Here is the second installment of a summary of my Above the Law Career Files posts. (A link to the first installment is here)
In this post, I give wait-listed applicants advice about how to get off of a waitlist and into their dream school. I explain how schools categorize their waitlists and offer some ways to avoid common mistakes.
In this post, I provide a detailed check list for December LSAT-takers who want to submit their applications by mid-January. Use this list for some helpful tips about how to get your applications in quickly and effectively.
In this post, I explain how to prepare for different kinds of law school interviews in order to ensure you make the most of any interview opportunity.
In this post, I share some general thoughts about how to approach applying to and attending law school. From articulating your reasons for going to really committing yourself once you get there, this post is useful for anyone figuring out how to approach the decision to attend law school.
In this post, I provide 7 tips for getting the most out of an LSAC forum or law school recruiting event. I cover how to prepare, how to follow up, and everything in between.
In this post, three non-traditional applicants share their thoughts about applying to law school, choosing a law school, and using their law degrees. These now-lawyers explain how attending law school later in life with diverse experiences can present some unexpected benefits and challenges.
In this post, I explain how to make the most of the summer before applying to law school. In addition to developing an LSAT strategy, you should talk to lawyers and law students so you can better define your own goals.
In this post, I describe law schools’ scholarship trends, and share some examples of law students who heavily weighed scholarship options when choosing their law school.
In this post, I provide some useful, lesser-known tips about each component of a law school application, from making the most of your resume to deciding how you should approach any addenda.
In this post, I give 5 tips for savvy law school applicants to increase their chances of admission while saving money along the way.
In this post, I debunk 3 common law school admission myths: 1) applying earlier is always better; 2) taking the LSAT three times is bad; and 3) it’s easy to transfer to a top school after 1L.
In this post, I provide 8 tips for writing an effective law school personal statement. I give concrete ideas about how to effectively approach the writing process and ultimately find your authentic voice.
4 Responses
Ann,
I noticed you wrote two things, and I have questions about them.
You said that people who go to YHS (or other top law schools) are from top UG schools. I go to a top 75 ranked University (obviously not the best), with a 3.98 GPA and a 177 LSAT. I am also editor in chief of our undergrad research journal, have 3 articles published in various undergrad journals, and am President of the mock trial team. Will going to this Top 75 school hurt me, or would i be okay with applying to YHS?
You mentioned switching majors may hurt people if they seem confused. I was an Econ and International Studies major, but loved computer science and switched to Econ and Computer Science (dropping international studies for comp sci) in my Junior year. Will this late change hurt me? Do I need to explain it?
Thanks for your help. I’m currently reading your book and it is a great resource.
Jon, you absolutely must apply to YHS! Of course! I’m not worried about your major switch -everything is super strong and you’re a great candidate for law school. I’m so glad the book has been helpful to you. Let me know if I can help you through the process in any way.
Hi Ann,
The blog post on the personal statement is incredibly helpful. However, I’m struggling a little bit with the topic. There’s one particular experience I have that has been instrumental in my decision to go to law school, but I’m worried about writing on this topic because it’s very sensitive and I worry about how it will come across to admissions…. In high school, I was sexually assaulted. Of course, that experience and the backlash that came with it was devastating. It took me awhile to regain my motivation, but when I did, I discovered that I wanted to pursue a career in law. I wanted to challenge myself and achieve something that I never thought would be possible for me, but I also discovered that law is something I am passionate about in and of itself.
Is this an appropriate topic for a personal statement? I don’t want to dwell on the details of the assault or how it affected me negatively, nor do I want to create a sob story or a “pity me” kind of narrative. I want to focus on the assault as kind of the catalyst for me finding my passion and working hard to become a lawyer. This is an incredibly important topic for me and I really want to write on it because it’s an undeniable part of who I am, but I want to make sure that it won’t backfire and give me a negative reaction.
Thanks so much for your help,
Emily
Emily, it is appropriate and brave. Stay away from violent detail and tell your true story.