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Hello, this my first post here. As shown in the title, I was expelled from high school. It happened when I was 17 and it wreaked havoc on my emotionally for years. Now I'm 31 and I want to be a lawyer (I graduated from college with a 3.4 GPA). I feel as though the expulsion could make me stand out if I talk about it in conjunction with things I've learned about life since then. On the other hand, I'm worried it could backfire.

The other problem is my work history is a little scattered. I've tried several different careers and haven't accomplished a lot in terms of my professional career (I have played poker professionally - should I mention that? and I've done unique things outside of work). So I think the expulsion can divert attention from my career and help explain some things.

Thanks

Poker is a really hard sell for law school. Unless you're Vanessa Selbst.

I've heard of some top online guys trying to frame it as "Online Risk Analysis Independent Contractor" but they also have graphs with huge sample sizes and I think that's more for business school. Especially if you are like a 2/5 Foxwoods cash game grinder I'd imagine it just making you like a huge degen to law schools.

I don't see how a PS about being expelled from high school would take any attention away from a spotty employment history. If anything, that would make them look closer at your resume to see what you've accomplished since then. Also, especially if you got expelled for academic dishonesty, I would not want to direct attention to this (any more so than the C&F disclosures may already require of you)

A 3.4 is not great, but it's certainly salvageable. Have you taken the LSAT yet?

Thanks for the reply. I was expelled for weed possession, so nothing that is considered a big deal anymore.

I haven't taken the LSAT yet.

I'd write an addendum. Everybody loves a good addendum! Maybe write one about the possession too. No big deal! Good luck, follow your dreams.

Ok as someone who has been in a somewhat similar situation, I'm going to give you some (possibly harsh) advice.

You should only include this in a PS if you can connect it to achievements you have made later on in life. You need to show that you have grown from the experience and have redeemed yourself in some way, and hopefully you can connect it to why you want to go to law school (otherwise why are you writing about it in a law school personal statement?) I know that you want to connect it "with things [you have] learned about life since then" - but do you have any concrete examples of this? For example, when I discussed leaving school at a young age in my PS (before ever going to high school), I connected it to later being in college and giving speeches in educational and public interest settings regarding the importance of education, as someone who knows what it is like to live without it. The fact that I had a high GPA and a ton of public service work helped. I also transferred into a highly ranked college. Even though I was never expelled, that experience of leaving school still works against me. In writing about this in my law school PS, I had to really strongly connect that experience to who I am now - in a positive way - AND as a story that contributes explicitly to why I want to go to law school.

In regards to being expelled for weed: even though states are legalizing medical and recreational use, not everyone is on board with this. It is a controversial topic. If I was in your situation and this is why I was expelled from school I would not use this story in my PS. Spinning this into a positive story is going to be really hard. I wouldn't even write an addendum on it, unless, again, you can find a really positive, concrete examples to connect this failure (that is how it will be seen) to who you are now.

Something similar happened to me. In my personal statement I just owned everything, discussed how I learned from it and what role it played in helping me along as I grew up. To be honest nobody really cares what you did in high school, except if you're Malala Yousafzai. Because the statement is a good opportunity to learn who you are, take that opportunity to tell them you're the kind of person who learns from your mistakes and are forthcoming enough of a person to mention it. Anyway, this is what I did and I got lots of good feedback.

Unless you are Phil Ivey I wouldn't mention poker. I mean Phil Ivey says poker is not gambling but seriously Ivey wins at craps - I would not let Phil Ivery gamble at my casino.

That being said you need to show that you were staunch and unwavering in your determination to put your adversity behind you and that you proceeded to do this.

Seriously I have to write an addendum.

My advice is to do well on the LSAT because that number will garner a serious look at your application. Personal statement (even GPA to an extent) it's all bullshit besides that. But do submit a complete outstanding application.

I would pretend it never happened. For everything and in every sense.

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