This happened to me as well. I recently got rejected from a school where my numbers were median. But I was able to get into a school where my lsat was at the 25 percentile. My best guess is that my Why X essay was particularly compelling.
I did my top 10 ways to spend a Saturday. It was pretty lighthearted, but also a chance to show my non-academic interests! Easily my favorite optional essay (honorable mention goes to Stanford-music to play while reviewing app)
... .amazon.com/Writing-College-Application-Essay-Anniversary/dp/0062123998) but honestly ... to write that kind of essay for a scholarship, fellowship, ... that what makes a good essay for an applications is what ... makes a good essay period. It also has a ...
Agree hand writing can be good or just type it out freestyle. I got this advice wrote 14 typed pages single spaced and found my PS/DS and PI essay amongst the pages.