Former T14 Dean of Admissions taking your questions Forum

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[Pure Protein]

Dean Meeker, thank you so much for answering our questions. I'm hoping you can touch on mine too, as I'm feeling somewhat lost.

If a waitlisted, below median LSAT, applicant elects to re-take the LSAT and re-apply the following year, how different should the rest of their application be? Is it enough for an otherwise solid applicant to increase their score or should new LoRs, Personal Statements and Resumes be included as well?

[DerekMeeker]

Can you shed light on the subtle things that would get you axed during a CB?

The important, and often challenging, thing to do during the interview is to be both professional and relaxed. You want to seem confident and comfortable, without being "too comfortable" to the point you come across as cocky and irreverent. I know that's rather ambiguous, but that is why it's important to take advantage of any programs your law school offers regarding interview skills and to participate in mock interviews. It takes practice. But, importantly, if you are genuinely interested in the firm and have done your research (on the firm's practice areas, its culture, and on the attorneys with whom you will be interviewing) and have talked with students who are former summer associates, you will find it much easier to feel confident and comfortable while still maintaining a professional demeanor.

Understand that you are being interviewed from the moment you contact the office to set up your callback interview. Be appreciative of the opportunity and be easy to work with in terms of your schedule and travel arrangements. You don't want to have a reputation as being "high maintenance" before you even get in the door. The same holds true for interview day: you are being interviewed from the moment you arrive at the building. Be courteous and respectful to everyone (from the security guard or receptionist to a junior associate or partner) with whom you come in contact; treat them all with the same level of respect. If lunch or dinner is part of the interview day, understand that you are still being interviewed during the meal. It may be a bit more relaxed and less formal, but it is just as much a part of the interview as was sitting down in a conference room with two partners. (So don't take off that suit jacket yet!)

Be able to answer why you want to work at the firm (i.e., show that you've done your research as noted above) and in the city in which you are interviewing. They want to know you are genuinely interested and committed to being there and staying there (at least for some time). You may have legitimate reasons for interviewing in more than one city, but you will need to explain that (and I would advise to not have more than 2 cities you are considering). You don't want to come across as scattered or unsure.

Be able to answer why you want to be an attorney and why you want to work at a large firm. While you don't necessarily have to know the specific practice area in which you want to work, you must be able to clearly and confidently articulate why you would want to do the type of work that lawyers do at that firm. This may seem obvious, but people still sometimes give flimsy or shallow answers such as for the "prestige" or "lifestyle."

Always err on the side of conservatism in terms of your appearance or dress. You want to be remembered for your accomplishments and the excellent responses you gave during the interview, not what you wore.

Have questions prepared. It still shocks me when people don't have questions after an interview. Have questions prepared that are both specific to the attorneys with whom you are scheduled to interview and general questions as well (because attorney interviewers sometimes change at the last minute).

Well, I ended up answering your question in terms of what one should do to have a successful callback interview. But these are all examples of things (both subtle and not so subtle) that candidates failed to do that contributed to not getting an offer.

[DerekMeeker]

Thoughts on the outrageously high tuition levels, current student debt bubble/crisis?

Well, I have provided some of my thoughts on this topic in a few of my responses to other questions, so I'm not going to delve too deeply into it. And I'm here primarily to provide guidance on the admissions and law firm recruiting processes. (Though I do love this topic and could talk for hours about it!) The fact of the matter is, while the legal market is much more competitive than it was prior to 2009, there are still many great opportunities available to law school graduates. But the probability of accessing those opportunities varies widely among law schools (as do the salaries of those opportunities). Sadly, what doesn't vary widely enough among law schools is cost. Would someone pay the same amount of money for a base model Toyota Corolla as he or she would for a fully-loaded Land Rover? Now, I am not saying that shopping for a car is the same as shopping for a law school, but the analogy - whether you are talking about a car or home or any other major investment - is worth considering. What perks are you getting (for the cost you are paying) and what is your likely return on the investment? I think there should be more affordable opportunities available (whether that is in the form of tuition cuts, need-based aid, and/or public interest loan repayment assistance programs) and that the cost of attending a school should be more in line with the school's place in the market.

