Imagine this: all your application materials are in the system, well, all except for one- your personal statement. A few weeks ago, this was a reality for me. I didn’t know what I should write about or how I should do it for my law school applications. With supposedly the “easiest” part of the application missing, the part that is basically based solely on you and your experience, I felt lost.
That being said, I think part of the reason personal statements can be so difficult to write sometimes is because there are so many memories to pull from- how is a person supposed to narrow it down to just one story? (Especially if your application does not have a topic!)
In my panicked frenzy, I began reading blogs and advice columns, even speaking to school admission representatives. Then a friend of mine sent me an article she received from 7Sage, an online company that has LSAT Prep Courses and Study Materials, and I found it very helpful. The 7Sage Admissions guidance team listed the top do’s and don’ts of personal statement writing, and they are as follows:
” 1. Tell a story about yourself.
It’s not called a legal or social-issue statement, so you shouldn’t be opening about legal issues or lecturing on social problems. You should tell a story about the evolution of your interest in law, a formative experience, or anything else that’s important to you.
See more in Story Basics.
2. Don’t write about your trip abroad.
Every year, hordes of Americans go to the developing world, look at poor people, and decide to care about social justice. Nearly all of them apply to law school.
I’m only being glib to show you what it looks like from the other side of the desk. Admissions officers are swimming in First World versus Third World essays. If you do choose to write about your trip abroad, the punchline should be more nuanced than, “And then I realized how lucky I was,” or, “And now I care about human rights.”
See more in Bad Essay Role Call.
3. Don’t do it for the children unless you’re really, really sincere.
File this mistake with “My trip to the Third World” essays. If you write about your burning passion to help the children, the underserved, or the voiceless, you’re going to have a hard time distinguishing yourself from the crowd unless you anchor your ambition to a personal story.
4. Don’t begin with a meaningful quote.
Essays built around quotations are usually strained, boring, impersonal, and trite—plus they smell like high school.
See more in Most Common Personal Statement Mistakes.
5. Don’t say that a movie or TV show inspired your career path.
The only reason you should mention a courtroom drama is to note how it diverges from real life. If you say you want to become a lawyer because of Atticus Finch or Alicia Florrick, you will—and there’s only one way to say this—look like a chump.
See more in 5 Bad “Why I Want to Be a Lawyer” Topics.
6. Read your essay out loud when you’re done.
Typos make you look stupid. Full stop.
Let your essay rest for a day or two, which restores your perspective, then read it out loud, which forces you to slow down. Think about every word.
See more in Common Mistakes.”
This post helped me find some clarity, and now I can confidently say I have an impactful personal statement. I hope this can help you, too! And if you are interested in additional guidance on your personal statement, you can reach out to the 7Sage Admissions Team (they can help you brainstorm, revise, and polish.)
Best, -E. Lago
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