why X. Glad you're into D9 *cough* Delta>AKA, lol I have some strong opinions about black students joining white frats but I'll keep that to myself.

It is tough considering you left NYU & now you want to attend their law school & that's a very unique situation to overcome. However, NYU law is completely diff than NYU undergrad so I question whether they would really perceive your leaving NYU as akin to shunning NYU institutions as a whole. I have no clue. My biggest qualm with the entire thing is that it kind of presents a false dichotomy of (UNC didn't work so NYC must be best). It's kind of like when someone breaks up with a boyfriend/girlfriend, date someone else & that doesn't work and now they're trying to explain to their ex about how they really didn't realize how great they were. If you were the ex you'd be skeptical lol. And I know law school is in no way like a relationship but humans are humans.

I think you could even get away with saying that at that particular moment in your life, you felt UNC best fit your interests and say you enjoyed it. I would Say that since you are older and more mature with a deeper perspective of what diff styles of markets offer, you know that you're at a point where the NYC lifestyle can facilitate hit current needs. You can spin it in a way where NYC was somewhat overwhelming for you as a 17/18 year old but now that you're older with a better grasp on things and have been out on your own independently and experienced both NYC & small town living that you can assert with confidence that NYC is good for you. Might be good to weave in that you seek long term opportunities from NYC.

I'd be lying if I said I'm any type of expert on Why X essays, but this is just my opinion personally. I guess the value of my opinion is that I'm a 3rd party so I have the perspective of the outside party that essay writers can't have and it's very difficult to evaluate ourselves & actions from a purely objective standpoint

[lymenheimer]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

[brinicolec]

Hi all. This isn't completed, but I wanted your opinion on the beginning of this rough draft because I want to make sure that I'm approaching things properly. I attended NYU as a freshman and did well there academically but ended up transferring and decided this would be a good place to start. Just want opinions on whether or not you think it works.

I understand posting on here is requesting criticism but please keep in mind there's a difference between constructive criticism and being an asshole.

Following this paragraph, I plan to get into specifics of why NYU specifically (versus say.... that school on the other side of the city lol) since it's not the only law school in NYC. I will probably talk some about how appealing I find their array of clinics to be, as well as their centers. I also like that they have that 1L Lawyering course that averages a small class size and focus on leadership training in their curriculum. I plan to do some more in-depth research on these things before adding them to my addenda.

Also, I have an italicized sentence or two in there that's like an author's note to you all.

Thanks for any help!

The addenda

It was a little over four years ago that I first stepped foot on New York University’s territory I wanted to say campus here but I wasn't sure about it since NYU's campus isn't really a campus campus, does anyone have an opinion on this? as an undergraduate student, enthused by the opportunity to attend such a well-known, competitive university and excited to be one of the many students getting to immerse themselves into the hustle and bustle of the city. Unfortunately, after attending New York University for a year, I realized that although New York City was a place I loved calling home, I was longing for a more traditional setting for my undergraduate experience, which led to me transferring to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. However, it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window, the Best Buy near Union Square that was open until at least midnight, and, more importantly, the experience of being a student at New York University with what felt like such a diverse world in front of me, and around me, both inside of – and during the ten-block walk to – the classroom. I developed a true love for the energy of the city, and because of this, I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving, concluding that, even though transferring was a reasonable decision that allowed me to gain that traditional experience I yearned, the chapter of my life involving New York City was not over, but simply to be continued at a later date, and I cannot think of a better place to continue that chapter than where it began: New York University.

Like the other user said, call it a campus. Don't overthink that.

Not sure I'd read this and be convinced NYU was for you. As great as you said the city was, you admit that it couldn't even hold you there for a year. It would be hard for someone to read this and be convinced that NYC is really the place for you. Think its better to accentuate why NYU specifically. I could read this and think, "Well you might like Columbia too." I think the purpose of 'Why X' is primarily to assess why you want that law school. Sure, area is a factor, but there should be some sort of information there that indicates why that particular law school is preferable because you can get the NYC experience at plenty of other law schools.

