UK
China
South Korea
Japan
Sponsorship Link
Who better to turn to for personal statement advice than one of the top law schools in the country? The Yale Law School Admissions Blog has begun a Personal Statement Boot Camp, offering tips on cranking out a winning essay.
/
One theme to avoid in your essay is "I Love to Argue." Apparently hundreds of applicants write on this theme every year and by doing so turn off the adcoms. As the blogger/admissions dean notes, loving to argue is irrelevant to being a good lawyer, and is actually more of a character flaw then an attribute worth highlighting in a personal statement: "Good lawyers don't argue, they construct good arguments...So, for you to show me that you'll be a good lawyer, you have to make a good argument for yourself through your personal statement."
Yet, make sure that the argument you're presenting is multi-faceted. In other words, don't focus your entire essay-and application, for that matter-on one particular activity. For example, if your passion for basketball dominates your application, then the adcoms are going to wonder why you're applying to law school in the first place. While it's wonderful to express a strong interest in something, make sure to allow your different components to shine through as well.
Must Read
And, be careful when writing the Overcoming Obstacles essay. First off, ensure that you're writing about an actual obstacle, as opposed to a disappointment. While overcoming a major obstacle can make for a compelling read, dwelling on a mere disappointment can paint you as self-absorbed with skewed priorities. If you have suffered a life hurdle, don't feel obligated to write about it. It's for you to decide if mentioning this obstacle will enhance your application. The most important thing to highlight is not the obstacle itself, but how you dealt with it. There is no need for a detailed play-by-play, but rather use the situation to illustrate how this obstacle shaped who you are. Instead of belaboring the point, it is more effective to convey your message subtly throughout your entire application. And that advice really applies to any idea you'd like to express to the adcoms.
Follow us
