This sounds a stupid question, but while crafting the story in my personal statement, I somewhat drop some hints on such controversial things as I'm a pro-abortion, and I advocate LGBT rights. Would these be considered too sensitive? I'm just saying, if some conservative law school admins happen to be an anti-abortion, and homophobic, then I think I'd be screwed.
If these do potentially hurt my application, I will craft my story in a different way, otherwise I'll just leave it there. I'd like to hear your opinions.
Thanks!
Mention sensitive topics in PS Forum
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pgarc90
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:47 pm
Re: Mention sensitive topics in PS
Admittedly I'm not in law school yet either, but I think that would be fine.
1. Most attorneys/law professors are pretty liberal, so they'd likely be sympathetic
2. They're attorneys, they're used to people having conflicting ideas and it being no big deal
As long as it's a good story you can tie in and write a good statement, I don't see what the issue would be.
1. Most attorneys/law professors are pretty liberal, so they'd likely be sympathetic
2. They're attorneys, they're used to people having conflicting ideas and it being no big deal
As long as it's a good story you can tie in and write a good statement, I don't see what the issue would be.
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carmensandiego
- Posts: 452
- Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:23 am
Re: Mention sensitive topics in PS
I'd argue that most attorneys/law professors are not liberal. Sure there is a decent amount, but I come across conservative attorneys and law students on the reg.
I'd have to know the context of why you want to mention these topics in your PS. I'd caution you if these topics are unrelated to yourself, your desire to enter law, your goals, etc. Remember, your PS should give the admissions staff an opportunity to learn something interesting about yourself.
I'd have to know the context of why you want to mention these topics in your PS. I'd caution you if these topics are unrelated to yourself, your desire to enter law, your goals, etc. Remember, your PS should give the admissions staff an opportunity to learn something interesting about yourself.
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dumdeedum
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 8:34 am
Re: Mention sensitive topics in PS
What counts as dropping hints? If you worked for a congressperson with a known opinion, I'd say sure.
The best rules are 1) Don't expound on why you believe what you believe and 2) Don't demonize the other side. I'm sure admissions officers see people who worked with Republicans and Democrats, or volunteered for Planned Parenthood all the time. I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it entirely if it's an organic part of your essay, but I don't know quite what to tell you without knowing what you wrote specifically.
The best rules are 1) Don't expound on why you believe what you believe and 2) Don't demonize the other side. I'm sure admissions officers see people who worked with Republicans and Democrats, or volunteered for Planned Parenthood all the time. I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid it entirely if it's an organic part of your essay, but I don't know quite what to tell you without knowing what you wrote specifically.
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Queerdo
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:26 pm
Re: Mention sensitive topics in PS
I think it depends on why you're dropping hints. If it's just to tell them you feel xyz, I 'd avoid it. If you're trying to make some broader point (like how you handle contention/solve political differences) it might be interesting.
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christinanc93
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:20 am
Re: Mention sensitive topics in PS
where are you applying?PrayFor170 wrote:This sounds a stupid question, but while crafting the story in my personal statement, I somewhat drop some hints on such controversial things as I'm a pro-abortion, and I advocate LGBT rights. Would these be considered too sensitive? I'm just saying, if some conservative law school admins happen to be an anti-abortion, and homophobic, then I think I'd be screwed.
If these do potentially hurt my application, I will craft my story in a different way, otherwise I'll just leave it there. I'd like to hear your opinions.
Thanks!
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totesTheGoat
- Posts: 947
- Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2014 1:32 pm
Re: Mention sensitive topics in PS
I'll echo everybody else's sentiments and say that "dropping hints" is probably a bad idea unless they have a very specific purpose in your PS. Even if you get a liberal admissions counselor reading your paper, a poorly placed hint will put up red flags. I'm really having a hard time thinking of a situation where a PS would need to be dropping hints about your political ideology. I've read a few PS like that on here, and my universal reaction was "scrap and rewrite." Either your PS would be about your advocacy and you wouldn't need to drop hints, or it won't be and your hints will be out of place.
As somebody who has an extracurricular officer position on my resume that outs me as either a conservative or a libertarian, I try to be extra careful about specifically NOT dropping hints about my position on things. Even people who were a part of this same organization don't want to hire "that guy" who always has politics on the mind. I think the safe way to go is avoid talking politics (even in a PS) like the plague. If politics is incidentally involved in your story of your personal development, that's one thing. If your PS comes off as political advocacy (which many do when written by passionate advocates), it's an instant turnoff, no matter the person reading the PS.
As somebody who has an extracurricular officer position on my resume that outs me as either a conservative or a libertarian, I try to be extra careful about specifically NOT dropping hints about my position on things. Even people who were a part of this same organization don't want to hire "that guy" who always has politics on the mind. I think the safe way to go is avoid talking politics (even in a PS) like the plague. If politics is incidentally involved in your story of your personal development, that's one thing. If your PS comes off as political advocacy (which many do when written by passionate advocates), it's an instant turnoff, no matter the person reading the PS.
