Quick PS Topic question Forum
- kylemba
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:11 am
Quick PS Topic question
Should I include something about why I majored in finance in UG and got an MBA and why now I want to go to law school? I don't want to give the impression that I don't know what I want to do... or do adcoms not think that much into why you're applying?
- Liquox
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:46 pm
Re: Quick PS Topic question
give it a sentence or two but no more than that. the ps should let admissions ppl see you during daily life.
as a side note, a bunch of people i know wrote statements contradicting the impression their resume gives off. (4.1 guy wrote about playing tennis, business analyst girl wrote about going to church, high lsat low gpa splitter wrote about some complex math theory he's working on) maybe try that?
as a side note, a bunch of people i know wrote statements contradicting the impression their resume gives off. (4.1 guy wrote about playing tennis, business analyst girl wrote about going to church, high lsat low gpa splitter wrote about some complex math theory he's working on) maybe try that?
- kylemba
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:11 am
Re: Quick PS Topic question
Thank you for your reply.Liquox wrote:give it a sentence or two but no more than that. the ps should let admissions ppl see you during daily life.
as a side note, a bunch of people i know wrote statements contradicting the impression their resume gives off. (4.1 guy wrote about playing tennis, business analyst girl wrote about going to church, high lsat low gpa splitter wrote about some complex math theory he's working on) maybe try that?
My first draft tells a story about how my father became very ill and had to leave his job, leaving my family with no income. He later applied for disability insurance and social security, was denied both and was taken advantage of due to loop holes in the legal system.
Long story short we pulled together and made it through, but it changed our lives forever.
I'm trying to tell the story in way that shows how I made it though a hard time and at the same time had an event that sparked my legal interest.
Seem legit?
- rinkrat19
- Posts: 13922
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2010 5:35 am
Re: Quick PS Topic question
Potentially, but remember that the essay is supposed to be about YOU, not your father. Everything you talk about has to be filtered through the prism of how it affected YOU. Otherwise the adcomms might wonder why your dad isn't applying for law school instead of you.kylemba wrote:Thank you for your reply.Liquox wrote:give it a sentence or two but no more than that. the ps should let admissions ppl see you during daily life.
as a side note, a bunch of people i know wrote statements contradicting the impression their resume gives off. (4.1 guy wrote about playing tennis, business analyst girl wrote about going to church, high lsat low gpa splitter wrote about some complex math theory he's working on) maybe try that?
My first draft tells a story about how my father became very ill and had to leave his job, leaving my family with no income. He later applied for disability insurance and social security, was denied both and was taken advantage of due to loop holes in the legal system.
Long story short we pulled together and made it through, but it changed our lives forever.
I'm trying to tell the story in way that shows how I made it though a hard time and at the same time had an event that sparked my legal interest.
Seem legit?
- kylemba
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:11 am
Re: Quick PS Topic question
Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to do that.rinkrat19 wrote:Potentially, but remember that the essay is supposed to be about YOU, not your father. Everything you talk about has to be filtered through the prism of how it affected YOU. Otherwise the adcomms might wonder why your dad isn't applying for law school instead of you.kylemba wrote:Thank you for your reply.Liquox wrote:give it a sentence or two but no more than that. the ps should let admissions ppl see you during daily life.
as a side note, a bunch of people i know wrote statements contradicting the impression their resume gives off. (4.1 guy wrote about playing tennis, business analyst girl wrote about going to church, high lsat low gpa splitter wrote about some complex math theory he's working on) maybe try that?
My first draft tells a story about how my father became very ill and had to leave his job, leaving my family with no income. He later applied for disability insurance and social security, was denied both and was taken advantage of due to loop holes in the legal system.
Long story short we pulled together and made it through, but it changed our lives forever.
I'm trying to tell the story in way that shows how I made it though a hard time and at the same time had an event that sparked my legal interest.
Seem legit?
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- kylemba
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:11 am
Re: Quick PS Topic question
Just thought of another question for you guys. In undergrad I started a non profit organization where I organized people and raised money to reach the goals of our organization. This is what I wrote about in my PS for admission to the MBA program that I am in now. Do you think this might might a more compelling PS since it shows leadership, giving to the community, and it is entirely about me? Or does the childhood struggle I mentioned above sound better?
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- Posts: 15
- Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:07 am
Re: Quick PS Topic question
I recommend you read Anna Ivey's Guide to Law School Admissions. You can get the eBook from Amazon for a couple bucks, well worth it. A lot of the essays she talks about in the book don't mention law school even once. The way she made it seem - she didn't want a persuasive essay on why you want to go to law school - she just wanted to know about you.
It depends on the prompt of course, but some PS give a very broad topic. Avoid making unnatural references to law or law school in your essay.
It depends on the prompt of course, but some PS give a very broad topic. Avoid making unnatural references to law or law school in your essay.
- Liquox
- Posts: 275
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:46 pm
Re: Quick PS Topic question
honestly i like the other idea better. your cv/resume should mention the nonprofit, but to write a whole ps on it seems excessive especially when law schools already see your mba. also, it seems like every other person writes about working nonprofit/abroad/some combo of the two.kylemba wrote:Just thought of another question for you guys. In undergrad I started a non profit organization where I organized people and raised money to reach the goals of our organization. This is what I wrote about in my PS for admission to the MBA program that I am in now. Do you think this might might a more compelling PS since it shows leadership, giving to the community, and it is entirely about me? Or does the childhood struggle I mentioned above sound better?
about the first idea, it's strong but tricky. if you can't avoid dwelling on your father's misfortune, do so in an analytically, dispassionate way. avoid statements like "it's not fair/ they ripped him off"; stick to facts "they offered ____, which was enough to ____ but not enough to _____". if you can find and present the root of the problem in an organized fashion, it would let the law schools know you can overcome personal bias and be a successful attorney.
good luck man.
- kylemba
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:11 am
Re: Quick PS Topic question
Wow great advice! Thank you!Liquox wrote:honestly i like the other idea better. your cv/resume should mention the nonprofit, but to write a whole ps on it seems excessive especially when law schools already see your mba. also, it seems like every other person writes about working nonprofit/abroad/some combo of the two.kylemba wrote:Just thought of another question for you guys. In undergrad I started a non profit organization where I organized people and raised money to reach the goals of our organization. This is what I wrote about in my PS for admission to the MBA program that I am in now. Do you think this might might a more compelling PS since it shows leadership, giving to the community, and it is entirely about me? Or does the childhood struggle I mentioned above sound better?
about the first idea, it's strong but tricky. if you can't avoid dwelling on your father's misfortune, do so in an analytically, dispassionate way. avoid statements like "it's not fair/ they ripped him off"; stick to facts "they offered ____, which was enough to ____ but not enough to _____". if you can find and present the root of the problem in an organized fashion, it would let the law schools know you can overcome personal bias and be a successful attorney.
good luck man.
- kylemba
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2012 11:11 am
Re: Quick PS Topic question
Thank you ill be sure to check it out!christinenyoung wrote:I recommend you read Anna Ivey's Guide to Law School Admissions. You can get the eBook from Amazon for a couple bucks, well worth it. A lot of the essays she talks about in the book don't mention law school even once. The way she made it seem - she didn't want a persuasive essay on why you want to go to law school - she just wanted to know about you.
It depends on the prompt of course, but some PS give a very broad topic. Avoid making unnatural references to law or law school in your essay.