How far can an excellent PS take you? Forum

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URMdan

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How far can an excellent PS take you?

Post by URMdan » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:15 pm

Since, from everything I've read, gaining admittance to law school is pretty much a numbers game, how far can a really good PS realistically take you?

bk1

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Re: How far can an excellent PS take you?

Post by bk1 » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:18 pm

It won't help you outperform your numbers. It may help you when you might otherwise be waitlisted.

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Charmander

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Re: How far can an excellent PS take you?

Post by Charmander » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:18 pm

Ultimately, it is a numbers game, but if you can put together a nice PS that can help. A great PS alone wont get you into a school, but it can improve your chances. In short, write the best statement you can write.

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existenz

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Re: How far can an excellent PS take you?

Post by existenz » Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:25 pm

URMdan wrote:Since, from everything I've read, gaining admittance to law school is pretty much a numbers game, how far can a really good PS realistically take you?
A bad PS will hurt you. A good PS will let you perform at your numbers. A great PS (of which there are few, don't think yours is special) might make up for 2 or 3 LSAT points and that's it.

I would say applying early (Sep-Oct) with a good PS is better than applying late (Dec-Jan) with a great PS, especially for schools like NYU, Columbia, Boalt, UVA.

The "Why X" essays are also critical at Mich, Penn, Duke. But again, they have to just be good enough, being great doesn't make as big a difference as it should.

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Jackie O

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Re: How far can an excellent PS take you?

Post by Jackie O » Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:53 pm

I'm honestly not convinced they read them very closely - I was accepted at my school within 2 weeks with a handwritten note saying "I loved your personal statement!"

I can hardly write

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