Additional statement queries Forum

[SullatheDictator]

Hi all,

a few questions

1) I am aware that quite a few Law Schools ask for additional statements such as "Why our School" or "Why Law". Is there any comprehensive list as to which Schools ask for these statements? Ive been looking on the search function but I havent found anything yet.

2) Who should normally write a Diversity statement? I'm a German national that spend his undergraduate education in Hong Kong and now works as a consultant in Singapore. Does that warrant a diversity statement?

Thanks for the answers in advance!

[shump92]

No idea for a comprehensive list but I know Penn does and I think UVA has them too. Just wait two months for when the apps go live and you will be fine if PS and LOR are all done.

Diversity statements are typically written by people who are URM. The groups that qualify are anyone who is at least 1/4 Mexican American, Black, Native American, and I think Puerto Rican. If you do not have background in any of those groups, I would recommend you have your experiences in Germany/Hong Kong/Singapore emphasized in your PS instead.

[Harry_Pluxen]

No idea for a comprehensive list but I know Penn does and I think UVA has them too. Just wait two months for when the apps go live and you will be fine if PS and LOR are all done.

Diversity statements are typically written by people who are URM. The groups that qualify are anyone who is at least 1/4 Mexican American, Black, Native American, and I think Puerto Rican. If you do not have background in any of those groups, I would recommend you have your experiences in Germany/Hong Kong/Singapore emphasized in your PS instead.

I disagree, slightly. I believe that a DS can help substantially if you are a URM. However, schools will favour URM students regardless of whether they write a DS, since you indicate your ethnicity/race on all applications by checking a box. I have several friends who were admitted to their top choices without writing diversity statements. Obviously writing a Diversity statement will help to explain overcoming adversity as a URM, but I don't think it is limited to URM applicants. I also have a caucasian friend who was offered a full ride at GWU for having written a diversity statement about being one of the only Jews (clearly not a URM) at her undergraduate institution. This friend was also a splitter (25th percentile GPA, Median LSAT).

[SullatheDictator]

Thanks!