Hey All! Like I promised, I am starting a series on the law school application process. As you know (or maybe you don't), getting into law school is a long process with a lot of different components:
- Personal Statement
- LSAT (and g.p.a.)
- Recommendation Letters
- Resume + Transcripts
- Interview
- Other: Supplemental Information
I don't presume to have all the answers, but hopefully I can provide you with some insight on the process since I just went through it recently. Many people assume law school is purely a numbers game. While the LSAT and GPA factor a great deal in your ability to be accepted into schools, there are other factors highly considered. Enter the personal statement.
A personal statement does something your LSAT score and GPA could never do: it provides insight into you as a person. This is your chance to give the admission committee a glimpse into your world. You can highlight things that are important to you, be it leadership, diversity, your current career, etc.
But, what do you write about?
I admit, I had A LOT of trouble thinking of what to write for my personal statement. I struggled with narrowing my train of thought. What makes me different? The best advice I ever received on the topic was from my company's legal counsel. He told me to just write; jot down anything and everything that comes to mind on paper.
So that's what I did. I literally brain-dumped my thoughts. Eventually, I started to see a pattern. I was able to narrow my focus to a single element from my past that told a story.
Below is the personal statement I wrote for my law school applications:
I could feel my heart
pounding in my chest. Sweat was starting to form on my forehead, and I was
losing concentration with every passing second. My vision was blurring. I knew
it for what it was; an anxiety attack. All before the first class had even started.
GB301. The name
alone leaves all Juniors dripping with trepidation and fear.
A mandatory class comprised of four
sections (Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Project), the class has one
purpose: prepare students for the real world of business. Over the course of a
semester, students are tasked with analyzing the business strategy of a real
company and creating a comprehensive business plan to improve the company’s
business model. This is later presented to a panel of judges including the
company owners. The best presentation wins. It is a student’s first real test and look at
how they will stack up in the never ending business rat race.
Professor Landsman’s voice
cut through the fog in my brain. “Everyone’s first task is to choose their Team
Leads.” I looked at the people in my group. Everyone was looking away. “Not
me.” “I would do it but….” The excuses could not come out fast enough. I took a
deep breath. “I’ll do it,” I said with a shrug. Relief was apparent in the
faces around me while I tried to conceal the apprehension etched all over my
face. Being the team lead comes with a double-edged sword: If your team does
well, your personal score is boosted an extra 10 percentage points; if they do
not, you lose 10 percentage points. The problem is, most groups do not succeed.
Each year, they use 5-6 actual companies; each project company is assigned to a
cluster of classes; each project cluster is made up of 25-30 groups; each group
consists of 4-6 members. From almost 1,000 students, less than 30% get a 3.0 or
better in all four sections; less than 5% get a 4.0 in all sections.
What did I just do? I
immediately thought of excuses to back out. Although I hid it well, voicing my
opinion and commanding the presence of a group filled me with bone crushing anxiety.
Growing up, I had always followed the lead of others. At home, I listened to
what my parents said and went along with the plans of my seven siblings with
little fuss. At school, I trailed after friends and avoided speaking up in
class. So, how does one with no leadership experience take the jumbled opinions
of six people and create a cohesive plan that stands out against the sea of
other groups? What if I made mistakes?
Walking back to my dorm,
I pushed play on my IPod and let the sounds of Miles’ On the Corner album drown my senses. The songs successfully throw
its listeners off balance; it reels you in and never lets you go. It reminded
me of the famous phrase Miles said to all his musicians, “Don’t play what’s there.
Play what’s not there.” That is how I would succeed. The assignment left much
room for interpretation and creativity. Though it took much focus and
dedication, I was able to use what I learned so far in my economic studies to
blend our ideas into a cohesive plan. I realized that our differences actually
gave us an edge over our competition. Our “mistakes” would in essence help us
find what others were missing. With a risk-taking marketing campaign and a new
application of services, my team was able to offer a different approach that
others ignored.
Ultimately, we came in
second overall in our cluster, and I succeeded where others had not by
acquiring a 4.0 in all four sections. Although we did not win, I accomplished
something I previously doubted I could do: I conquered my anxiety and
successfully lead a team. This experience gave me my first real taste of taking
charge over my fears, and it left my mouth watering for more.
In
spite of my apprehensiveness, I never failed at accomplishing the goals I set
for myself, both academically and professionally. My curiosity for the decision
factors behind the changing modern world and its behaviors brought about my
major in Managerial Economics. The implications of these rational choices as a
tool to dissect the effects of legal rules led to my concentration in Law. I
went on to graduate magna cum laude. Professionally, I received the rare
opportunity to lead the company-wide implementation of a new business solution
when I was only a staff accountant.
Looking
back, I realize that when I assumed I could not succeed, I never tried. I stuck
with what I knew. I played what was there. Now, I find myself looking forward
to the future with excitement. Although it has been more than six years since
that fateful semester, the lessons I learned about myself will stay with me
long after I graduate from law school. Regardless of the obstacles I will
surely face in the next three years, I will not retreat within myself; I will shroud
my anxiety and play what is not there.
Keep in mind, this is what worked for me. Find what works for you.When in doubt, keep these simple tips in mind:
DO:
- Write about what you are passionate about in your statement.
- Narrow your focus of topic.
- Follow the instructions on your application; some schools have specific topics they want you write about in your statement.
- Give yourself plenty of time to dedicate to your statement.
- Proofread, Proofread, Proofread! Have several people you trust read over your statement.
- KEEP IT SIMPLE!
DON'T:
- Write what you think the committee wants to hear.
- Wait until the last minute to write your statement.
- Play it safe.