I think you gotta remember that your 'Why X' has to read in a way that conveys that 'This is my number one choice of school and this is why I want to go here.' If your Why X reads like a 'This is one of the schools I"m considering for these reasons', then it might not be worth it. Also, if its overly cheesy (not to say yours is) then I've HEARD it could have a negative effect as well but only adcomms could really tell you that. I think you should find an element unique to NYU that really entices you. And if you can't find one, it may even be best to skip this part. You don't want anything in your app to sound like you're trying to bullshit someone. Not saying that you are, but you don't want them to have that impression.

But see, what you said is part of why I want to talk specifically about liking NYC because I didn't leave NYU for any other reason than realizing I wanted a more traditional experience involving sporting events and Greek life (divine nine though, not white frats) in undergrad. I also had some pretty shitty roommates but hindsight's 20/20 & that wasn't gonna last forever. The city didn't intimidate me or make me uncomfortable. I actually don't like Chapel Hill because it's too small for me & I get bored lol. Basically, what you said about me leaving is exactly why I wanted to include something specifically about why I l ft in the addenda. I think my transferring from NYU will be misunderstood by adcomm without context & might serve as a possible ding against me if left without explanation.

My second paragraph (that I haven't written yet because I want to do more in-depth research first) is going to be specifically about why NYU rather than another law school in the city. Do you think I need to finish it before you can really assess this?

I completely believe you, I just don't want adcomms to take a cynical view on your Why X. Glad you're into D9 *cough* Delta>AKA, lol I have some strong opinions about black students joining white frats but I'll keep that to myself.

It is tough considering you left NYU & now you want to attend their law school & that's a very unique situation to overcome. However, NYU law is completely diff than NYU undergrad so I question whether they would really perceive your leaving NYU as akin to shunning NYU institutions as a whole. I have no clue. My biggest qualm with the entire thing is that it kind of presents a false dichotomy of (UNC didn't work so NYC must be best). It's kind of like when someone breaks up with a boyfriend/girlfriend, date someone else & that doesn't work and now they're trying to explain to their ex about how they really didn't realize how great they were. If you were the ex you'd be skeptical lol. And I know law school is in no way like a relationship but humans are humans.

I think you could even get away with saying that at that particular moment in your life, you felt UNC best fit your interests and say you enjoyed it. I would Say that since you are older and more mature with a deeper perspective of what diff styles of markets offer, you know that you're at a point where the NYC lifestyle can facilitate hit current needs. You can spin it in a way where NYC was somewhat overwhelming for you as a 17/18 year old but now that you're older with a better grasp on things and have been out on your own independently and experienced both NYC & small town living that you can assert with confidence that NYC is good for you. Might be good to weave in that you seek long term opportunities from NYC.

I'd be lying if I said I'm any type of expert on Why X essays, but this is just my opinion personally. I guess the value of my opinion is that I'm a 3rd party so I have the perspective of the outside party that essay writers can't have and it's very difficult to evaluate ourselves & actions from a purely objective standpoint

No, I never said UNC didn't work. I said UNC was the right choice for my undergraduate career (I might have changed that in the second edit on this post though, to be fair) but I don't want to stay in NC. This follows a lifelong experience of both cities and towns since I've moved so much; I've always known I wanted to live in a city --- NYC specifically, DC being a possible second. I don't want to say I found NYC overwhelming, because I didn't and talking about Chapel Hill being small town living isn't going to work for me when I lived in places like Great Falls, Montana; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and Satellite Beach, Florida prior to graduating high school. *You wouldn't know that though because I've only briefly discussed being a military brat on here lol* I also don't want to talk too much about specific markets because although I think I want to go into big law, that may end up changing/I'm also interested in a couple other types of law.

I think I'm realizing the Why X addenda is tricky because of my life

[brinicolec]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

So would you recommend just strengthening my language? Like I said, it's not quite done yet so the latter part of my essay will be more focused on NYU specifically.

[lymenheimer]

I also don't want to talk too much about specific markets because although I think I want to go into big law, that may end up changing/I'm also interested in a couple other types of law.

They're not going to pull up your application on graduation day and say "Well, you said you wanted to work in NYC but you're going out west, no degree for you". Same with PI. You can be interested enough in a specific practice to make mention of it if the school has a decent hold on the field (Journal, clinic, etc) without having to commit day one to the practice.

