Someone help, please! Forum

[Susan_Walid]

Is it ever smart to note a (relatively) low LSAT score in a personal statement? Maybe as part of the conclusion?

During my freshman year in undergrad I was placed in a "transition program," which consisted of a seminar, mainly to help students who had the "potential" to succeed, but lacked one of the numbers (high school GPA, SAT score) to get in. I had a pretty low GPA in high school, but a really high SAT score, so my undergrad let me in, as long as I attended these seminars for a year. I ended up with a high GPA in college, but like I said, a relatively low LSAT score. Would it be smart to somehow weave any of this into my personal statement? Ex- I know I lack one of the numbers (LSAT score) to get in to your school, but this has happened to me before, etc. etc. Or should I just write an addendum? Ugh this is getting frustrating :/ I feel like I could write a separate PS, DS, and low LSAT addendum, but have been advised to just write one PS explaining/noting all of it together? Help!

[Bildungsroman]

If you're going to write anything about it, make it an addendum.

[Susan_Walid]

So don't mention my LSAT score at all in the PS?

[sach1282]

So don't mention my LSAT score at all in the PS?

That's affirmative.

[MumofCad]

http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... a-rangappa

Dean of Admissions at Yale:

"So, for example, I recently read a file of a former military officer and combat veteran who had amazing experiences, a very compelling essay, astounding references, a great academic record but a not-so-great LSAT score, in part, because he took the test between deployments to Iraq. I’m willing to overlook this person’s less-than-desirable LSAT score because I don’t want to miss out on the chance to have this person attend our school. Now, I’m not saying you have to be a Purple Heart recipient for your LSAT score to be thrown out, but that’s one example of where I’m not so blinded by the numbers that I am unwilling to dig deeper and really see what this person has to offer.

Now, I will say that if you have a weak LSAT score you’d better “BRING IT” in all other parts of your application if you’re going to overcome that weakness. Such an applicant needs to craft the entire application so that that one number is going to matter less. And I think that the LSAT is the one part of the application that you can do that with. As you can imagine, it’s harder to overcome a lower GPA since you had four years to pull that number up. Not to say that it doesn’t happen, though. You’ll see on our range of GPAs that we admitted people with a GPA far below the median because, perhaps, they got a C- in Organic Chemistry their freshman year when they thought they wanted to go to medical school. A low grade or two will definitely drag down an applicant’s GPA -- so we are looking at the whole picture in an effort to understand who you are likely to be as a law student...."

"....Another wasted opportunity is when use the 250-word essay [in your case PS] as an addendum. We have no restrictions on allowing students to add addenda if they feel it is necessary to, for example, explain the C- you got in Organic Chemistry during your freshman year." (this does not just apply to Yale)

So the military officer’s low LSAT score was explained in an addendum?
"Correct. You wouldn’t want to waste the 250-word essay on something you can explain elsewhere. We’re asking for an essay, and we want it to be an essay."

I'd take this to be TCR. Your LSAT score should not be discussed in your PS. The PS is the opportunity to highlight what is unique and interesting about you. Do that, and leave any weaknesses to addenda.

[Susan_Walid]

Thank you so much Explained so much

[Susan_Walid]

woa, wait a minute. 250-word essay???? That's not even one page!!??

[Bildungsroman]

woa, wait a minute. 250-word essay???? That's not even one page!!??

That's just an extra requirement Yale has.

[Susan_Walid]

The Yale PS has a 250-word limit? FML

[Bildungsroman]

The Yale PS has a 250-word limit? FML

No, they require both a standard PS and a 250-word essay.