. Forum

[No13baby]

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[freestallion]

Which law school is this? I'm really surprised that they would require a diversity statement. Are you sure it's not an additional/optional essay?

[No13baby]

Which law school is this? I'm really surprised that they would require a diversity statement. Are you sure it's not an additional/optional essay?

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[sparty99]

700 words for a personal statement? Weird. Anyway, there HAS to be aspects of your background that would benefit the diversity of the law school community. You are not thinking hard enough and are concentrating on superficial matters - skin color, gender, religion, etc. Think about your hobbies or something that you have done that is unique. Think about your view points on life and how that is unique.

[SA1928]

Maybe you could try to pinpoint a unique experience - like did you play a Varsity sport? Write about playing as a competitive athlete...or do you have any interesting work experience, maybe through summer jobs or even a volunteer experience. Anything you have done can technically add some type of diversity to the class since it is doubtful that you have had the exact same life experiences as everyone else applying. Try to spin it in the right direction.

What would you write your personal statement on if it didn't have to emphasize your diverse background?

[icecold3000]

I have a good GPA from a highly regarded UG school and an LSAT well above their average, but don't want a lackluster/boring/irrelevant PS to be the thing that sends me into the waitlist or reject pile.

Avoid writing something that will make the adcomm think you are a moron. If you can accomplish this, then you should be fine with a "lackluster/boring/irrelevant PS."

[paulinaporizkova]

if you can't bs your way through this you're going to be a terrible lawyer

[Blessedassurance]

Which law school is this? I'm really surprised that they would require a diversity statement. Are you sure it's not an additional/optional essay?

University of Washington. The quote I used above is the only thing they have to say about the PS: http://www.law.washington.edu/Admission ... pstatement

Are you from the PNW? I ask because we seem to be an endangered species.

[No13baby]

Which law school is this? I'm really surprised that they would require a diversity statement. Are you sure it's not an additional/optional essay?

University of Washington. The quote I used above is the only thing they have to say about the PS: http://www.law.washington.edu/Admission ... pstatement

Are you from the PNW? I ask because we seem to be an endangered species.

Yep, born in Seattle, now back here from college in the Midwest (hopefully forever!)

[No13baby]

Maybe you could try to pinpoint a unique experience - like did you play a Varsity sport? Write about playing as a competitive athlete...or do you have any interesting work experience, maybe through summer jobs or even a volunteer experience. Anything you have done can technically add some type of diversity to the class since it is doubtful that you have had the exact same life experiences as everyone else applying. Try to spin it in the right direction.

What would you write your personal statement on if it didn't have to emphasize your diverse background?

Probably why I'd like to attend school there (which I'm planning on addressing in a separate statement, now) or how my academic and work experiences have prepared me for law school. Not that those are necessarily fascinating topics either, but at least they apply to me...

Thanks for your advice; I'll see if I can make something interesting out of my undergrad work experience.

[Blessedassurance]

Which law school is this? I'm really surprised that they would require a diversity statement. Are you sure it's not an additional/optional essay?

University of Washington. The quote I used above is the only thing they have to say about the PS: http://www.law.washington.edu/Admission ... pstatement

Are you from the PNW? I ask because we seem to be an endangered species.

Yep, born in Seattle, now back here from college in the Midwest (hopefully forever!)

Cool beans, I'm hoping I can come back here to practice, it's my dream. Greatest city in my opinion. Hell, I'll take Portland. Best of luck. U-dub undergrad here.

PS: This summer's been better than last year!

Are you familiar with Thai Tom in the U-district or what-the-pho in Bellevue?

[MumofCad]

Honestly, I wouldn't stress too much over it. Your numbers seem to qualify you. Write a strong PS about whatever you want, and you'll get in. I think they are just emphasizing that people should flag a diversity issue up if there is one.

Being from the PNW myself (Oregon though), I could see that the PNW law schools may be emphasizing diversity because....well, there just isn't much diversity among PNW attorneys. I'm from a mixed raced family and my mom worked in the courts in Salem. I never really thought about it, but my brother is AA male. He did think about it. He once told me as an adult, "I was the only black kid at school, I was the only black person at mom's work, heck I was the only black person in town." I am much younger and by the time I got to the same school, there were a few black families, but its changing very slowly. I know Seattle/Portland are quite different, but not as much as the big East Coast cities. So I can imagine that they are just trying to diversify their student body more and hoping some people might flag issues up. The reality is that most of their admits though will be just like you still. Don't stress it.