[brinicolec]

I also don't want to talk too much about specific markets because although I think I want to go into big law, that may end up changing/I'm also interested in a couple other types of law.

They're not going to pull up your application on graduation day and say "Well, you said you wanted to work in NYC but you're going out west, no degree for you". Same with PI. You can be interested enough in a specific practice to make mention of it if the school has a decent hold on the field (Journal, clinic, etc) without having to commit day one to the practice.

Well, I think I meant I don't want to talk about it much because I don't really know which one I want to do, so I probably won't present a convincing argument regarding either one. Quite honestly, I'm more personally drawn to PI but am very turned off by the mediocre salary. I don't know enough about big law to know if I'd truly like it, or tolerate it, but am interested in learning more about it (aka dabbling in it) to see if it's a fit for me at all.

[lymenheimer]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

So would you recommend just strengthening my language? Like I said, it's not quite done yet so the latter part of my essay will be more focused on NYU specifically.

Not necessarily. I'm just reading it as "I went to NYU. I wanted something different. I transferred to UNC because I thought it would fit better. I missed NYC." Which is fine, but it just sounds...too apologetic. By mentioning the transfer at all, it's almost as if you're concerned that they're going to hold it over you that you transferred. When I read it without the UNC sentence (and the other transfer-esque language), it reads a lot better. By the positioning of the UNC sentence and the language surrounding it, it makes it seem like you are comparing your experiences in CH with those in NYC and that is why you are missing NYC: "it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window". "I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving". And it is fine, of course, that you make these realizations, but if you put them in present tense: These are the things I enjoy and appreciate about NYC, While I enjoy my time in Chapel Hill, I miss the bustle, etc. It's a very slight difference, but I think that's what's causing some people to read it in a "negative" way

[brinicolec]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

So would you recommend just strengthening my language? Like I said, it's not quite done yet so the latter part of my essay will be more focused on NYU specifically.

Not necessarily. I'm just reading it as "I went to NYU. I wanted something different. I transferred to UNC because I thought it would fit better. I missed NYC." Which is fine, but it just sounds...too apologetic. By mentioning the transfer at all, it's almost as if you're concerned that they're going to hold it over you that you transferred. When I read it without the UNC sentence (and the other transfer-esque language), it reads a lot better. By the positioning of the UNC sentence and the language surrounding it, it makes it seem like you are comparing your experiences in CH with those in NYC and that is why you are missing NYC: "it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window". "I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving". And it is fine, of course, that you make these realizations, but if you put them in present tense: These are the things I enjoy and appreciate about NYC, While I enjoy my time in Chapel Hill, I miss the bustle, etc. It's a very slight difference, but I think that's what's causing some people to read it in a "negative" way

Hm, okay. I think I get what you're saying. I think my thing is that I prefer to be authentic more than anything else (though that's something some people are against in these applications, from what I've read on this site lol) so I don't want to feel like I'm "lying" about any of my experiences. But I don't think putting things in present tense will change my story to a point of feeling unauthentic to me so I'll try changing up some of the lang. And I kind of do worry that they'll hold my transfer over my head. I wasn't struggling there academically, I was involved in the community, etc. so I'm worried that they'll feel the need to figure out why I left.

[lymenheimer]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

So would you recommend just strengthening my language? Like I said, it's not quite done yet so the latter part of my essay will be more focused on NYU specifically.

Not necessarily. I'm just reading it as "I went to NYU. I wanted something different. I transferred to UNC because I thought it would fit better. I missed NYC." Which is fine, but it just sounds...too apologetic. By mentioning the transfer at all, it's almost as if you're concerned that they're going to hold it over you that you transferred. When I read it without the UNC sentence (and the other transfer-esque language), it reads a lot better. By the positioning of the UNC sentence and the language surrounding it, it makes it seem like you are comparing your experiences in CH with those in NYC and that is why you are missing NYC: "it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window". "I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving". And it is fine, of course, that you make these realizations, but if you put them in present tense: These are the things I enjoy and appreciate about NYC, While I enjoy my time in Chapel Hill, I miss the bustle, etc. It's a very slight difference, but I think that's what's causing some people to read it in a "negative" way

