In my meeting with an adcomm, she suggested that I write a short (less than a page) supplemental essay on why the scholarship committee should offer me merit-based money, to go along with my (hopefully stellar) LSAT score. Since I'm employed full-time and not actually poor by anyone's definition, she suggested two items to mention: that I will be working through school to pay my mortgage & other living expenses, and that less debt=easier to take a gov't/non-profit job after graduation. Particularly the latter.
So this is my first stab at it (about 2/3 page, which would be fine). Thoughts would be appreciated.
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The main purpose of a job, most people would probably say, is to make enough money to pay one’s living expenses. However, I think that being useful is equally important, and I have felt most useful to the most people when I have been employed in the public sector. Having spent a good portion of my adult life employed by two separate city governments, I feel comfortable in public service. While there are many valuable and rewarding private firm and corporate law careers, I believe that I would be most satisfied with a career continuing either on the government path or with non-profit organizations.
I am determined to attend law school and move on to a legal career, but graduating with a large amount of student loan debt would make my goal of public service harder to achieve. I am employed full-time and self-supporting, including a mortgage which I am solely responsible for. I intend to continue working while I am enrolled in the evening/part-time program.
I cannot, of course, entirely rule out a private firm or corporate legal position, but my years working in the public sector have been extremely rewarding and being able to apply a law degree to my interest in serving the public is my ultimate goal. I hope that when the admission and scholarship committees at Lewis and Clark review my record, they see fit to give me the opportunity to achieve that goal.
Scholarship optional essay Forum
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asoli
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:38 pm
Re: Scholarship optional essay
It kinda seems forced, like the point is to shame the committee into giving you money, or else lose you to the private sector. Instead, I would write about the personal enjoyment you get from public work and how a scholorship, in whatever amount, would help you pursue that goal. I wouldn't bring up the mortage because everyone has things they have to pay for, including a JD.
