Specific Prompts-What to do? Forum

[danielneuman613]

Hi. Maybe somebody can provide some help here?

Basically I was wondering if I could get some more information regarding PS prompts. I bought a Personal Statement review and the guy that looked at it pointed out to me that I might have to write two (or even three) different Personal statements. This came up since he informed me that most of the schools I'm applying to (BU, BC, FIU) all make the mention of wanting to know, basically, why I want to study law. This seems in direct contrast to most of the PS writing advice I've researched so far. Obviously the prompt is the cause of this change, so I'm just wondering if anybody can share some thoughts about this sort of "different ballgame" that I find myself in now. Maybe there is a blog/article that can expand on this issue? Just because I'm feeling a bit disenchanted since I thought I had a pretty good grasp of the Personal Statement.

Also, is there a lot of weight attributed to the personal statement prompt by the university? Or is it more of a light suggestion kind of thing?

Thanks!

Daniel

[lymenheimer]

Hi. Maybe somebody can provide some help here?

Basically I was wondering if I could get some more information regarding PS prompts. I bought a Personal Statement review and the guy that looked at it pointed out to me that I might have to write two (or even three) different Personal statements. This came up since he informed me that most of the schools I'm applying to (BU, BC, FIU) all make the mention of wanting to know, basically, why I want to study law. This seems in direct contrast to most of the PS writing advice I've researched so far. Obviously the prompt is the cause of this change, so I'm just wondering if anybody can share some thoughts about this sort of "different ballgame" that I find myself in now. Maybe there is a blog/article that can expand on this issue? Just because I'm feeling a bit disenchanted since I thought I had a pretty good grasp of the Personal Statement.

Also, is there a lot of weight attributed to the personal statement prompt by the university? Or is it more of a light suggestion kind of thing?

Thanks!

Daniel

Spivey just answered a similar concern in the Q&A Thread. If you focus on the bolded, you'll be fine. ie. If the prompt says only: "Tell us why law", you probably shouldn't write about your adventure in a foreign land and how it helped develop your compassion. But I don't know of a PS prompt that says only that. They mostly say some variation of: "tell us about yourself. it can include why law, why us, or anything you think would help the committee make a decision."

For a variety of reasons it is difficult for us to give out individualized advice here. What I can say is that there are a lot of myths about schools wanting to know "why law school" -- when most schools default to the fact that if you are applying to law school you want to go. Because of said myths, most often from those with zero law school admissions decision-making experience, law schools get saturated why "Why Law" type personal statements. Would you want to read these time and time and time again -- especially when they all start sounding the same? Read the PS prompt carefully for each school and you should be fine.

On a related note, for everyone, please be vary wary of advice from someone who has never actually worked in law school admissions. They are most often saying what they *think* they would do -- not always what actual admissions offices do.