Hm, okay. I think I get what you're saying. I think my thing is that I prefer to be authentic more than anything else (though that's something some people are against in these applications, from what I've read on this site lol) so I don't want to feel like I'm "lying" about any of my experiences. But I don't think putting things in present tense will change my story to a point of feeling unauthentic to me so I'll try changing up some of the lang. And I kind of do worry that they'll hold my transfer over my head. I wasn't struggling there academically, I was involved in the community, etc. so I'm worried that they'll feel the need to figure out why I left.

I completely understand. But there's a difference between being inauthentic, and being completely, 100%, tell-all. And that's the line that can cause uncertainty. Some of the Spivey crew said they wondered about circumstances regarding changes in education (transfers) if it wasn't addressed in the application materials, so you could definitely address it, but I would definitely adjust the language surrounding it. But, since LSAT+GPA+URM are so heavily weighted in admissions, you could just as easily say "When I was in NY, I thrived..."

[MyNameIsntJames]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

So would you recommend just strengthening my language? Like I said, it's not quite done yet so the latter part of my essay will be more focused on NYU specifically.

Not necessarily. I'm just reading it as "I went to NYU. I wanted something different. I transferred to UNC because I thought it would fit better. I missed NYC." Which is fine, but it just sounds...too apologetic. By mentioning the transfer at all, it's almost as if you're concerned that they're going to hold it over you that you transferred. When I read it without the UNC sentence (and the other transfer-esque language), it reads a lot better. By the positioning of the UNC sentence and the language surrounding it, it makes it seem like you are comparing your experiences in CH with those in NYC and that is why you are missing NYC: "it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window". "I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving". And it is fine, of course, that you make these realizations, but if you put them in present tense: These are the things I enjoy and appreciate about NYC, While I enjoy my time in Chapel Hill, I miss the bustle, etc. It's a very slight difference, but I think that's what's causing some people to read it in a "negative" way

Hm, okay. I think I get what you're saying. I think my thing is that I prefer to be authentic more than anything else (though that's something some people are against in these applications, from what I've read on this site lol) so I don't want to feel like I'm "lying" about any of my experiences. But I don't think putting things in present tense will change my story to a point of feeling unauthentic to me so I'll try changing up some of the lang. And I kind of do worry that they'll hold my transfer over my head. I wasn't struggling there academically, I was involved in the community, etc. so I'm worried that they'll feel the need to figure out why I left.

I agree completely with lymenheimer. I don't think the problem is authenticity so much so as I think you're expecting the admissions' office to give you a benefit of the doubt. The problem with authenticity is that, even though you're writing down true statements, they don't make the intended impression you want them to. The initial Why X did make it seem like you felt compelled to justify your decision to leave NYU initially. I honestly think that whole blurp might even be better off being erased.

Also another thing I failed to bring up before is that NYC is a uniquely diff market from most places, so I'm not sure how much accentuating the thrills of city life will help here. For example, if you were writing a Why X for WUSTL then talking about how much you love St. Louis would probably be a tremendous help. But for NYU I'm not sure...NYC is the tourist capital of America. Everyone loves NYC pretty much. So saying how great you feel the city is is almost a moot point. Its like writing a Why X to Hawaii and telling them how much you'd love to live in Hawaii. I'm not saying you shouldn't expound on living in NYC, but I think you should do so in a way that ties the legal aspect into it and that quickly narrows down NYU. I also think that the take on NYC is a little overly-rosy as well. NYC is a tough ass place to live with some hard nosed personalities and an insanely high COL. I would skip all of the UNC transfer stuff and merely convey that you've lived in that city before as an adult and that you have a complete understanding of NYC, good and bad, and that everything from the lifestyle, COL to culture is something that you're comfortable with, desire and embrace and that NYU facilitates your goals in that market better than anyone else. The fact that Columbia is in NYC is what makes me want to impress upon you the importance of telling NYU why THEY are a good candidate. Its also why I made that WUSTL analogy. WUSTL knows you have no other reason to be in St. Louis than to go to their school more than likely. People typically aren't scrambling to pack up and move to St. Louis, take vacations there or visit either. So that would fly. With NYC, EVERYONE wants to live there and there's some other great schools like Columbia and Cornell in that state that are on the same level as NYU.


