Submitted Question:

Corey:

One of the biggest missteps most law school applicants make is turning their personal statement into a giant sob story. Admissions committees are far more interested in reading about you overcoming your obstacles than you wallowing in them. It sounds like you should slightly alter the focus of your personal statement to better frame your accomplishments.

Submitted Question:

Corey:

Admissions officers hate the generic “I studied political science and that’s why I want to go to law school” personal statement. Your diversity is an asset, use it as such. Emphasize why your background makes you an excellent law school candidate and, further, will make you an excellent lawyer, e.g., you appear to have an excellent writing background.

Beyond that, remember that your personal statement is as much about showing the reader that you can write well as it about convincing the reader that you would be a good addition to the law school class. If you run into a wall, try a tactic that has helped create a number of my clients’ personal statements. Write a random essay about yourself without factoring law school admissions into your work. Afterwards, try to make this essay your personal statement. The resulting essay is often better than the one you wrote when you were ‘trying’ to write your personal statement.

Submitted Question:

Corey:

No. Maybe if it was your wife and you had a family, but even then – no. The personal statement is your chance to personalize your application. A successful personal statement engages and entertains the reader while also giving a positive glimpse into your life. Even assuming that your personal statement engages and entertains, it seems very unlikely that this glimpse into your life was positive. I’m sure something else has happened in your life that would be more suitable for your personal statement.

Submitted Question:

Corey:

Law school admissions isn’t like business school admissions, where a great deal of weight is placed on your work experience. Still, you want to make sure that your applications avoid the negative stigma that comes along with a resume that screams “professional student.” Focus your personal statement on why the time is right for you to attend law school and further, why you want to be an attorney. Further describe how your academic experience will assist your legal ambitions and no one will think twice about the decade you just spent in school. Good luck.

Submitted Question:

Jane:

I think it sounds great! Every time an admissions officer tells me about a great personal statement, it involves personal growth through an interesting, well-told story. Make sure to stay focused on how American Idol transformed you into a future law student though, as I could see American Idol taking over your personal statement. Admissions officers want both to be entertained and to be informed.

Corey:

I’m concerned about this personal statement feeling forced. Be certain that the connection between American Idol and law school follows logically and is not overly tenuous. As long as you are writing about American Idol because it legitimately led you to law school, this should be a great topic.