App Assistance Question? Forum

[abcde12345]

Yale asks if I received assistance in putting together my app. My friend proofread my PS + gave constructive criticism. Should I list this?

[sinfiery]

Probably.

[sabanist]

I interpreted this to mean something along the lines of hired consultants or disability accommodation, so I said no.

[sinfiery]

I interpreted this to mean something along the lines of hired consultants or disability accommodation, so I said no.

I thought this but they mentioned family member in their examples. Might add a humbling tone too the process to mention it, but in all reality I doubt it has any effect.

[LSATSCORES2012]

With respect to the assistance received in preparing your application, I want to make sure that all applicants are evaluated on a level playing field. Most students take the time to prepare their application on their own, and will probably reach out to friends and family or the prelaw advisor at their college or university for guidance on essay ideas or proofreading. That's fine, and we hope and expect that you'll use these resources (though you should still disclose it on your application). However, some applicants go much further. For example, some students pay a lot of money for professional consultants -- some of whom are former admissions officials -- to help package their applications, which usually involves significant help on their personal statements. Others may get a similar level of feedback and editing from people they know. Now, a student who receives assistance on his or her application won't be automatically penalized or rejected. But I would like to know if a student received any help and to what extent: after all, I'm interested in evaluating the ideas and writing of the applicant, not those of the people who helped him or her. Most importantly, I want students who don't get a lot of assistance, or choose not to spend $500 or $5,000 dollars on a professional packaging service, to feel confident that their application -- even if it is not as slick and polished as some others -- will still get due, and fair, consideration

They apparently want you to disclose this kind of stuff, too. Like sinfiery, I doubt whether it will have any effect, but if you don't put anything maybe Yale will be like "clearly they are either a total introvert or they don't care enough to read my blog posts." I dunno... Yale has enough leverage to be picky like that, I guess.

(The last part of my post was a joke. Kind of...)

Source: http://blogs.law.yale.edu/blogs/admissi ... tions.aspx

[abcde12345]

^Thanks for the citation. I'll definitely put it then.

I interpreted this to mean something along the lines of hired consultants or disability accommodation, so I said no.

Yeah that's what I thought initially, since it doesn't really make sense to me to list something as common as friends/family members. Maybe they are worried about people whose family members/friends are law school admissions counselors or something. I really can't imagine a good reason for this otherwise.

On that note, should I list TLS =P? I can write: TLS helped me on my application by telling me that I should list friends/family and TLS under those who helped me on my application.

[sinfiery]

I really can't imagine a good reason for this otherwise.

[abcde12345]

I really can't imagine a good reason for this otherwise.

Haha, probably.