Top Law Schools

I know people talk about their spouses and kids in discussing why the location of a school would be a good fit for them as a family. Does mentioning that "my girlfriend lives in the area" make the same point, or does "girlfriend" have a certain connotation? Immature or something?
I'm a few years out of school, we've been together six years, we live together, etc. (though I wouldn't mention any of that). Just wondering whether I can't use this as a legitimate point until I put a ring on it. Thanks.

No. Do not do this. At best mention "family ties" or something general to that effect.

Curious1 wrote:No. Do not do this. At best mention "family ties" or something general to that effect.

+1

Part of the issue might be that it sounds immature, but I think the bigger problem is that - until you put a ring on it - girlfriends are seen as temporary. If you break up before law school starts, you might no longer want to move to X, and if you break up after moving you might not want to stay - if that's a big part of the reason why you moved there.

Also, wanting to attend a certain law school because of a girlfriend might be taken to indicate something negative about your decision making - if they think you are making an important, life-changing decision on the basis of something temporary or not significant enough.

You could mention that your 'partner' has strong family ties to X area, or something like that, although they might then assume that you are gay (which is perhaps a little deceptive).

AntipodeanPhil wrote: If you break up before law school starts, you might no longer want to move to X, and if you break up after moving you might not want to stay - if that's a big part of the reason why you moved there.

Good point. Would not want it backfiring like that. I removed it from my statement. Thanks for the responses.

My wife and I both put stuff in our statements of purpose and why x essays, but she's my wife, so maybe it's different.

Lots of speculation going on here, so I'll throw in a vote for mentioning her in your Why X:

My SO (student @ the law school) spoke with the Dean of Students at UPenn, who encouraged me to include information about our (serious) relationship in my Why statement. His words were: "I don't see why you wouldn't."

sach1282 wrote:My wife and I both put stuff in our statements of purpose and why x essays, but she's my wife, so maybe it's different.

I think it is different. I wouldn't put gf but I would be okay with putting wife and probably with putting fiancee as well. While I feel like the best you can get is "significant other" (it sounds better than gf/bf) I think that someone reading that will feel like you're just trying to avoid gf/bf.

It might not be fair if your committed relationship is serious (especially if it is more serious and stable than many engagements) but them's the breaks. Is it going to tank your PS if you do do it? Probably not but I would say that there is enough of a chance that you should avoid it unless absolutely necessary.

bk187 wrote:

sach1282 wrote:My wife and I both put stuff in our statements of purpose and why x essays, but she's my wife, so maybe it's different.

I think it is different. I wouldn't put gf but I would be okay with putting wife and probably with putting fiancee as well. While I feel like the best you can get is "significant other" (it sounds better than gf/bf) I think that someone reading that will feel like you're just trying to avoid gf/bf.

It might not be fair if your committed relationship is serious (especially if it is more serious and stable than many engagements) but them's the breaks. Is it going to tank your PS if you do do it? Probably not but I would say that there is enough of a chance that you should avoid it unless absolutely necessary.

You done with your memo? Cuz I'm not....fkkkkk

igo2northwestern wrote:You done with your memo? Cuz I'm not....fkkkkk

17 hours. Motivation has not kicked in yet.

If you mention it, say partner of 6 years. You've been with her more than some people who are married have been. I don't think you'd get judged negatively for that and I don't think it's deceptive. A lot of people refer to their heterosexual SO as a partner especially because it carries more weight than gf/bf.

SisterRayVU wrote:If you mention it, say partner of 6 years. You've been with her more than some people who are married have been. I don't think you'd get judged negatively for that and I don't think it's deceptive. A lot of people refer to their heterosexual SO as a partner especially because it carries more weight than gf/bf.

+1

There's nothing wrong with mentioning her, but "girlfriend" can have the same connotation as "ladyfriend" if not explained properly.

Many of the law school application forms that are out do not include a place to submit a Why X essay, e.g., GULC. Where do you submit it then? I found a few schools that have an open supplemental prompt that I can use, but not all schools.

WTF, of course you mention your GF.

The real question to me is why you are not already engaged? How can you be with someone for that long and still not know? Are you very young or something?

Danteshek wrote:The real question to me is why you are not already engaged? How can you be with someone for that long and still not know? Are you very young or something?

Very young or very smart.

I don't think it's fair to assume that most (succesful) couples get married. There are couples who stay together for life and never get engaged/married because they do not believe in the institution.

PurplePirate wrote:I don't think it's fair to assume that most (succesful) couples get married. There are couples who stay together for life and never get engaged/married because they do not believe in the institution.

So you think it's reasonable to conjecture that most successful couples do not get married because some (very small number of) people don't believe in the institution of marriage? Interesting. Not saying married people don't break up, but really?

KMaine wrote:

PurplePirate wrote:I don't think it's fair to assume that most (succesful) couples get married. There are couples who stay together for life and never get engaged/married because they do not believe in the institution.

So you think it's reasonable to conjecture that most successful couples do not get married because some (very small number of) people don't believe in the institution of marriage? Interesting. Not saying married people don't break up, but really?

You completely missed my point...

jim-green wrote:Many of the law school application forms that are out do not include a place to submit a Why X essay, e.g., GULC. Where do you submit it then? I found a few schools that have an open supplemental prompt that I can use, but not all schools.

Append to personal statement on new page, label appropriately

I didn't do this for admission or why x, but when negotiating scholarship I talked about how my "S.O." had a job offer in the area and that was a big factor, etc. etc. It seemed to work fine. Also, doesn't make you sound gay if you're not (although works for that too).

chem wrote:

jim-green wrote:Many of the law school application forms that are out do not include a place to submit a Why X essay, e.g., GULC. Where do you submit it then? I found a few schools that have an open supplemental prompt that I can use, but not all schools.

Append to personal statement on new page, label appropriately

I don't mean to be disagreeable, just questioning this. Some schools say they have a 2 pg limit on the PS. I don't think it is following the rules to then send in a 3 pg (PS + Why X)

duckmoney wrote:I didn't do this for admission or why x, but when negotiating scholarship I talked about how my "S.O." had a job offer in the area and that was a big factor, etc. etc. It seemed to work fine. Also, doesn't make you sound gay if you're not (although works for that too).

If someone were concerned about conveying the wrong sexual orientation, they could always say "My partner of X years has deep ties in the area and s/he would welcome a chance to return to Y city."

jim-green wrote:

chem wrote:

jim-green wrote:Many of the law school application forms that are out do not include a place to submit a Why X essay, e.g., GULC. Where do you submit it then? I found a few schools that have an open supplemental prompt that I can use, but not all schools.

Append to personal statement on new page, label appropriately

I don't mean to be disagreeable, just questioning this. Some schools say they have a 2 pg limit on the PS. I don't think it is following the rules to then send in a 3 pg (PS + Why X)

All in here

http://www.top-law-schools.com/writing- ... endum.html

chem wrote:All in here http://www.top-law-schools.com/writing- ... endum.html

Thanks so much!

I vote for "significant other"...