Top Law Schools

I've been reading here for a while, but finally decided to post. So I thought I'd start things off with a really stupid topic...

Some schools (like HLS) specify that your essay must be 2 pages double-spaced. I assume that when they say that they mean it, and will look down upon a 2-page 1.5-spaced essay, yes?

But what about those schools that don't specify? Is it okay to send a 2 page 1.5-spaced essay to those schools that simply ask for a 2-page essay (or maybe don't specify a length at all) or is that also a no-no?

I have an essay I think is really great that really gets across what I want to say, and I just can't pare it down any further without losing the sentiment I need to communicate.

Unrelated to the PS, what about other submissions, a diversity statement, an addendum, etc. Should those also be double-spaced? Should they be single-spaced? Or if I'm making my PS 1.5-spaced, should everything be 1.5-spaced?

Sorry for the anal-rententiveness, but I want everything to be up to snuff if possible. Thanks for the help!

I am interested in this as well.

I did 1.5 spacing for all applications. It didn't seem to affect my cycle in the slightest.

gendefect wrote:I've been reading here for a while, but finally decided to post. So I thought I'd start things off with a really stupid topic...

Some schools (like HLS) specify that your essay must be 2 pages double-spaced. I assume that when they say that they mean it, and will look down upon a 2-page 1.5-spaced essay, yes?

But what about those schools that don't specify? Is it okay to send a 2 page 1.5-spaced essay to those schools that simply ask for a 2-page essay (or maybe don't specify a length at all) or is that also a no-no?

I have an essay I think is really great that really gets across what I want to say, and I just can't pare it down any further without losing the sentiment I need to communicate.

Unrelated to the PS, what about other submissions, a diversity statement, an addendum, etc. Should those also be double-spaced? Should they be single-spaced? Or if I'm making my PS 1.5-spaced, should everything be 1.5-spaced?

Sorry for the anal-rententiveness, but I want everything to be up to snuff if possible. Thanks for the help!

Everything should be double spaced. One of the skills of a writer is conciseness. In the eyes of adcomms, who read thousands upon thousands upon thousands of these, you are not so special you need longer than 2 pages double spaced to convey your intentions. People who have cured cancer while being a single mom and founding a nonprofit organization still manage to get their PS down to 2 pages double spaced.

If you're having trouble paring it down, post it in the personal statement forum. I'm sure one of the talented writers/editors there will be able to help you out, without sacrificing any strength of your essay.

Knockglock wrote:
Everything should be double spaced. One of the skills of a writer is conciseness. In the eyes of adcomms, who read thousands upon thousands upon thousands of these, you are not so special you need longer than 2 pages double spaced to convey your intentions. People who have cured cancer while being a single mom and founding a nonprofit organization still manage to get their PS down to 2 pages double spaced.

If you're having trouble paring it down, post it in the personal statement forum. I'm sure one of the talented writers/editors there will be able to help you out, without sacrificing any strength of your essay.

Good idea. I'll give that a shot.

gendefect wrote:I've been reading here for a while, but finally decided to post. So I thought I'd start things off with a really stupid topic...

Some schools (like HLS) specify that your essay must be 2 pages double-spaced. I assume that when they say that they mean it, and will look down upon a 2-page 1.5-spaced essay, yes?

But what about those schools that don't specify? Is it okay to send a 2 page 1.5-spaced essay to those schools that simply ask for a 2-page essay (or maybe don't specify a length at all) or is that also a no-no?

I have an essay I think is really great that really gets across what I want to say, and I just can't pare it down any further without losing the sentiment I need to communicate.
Unrelated to the PS, what about other submissions, a diversity statement, an addendum, etc. Should those also be double-spaced? Should they be single-spaced? Or if I'm making my PS 1.5-spaced, should everything be 1.5-spaced?

Sorry for the anal-rententiveness, but I want everything to be up to snuff if possible. Thanks for the help!

Yes you can, and you'll have to do it all the time for legal writing class and as a lawyer so get used to it now.

gendefect wrote:I just can't pare it down any further without losing the sentiment I need to communicate.

Yeah, for any given essay, there's about a 99 percent chance this is false.

If you used two adjectives to describe a poignent, important, life-shaping event, make it one. For many flowery writers this is very helpful.

gendefect wrote:Long-time lurker, first time poster. I assume that schools that specify a 2-page, double-spaced essay would frown upon a 2-page, 1.5 spaced essay. What about those schools that don't specify spacing? I have a strong essay and feel that I cannot pare it down further without sacrificing content. Should other submissions, such as a DS or an addendum, be double-spaced, or should they be formatted to parallel my personal statement? Thanks for the help!

DUC what i did there?

smittytron3k wrote:

gendefect wrote:Long-time lurker, first time poster. I assume that schools that specify a 2-page, double-spaced essay would frown upon a 2-page, 1.5 spaced essay. What about those schools that don't specify spacing? I have a strong essay and feel that I cannot pare it down further without sacrificing content. Should other submissions, such as a DS or an addendum, be double-spaced, or should they be formatted to parallel my personal statement? Thanks for the help!

DUC what i did there?

Ha. Yes. Nice work. Clearly I have not yet embraced brevity into every facet of my being.