Good Idea, or Too Risky? Forum

[HeavenWood]

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[MiamiUG]

I'm thinking of writing about my mother's terminal illness, and how that has inspired me to become a health care lawyer. For me the pivotal moment was when our insurance denied her request for a head mouse (a computer mouse that moves with the person's head... she has ALS). It made me so mad that the insurance company denied her right to communicate with the outside world (the only way she can talk to others is via email). It also made me realize this was my calling--to fight on behalf of the sick.

I plan on keeping it non-political (IE, avoiding the issue of health care reform, saying I don't have the answers but hope to discover them in law school, etc...).

Still, would this personal statement be too risky? I'm hoping that revealing my mother's illness in this light will also prove my ability to work hard under pressure and heartache (I have a 3.94 GPA).

Any thoughts?

I don't see how the bolded part is relevant.

[HeavenWood]

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[s0ph1e2007]

Do it.
Be tasteful. Think about how someone who is relatively ignorant and assume they are reading your app (not that ad-coms are. they usually are actually quite sensitive and intelligent) and write it for them.
I wrote about a similar subject and had to cut out a lot of things because it was too specific. If I were you though I'd definitely write it; this is the reason you wan to go to law school, so it's important.

btw: important to demonstrate that you are aware of the possibility that there is a small chance you may change your mind about what you want to do. some schools more than others hate it when an undergrad applicant says they know what area of law they want to practice without any conditions

[ShuckingNotJiving]

I don't see how the bolded part is relevant.

Many people write addendums about their low GPA due to family problems. In spite of my mother dying, I was able to downright thrive in UG. Hence, would a 3.94 not look more impressive given my circumstances?

The appropriate response to this would've simply been "h8trrr"

OP, no one can tell you what is appropriate to write about, because no one knows the details of your sitch. Also, no one can tell you if something is ill-concieved or ill-devised without seeing a draft. Write on whatever is compelling, to you. Then, seek a critique from someone you trust.

[bk1]

Write it. Post it. Get feedback.

[HeavenWood]

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