I would find something(s) that you feel NYU offers that other NYC schools don't and make that a huge focal point of the Why X. I'd even go so far as to say, "NYU has ________________ that I can't find at other schools in the state/area" whether it be resources, LRAP program if you like PI, competitive placement in a certain type of law you're interested in, most connections, best hire rate in city firms or whatever. Those are the types of tangibles that I think will make your adcomm sit up and say "Ok this girl did her homework on us and she's mapped out a plan of why she wants to go to NYU specifically"

I would make THAT your first paragraph and maybe add the extra stuff about the city as a secondary or even tertiary reason. That's kind of like the icing on the cake type of stuff. I don't think NYU needs to be sold on the idea that you like NYC because NYC already attracts a lot of individuals as it is.

[brinicolec]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

So would you recommend just strengthening my language? Like I said, it's not quite done yet so the latter part of my essay will be more focused on NYU specifically.

Not necessarily. I'm just reading it as "I went to NYU. I wanted something different. I transferred to UNC because I thought it would fit better. I missed NYC." Which is fine, but it just sounds...too apologetic. By mentioning the transfer at all, it's almost as if you're concerned that they're going to hold it over you that you transferred. When I read it without the UNC sentence (and the other transfer-esque language), it reads a lot better. By the positioning of the UNC sentence and the language surrounding it, it makes it seem like you are comparing your experiences in CH with those in NYC and that is why you are missing NYC: "it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window". "I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving". And it is fine, of course, that you make these realizations, but if you put them in present tense: These are the things I enjoy and appreciate about NYC, While I enjoy my time in Chapel Hill, I miss the bustle, etc. It's a very slight difference, but I think that's what's causing some people to read it in a "negative" way

Hm, okay. I think I get what you're saying. I think my thing is that I prefer to be authentic more than anything else (though that's something some people are against in these applications, from what I've read on this site lol) so I don't want to feel like I'm "lying" about any of my experiences. But I don't think putting things in present tense will change my story to a point of feeling unauthentic to me so I'll try changing up some of the lang. And I kind of do worry that they'll hold my transfer over my head. I wasn't struggling there academically, I was involved in the community, etc. so I'm worried that they'll feel the need to figure out why I left.

I agree completely with lymenheimer. I don't think the problem is authenticity so much so as I think you're expecting the admissions' office to give you a benefit of the doubt. The problem with authenticity is that, even though you're writing down true statements, they don't make the intended impression you want them to. The initial Why X did make it seem like you felt compelled to justify your decision to leave NYU initially. I honestly think that whole blurp might even be better off being erased.

Also another thing I failed to bring up before is that NYC is a uniquely diff market from most places, so I'm not sure how much accentuating the thrills of city life will help here. For example, if you were writing a Why X for WUSTL then talking about how much you love St. Louis would probably be a tremendous help. But for NYU I'm not sure...NYC is the tourist capital of America. Everyone loves NYC pretty much. So saying how great you feel the city is is almost a moot point. Its like writing a Why X to Hawaii and telling them how much you'd love to live in Hawaii. I'm not saying you shouldn't expound on living in NYC, but I think you should do so in a way that ties the legal aspect into it and that quickly narrows down NYU. I also think that the take on NYC is a little overly-rosy as well. NYC is a tough ass place to live with some hard nosed personalities and an insanely high COL. I would skip all of the UNC transfer stuff and merely convey that you've lived in that city before as an adult and that you have a complete understanding of NYC, good and bad, and that everything from the lifestyle, COL to culture is something that you're comfortable with, desire and embrace and that NYU facilitates your goals in that market better than anyone else. The fact that Columbia is in NYC is what makes me want to impress upon you the importance of telling NYU why THEY are a good candidate. Its also why I made that WUSTL analogy. WUSTL knows you have no other reason to be in St. Louis than to go to their school more than likely. People typically aren't scrambling to pack up and move to St. Louis, take vacations there or visit either. So that would fly. With NYC, EVERYONE wants to live there and there's some other great schools like Columbia and Cornell in that state that are on the same level as NYU.


