PSA: For 2012 Applicants wondering about PS length for T14
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 1:08 am
I had a question along these lines so I did a little bit of research for the T14 regarding PS length, most of the information can be found on a school's website. I have added extra information I found interesting.
1. Yale
2-3 pages recommended
http://www.top-law-schools.com/yale-law-school.html
2. Harvard
Application became available on September 15th.
Harvard asks that you limit it to two pages (no less than 11 – font).
http://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective/ ... #available
3. Stanford
Application for Fall 2012 became available September 15th
2 Pages
“Enclose a statement of about two pages describing important or unusual aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application. The statement must be submitted electronically with your electronic application”
--LinkRemoved-- ... plication/
4. Columbia
Application for Fall 2012 became available September 1st.
No Limit
“While there is no official page limit, a good guideline is two double-spaced pages, using readable fonts and margins. Your personal statement/essay should be clear, concise and an example of your best writing. It should also be free from spelling and grammatical errors.”
http://www.law.columbia.edu/jd_applican ... ocs#942495
5. Chicago
Application became available September 1st
Generally no word limit. 2-3 pages recommended (see post above)
ETA: The Chicago application currently available states 2-4 pages.
6. NYU
Application became available in September (15th)
Note: One recommendation is required to complete an application.
Length left to the discretion of the student.
“Because people and their interests vary, we leave the content and length of your statement to your discretion. You may wish to complete or clarify your responses to items on the application form, bring to our attention additional information you feel should be considered, describe important or unusual aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, or tell us what led you to apply to NYU School of Law.”
--LinkRemoved-- ... /index.htm
7. Michigan
Applications became available September 15th
No limit stated on their website
Note: States that there is some advantage to applying earlier rather than later.
Note: “Bear in mind that there is no statistically significant difference within plus or minus three points of any particular LSAT score”.
Also requires one recommendation for file to be considered complete.
7. Penn
Application available September 15th.
2-Page limit on PS
9. Berkeley
2-4 pages
http://www.law.berkeley.edu/5188.htm
9. Virginia
Begins September 1st
No word limit: “No, we invite applicants to write essays that are long enough to express whatever they think the Admissions Committee should know”
http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/prospectives/faqs.htm
Note: 40% reserved for residents of Virginia
“As a public law school, 40 percent of the places in our student body are historically reserved for residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
11. Duke
No word limit
“There is no minimum or maximum length for the personal statement, although most are between one-and-a-half and three pages. Be succinct, but be sure to include what you think we need to know. As long as it's interesting, we don't mind reading!”
http://www.law.duke.edu/admis/faq#statement
12. Northwestern
Application starts on September 15th.
Recommended length: 1 to 3 pages
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/admissi ... cation.pdf
Note: Specifically states that it takes highest score per its policy (regarding multiple scores)
13. Cornell
Application became available September 15th
2 Page limit on PS (not less than size 10 font though so some leeway)
Note: In general, Cornell takes the highest score if it is at least 3 points higher than the lower score.
14. Georgetown
Available October 1st
No information on page limit found
Note: Requires one recommendation for file to be complete
Note: “Georgetown may consider the higher LSAT score if you have only taken the LSAT twice. Please address any mitigating circumstances you feel the Admissions Committee should consider.”
14. Texas
Available in September
2 Page limit
Note: “No, the Law School may matriculate no more than 35% non-resident students. However, each year the Law School extends offers of admission to several hundred non-resident applicants.”
Finally, a break-down
Definite 2 Page Limit
Harvard
Stanford
Penn
Cornell (no less than size 10 font)
Texas
1-3, or 2-3, otherwise where noted
Yale
Chicago (recommended, 2-4 currently)
Berkeley (2-4)
Northwestern (Recommended)
No Limit
Columbia
NYU
Michigan (Did not find one, could be different)
UVA
Duke
GULC (could not find one, could be different)
Finally, I think a need another hobby.
ETA: Yale's application is currently not available but all others in the T14 are. Remember to thoroughly check your application (by actually reading through the 'preview') before submission as there could be formatting issues.
