Optional Diversity Statement Forum

[SportsAdvocate]

Some law school's recommend that you briefly describe the characteristics that will make you a perfect fit for the student body. By brief, I am assuming that it they are expecting no less than 5 paragraphs. Is this sufficient enough? If not then what is?

[BriaTharen]

I wouldn't do more than one page single spaced.

[mattymatt]

I wouldn't do more than one page single spaced.

I'm inclined to agree. The shorter the better, with some limitations of course. You have to keep in mind that just with your application alone, they're already looking at a PS and any other extra material beside your application form and they're probably pretty sick of hearing what you have to say.

[BriaTharen]

I wouldn't do more than one page single spaced.

I'm inclined to agree. The shorter the better, with some limitations of course. You have to keep in mind that just with your application alone, they're already looking at a PS and any other extra material beside your application form and they're probably pretty sick of hearing what you have to say.

To add onto that- if you write a DS and you realize that the DS and your PS sound a whole lot alike, don't submit one. It is better to have no optional DS than one that is a near verbatim repeat of your PS

[SportsAdvocate]

I was planning on writing my PS about my learning disability and my DS about my grandfather being a holocaust survivor and the effects it's had on me. Not bad, eh?

[Aeroplane]

Some law school's recommend that you briefly describe the characteristics that will make you a perfect fit for the student body. By brief, I am assuming that it they are expecting no less than 5 paragraphs. Is this sufficient enough? If not then what is?

If you are paraphrasing the wording in the prompt accurately, this doesn't sound like a diversity statement, but rather a reverse "Why School" essay. Instead of explaining "Why School" you're explaining "Why Me". If so, I would focus on experiences you bring that have given you traits that this particular school seeks and also heavily on the future, i.e. how you plan to contribute at the school.

Also, if the schools actually "recommend" that you write this (if they use that precise word), do not consider it an optional DS.

[willy loman]

Also, if the schools actually "recommend" that you write this (if they use that precise word), do not consider it an optional DS.

"Encourage" should be considered a step down from "recommend," yes?