I would find something(s) that you feel NYU offers that other NYC schools don't and make that a huge focal point of the Why X. I'd even go so far as to say, "NYU has ________________ that I can't find at other schools in the state/area" whether it be resources, LRAP program if you like PI, competitive placement in a certain type of law you're interested in, most connections, best hire rate in city firms or whatever. Those are the types of tangibles that I think will make your adcomm sit up and say "Ok this girl did her homework on us and she's mapped out a plan of why she wants to go to NYU specifically"

I would make THAT your first paragraph and maybe add the extra stuff about the city as a secondary or even tertiary reason. That's kind of like the icing on the cake type of stuff. I don't think NYU needs to be sold on the idea that you like NYC because NYC already attracts a lot of individuals as it is.

I feel like that latter point would make more sense if I wasn't someone who had lived in the city for a year and then left. I think that, as someone who transferred, especially out of NYU, it raises the question of why I left and that's why I'm concerned about making sure they understand that I do, in fact, have a desire to be in NYC. I mean, shoot, you misunderstood why I left, assuming that it was because the city was too much for me, when that's probably the farthest from the truth. If you're understanding my desire to leave as that, that means other people have the potential to understand my desire to leave as that, and that's a completely inaccurate understanding of who I am as a person, and that's just not bueno for me. Think I might take this one to admissions office and get their opinion on transferring from the undergrad to see their take on it.

[MyNameIsntJames]

Reads more like a "transfer addenda/attempted justification" rather than a "Why X" statement, to me. You don't have to justify yourself or your undergraduate actions in your Why X. Put it in a more positive light: "I've already spent time in NYC and know that I would love it" rather than "I didn't like it at first, so I transferred, and now I think I like it", as another poster has mentioned. Draw from your experiences in the city and NYU's offerings rather than necessarily what you expect to be different this time around. Not that the other story couldn't become compelling, but it does make you seem flighty.

So would you recommend just strengthening my language? Like I said, it's not quite done yet so the latter part of my essay will be more focused on NYU specifically.

Not necessarily. I'm just reading it as "I went to NYU. I wanted something different. I transferred to UNC because I thought it would fit better. I missed NYC." Which is fine, but it just sounds...too apologetic. By mentioning the transfer at all, it's almost as if you're concerned that they're going to hold it over you that you transferred. When I read it without the UNC sentence (and the other transfer-esque language), it reads a lot better. By the positioning of the UNC sentence and the language surrounding it, it makes it seem like you are comparing your experiences in CH with those in NYC and that is why you are missing NYC: "it didn’t take long for me to notice how much I missed the sounds of the city outside of my window". "I found myself pondering whether or not I made the right decision by leaving". And it is fine, of course, that you make these realizations, but if you put them in present tense: These are the things I enjoy and appreciate about NYC, While I enjoy my time in Chapel Hill, I miss the bustle, etc. It's a very slight difference, but I think that's what's causing some people to read it in a "negative" way

Hm, okay. I think I get what you're saying. I think my thing is that I prefer to be authentic more than anything else (though that's something some people are against in these applications, from what I've read on this site lol) so I don't want to feel like I'm "lying" about any of my experiences. But I don't think putting things in present tense will change my story to a point of feeling unauthentic to me so I'll try changing up some of the lang. And I kind of do worry that they'll hold my transfer over my head. I wasn't struggling there academically, I was involved in the community, etc. so I'm worried that they'll feel the need to figure out why I left.

I agree completely with lymenheimer. I don't think the problem is authenticity so much so as I think you're expecting the admissions' office to give you a benefit of the doubt. The problem with authenticity is that, even though you're writing down true statements, they don't make the intended impression you want them to. The initial Why X did make it seem like you felt compelled to justify your decision to leave NYU initially. I honestly think that whole blurp might even be better off being erased.

