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I am still a rookie beginning my 1L year now. I figured for all of you getting your apps together now I could answer any questions you may have to make this process a little easier. So shoot!

Is the DS absolutely necessary for an underprivileged URM? Here's something I've been thinking about. I'm a first-generation college student, raised by a single parent, low-income, other parent was an illegal immigrant, imprisoned and deported etc. But all of this I'd like to work into strong personal statement. Or are these better suited for a DS, and should I make the PS about some other personal anecdote?

edit: if relevant, I'm a Mexican American urm from california.

You should always write a diversity statement - even if your parents are Sean Carter and Beyonce Giselle Knowels. Money and circumstances should not matter.

Of course, what you write about matters and should be tailored by each individual applicant.

Aberzombie1892 wrote:You should always write a diversity statement - even if your parents are Sean Carter and Beyonce Giselle Knowels. Money and circumstances should not matter.

Of course, what you write about matters and should be tailored by each individual applicant.

Okay. I'm definitely not opposed to writing one.

I think you're saying write one in any case, and if you do have the money issues / circumstances to include in the DS, then that's even better. Right?

Aberzombie1892 wrote:You should always write a diversity statement - even if your parents are Sean Carter and Beyonce Giselle Knowels. Money and circumstances should not matter.

Of course, what you write about matters and should be tailored by each individual applicant.

I agree always write a DS. Let your PS be more about who you are, and what you have to offer besides being a URM

What about writing the PS and then cutting down the DS for the 250?

LaCumparsita wrote:What about writing the PS and then cutting down the DS for the 250?

That's a great option. Always include what you have to offer the student body. How you overcame an obstacle, and how you inspired others from your actions.

Stats? School range?

I don't think your advice is worth much if you managed a 3.0 155 and managed to get into a low tier 1, no offense.

Can you give general advice for a DS?

sfxx wrote:Stats? School range?

I don't think your advice is worth much if you managed a 3.0 155 and managed to get into a low tier 1, no offense.

Good think I didn't. Get past your sophomore year before you come on here with dim witted criticism. This thread is to lift and empower, you can lurk somewhere else if you don't have positive input. If you're at HYS God bless you. The majority of AA males aren't and have a different path to travel, and need input or insight from someone similar. I turned down T14 acceptances because of lifestyle choices. I promise you that I am in an optimal position, and wish you the same when you apply. We all have a responsibility to help open doors for others like you, trust me many people before you have given their lives for you to sit in the classrooms that you sit in. Think twice before you offer another generic TLS bigot response. PEACE!

Angrygeopolitically wrote:Can you give general advice for a DS?

Honestly I didn't write a diversity statement, so I cant offer the best advice for writing one. I included some of it in my PS, and to write a DS for me would have been overkill. I came in with really strong softs, and wrote an community service addendum. I hope there are current students on here that can comment on your question.

blacklawboss wrote:

sfxx wrote:Stats? School range?

I don't think your advice is worth much if you managed a 3.0 155 and managed to get into a low tier 1, no offense.

Good think I didn't. Get past your sophomore year before you come on here with dim witted criticism. This thread is to lift and empower, you can lurk somewhere else if you don't have positive input. If you're at HYS God bless you. The majority of AA males aren't and have a different path to travel, and need input or insight from someone similar. I turned down T14 acceptances because of lifestyle choices. I promise you that I am in an optimal position, and wish you the same when you apply. We all have a responsibility to help open doors for others like you, trust me many people before you have given their lives for you to sit in the classrooms that you sit in. Think twice before you offer another generic TLS bigot response. PEACE!

Tl:dr

Stats?
Softs?
School range?

I think by T1 he means Yale lol.

blacklawboss wrote: I agree always write a DS. Let your PS be more about who you are, and what you have to offer besides being a URM

i disagree with this. if your PS focuses on your personal and racial background there is really no need to double down and write more shit. i know some people think you should always show them the most possibly you can, but i think that's the wrong approach to written applications.

a DS is certainly reasonable, although i think the vast majority of the time it is unnecessary. i didn't write one and had a fairly successful cycle /shrug.

LaCumparsita wrote:I think by T1 he means Yale lol.

He means tier 1. Good luck in law school man. I start tomorrow.

dkt4 wrote:

blacklawboss wrote: I agree always write a DS. Let your PS be more about who you are, and what you have to offer besides being a URM

i disagree with this. if your PS focuses on your personal and racial background there is really no need to double down and write more shit. i know some people think you should always show them the most possibly you can, but i think that's the wrong approach to written applications.

a DS is certainly reasonable, although i think the vast majority of the time it is unnecessary. i didn't write one and had a fairly successful cycle /shrug.

