personal statement vs. statement of interest
Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 1:43 pm
Late in the game to still be brainstorming personal statement ideas, but here I am nonetheless. What are everybody's thoughts on whether the personal statement should directly address why you want to go to law school?
Anna Ivey's book makes the case that it should only really directly address law school if the question explicitly asks you to do that (which, for T6 schools, it doesn't) and that you're better off writing an essay that reveals something about yourself/your interests/your background not otherwise evident in your application. Other people make the case, though, that the personal statement should make clear why law school makes sense as a next step, implicitly if not explicitly.
I know this is a pretty general question, but I'm interested in what people's thoughts are on this.
Anna Ivey's book makes the case that it should only really directly address law school if the question explicitly asks you to do that (which, for T6 schools, it doesn't) and that you're better off writing an essay that reveals something about yourself/your interests/your background not otherwise evident in your application. Other people make the case, though, that the personal statement should make clear why law school makes sense as a next step, implicitly if not explicitly.
I know this is a pretty general question, but I'm interested in what people's thoughts are on this.