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Well maybe not that blunt, but something along those lines. Long story short, I'm thinking about writing my PS on the idea that I want to go to law school in order to prove that I'm smarter than people thought I was coming out of high school. Because I have sort of an intellectual chip on my shoulder, that sort of thing.

Would this constitute a viable reason for attending law school on a PS? Obviously I won't phrase it like I just did, but it will be something close to that.

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:Well maybe not that blunt, but something along those lines. Long story short, I'm thinking about writing my PS on the idea that I want to go to law school in order to prove that I'm smarter than people thought I was coming out of high school. Because I have sort of an intellectual chip on my shoulder, that sort of thing.

Would this constitute a viable reason for attending law school on a PS? Obviously I won't phrase it like I just did, but it will be something close to that.

I don't see how you could explain this in a way that won't make you sound like a total douchebag.

cubswin wrote:you sound like a total douchebag.

fyp

..

cubswin wrote:

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:Well maybe not that blunt, but something along those lines. Long story short, I'm thinking about writing my PS on the idea that I want to go to law school in order to prove that I'm smarter than people thought I was coming out of high school. Because I have sort of an intellectual chip on my shoulder, that sort of thing.

Would this constitute a viable reason for attending law school on a PS? Obviously I won't phrase it like I just did, but it will be something close to that.

I don't see how you could explain this in a way that won't make you sound like a total douchebag.

More importantly, any idiot can attend law school. Seriously. Getting into a law school is not difficult. Heck, getting into a good law school isn't difficult if you have google and an average reading comprehension ability (and that's not even really true, DF maintains that he's barely literate). Granted there's a very small chance that the people you're trying to impress from high school know that, but really? Four years later you're trying to impress people from high school? There's gotta be something more interesting about yourself that you can write about.

Edit: on second thought, since I just looked at your stats, write about that topic, but make it more insufferable and try to be condescending or something. You're a mortal lock for the T14, and this could settle once and for all whether the personal statement matters in the least.

Please, Please, Please don't write about that. This isn't revenge of the nerds. No matter how euphemistically you phrase it, it will sound like you want to go to law school so you can show off during your high school reunion.

Plus, don't go off on how much smarter you are than others. Even if you were the smartest person at your high school, it still makes you a jerk. People don't want jerks representing their school.

Just out of curiosity, what range of schools are are we talking about here?

LOL. Thanks. Now I'll know what not to write about.

FYI, I don't necessarily think of myself as being smarter than anybody else, I was thinking about citing my high school English who told me I shouldn't apply for AP English because my writing wasn't good enough as a motivational source for applying to law school and eventually getting into academia. Apparently, that isn't exactly the best idea, so I won't write about it.

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:LOL. Thanks guys. Now I'll know what not to write about.

FYI, I don't necessarily think of myself as a really smart person, I was thinking about citing my high school English who told me I shouldn't apply for AP English because my writing wasn't good enough as a motivational source for applying to law school and eventually getting into academia. Apparently, that isn't exactly the best idea, so I won't write about it.

dude if you wouldve worded it like that im pretty sure you wouldve gotten much different responses. I dont see how any of that makes you a "selfish prick"

HowdyYall wrote:

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:LOL. Thanks guys. Now I'll know what not to write about.

FYI, I don't necessarily think of myself as a really smart person, I was thinking about citing my high school English who told me I shouldn't apply for AP English because my writing wasn't good enough as a motivational source for applying to law school and eventually getting into academia. Apparently, that isn't exactly the best idea, so I won't write about it.

dude if you wouldve worded it like that im pretty sure you wouldve gotten much different responses. I dont see how any of that makes you a "selfish prick"

+1

I still don't think it's a good topic for a PS, but the responses would have been more sincere if the OP had been worded differently.

HowdyYall wrote:

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:LOL. Thanks guys. Now I'll know what not to write about.

FYI, I don't necessarily think of myself as a really smart person, I was thinking about citing my high school English who told me I shouldn't apply for AP English because my writing wasn't good enough as a motivational source for applying to law school and eventually getting into academia. Apparently, that isn't exactly the best idea, so I won't write about it.

dude if you wouldve worded it like that im pretty sure you wouldve gotten much different responses. I dont see how any of that makes you a "selfish prick"

+1

wanting to prove to your peers you turned out super smart, super cool, and awesomer than them =/= overcoming biases and false expectations coming from teachers and those in supervisory positions. I'm still not sold on it being the best ps you could do, but I'd say it's at least worth a rough draft.

JazzOne wrote:

HowdyYall wrote:

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:LOL. Thanks guys. Now I'll know what not to write about.

