Top Law Schools

I've heard and read a lot of different accounts of who to write "why x" essays for, so I'd like to make this a thread where all of us confused souls can gain some clarity. The following approaches are what I've come across:

1. Write them for any school you legitimately have a deep desire to go to, and no others (makes sense)
2. Don't worry about writing them, as numbers rule all
3. Write for any school other than T6
4. Only write if they explicitly ask for it within the optional essay section

Thoughts on what an applicant should do?

I wrote one for every school I applied to, but they were fairly generic except one or two

Clearly wrote:I wrote one for every school I applied to, but they were fairly generic except one or two

Do you think your essays helped you at all? I've been writing them for my top choices but they have been fairly generic so far.

TexasENG wrote:

Clearly wrote:I wrote one for every school I applied to, but they were fairly generic except one or two

Do you think your essays helped you at all? I've been writing them for my top choices but they have been fairly generic so far.

I'd have no way of knowing that but I'd assume not.

Why write for any school other than the T6?

yield protect.

Do schools even care if an applicant, who's at or slightly below both medians, write a Why X statement?

Sure, it could help a splitter/reverse-splitter because it shows schools that they can perhaps yield protect by admitting them. But when they see a below median applicant or someone at the medians, wouldn't they just look at the essay and say "psh...so?"

Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:Do schools even care if an applicant, who's at or slightly below both medians, write a Why X statement?

Sure, it could help a splitter/reverse-splitter because it shows schools that they can perhaps yield protect by admitting them. But when they see a below median applicant or someone at the medians, wouldn't they just look at the essay and say "psh...so?"

I think it just really depends. I feel like the essay would be helpful for someone at median, if say, (hypothetical) adcomms were trying to decide between 2 applicants with identical numbers, and the one who wrote a Why X essay MIGHT get a slight advantage for showing true interest in their school, of course assuming that the essay was strong and not mediocre.

TheMikey wrote:

Thomas Hagan, ESQ. wrote:Do schools even care if an applicant, who's at or slightly below both medians, write a Why X statement?

Sure, it could help a splitter/reverse-splitter because it shows schools that they can perhaps yield protect by admitting them. But when they see a below median applicant or someone at the medians, wouldn't they just look at the essay and say "psh...so?"

I think it just really depends. I feel like the essay would be helpful for someone at median, if say, (hypothetical) adcomms were trying to decide between 2 applicants with identical numbers, and the one who wrote a Why X essay MIGHT get a slight advantage for showing true interest in their school, of course assuming that the essay was strong and not mediocre.

Yeah, that makes sense. It makes me think that these optional essays aren't really optional because if everyone's writing them, you would disadvantage yourself by not doing the same. I'm assuming a mediocre essay is better than no essay

I figure it's probably best to suck it up and write one for every school then?

Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

RamTitan wrote:Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

Hi RamTitan. I'm also interested in learning if anyone has any hard evidence or anecdotal evidence of why x essays being more important for some schools over others, etc. For example I've heard that in particular Duke and Michigan really want them.

I don't think a why x essay can ever hurt your application unless it's poorly written or insincere sounding.

I'm going to write why x essays for every school that lists them as optional because my thinking is that since the school cared enough to mention it, it at least sort of matters to them. It also might mean that more people write why x essays for that school because it was mentioned, so if I'm competing with a similarly qualified candidate who wrote one and I didnt, I'd probably be at a disadvantage.

I'm also going to write them for every school that is a reach for me. I want them to give me the benefit of the doubt and take a chance on me even if my numbers are below what they usually take. I need every advantage I can get.

I might also write them for the schools I'm overqualified for. Writing one would help demonstrate that even though I'm likely to get offers from other schools, I'm still seriously considering their school. So they would be less likely to automatically waitlist me for fear that I would probably turn them down anyway and hurt their yeild percentage.

For the rest of the schools, the ones I'm a match for and don't mention them as optional and aren't said to place a uniquely large emphasis on them, I will only write them if I have the time. I figure that at the very least a why x essay for those schools would give me another opportunity to show my writing skills and my personality and I could potentially tie it to what I discuss in my personal statement.

LawschoolHopeful2k16 wrote:

RamTitan wrote:Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

Hi RamTitan. I'm also interested in learning if anyone has any hard evidence or anecdotal evidence of why x essays being more important for some schools over others, etc. For example I've heard that in particular Duke and Michigan really want them.

I don't think a why x essay can ever hurt your application unless it's poorly written or insincere sounding.

I'm going to write why x essays for every school that lists them as optional because my thinking is that since the school cared enough to mention it, it at least sort of matters to them. It also might mean that more people write why x essays for that school because it was mentioned, so if I'm competing with a similarly qualified candidate who wrote one and I didnt, I'd probably be at a disadvantage.

I'm also going to write them for every school that is a reach for me. I want them to give me the benefit of the doubt and take a chance on me even if my numbers are below what they usually take. I need every advantage I can get.

I might also write them for the schools I'm overqualified for. Writing one would help demonstrate that even though I'm likely to get offers from other schools, I'm still seriously considering their school. So they would be less likely to automatically waitlist me for fear that I would probably turn them down anyway and hurt their yeild percentage.

