Personal Statements

[CrAz3D]

Yay law school applications!!! ::)

I'm applying for law school admittance now. 

Have any of y'all knocked out intense personal statements before?

The ones I've looked at just request that I help the admittance council/committee "get to know me."  With that, I figure I can have a general frame work for a 2-3 page statement, then include bits that bring a focus to the specific school I am applying to.  (i.e. University of New Mexico, I might talk about NM's environment, and my interest in it.  Or, for Baylor, I might focus a bit more on spiritual beliefs my goals of advocating for small children)

Main topics of discussion I plan to include are: being an Eagle Scout, membership/involvement in politics (chapter & state College Republicans & County Party) and Pi Sigma Alpha (poli sci nat'l honor society, and our focus on community involvement)

Any thoughtful tips or suggestions?  Thanks!

[while1]

I wouldn't call these "intense personal statements".  In fact, sounds the ones I had to write for undergrad.  These ones are the easier ones in my opinion, because they allow much more freedom to you to incorporate shit about you and try to "stand out".  The problem with the grad skool personal statements I have to write are that they pretty much are straight forward "why do you want to go to graduate school and what are your research interests/goals".

but then again you're going for law skool and you're gonna be in debt.  I won't :P.

[Sidoh]

but then again you're going for law skool and you're gonna be in debt.  I won't :P.

If he manages to become a successful lawyer, the debt won't last for long.  Grad students don't exactly live posh lives. :P

[CrAz3D]

I wouldn't call these "intense personal statements".  In fact, sounds the ones I had to write for undergrad.  These ones are the easier ones in my opinion, because they allow much more freedom to you to incorporate shit about you and try to "stand out".  The problem with the grad skool personal statements I have to write are that they pretty much are straight forward "why do you want to go to graduate school and what are your research interests/goals".

but then again you're going for law skool and you're gonna be in debt.  I won't :P.

Average graduating debt from UT Law is 75k, average starting salary is 102k.  I might graduate in debt, but I wont stay there for long


The 'intense' part of it is that I get my LSAT score, this essay and my GPA to get into the school I want.  In this essay I have to lay out my life's achievements, goals and why I'm a spectacular addition to their campus.  Law school acceptance rate is far lower than most/any undergrads I'd figure.

[leet_muffin]

You're an eagle scout?

[CrAz3D]

Yeah.

[Sidoh]

I wouldn't call these "intense personal statements".  In fact, sounds the ones I had to write for undergrad.  These ones are the easier ones in my opinion, because they allow much more freedom to you to incorporate shit about you and try to "stand out".  The problem with the grad skool personal statements I have to write are that they pretty much are straight forward "why do you want to go to graduate school and what are your research interests/goals".

but then again you're going for law skool and you're gonna be in debt.  I won't :P.

Average graduating debt from UT Law is 75k, average starting salary is 102k.  I might graduate in debt, but I wont stay there for long


The 'intense' part of it is that I get my LSAT score, this essay and my GPA to get into the school I want.  In this essay I have to lay out my life's achievements, goals and why I'm a spectacular addition to their campus.  Law school acceptance rate is far lower than most/any undergrads I'd figure.

What's the median?  I'd imagine in a field where there are almost certainly a bunch of outliers with more of a entrepreneurial spirit on the top of the scale, the mean would be skewed in that direction.

[CrAz3D]

Median is like 85k.



ANYWAYS, thoughts on writing these things?  I know I want to explain the topics I listed, how they've shaped my life and how that makes me a great candidate for their school, but I'm not sure how to introduce everything.

"Hey, I'm Tyler and I'm applying to your school!  I'm awesome because I have leadership experience, a history of community dedication and political activism which are all shown by me being in club X, Y and Z." 

[Chavo]

What's the median?  I'd imagine in a field where there are almost certainly a bunch of outliers with more of a entrepreneurial spirit on the top of the scale, the mean would be skewed in that direction.

That might be feasible, but I think the larger skew factor is failure to report earnings in those that earn little (or none).

[Sidoh]

What's the median?  I'd imagine in a field where there are almost certainly a bunch of outliers with more of a entrepreneurial spirit on the top of the scale, the mean would be skewed in that direction.

That might be feasible, but I think the larger skew factor is failure to report earnings in those that earn little (or none).

Maybe. Regardless, median is still probably more meaningful

[Chavo]

Agreed.