Personal Statement High School Story Forum

[envo3]

Would writing about a high school story negatively effect your personal statement for law school? Does it make it sound that you childish in a way?

[Tanicius]

I could see it as the hook for an intro, or a sentence or two mentioned in passing in the body of the essay, but nothing more.

[icecold3000]

I think it would depend on the story. If you are writing about overcoming an obstacle that has impacted you as a person, I think it might be good. Do you have any details about what you would write about?

[rinkrat19]

It needs to be a very compelling story from your high school years (something that deeply affected you/your life or was truly unusual), and it needs to be tied into more recent life events. Otherwise you risk sounding like you haven't done anything worth writing about since high school.

Bad: I did this in high school. Plz admit me KTHX.

(Potentially) good: This happened in high school. It affected me thusly. It has influenced me since then in these ways. My life since that time is reflective of that influence. Thus, my path to becoming an excellent candidate for law school began with that thing that happened in high school.

[crumpetsandtea]

It needs to be a very compelling story from your high school years (something that deeply affected you/your life or was truly unusual), and it needs to be tied into more recent life events. Otherwise you risk sounding like you haven't done anything worth writing about since high school.

Bad: I did this in high school. Plz admit me KTHX.

(Potentially) good: This happened in high school. It affected me thusly. It has influenced me since then in these ways. My life since that time is reflective of that influence. Thus, my path to becoming an excellent candidate for law school began with that thing that happened in high school.

TITCR

[shoop]

Would writing about a high school story negatively effect your personal statement for law school?

It can't really negatively effect your chances, but it could negatively affect them. Or, it could have a negative effect.

[20121109]

It needs to be a very compelling story from your high school years (something that deeply affected you/your life or was truly unusual), and it needs to be tied into more recent life events. Otherwise you risk sounding like you haven't done anything worth writing about since high school.

Bad: I did this in high school. Plz admit me KTHX.

(Potentially) good: This happened in high school. It affected me thusly. It has influenced me since then in these ways. My life since that time is reflective of that influence. Thus, my path to becoming an excellent candidate for law school began with that thing that happened in high school.

TITCR

+1

Yeah...about a page of my PS was about my family life during high school, but it was truly an unusual experience and basically shaped who I am today. If it's truly compelling, it can't hurt you.

Good luck

[LSATclincher]

I'd leave it out unless it's a very unique, life changing event.