1. The Reasons That First Come to Mind Aren’t Always the Best
Maybe you like the law school’s location, or maybe you were drawn most to the updated dorm rooms. Of course, you probably have dozens of reasons for wanting to go to a particular law school, but the ones that come to mind aren’t always the ones that will make the best impact on admissions officers.
How to Overcome It: Don’t start writing immediately after reading this prompt. Instead, perform a brainstorming session where you list all the reasons why you want to be a student at your law school of choice. Think broadly, considering as many aspects of the law school experience as possible. Include clinics and journals and other forms of student life, as well as academics.
Explain how the school’s program would allow her to pursue your interests and goals, and how specific classes and extracurriculars would support your unique interests.
2. The Desire You Have to Go There is Difficult to Put Into Words
Did you just get a feeling when you visited your top-choice law school that made you want to be there? Oftentimes, these thoughts and emotions can be difficult to put into words.
How to Overcome It: Instead of trying to describe the feeling itself, think instead about the factors that made you feel a certain way. Did you sit in on a lecture and see how well a professor kept their students’ interest? Did the welcoming, diverse student body make you feel right at home?
3. You Also Have to Prove Why You’re a Good Fit for the School
Remember, you’re not just explaining why you want to attend your law school of choice. You must also explain why the law school should want to have you attending their school. Many students overlook this factor in the “Why X Law School” essay, and instead focus only on the school.
How to Overcome It: Explain which unique factors you’d bring to the law school. Do you have drive, passion, and dedication? Show your reader how you embody these unique qualities. If possible, try to link your personal values to the law school's mission statement to make a compelling case as to why you’d be a great addition to the student body.
Now that you know how to tackle the biggest challenges from the “Why X Law School” essay, it doesn’t seem so difficult anymore, does it?
Until next time,
Steve
P.S. There’s no getting around it – even with the right information, applying to law school is still stressful. In my next article, I’ll share with you exactly what makes the process so stress-inducing, and how to overcome it by writing an excellent law school application essay.
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