FYI, I don't necessarily think of myself as a really smart person, I was thinking about citing my high school English who told me I shouldn't apply for AP English because my writing wasn't good enough as a motivational source for applying to law school and eventually getting into academia. Apparently, that isn't exactly the best idea, so I won't write about it.

dude if you wouldve worded it like that im pretty sure you wouldve gotten much different responses. I dont see how any of that makes you a "selfish prick"

+1

I still don't think it's a good topic for a PS, but the responses would have been more sincere if the OP had been worded differently.

Meh, whatever. It's all good. It just seems from most of the PS's which I've been reading in this forum that people are pretty deferential in regard to their motivating factors for attending law school (i.e. because they believe in the common good, because they want to help people, because they want to serve a purpose greater than themselves, etc.). Not to sound like a douche, but I highly doubt that these factors what's really driving most people to pursue law school. So I was just thinking, wouldn't admissions committees appreciate a PS that is just straight up honest about why one would want to attend law school? I'm sure they get tired of reading the same stuff all the time.

JazzOne wrote:

HowdyYall wrote:

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:LOL. Thanks guys. Now I'll know what not to write about.

FYI, I don't necessarily think of myself as a really smart person, I was thinking about citing my high school English who told me I shouldn't apply for AP English because my writing wasn't good enough as a motivational source for applying to law school and eventually getting into academia. Apparently, that isn't exactly the best idea, so I won't write about it.

dude if you wouldve worded it like that im pretty sure you wouldve gotten much different responses. I dont see how any of that makes you a "selfish prick"

+1

I still don't think it's a good topic for a PS, but the responses would have been more sincere if the OP had been worded differently.

Yeah that really needed to be worded another way. I kind of see what your teacher was talking about. Maybe AP English isnt for you but you can always still go to law school.
lol jk

I think this could be effective if you talk about it in the way you did above about your teacher... how people expected you not to succeed and it motivated you to do the opposite, ended up being successful in UG due to hard work and dedication, etc.

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:

JazzOne wrote:

HowdyYall wrote:

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:LOL. Thanks guys. Now I'll know what not to write about.

FYI, I don't necessarily think of myself as a really smart person, I was thinking about citing my high school English who told me I shouldn't apply for AP English because my writing wasn't good enough as a motivational source for applying to law school and eventually getting into academia. Apparently, that isn't exactly the best idea, so I won't write about it.

dude if you wouldve worded it like that im pretty sure you wouldve gotten much different responses. I dont see how any of that makes you a "selfish prick"

+1

I still don't think it's a good topic for a PS, but the responses would have been more sincere if the OP had been worded differently.

Meh, whatever. It's all good. It just seems from most of the PS's which I've been reading in this forum that people are pretty deferential in regard to their motivating factors for attending law school (i.e. because they believe in the common good, because they want to help people, because they want to serve a purpose greater than themselves, etc.). Not to sound like a douche, but I highly doubt that these factors what's really driving most people to pursue law school. So I was just thinking, wouldn't admissions committees appreciate a PS that is just straight up honest about why one would want to attend law school? I'm sure they get tired of reading the same stuff all the time.

Adcomms are professionals from a different generation. You have to write for your audience.

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote: Meh, whatever. It's all good. It just seems from most of the PS's which I've been reading in this forum that people are pretty deferential in regard to their motivating factors for attending law school (i.e. because they believe in the common good, because they want to help people, because they want to serve a purpose greater than themselves, etc.). Not to sound like a douche, but I highly doubt that these factors what's really driving most people to pursue law school. So I was just thinking, wouldn't admissions committees appreciate a PS that is just straight up honest about why one would want to attend law school? I'm sure they get tired of reading the same stuff all the time.

You're right in a sense. Ad-comms probably see a lot of those statements as disingenuous. And they probably appreciate honesty and certainly a PS that isn't derivative garbage. But that doesn't mean your PS idea is a good one.

Though most of them inevitably do, a personal statement doesn't necessarily have to discuss why you want to study the law. However, if you DO discuss why you want to study the law, you damn well better provide a more satisfactory answer than "I want to impress people/prove people wrong." You might as well be submitting a statement about wanting to attend law school so that your cute neighbor will go on a date with you.

Lovely Ludwig Van wrote:Well maybe not that blunt, but something along those lines. Long story short, I'm thinking about writing my PS on the idea that I want to go to law school in order to prove that I'm smarter than people thought I was coming out of high school. Because I have sort of an intellectual chip on my shoulder, that sort of thing.

Would this constitute a viable reason for attending law school on a PS? Obviously I won't phrase it like I just did, but it will be something close to that.

Sorry to break it to you, but people go to law school when they fail at doing real things. By going to law school you'll only be confirming to people that you're as dumb as they thought you were.