I agree with you, and that's the approach I took. I apologize for the earlier post. Dealing with 1 week assignments and briefing as we speak. I mentioned in a later post that I didn't write one because my PS included my personal and racial background. I am a different case because of my softs. I can say one thing after going through orientation there aren't a lot of us in here.

unc0mm0n1 wrote:

LaCumparsita wrote:I think by T1 he means Yale lol.

He means tier 1. Good luck in law school man. I start tomorrow.

Good luck to you also bro. I really enjoyed our URM cycle. We kicked A** across the board!

blacklawboss wrote: I agree with you, and that's the approach I took. I apologize for the earlier post. Dealing with 1 week assignments and briefing as we speak. I mentioned in a later post that I didn't write one because my PS included my personal and racial background. I am a different case because of my softs. I can say one thing after going through orientation there aren't a lot of us in here.

how's the first week going? i get another two weeksish of bullshitting

dkt4 wrote:

blacklawboss wrote: I agree with you, and that's the approach I took. I apologize for the earlier post. Dealing with 1 week assignments and briefing as we speak. I mentioned in a later post that I didn't write one because my PS included my personal and racial background. I am a different case because of my softs. I can say one thing after going through orientation there aren't a lot of us in here.

how's the first week going? i get another two weeksish of bullshitting

Man, lucky you! This was orientation week so thats done yesterday. Classes start Monday, and having minor anxiety over the reading for K's. Loving it though. Great school so far, perfect fit for me. Sad how underrepresented we are in LS. AA's and Hispanics alike, something has to give.

blacklawboss wrote:Sad how underrepresented we are in LS. AA's and Hispanics alike, something has to give.

I wish. There are fewer AA's and NA's in law school now than there were in 1992, in both % and in real numbers (there was a Columbia study on this that came out last year). I know my school has about 50 AA's out of 769 total students and half of the AA's are in the 1L class.

While this is regrettable, I do feel as though a JD is a luxury item (not unlike a Ph.D.).

I mean:
1. Law school removes you for the workforce for three years
2. Law school is expensive and even with a full ride, you have to pay for living (generally at least $60,000 over the 3 period)
3. Law school can leave you without an entry level career track job after you graduate (associate/analyst/staff/negotiator/specialist/advisor/consultant/etc.).

As a result of the above, I feel like many URM's choose to pursue other, more reasonable options instead.

that's the way it seems to be in higher education heh. glad you're liking the first weeks, i'm definitely ready to start at this point -- although having an actual schedule is gonna be an adjustment lol.

I think a diversity statement is mandatory if you are a splitter/reverse splitter. Otherwise, the diversity statement is generally optional, however, it is a fantastic opportunity to add additional information about yourself so I encourage applicants to take advantage.

Congrats and good luck in 1L @lawboss. I think some people forget that attending the highest ranked school with the highest scholarship may be a better option than attending the highest ranked school while incurring massive debt.

I'm a URM splitter.

The diversity statement shouldn't be mandatory.

I'd argue that a better tactic is to include your 'diversity statement' in the personal statement. From my experience, one paragraph was sufficient. Personally, it is better to focus on your LSAT/GPA, because that is what schools are focused on in this competitive climate. The URMs with the high stats are what the Adcomms are looking for. I would limit the 'diversity statement' to 1-2 paragraphs within the personal statement. Frankly speaking, a decent writer can weave a solid biographical story within two paragraphs; it's the beauty of the English language.

Surprised (and a little nervous) that the consensus is going against the DS. I spent a lot of time on mine.

Could the anti-DS people give a little more of their reasoning? Is it just "it won't make that much difference, don't waste your time?"

Question for any who did submit it...I think mine is pretty good but I don't have a part that explicitly relates it to law school. That's not necessary, is it? I mean, there really is no explicit link, for me at least. They are trying to expand the diversity of the class to include a wide range of experiences, and I'm showing how I can add to that range, but I think it's kind of a stretch to argue that they'll make me a better lawyer.

blacklawboss wrote:

sfxx wrote:Stats? School range?

I don't think your advice is worth much if you managed a 3.0 155 and managed to get into a low tier 1, no offense.

Good think I didn't. Get past your sophomore year before you come on here with dim witted criticism. This thread is to lift and empower, you can lurk somewhere else if you don't have positive input. If you're at HYS God bless you. The majority of AA males aren't and have a different path to travel, and need input or insight from someone similar. I turned down T14 acceptances because of lifestyle choices. I promise you that I am in an optimal position, and wish you the same when you apply. We all have a responsibility to help open doors for others like you, trust me many people before you have given their lives for you to sit in the classrooms that you sit in. Think twice before you offer another generic TLS bigot response. PEACE!

The majority of white males aren't at HYS either and also have a different path to travel...and also need input or insight from someone similar.