Personal Statement Title? Forum

(Personal Statement Examples, Advice, Critique, . . . )
Post Reply
whizz88

New
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:44 pm

Personal Statement Title?

Post by whizz88 » Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:45 pm

Should Personal Statements have titles?

guypal

New
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 5:28 pm

Re: Personal Statement Title?

Post by guypal » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:00 pm

I would say only if you can think of a title that stands out and characterizes your essay well. I'd be careful, after all, you're answering a particular question.

User avatar
lizshuler

New
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:53 pm

Re: Personal Statement Title?

Post by lizshuler » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:01 pm

I talked to my LSAT prep teachers about this who also offer extensive personal statement help and they said "it depends" if you feel really strong about your title and it matches your essay very well than a title could be a good thing. But don't just put a title to have one.

for example my essay was about how my love for horseback riding eventually led to my decision to go to law school. I always loved law but law school had never crossed my mind until i saw a sign posted at my barn about how the owners are not legally responsible blah blah blah and that started me on my path.... anyway my title was "passion takes the reins" which fit my statement perfectly

User avatar
SpAcEmAn SpLiFF

Bronze
Posts: 290
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:16 pm

Re: Personal Statement Title?

Post by SpAcEmAn SpLiFF » Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:03 pm

lizshuler wrote:I talked to my LSAT prep teachers about this who also offer extensive personal statement help and they said "it depends" if you feel really strong about your title and it matches your essay very well than a title could be a good thing. But don't just put a title to have one.

for example my essay was about how my love for horseback riding eventually led to my decision to go to law school. I always loved law but law school had never crossed my mind until i saw a sign posted at my barn about how the owners are not legally responsible blah blah blah and that started me on my path.... anyway my title was "passion takes the reins" which fit my statement perfectly
heyyy that is a pretty good title :o

User avatar
lizshuler

New
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:53 pm

Re: Personal Statement Title?

Post by lizshuler » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:17 pm

SpAcEmAn SpLiFF wrote:
lizshuler wrote:I talked to my LSAT prep teachers about this who also offer extensive personal statement help and they said "it depends" if you feel really strong about your title and it matches your essay very well than a title could be a good thing. But don't just put a title to have one.

for example my essay was about how my love for horseback riding eventually led to my decision to go to law school. I always loved law but law school had never crossed my mind until i saw a sign posted at my barn about how the owners are not legally responsible blah blah blah and that started me on my path.... anyway my title was "passion takes the reins" which fit my statement perfectly
heyyy that is a pretty good title :o
Thanks!

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


kiwislug

Bronze
Posts: 102
Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:05 pm

Re: Personal Statement Title?

Post by kiwislug » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:25 pm

I don't claim to have the "right" answer about this by any means but I think putting a title on your PS is not a good idea mostly because it is so hard to avoid titles that are incredibly lame.

Though I think "passion takes the reins", for example, is a really cute title, the fact that it is pun-esque and reminiscent of the title of a Saddle Club book might be annoying to an adcom who has read hundreds of more or less identical PS's about "passion" for law.

Obviously it is your choice and it probably just depends on the mood of the person reading the essay. I never thought of titling my PS until I read Anne Ivey's book and she said not to do it.

ps liz I hope that wasn't offensive, I love your avatar :oops:
Last edited by kiwislug on Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

legends159

Silver
Posts: 1090
Joined: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:12 pm

Re: Personal Statement Title?

Post by legends159 » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:25 pm

No. Title should be "personal statement." You don't want their first impression to be...CHEESY

and please don't frontload your opening paragraph full of fluff. No one wants to read 5 lines that could easily be summed up in 4 words. Fluff = HS writing.

Oh and avoid jargon. PLEASE avoid using words like "proverbial"

Write like how you speak, unless of course you speak like a douche...in that case write like how you think someone who is down to earth speaks.

caic517

New
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:10 am

Re: Personal Statement Title?

Post by caic517 » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:33 am

Write like how you speak, unless of course you speak like a douche...in that case write like how you think someone who is down to earth speaks.
Quote of the month.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


Post Reply

Return to “Law School Personal Statements”