Military PS advice
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:05 pm
I just took the 9/27 LSAT. I consistently PT'd between 161 and 165. I am pretty sure I got -4 or -5 combined on LR and probably the same on RC, but I let that LG get the better of me....my guess is -12....better if I guessed right. I'm predicting somewhere between 159 and 162. I am considering retesting in December after I've had another couple of months to prepare.
I have a bit of a rough draft (PM only) and I would appreciate it if someone with more experience than myself would consider proofreading it. My current PS draft reads more like a short biography than many of the examples I've seen here, and I don't even know if that's good or bad.
My information is as follows:
CGPA: 3.73 (4.0 Degree GPA)
LSAT: Somewhere between 159 to 162 (Not what I'd hoped for but I'll probably retake in December)
There's really only 4 universities I'm interested in: Virginia, William & Mary, WUSL, and George Mason... in that order (no need to beat me up about it, I know I'll have to do a lot better for UV). Staying in the military is an option for me, but my heart isn't in it.
Biggest liability: My degree is from an online college with brick and mortar classes sprinkled in. I've been stationed at 7 bases in 12 years, so it would have been nearly impossible to stay with one (offline) school.
I have a feeling I can write a pretty solid PS, but I'd appreciate some advice on its focus. I intend to touch on both, but I don't know which one I should focus on primarily, since I'm going to limit it to 2 pages. There's just so much I think is worth mentioning, and I don't want to miss anything that will help.
Subject 1:
I grew up dirt poor in Mississippi. I lived in a used mobile home manufactured sometime in the 60s...that should have been condemned. It was deep in a swamp (by deep i mean the route to meet the bus to school included paddling a canoe if it rained...which it did, a lot). Neither parent completed high school and I was the youngest in a family of 5. I started working at 14 to pay my own way. I bought my first computer in 1997 and won gold in a state high school computer maintenance competition in 2000 and 2001 (SkillsUSA/VICA for those who've heard of it), I represented my state in nationals in 2000 (placed 23rd), I wanted to do better in 2001 but I had to work through the summer to save for living expenses for my first year of college. My parents couldn't afford to help me with any college expenses. I did well on my ACT (31) which earned me a full scholarship to a nearby (as in 30 miles away) community college. I moved in with a relative in Texas to work for the summer and managed to save enough for my first year of college. Of course, a month after class began, 9/11 happened.....which brings me to subject 2:
Subject 2:
I've been in the military for almost 13 years now (I joined because of and immediately after 9/11). I had a full scholarship, but shortly after my first semester began, 9/11 happened and (sounds cliche I know) I wanted to help. I've spent just over 2.5 years in various combat zones, I've missed the birth of 2 of my children due to deployments (10 years apart). I've done quite a bit.....from conduct maintenance and security on nuclear weapons to assisting with investigation of F-15 & F-22 accidents). I augment the Inspector General for military inspections, I've worked 3 years of Quality Assurance, which required me to author, approve, interpret, and enforce military regulations. I have plenty of awards and decorations (Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Distinguished Grad, NCO of the Year, various annual awards for expertise, countless monthly awards I don't even have time to mention). My commander and flight chief have written glowing letters of recommendation. They think I'm crazy for walking away 7 years from retirement, but my passion isn't in it.....it's in law.
Thanks for the help (and if not, thanks for letting me braindump enough of my significant accomplishments to jog my memory a bit).
I have a bit of a rough draft (PM only) and I would appreciate it if someone with more experience than myself would consider proofreading it. My current PS draft reads more like a short biography than many of the examples I've seen here, and I don't even know if that's good or bad.
My information is as follows:
CGPA: 3.73 (4.0 Degree GPA)
LSAT: Somewhere between 159 to 162 (Not what I'd hoped for but I'll probably retake in December)
There's really only 4 universities I'm interested in: Virginia, William & Mary, WUSL, and George Mason... in that order (no need to beat me up about it, I know I'll have to do a lot better for UV). Staying in the military is an option for me, but my heart isn't in it.
Biggest liability: My degree is from an online college with brick and mortar classes sprinkled in. I've been stationed at 7 bases in 12 years, so it would have been nearly impossible to stay with one (offline) school.
I have a feeling I can write a pretty solid PS, but I'd appreciate some advice on its focus. I intend to touch on both, but I don't know which one I should focus on primarily, since I'm going to limit it to 2 pages. There's just so much I think is worth mentioning, and I don't want to miss anything that will help.
Subject 1:
I grew up dirt poor in Mississippi. I lived in a used mobile home manufactured sometime in the 60s...that should have been condemned. It was deep in a swamp (by deep i mean the route to meet the bus to school included paddling a canoe if it rained...which it did, a lot). Neither parent completed high school and I was the youngest in a family of 5. I started working at 14 to pay my own way. I bought my first computer in 1997 and won gold in a state high school computer maintenance competition in 2000 and 2001 (SkillsUSA/VICA for those who've heard of it), I represented my state in nationals in 2000 (placed 23rd), I wanted to do better in 2001 but I had to work through the summer to save for living expenses for my first year of college. My parents couldn't afford to help me with any college expenses. I did well on my ACT (31) which earned me a full scholarship to a nearby (as in 30 miles away) community college. I moved in with a relative in Texas to work for the summer and managed to save enough for my first year of college. Of course, a month after class began, 9/11 happened.....which brings me to subject 2:
Subject 2:
I've been in the military for almost 13 years now (I joined because of and immediately after 9/11). I had a full scholarship, but shortly after my first semester began, 9/11 happened and (sounds cliche I know) I wanted to help. I've spent just over 2.5 years in various combat zones, I've missed the birth of 2 of my children due to deployments (10 years apart). I've done quite a bit.....from conduct maintenance and security on nuclear weapons to assisting with investigation of F-15 & F-22 accidents). I augment the Inspector General for military inspections, I've worked 3 years of Quality Assurance, which required me to author, approve, interpret, and enforce military regulations. I have plenty of awards and decorations (Non-Commissioned Officer Academy Distinguished Grad, NCO of the Year, various annual awards for expertise, countless monthly awards I don't even have time to mention). My commander and flight chief have written glowing letters of recommendation. They think I'm crazy for walking away 7 years from retirement, but my passion isn't in it.....it's in law.
Thanks for the help (and if not, thanks for letting me braindump enough of my significant accomplishments to jog my memory a bit).