[DerekMeeker]

I would like to work for a big firm after graduation, but want to explore my options before settling on a specific practice area. Obviously, I expect this to come up in an admissions interview. What's the best way to say that I want to wait until I've taken some classes to decide my path? I don't want to sound as if I don't have goals or haven't properly prepared for the interview.

You don't have to know; many students don't know at the time they are interviewing (as interviews begin as early as July after 1L year). Just be honest and say you are interested in exploring both litigation and transactional work. (Many firms rotate their summers through various practice groups anyway; some don't even assign their first-year associates to practice groups). And read my other tips that I posted earlier today on the callback interview process!

[DerekMeeker]

Dean Meeker, thank you so much for answering our questions. I'm hoping you can touch on mine too, as I'm feeling somewhat lost.

If a waitlisted, below median LSAT, applicant elects to re-take the LSAT and re-apply the following year, how different should the rest of their application be? Is it enough for an otherwise solid applicant to increase their score or should new LoRs, Personal Statements and Resumes be included as well?

Great question. It is a little tricky to answer because it assumes that the applicant has been waitlisted solely because of the LSAT score (which may or may not have been the case). As the applicant, you have to assess the entire application and ask whether there is anything else besides the LSAT that you can improve. It is a good idea to get feedback from someone else. You could always write to the school, let the admissions office know that you are planning to retake the LSAT and reapply and ask if you could meet with someone to get feedback on your application. Not all schools will grant a meeting or provide specific feedback, but it is worth asking - particularly if the school is your top choice. They are less busy during the summer months, so make the request then. But let's assume for a moment that it really was just the LSAT score that prevented your admission; you retake and now have an LSAT score that is above the school's median. Should you update any of the other documents in your application? Well, the first question is going to be what have you been doing since you last applied? You need to fill that gap - even though it will be just a matter of months before you reapply (assuming you will be submitting your application in the early fall). Maybe you will just be staying in the same job. But if you weren't working (perhaps because you were finishing college), you will want to find employment for the "gap" year (or at a minimum, engage in substantive community service work). That would require an updated resume (and perhaps could result in an additional LOR, which also could be an asset). I think, also, that there is some expectation that your perspective may have changed a bit. Again, I know it may be 6 months or fewer in between the time you got waitlisted and the time that you would be reapplying, so it seems like a very short period of time for any significant changes to have occurred. But, keep in mind, that it will have been a year since you first submitted that application. If the personal statement is still truly representative of who you are and where you are in terms of your convictions, interests, goals, etc., then you don't need to update it. At a minimum, you should write an addendum. The addendum can be in the form of a cover letter to the dean of admissions that explains you are reapplying, that you retook the LSAT and that explains why you think the higher LSAT is a better representation of your ability, describes what you have been doing since your first application (i.e., work, community service updates), reasserts your academic interests and/or career goals, and describes your interest in that school in particular. Do not send generic addenda/cover letters to all schools (at least not to your reach schools and certainly not to your top choice school). Personalize it. Many schools, particularly the more selective schools, will want to see something more than just a new LSAT score. They want to see some additional effort on your part. This addendum is a great way to provide another example of your writing skills, to show that you are committed and hard-working, and to articulate your specific goals and specific interest in that school.

In short, the question the admissions committee asks when evaluating reapplicants, is: "What has changed since the last application? Why should the decision be different this year?" Make sure you have answered that question for them. An updated LSAC report with a new LSAT score is not enough.

[DerekMeeker]

FIRST

Great to meet you Dean Meeker.
Hope you enjoy your stay at TLS.

Thank you. So far so good. (And I just learned how to use that quote button when replying to posts.)

[DerekMeeker]

Tag. Thank you so much for doing this. It provides a valuable and rare insight into a realm many students don't ever get access to.

You're welcome. The reason I decided to start my own business was so that I could work directly with students/applicants and get them information they need before the application process and well before the OCI/recruiting process. The more information you have in this market, the better!

[appind]

Hi-
Tls data suggests that lsat counts a lot for international UG applicants. Since many international UGs grade on a tough curve relative to american system and even the topmost schools don't have data about their reputation/curve, does a seemingly lower gpa matter even if the rating is highest (superior)?

