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Have posted this in other forums. I'll be applying to schools in Southern California Basically I will be writing about how my mother's murder and the subsequent process in convicting her assailant is what inspired me to pursue law school so that I can one day help someone who was once in my situation. I wanted to know if schools might see this as me trying to sell them a sob story. My graduating GPA will be 3.2 (3.3 Best case scenario) so I feel as though this won't help the sob story perception. The bad grades came during the year of her death and I plan to explain that too. I know that I will have to address the GPA in the addendum. There is a strong upward trend after that year though which I feel as though can help. Any suggestions of how I should go about this? I am also wondering if schools will require documentation or if it is self reported? If so what documents would be required (death certificates, newspaper clippings) ? It'll take me a while to get together all the documents so should I start collecting them expecting schools to request them?

No, they're not going to ask for documentation or citations to prove whatever your story is in the personal statement. They're also probably not going to elevate or sink your chances beyond what your numbers will do for you anyway.

It's not a bad topic per se, but it's one that could certainly come off either compelling or hokey/pandering depending on how you write it.

So go do that. Write the PS, throw a draft up here, and TLS'll give you plenty of feedback.

I'm not sure it could possibly come off as pandering. It is a rare and very legitimate hardship. If it's your reason for pursuing law school, then that's even more reason to write about it. I don't think you should have any doubts about the topic.

Edit: but I would make sure that you come off as having a positive outlook.

I wrote my personal statement about death and I have had interviews with schools, and at no point was I asked to provide proof about the deaths. I think it is helpful to guide your essay as "what did I learn from these deaths, how did the experience influence who I am". I think if you work to answer those questions, you won't come off as pandering (I thought of it as "please feel bad for me" vibes). I was worried I had not found the right balance, so I shared my essay with friends who didn't know about the deaths, to see if they thought my insights on the deaths lined up with the person they knew day to day. That feedback was helpful. Good luck!

Alive97 wrote:I'm not sure it could possibly come off as pandering. It is a rare and very legitimate hardship. If it's your reason for pursuing law school, then that's even more reason to write about it. I don't think you should have any doubts about the topic.

Edit: but I would make sure that you come off as having a positive outlook.

Is it really all that rare? Not trying to trivialize OP's hardship - and I am sorry for your loss, OP - but death is part of life. It sucks, and it certainly is a reason for a poor semester/year of grades, but many people go through it.

The PS won't come off as pandering/transparent, it's a fully legitimate reason, and ad-coms will understand. However, a 3.2/3.3 is on the low end for most schools in Cali (especially the top 4 schools) so you'd need a 170+ LSAT to compensate for it.

Upward grade trend can potentially help, I've read that it's seen positively by ad-coms, especially if you take more advanced classes than when your grades were on the lower end.

The murder part is rare, anyway.

gnomgnomuch wrote:
Is it really all that rare? Not trying to trivialize OP's hardship - and I am sorry for your loss, OP - but death is part of life. It sucks, and it certainly is a reason for a poor semester/year of grades, but many people go through it.

I think you missed the "murder" part.

OP, nothing constructive to add beyond what has been said, but I'm very sorry that happened and I'm glad the person was caught.

TheSpanishMain wrote:

gnomgnomuch wrote:
Is it really all that rare? Not trying to trivialize OP's hardship - and I am sorry for your loss, OP - but death is part of life. It sucks, and it certainly is a reason for a poor semester/year of grades, but many people go through it.

I think you missed the "murder" part.

OP, nothing constructive to add beyond what has been said, but I'm very sorry that happened and I'm glad the person was caught.

Holy shit, my bad. I saw the wall of text and didn't read.

Honestly though, I think my point still stands.

gnomgnomuch wrote: Honestly though, I think my point still stands.

I agree that it probably won't come off as pandering, but I don't think the murder of a parent is some kind of universal experience that many people go through.

Alive97 wrote:I'm not sure it could possibly come off as pandering. It is a rare and very legitimate hardship. If it's your reason for pursuing law school, then that's even more reason to write about it. I don't think you should have any doubts about the topic.

Edit: but I would make sure that you come off as having a positive outlook.

I think that pandering is the wrong word. Pity is the right word. You don't want your PS engendering pity. If OP can walk that line and end up on the inspiration side instead of the pity side, then they should write about it. If not, then I don't think they should.