UPenn Supplemental Essays 2010 Forum

[richardhelms]

Anyone decide if they're going early decision at Penn yet?

[Dany]

Anyone decide if they're going early decision at Penn yet?

I'm not; I won't be ED'ing anywhere, just because I'd like to consider scholarships, and I will want to visit quite a few schools before making a decision.

What about you?

[czelede]

Anyone decide if they're going early decision at Penn yet?

I'm heavily considering it. I like Penn a lot and would be happy there, I think. Still, ED is a bit of a commitment.

[richardhelms]

Anyone decide if they're going early decision at Penn yet?

I'm heavily considering it. I like Penn a lot and would be happy there, I think. Still, ED is a bit of a commitment.

I'm in the same predicament. However, it's looking more likely that Penn will be an ED application. Bored out of my mind watching re-runs of It's Always Sunny doesn't help one stay objective. :-p

[Rik Smits]

Where are the supplemental essay topics located? I may very well be an idiot, but I can't find them.

[Deuce]

How wide reaching is "diversity"? Would, say, growing up poor/living alone since 17 years old count as diverse?

[Dany]

Where are the supplemental essay topics located? I may very well be an idiot, but I can't find them.

On the application... I don't remember what page.

[Dany]

How wide reaching is "diversity"? Would, say, growing up poor/living alone since 17 years old count as diverse?

Of course. Really, almost anything* can work if you write really well about it.

*Obviously there are lots of stupid things that do not work for a diversity statement, but I mean that many different life factors will suffice as a starting point, and after that it's all about how it's written.

[kazu]

How wide reaching is "diversity"? Would, say, growing up poor/living alone since 17 years old count as diverse?

I'd think yes? It depends on how you write it (like all things), if you connect it to how that background enables you to add diversity to the law school classroom I think it could work...

I really wish Penn didn't require supplemental essays... seriously feel like I might not apply now

(just joking of course I'll apply. love you Penn <3)

[Rik Smits]

Where are the supplemental essay topics located? I may very well be an idiot, but I can't find them.

On the application... I don't remember what page.

Found it, thanks.

[johnnyutah]

How wide reaching is "diversity"? Would, say, growing up poor/living alone since 17 years old count as diverse?

They just want you to convince them that you're cool. Write about anything, just keep your objective in mind.

[094320]

..

[Knock]

So...advice needed if anyone wants to offer it.

I'm having problems with the supplemental essays as such:

My all-purpose personal statement, which I rather like, is a more complicated take on a diversity statement. It's 2 pages long and loses much of its value if you cut it down to 1 page (as the supplemental essay requires).

However, if I use it, then I can't really write an additional diversity statement(that would be redundant). I can't write about art/literature because I don't really view art or read fiction(I read a lot of nonfiction, just not fiction) and absolutely nothing in that area has inspired me at all. I tried to write the 5 year plan essay, but it really doesn't work because I don't have a 5 year plan. I'm young and going straight through from undergrad--I don't really know what area of law I want to go into or what I want to do with it. I'm hoping to figure that out while in law school, so currently my plan for my 5 years after law school are "I'll have graduated from law school, hopefully be working, and not living in a cardboard box."

My original idea was to write a new personal statement for UPenn, but in comparing the one I've written to my other all-purpose one it's a lot weaker. I really encapsulated a lot of who I was in the other all-purpose one and this is meager by comparison--it's like comparing a professional pic you might take for senior photos to a picture taken on a 2002 camera phone in bad lighting. Additionally, my cut down version of my all-purpose to fit the diversity statement is such a shallow version of the full one it's pathetic. Not sure what to do.

I'd write the 5 year plan. Don't think of it as THE 5 year plan, think of it as A 5 year plan. What is one career path you are potentially interested in, and how will Penn help you meet this? Don't think of it as your committing now -- think of it as you're doing some research towards a particular goal. It's always a good thing to do some thinking about your future and goals too no matter what.

[094320]

..

[Knock]

I'd write the 5 year plan. Don't think of it as THE 5 year plan, think of it as A 5 year plan. What is one career path you are potentially interested in, and how will Penn help you meet this? Don't think of it as your committing now -- think of it as you're doing some research towards a particular goal. It's always a good thing to do some thinking about your future and goals too no matter what.

I can't think of any. Blahhhh. Thanks, though.

Public Interest/Non-profit
Associate in a law firm partner track
Associate in a law Firm non-partner track
lateral to an in-house position
Law professor
Own a business
Prosecutor
Defense Attorney
Public defender Attorney
Government work
Politics
Entertainment Law
Sports Law
Housing/unfair housing/housing discrimination law
Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning
Tax Law
IP Law
Commissioner/Judge
TLS editor-in-chief
Becoming my sugar momma

[094320]

..

[Knock]

I'd write the 5 year plan. Don't think of it as THE 5 year plan, think of it as A 5 year plan. What is one career path you are potentially interested in, and how will Penn help you meet this? Don't think of it as your committing now -- think of it as you're doing some research towards a particular goal. It's always a good thing to do some thinking about your future and goals too no matter what.

I can't think of any. Blahhhh. Thanks, though.

Public Interest/Non-profit
Associate in a law Firm Partner track
Associate in a law Firm non-partner track
lateral to an in-house position
Law professor
Own a business
Politics
Becoming my sugar momma

Hahaha.

I added some, and i'll take that as a yes .

[094320]

..

[P. Bateman]

,

[DaveBear07]

How long do these essays need to be? If I missed this information somewhere I apologize, fellow applicants.

[Knock]

How long do these essays need to be? If I missed this information somewhere I apologize, fellow applicants.

One page double-spaced max.

[DaveBear07]

Sweet. Thanks bro.

[ajmanyjah]

Hmmm...more and more Penn is looking like my option number one (depending on my October LSATs) over CLS/NYU or any of my other choices.

I WILL be writing a Why UPenn that has to do with 3 options I see there (double masters MES, MBE, or international business at Sciences Po in Paris) and linking it to my research background and my background in French. The issue arises with the five year plan and the diversity statements (not sure what I will do)...because I see myself in all three, and will be telling them that, I was wondering how I should approach the 5-year...

Is it too jumbled to do sort of a branching thesis, where I talk about making an impact, and then describing what I see myself doing with those three degrees. Would it also be stupid (them reading it and saying hell, finish 1L first)? Should I make it more general (talking about maybe seeing myself in litigation and arbitration for indigent type communities, whether that be health, trade, regulation or the environment) or narrative, choosing one and really describing it?

[P. Bateman]

Penn is a great school, but I don't think it would be a good move to pass up Columbia/NYU over Penn (if Penn gave you no $$$) ITE. That is, if Biglaw is what you are going for.

[ajmanyjah]

Penn is a great school, but I don't think it would be a good move to pass up Columbia/NYU over Penn (if Penn gave you no $$$) ITE. That is, if Biglaw is what you are going for.

It isn't. While I won't say I am going to unequivocally turn down BigLaw salaries, I'd much rather work in midtier firms that I've seen (that still pay the six figures, but are more cleint based IMO) and also I have an interest in dual degree and overseas work, clerkships, non-profit work, and academia

I guess we will see when the LSAT pops out what the overall strategy will be (if I do ED anywhere, and where and whether I shoot one out to Yale and pray or add some more lower T1/high T2 schools)