For the rest of the schools, the ones I'm a match for and don't mention them as optional and aren't said to place a uniquely large emphasis on them, I will only write them if I have the time. I figure that at the very least a why x essay for those schools would give me another opportunity to show my writing skills and my personality and I could potentially tie it to what I discuss in my personal statement.

You can at least see which schools yield protect by looking at the percentage of people waitlisted when they have above median scores. Obviously not 100% of WLs are due to no, or generic written Why X essays, but when you compare the 4-14 schools, you see certain schools are much, much more likely to do that than others and I can't imagine a lot of other reasons for that.

RamTitan wrote:Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

A URM said that Michigan read right through his bs "why x" essay.

PrezRand wrote:

RamTitan wrote:Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

A URM said that Michigan read right through his bs "why x" essay.

How would he/she know that? Is it typical to tell applicants why they weren't admitted?

Bob loblaw law blog wrote:

PrezRand wrote:

RamTitan wrote:Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

A URM said that Michigan read right through his bs "why x" essay.

How would he/she know that? Is it typical to tell applicants why they weren't admitted?

I think he judged it based on his cycle and the fact that his "why x" essay was not genuine. A few other students discussed the same issue in this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&start=25

PrezRand wrote:

Bob loblaw law blog wrote:

PrezRand wrote:

RamTitan wrote:Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

A URM said that Michigan read right through his bs "why x" essay.

How would he/she know that? Is it typical to tell applicants why they weren't admitted?

I think he judged it based on his cycle and the fact that his "why x" essay was not genuine. A few other students discussed the same issue in this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&start=25

What would make a "why x" essay not genuine? For example, I like Michigan and would write about its strong geographic placement all over the country while still being a top Midwest school, or something to that effect.

RamTitan wrote:

PrezRand wrote:

Bob loblaw law blog wrote:

PrezRand wrote:

RamTitan wrote:Can a "why x" essay ever hurt your application?

A URM said that Michigan read right through his bs "why x" essay.

How would he/she know that? Is it typical to tell applicants why they weren't admitted?

I think he judged it based on his cycle and the fact that his "why x" essay was not genuine. A few other students discussed the same issue in this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&start=25

What would make a "why x" essay not genuine? For example, I like Michigan and would write about its strong geographic placement all over the country while still being a top Midwest school, or something to that effect.

I honestly do not know. Maybe you need a unique reason for your "why x" essay. Your reason is pretty much what everyone else would say. If I wrote the essay for Virginia I would discuss the cultural differences between Virginia and my home state of TX even though they both are southern states and how Virginia appeals to me in a unique way.

Is there a certain format we need to use for these? For example, my friend addressed his to the dean of the law school and listed the university's address at the top. Is that necessary, or can we just put our name and LSAC account number in the header?

Also, are abbreviations frowned upon? For example, do I need to say University of Chicago every single time, or does U of C work?

Edit - would it be fine if I referred to it as the "law school"?

I feel like my essays aren't particularly unique. I'm usually writing that I like the small class size, want to take advantage of the extracurricular opportunities, want to practice in the area, and/or the mission statement resonates with me (sounds like BS, but I really like both Duke and Chicago's). Can I get some insight from others?

"Why X" essays are primarily for guarding against yield protection. If the school expects you to get into places that are ranked higher, you need to make them believe that rankings aren't the only thing you care about.

RZ5646 wrote:"Why X" essays are primarily for guarding against yield protection. If the school expects you to get into places that are ranked higher, you need to make them believe that rankings aren't the only thing you care about.

Would the reasons I mentioned above work then? I'm not sure what they're looking for. For example, I really like Michigan because of its strong reputation in the Midwest and their emphasis on a holistic process in search for students who would thrive not only academically, but also as members, and possibly leaders, of the Michigan law community.

RamTitan wrote:

RZ5646 wrote:"Why X" essays are primarily for guarding against yield protection. If the school expects you to get into places that are ranked higher, you need to make them believe that rankings aren't the only thing you care about.

Would the reasons I mentioned above work then? I'm not sure what they're looking for. For example, I really like Michigan because of its strong reputation in the Midwest and their emphasis on a holistic process in search for students who would thrive not only academically, but also as members, and possibly leaders, of the Michigan law community.

Those sound like good reasons to like Michigan and demonstrate that you think of the school as something more than just another lower T14. Schools also love it when you namedrop particular programs they offer, so I would try that. If you think you are at risk for yield protection at Michigan, go for it.

RZ5646 wrote:

RamTitan wrote:

RZ5646 wrote:"Why X" essays are primarily for guarding against yield protection. If the school expects you to get into places that are ranked higher, you need to make them believe that rankings aren't the only thing you care about.

Would the reasons I mentioned above work then? I'm not sure what they're looking for. For example, I really like Michigan because of its strong reputation in the Midwest and their emphasis on a holistic process in search for students who would thrive not only academically, but also as members, and possibly leaders, of the Michigan law community.

Those sound like good reasons to like Michigan and demonstrate that you think of the school as something more than just another lower T14. Schools also love it when you namedrop particular programs they offer, so I would try that. If you think you are at risk for yield protection at Michigan, go for it.

Awesome, thanks for the insight.

One more question - is there a particular format to follow for a why x essay? For example, one of my friends addressed it to the dean of the school and listed their address. However, I've just been doing a typical double spaced essay (each one is about a page in length), and then putting my name and LSAC account number in the header.