Michigan Optional Statements Forum

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ArchRoark

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Michigan Optional Statements

Post by ArchRoark » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:32 am

Ok - So I plan to include a GPA addendum with all my Law School apps. It seems to me that my addendum, although I plan it to be only be a 4-5 sentences, pertains to Essay Option 3. Since I am also going to do option 7 (a DS) --- does that mean I can't turn in a Why Michigan essay?

Basically... does a short GPA addendum count as a supplement essay?
B. Supplemental Essays (optional)
Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials. If you wish, write one or two essays (but no more) on the following topics. Each essay should be about one page.

Essay One Say more about your interest in the University of Michigan Law School. What do you believe Michigan has to offer to you and you to Michigan?

Essay Two Describe your current hopes for your career after completing law school. How will your education, experience, and development so far support those plans?

Essay Three If you do not think that your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why.

Essay Four Describe a failure or setback in your life. How did you overcome it? What, if anything, would you do differently if confronted with this situation again?

Essay Five Describe an experience that speaks to the problems and possibilities of diversity in an educational or work setting.

Essay Six What do you think are the skills and values of a good lawyer? Which do you already possess? Which do you hope to develop?

Essay Seven How might your perspectives and experiences enrich the quality and breadth of the intellectual life of our community or enhance the legal profession?

Essay Eight Describe your educational experiences so far. What kinds of learning environments, teaching methods, student cultures, and/or evaluation processes have you found lead you to thrive, or contrariwise, thwart your success?

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Knock

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Re: Michigan Optional Statements

Post by Knock » Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:12 am

Tiva wrote:Ok - So I plan to include a GPA addendum with all my Law School apps. It seems to me that my addendum, although I plan it to be only be a 4-5 sentences, pertains to Essay Option 3. Since I am also going to do option 7 (a DS) --- does that mean I can't turn in a Why Michigan essay?

Basically... does a short GPA addendum count as a supplement essay?
B. Supplemental Essays (optional)
Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials. If you wish, write one or two essays (but no more) on the following topics. Each essay should be about one page.

Essay One Say more about your interest in the University of Michigan Law School. What do you believe Michigan has to offer to you and you to Michigan?

Essay Two Describe your current hopes for your career after completing law school. How will your education, experience, and development so far support those plans?

Essay Three If you do not think that your academic record or standardized test scores accurately reflect your ability to succeed in law school, please tell us why.

Essay Four Describe a failure or setback in your life. How did you overcome it? What, if anything, would you do differently if confronted with this situation again?

Essay Five Describe an experience that speaks to the problems and possibilities of diversity in an educational or work setting.

Essay Six What do you think are the skills and values of a good lawyer? Which do you already possess? Which do you hope to develop?

Essay Seven How might your perspectives and experiences enrich the quality and breadth of the intellectual life of our community or enhance the legal profession?

Essay Eight Describe your educational experiences so far. What kinds of learning environments, teaching methods, student cultures, and/or evaluation processes have you found lead you to thrive, or contrariwise, thwart your success?
No, I don't think a GPA addendum will be considered an optional essay. It would be an optional essay if you discuss your history of poor performance on standardized tests, and then provide evidence that this doesn't accurately reflect your academic success. For example, say if someone got low SAT's, but had a great GPA in college, they could write an essay like this. Or if they had to work a lot and couldn't properly prepare for the LSAT, etc. The optional essay is much more fleshed out than a simple addendum.

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ArchRoark

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Re: Michigan Optional Statements

Post by ArchRoark » Sat Jul 31, 2010 3:22 am

Knockglock wrote:
No, I don't think a GPA addendum will be considered an optional essay. It would be an optional essay if you discuss your history of poor performance on standardized tests, and then provide evidence that this doesn't accurately reflect your academic success. For example, say if someone got low SAT's, but had a great GPA in college, they could write an essay like this. Or if they had to work a lot and couldn't properly prepare for the LSAT, etc. The optional essay is much more fleshed out than a simple addendum.
That is what I was hoping for. I know Michigan really likes Why Michigan essays. Wanted to write one but didn't want to get auto-dinged for not following directions.

Thanks - I am going to double check it with the admissions office and I will let you guys know what I find out.

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capitalacq

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Re: Michigan Optional Statements

Post by capitalacq » Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:55 am

.

byunbee

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Re: Michigan Optional Statements

Post by byunbee » Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:14 pm

I would double check with the admissions office for sure, but I think if you clearly distinguish your addendum from your essays you should be fine.

I actually went the opposite route. Instead, I wrote a supplemental essay about why I took the LSAT three times, and kind of rolled my personal statement, diversity statement, and why michigan essay into one. I got in, but the writing process really was difficult and I would not recommend it.

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kmap

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Re: Michigan Optional Statements

Post by kmap » Sat Jul 31, 2010 12:41 pm

I totally did the LSAT addendum thing wrong. I told them about my history of amazing performance on standardized tests (perfect SAT's, near-perfect GRE's) and used that to argue basically that if a student of my caliber couldn't score high enough on the LSAT, it wasn't a fair test to judge me by. In retrospect, that was ridiculous, but it worked.

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ArchRoark

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Re: Michigan Optional Statements

Post by ArchRoark » Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:05 pm

The admissions office has confirmed that I can submit a brief GPA addendum alongside two optional essays.

HTH anyone in a similar situation.

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