Also another thing I failed to bring up before is that NYC is a uniquely diff market from most places, so I'm not sure how much accentuating the thrills of city life will help here. For example, if you were writing a Why X for WUSTL then talking about how much you love St. Louis would probably be a tremendous help. But for NYU I'm not sure...NYC is the tourist capital of America. Everyone loves NYC pretty much. So saying how great you feel the city is is almost a moot point. Its like writing a Why X to Hawaii and telling them how much you'd love to live in Hawaii. I'm not saying you shouldn't expound on living in NYC, but I think you should do so in a way that ties the legal aspect into it and that quickly narrows down NYU. I also think that the take on NYC is a little overly-rosy as well. NYC is a tough ass place to live with some hard nosed personalities and an insanely high COL. I would skip all of the UNC transfer stuff and merely convey that you've lived in that city before as an adult and that you have a complete understanding of NYC, good and bad, and that everything from the lifestyle, COL to culture is something that you're comfortable with, desire and embrace and that NYU facilitates your goals in that market better than anyone else. The fact that Columbia is in NYC is what makes me want to impress upon you the importance of telling NYU why THEY are a good candidate. Its also why I made that WUSTL analogy. WUSTL knows you have no other reason to be in St. Louis than to go to their school more than likely. People typically aren't scrambling to pack up and move to St. Louis, take vacations there or visit either. So that would fly. With NYC, EVERYONE wants to live there and there's some other great schools like Columbia and Cornell in that state that are on the same level as NYU.


I would find something(s) that you feel NYU offers that other NYC schools don't and make that a huge focal point of the Why X. I'd even go so far as to say, "NYU has ________________ that I can't find at other schools in the state/area" whether it be resources, LRAP program if you like PI, competitive placement in a certain type of law you're interested in, most connections, best hire rate in city firms or whatever. Those are the types of tangibles that I think will make your adcomm sit up and say "Ok this girl did her homework on us and she's mapped out a plan of why she wants to go to NYU specifically"

I would make THAT your first paragraph and maybe add the extra stuff about the city as a secondary or even tertiary reason. That's kind of like the icing on the cake type of stuff. I don't think NYU needs to be sold on the idea that you like NYC because NYC already attracts a lot of individuals as it is.

I feel like that latter point would make more sense if I wasn't someone who had lived in the city for a year and then left. I think that, as someone who transferred, especially out of NYU, it raises the question of why I left and that's why I'm concerned about making sure they understand that I do, in fact, have a desire to be in NYC. I mean, shoot, you misunderstood why I left, assuming that it was because the city was too much for me, when that's probably the farthest from the truth. If you're understanding my desire to leave as that, that means other people have the potential to understand my desire to leave as that, and that's a completely inaccurate understanding of who I am as a person, and that's just not bueno for me. Think I might take this one to admissions office and get their opinion on transferring from the undergrad to see their take on it.

Yeah but my misunderstanding was based on what you wrote. If I had just looked at your transcript and saw that, I wouldn't assume any reason for your leaving. Could've been financial, personal or anything else. If you felt compelled to tell them I would think it belongs in an entirely separate addendum and not in the Why X. I think you're overthinking it though and it's one of those things I wouldn't even touch on unless it specifically came up because it could have way more damage than good (as seen above by our impressions).

In terms of NYU , I would factor in living experience but I would either be a whole lot more specific about NYC's qualities or leave that part out. What you have so far could be true of Chicafo, LA or any other big metropolitan area and didn't leave me with the impression that NYC was necessarily the ultimate spot for you but rather one you've lived in before and had liked. Which is fine. But I think for Why X, the purpose is to sell the school on the idea of "If we give her an offer and Columbia, Cornell, and Princeton give her an offer then we know she's coming here." It's kind of like your chance to say "I'm not just submitting an application to your school as part of a routine app process, I specifically want to be right at NYU."