1. Yale
2-3 pages recommended
http://www.top-law-schools.com/yale-law-school.html
2. Harvard
Application became available on September 15th.
Harvard asks that you limit it to two pages (no less than 11 – font).
http://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective/ ... #available
3. Stanford
Application for Fall 2012 became available September 15th
2 Pages
“Enclose a statement of about two pages describing important or unusual aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application. The statement must be submitted electronically with your electronic application”
--LinkRemoved-- ... plication/
4. Columbia
Application for Fall 2012 became available September 1st.
No Limit
“While there is no official page limit, a good guideline is two double-spaced pages, using readable fonts and margins. Your personal statement/essay should be clear, concise and an example of your best writing. It should also be free from spelling and grammatical errors.”
http://www.law.columbia.edu/jd_applican ... ocs#942495
5. Chicago
Application became available September 1st
Generally no word limit. 2-3 pages recommended (see post above)
ETA: The Chicago application currently available states 2-4 pages.
6. NYU
Application became available in September (15th)
Note: One recommendation is required to complete an application.
Length left to the discretion of the student.
“Because people and their interests vary, we leave the content and length of your statement to your discretion. You may wish to complete or clarify your responses to items on the application form, bring to our attention additional information you feel should be considered, describe important or unusual aspects of yourself not otherwise apparent in your application, or tell us what led you to apply to NYU School of Law.”
--LinkRemoved-- ... /index.htm
7. Michigan
Applications became available September 15th
No limit stated on their website
Note: States that there is some advantage to applying earlier rather than later.
Note: “Bear in mind that there is no statistically significant difference within plus or minus three points of any particular LSAT score”.
Also requires one recommendation for file to be considered complete.
7. Penn
Application available September 15th.
2-Page limit on PS
9. Berkeley
2-4 pages
http://www.law.berkeley.edu/5188.htm
9. Virginia
Begins September 1st
No word limit: “No, we invite applicants to write essays that are long enough to express whatever they think the Admissions Committee should know”
http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/prospectives/faqs.htm
Note: 40% reserved for residents of Virginia
“As a public law school, 40 percent of the places in our student body are historically reserved for residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
11. Duke
No word limit
“There is no minimum or maximum length for the personal statement, although most are between one-and-a-half and three pages. Be succinct, but be sure to include what you think we need to know. As long as it's interesting, we don't mind reading!”
http://www.law.duke.edu/admis/faq#statement
12. Northwestern
Application starts on September 15th.
Recommended length: 1 to 3 pages
http://www.law.northwestern.edu/admissi ... cation.pdf
Note: Specifically states that it takes highest score per its policy (regarding multiple scores)
13. Cornell
Application became available September 15th
2 Page limit on PS (not less than size 10 font though so some leeway)
Note: In general, Cornell takes the highest score if it is at least 3 points higher than the lower score.
14. Georgetown
Available October 1st
No information on page limit found
Note: Requires one recommendation for file to be complete
Note: “Georgetown may consider the higher LSAT score if you have only taken the LSAT twice. Please address any mitigating circumstances you feel the Admissions Committee should consider.”
14. Texas
Available in September
2 Page limit
Note: “No, the Law School may matriculate no more than 35% non-resident students. However, each year the Law School extends offers of admission to several hundred non-resident applicants.”
Finally, a break-down
Definite 2 Page Limit
Harvard
Stanford
Penn
Cornell (no less than size 10 font)
Texas
1-3, or 2-3, otherwise where noted
Yale
Chicago (recommended, 2-4 currently)
Berkeley (2-4)
Northwestern (Recommended)
No Limit
Columbia
NYU
Michigan (Did not find one, could be different)
UVA
Duke
GULC (could not find one, could be different)
Finally, I think a need another hobby.
ETA: Yale's application is currently not available but all others in the T14 are. Remember to thoroughly check your application (by actually reading through the 'preview') before submission as there could be formatting issues.