hi,
i would like any remarks about the advice one person gave me about topics for personal statements. a person recommended that i don't use overcoming a medical illness as the subject for my essay, but instead to address it in an addendum. (my grades were adversely impacted by my illness in college.)
this person implied that law schools want to read about something that reveals more about an applicant, and that writing about dealing with a medical issue is a little inappropriate.
can anyone comment on this?
thanks!
a medical illness as your personal statement Forum
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janetchu
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue May 18, 2010 11:18 pm
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bhan87
- Posts: 849
- Joined: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:08 pm
Re: a medical illness as your personal statement
If the purpose of writing about the illness is to explain a dip in your grades, it would be more appropriate to put it in an addendum imo.
If you make this your PS, the only impression the law school admission councils will get is you had an illness and your grades suffered. This doesn't tell them very much. I would focus your PS on your positive aspects instead.
If you make this your PS, the only impression the law school admission councils will get is you had an illness and your grades suffered. This doesn't tell them very much. I would focus your PS on your positive aspects instead.
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krad
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2010 10:33 am
Re: a medical illness as your personal statement
Ditto! Put it in an addendum to discuss what happened and your grades, but focus on something positive for your PS! IMO many people have gone through hardships (they will see this in the addendum), but if you can write an amazing, positive PS they will see that you have overcome your past without you having to say that. When I read through all the hardship PS's that I see on this website, I can't imagine being an adcomm, it sounds depressing.bhan87 wrote:If the purpose of writing about the illness is to explain a dip in your grades, it would be more appropriate to put it in an addendum imo.
If you make this your PS, the only impression the law school admission councils will get is you had an illness and your grades suffered. This doesn't tell them very much. I would focus your PS on your positive aspects instead.
edit: I'm speaking as someone that went through 10 mos of medical hell a few years ago. I am not mentioning it anywhere on my application (it did not affect my grades, I had already graduated, but it did affect my life) because for me it is too personal and I am past it/happy to be where I am. It's all a personal choice. I would DEFINITELY have mentioned it in an addendum if it had impacted my grades or LSAT.