If NYU isn't your dream school then possibly reconsider even writing the Why X. Sometimes less is more and while additional essays can help, I think these optional essays also have a greater possibility to hurt if not executed correctly or with passion. I think NYU is going to be a lot more interested in why you want to go to law school there versus how much you like NYC. In the grand scheme, that's neither here nor there because you might leave the market anyway. You don't have to omit it, but it has a substantial amount of space in your Why X. They will have to evaluate nearly 6-8 sentences before even getting to the Why of why you want to go to the school. I think you should start out the gate with some strong reasons why NYU is the school for you and make it clear you feel you cannot get these things from other law schools in the area or not at the quality that NYU offers it. From there you could for in your love of the area and how, because NYU is the best school for your needs in that area, it makes perfect sense for you to be there. I'm not saying omit your love for NYC , but it should tie directly back into NYU. I don't think you need as much space devoted to your love of NYC as you've taken & I would absolutely not even mention the transfer. That just seems to raise substantially more questions than you can answer and you risk changing your Why X into an explanation of a decision you made at 19 years old instead of a letter to NYU for why you want to go there.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I think you're overthinking explaining leaving. People leave cities all the time for all kinds of reasons that have nothing to do with not liking the city. And you're choosing to apply now, so presumably if you'd hated the city so much you'd had to flee NYU, you wouldn't be applying to move back there.

(Scooped by MNIJ.)

[cannonballer]

I agree with the two posts above, you are way overthinking this. Presuming you have the right stats, NYU won't scrutinize your decision to apply there. If you submit a Why X, I'd completely omit the paragraph you drafted and dive right into the next paragraph that's explicitly about your desire to attend NYU

[brinicolec]

I agree with the two posts above, you are way overthinking this. Presuming you have the right stats, NYU won't scrutinize your decision to apply there. If you submit a Why X, I'd completely omit the paragraph you drafted and dive right into the next paragraph that's explicitly about your desire to attend NYU

I'm a splitter, so...... yeah...

[A. Nony Mouse]

I agree with the two posts above, you are way overthinking this. Presuming you have the right stats, NYU won't scrutinize your decision to apply there. If you submit a Why X, I'd completely omit the paragraph you drafted and dive right into the next paragraph that's explicitly about your desire to attend NYU

I'm a splitter, so...... yeah...

They're still not going to need to be convinced why you're applying there. They will need to be convinced to consider you further, but applying there isn't going to look weird or confusing in any way.

[brinicolec]

Do you all think that it would be okay to say something along the lines of "As someone interested in both corporate law and public interest ..." (and then talk about how they're strong in both areas and offer so many clinics, especially regarding PI, and the corporate law and business programs that overlap with Stern students, and a couple of their programs used to help PI folks with $$). Since you all think I overthink a lot, my thought process on this one is it's fine because adcomm knows that not every 0L has pinned down exactly what they want to do, but it still shows that they have programs that I am particularly drawn to in either of my interests.

[TexasENG]

Do you all think that it would be okay to say something along the lines of "As someone interested in both corporate law and public interest ..." (and then talk about how they're strong in both areas and offer so many clinics, especially regarding PI, and the corporate law and business programs that overlap with Stern students, and a couple of their programs used to help PI folks with $$). Since you all think I overthink a lot, my thought process on this one is it's fine because adcomm knows that not every 0L has pinned down exactly what they want to do, but it still shows that they have programs that I am particularly drawn to in either of my interests.

I can't speak to the efficacy of writing a Why X on this topic, but this is the direction that I have been going with mine. Just trying to associate my law interests with the strengths of the school.

Also if you haven't seen this yet it might help:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/writing- ... endum.html

[brinicolec]

Do you all think that it would be okay to say something along the lines of "As someone interested in both corporate law and public interest ..." (and then talk about how they're strong in both areas and offer so many clinics, especially regarding PI, and the corporate law and business programs that overlap with Stern students, and a couple of their programs used to help PI folks with $$). Since you all think I overthink a lot, my thought process on this one is it's fine because adcomm knows that not every 0L has pinned down exactly what they want to do, but it still shows that they have programs that I am particularly drawn to in either of my interests.

I can't speak to the efficacy of writing a Why X on this topic, but this is the direction that I have been going with mine. Just trying to associate my law interests with the strengths of the school.

Also if you haven't seen this yet it might help:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/writing- ... endum.html

Yeah, I don't intend to write a Why X for many of my applications - just the top 3-5 choices, leaning more towards top 3 lol.

And thanks for the link, I'll check it out!