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Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:23 pm
by givemea170
I don't necessarily want to 'wow' anyone with my personal statement. Just don't want it to adversely impact my chances. Would like my LSAT to do most of my talking in all honesty. :)

So why do I have such writer's block trying to write this thing?

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:50 pm
by apollo2015
Perhaps the lack of a rubric is tripping you up. You could start by writing yourself a rubric of what you think law schools want to see in a personal statement. Then use that as the template from which you write your statement.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 9:55 pm
by givemea170
apollo2015 wrote:Perhaps the lack of a rubric is tripping you up. You could start by writing yourself a rubric of what you think law schools want to see in a personal statement. Then use that as the template from which you write your statement.
You're probably right. I have always seemed to struggle with topics that are open-ended. I may just find a good rubric online and set it up based on that and try not to make it too vanilla.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:14 pm
by clarified_butter
I found it hard at first too. Then you finally come up with a 2 page well-written story about yourself...and then you look back and realize it wasn't really that hard to do after all :)
givemea170 wrote:I don't necessarily want to 'wow' anyone with my personal statement. Just don't want it to adversely impact my chances. Would like my LSAT to do most of my talking in all honesty. :)

So why do I have such writer's block trying to write this thing?

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:16 pm
by Gail
givemea170 wrote:I don't necessarily want to 'wow' anyone with my personal statement. Just don't want it to adversely impact my chances. Would like my LSAT to do most of my talking in all honesty. :)

So why do I have such writer's block trying to write this thing?
If its for this cycle you'll need to start with a time machine. That's step 1.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:29 pm
by givemea170
Gail wrote:
givemea170 wrote:I don't necessarily want to 'wow' anyone with my personal statement. Just don't want it to adversely impact my chances. Would like my LSAT to do most of my talking in all honesty. :)

So why do I have such writer's block trying to write this thing?
If its for this cycle you'll need to start with a time machine. That's step 1.

So you don't think I can get a decent one written in the next 3 weeks? :shock:

Not bashing that opinion, just think it is going to be possible.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:37 pm
by clarified_butter
Are you serious? Get that thing written in a week. It shouldn't take more time than that. 3 weeks is excessive at this point. Buckle down and write.
givemea170 wrote: So you don't think I can get a decent one written in the next 3 weeks? :shock:

Not bashing that opinion, just think it is going to be possible.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:42 pm
by givemea170
clarified_butter wrote:Are you serious? Get that thing written in a week. It shouldn't take more time than that. 3 weeks is excessive at this point. Buckle down and write.
givemea170 wrote: So you don't think I can get a decent one written in the next 3 weeks? :shock:

Not bashing that opinion, just think it is going to be possible.
They won't be able to review my apps until my score is reported anyway.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:46 pm
by Gail
Eh... Honestly. At this point it is a little late. Definitely buckle down and write it, but if you haven't already submitted (with an Oct LSAT or something) then wait to see what you got on December. If not 168, sit out. December-January is just so late.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:01 am
by givemea170
Gail wrote:Eh... Honestly. At this point it is a little late. Definitely buckle down and write it, but if you haven't already submitted (with an Oct LSAT or something) then wait to see what you got on December. If not 168, sit out. December-January is just so late.
I will be in the 166-171 range. Almost positive of that.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:07 am
by 83947368
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Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:12 am
by 83947368
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Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:34 am
by Grizz
Start on Microsoft Word.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 8:38 am
by ahduth
Grizz wrote:Start on Microsoft Word.
Disagree, Google Docs 4eva. So much easier to get people to help you edit. Transfer it to Word later.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:27 pm
by Gail
givemea170 wrote:
Gail wrote:Eh... Honestly. At this point it is a little late. Definitely buckle down and write it, but if you haven't already submitted (with an Oct LSAT or something) then wait to see what you got on December. If not 168, sit out. December-January is just so late.
I will be in the 166-171 range. Almost positive of that.
Did you already take the Oct test? Because if so... Man... I'm sorry. I thought I saw you in another thread that you got 169... You should have applied already.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:50 pm
by clarified_butter
I'm guessing you don't have a score on file already. Regardless, I still think you should try and get this thing done ASAP. One less thing for you to worry about.
givemea170 wrote:
clarified_butter wrote:Are you serious? Get that thing written in a week. It shouldn't take more time than that. 3 weeks is excessive at this point. Buckle down and write.
givemea170 wrote: So you don't think I can get a decent one written in the next 3 weeks? :shock:

Not bashing that opinion, just think it is going to be possible.
They won't be able to review my apps until my score is reported anyway.

Re: Where to get started on personal statement?

Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:04 pm
by theadvancededit
givemea170 wrote:
clarified_butter wrote:Are you serious? Get that thing written in a week. It shouldn't take more time than that. 3 weeks is excessive at this point. Buckle down and write.
givemea170 wrote: So you don't think I can get a decent one written in the next 3 weeks? :shock:

Not bashing that opinion, just think it is going to be possible.
They won't be able to review my apps until my score is reported anyway.
You have a point here, but be honest with yourself with 1- how much time you have available, and 2- how quickly you can write ,edit, re-write, and edit again. If you're still struggling to find a topic and haven't begun your statement, start with an intense brainstorming session where you explore any and all possible topics. It's helpful to look at your resume, note the obvious ties between your schooling/experience and law school, and start from there.

For more: http://theadvancededit.com/admissions/h ... nt-part-1/