You mentioned "investigative" process in regards with an earlier question about foreign UG gpa. Schools of course would like to project a holistic admissions process, but if you were to tradeoff say a decade long experience in a competitive for-profit industry like technology with a very low lsat score, how would you weigh it?

your recommenders could certainly comment on the rigor of your program and/or quality of your school. You may need to guide your recommenders a bit in this regard; be proactive and ask them to include that.

Wouldn't it look odd if a recommender who is not at the school one attended commented on the reputation/quality of the school assuming one is not getting a recommendation from the school? Such a recommender may be seen as not qualified to comment. TIA.

[FuturePanhandler]

What do you think when you see a school specifically states that it does not require letters of rec. (i.e. FSU, UF)? Why would they do that instead of requiring 1-4 or 2-4 like nearly every other school? Is that an indication that they don't weigh them heavily at all? I've always suspected that LOR's weren't weighed heavily in most cases (excluding exceptional ones from prominent people) because it's fairly easy to find someone willing to write nice things about you.

[Pure Protein]

Dean Meeker, thank you so much for answering our questions. I'm hoping you can touch on mine too, as I'm feeling somewhat lost.

If a waitlisted, below median LSAT, applicant elects to re-take the LSAT and re-apply the following year, how different should the rest of their application be? Is it enough for an otherwise solid applicant to increase their score or should new LoRs, Personal Statements and Resumes be included as well?

Great question. It is a little tricky to answer because it assumes that the applicant has been waitlisted solely because of the LSAT score (which may or may not have been the case). As the applicant, you have to assess the entire application and ask whether there is anything else besides the LSAT that you can improve. It is a good idea to get feedback from someone else. You could always write to the school, let the admissions office know that you are planning to retake the LSAT and reapply and ask if you could meet with someone to get feedback on your application. Not all schools will grant a meeting or provide specific feedback, but it is worth asking - particularly if the school is your top choice. They are less busy during the summer months, so make the request then. But let's assume for a moment that it really was just the LSAT score that prevented your admission; you retake and now have an LSAT score that is above the school's median. Should you update any of the other documents in your application? Well, the first question is going to be what have you been doing since you last applied? You need to fill that gap - even though it will be just a matter of months before you reapply (assuming you will be submitting your application in the early fall). Maybe you will just be staying in the same job. But if you weren't working (perhaps because you were finishing college), you will want to find employment for the "gap" year (or at a minimum, engage in substantive community service work). That would require an updated resume (and perhaps could result in an additional LOR, which also could be an asset). I think, also, that there is some expectation that your perspective may have changed a bit. Again, I know it may be 6 months or fewer in between the time you got waitlisted and the time that you would be reapplying, so it seems like a very short period of time for any significant changes to have occurred. But, keep in mind, that it will have been a year since you first submitted that application. If the personal statement is still truly representative of who you are and where you are in terms of your convictions, interests, goals, etc., then you don't need to update it. At a minimum, you should write an addendum. The addendum can be in the form of a cover letter to the dean of admissions that explains you are reapplying, that you retook the LSAT and that explains why you think the higher LSAT is a better representation of your ability, describes what you have been doing since your first application (i.e., work, community service updates), reasserts your academic interests and/or career goals, and describes your interest in that school in particular. Do not send generic addenda/cover letters to all schools (at least not to your reach schools and certainly not to your top choice school). Personalize it. Many schools, particularly the more selective schools, will want to see something more than just a new LSAT score. They want to see some additional effort on your part. This addendum is a great way to provide another example of your writing skills, to show that you are committed and hard-working, and to articulate your specific goals and specific interest in that school.

In short, the question the admissions committee asks when evaluating reapplicants, is: "What has changed since the last application? Why should the decision be different this year?" Make sure you have answered that question for them. An updated LSAC report with a new LSAT score is not enough.

Thank you so much for this! I cannot tell you just how much I appreciate the advice!

[DerekMeeker]

Hi-
Tls data suggests that lsat counts a lot for international UG applicants. Since many international UGs grade on a tough curve relative to american system and even the topmost schools don't have data about their reputation/curve, does a seemingly lower gpa matter even if the rating is highest (superior)?

You mentioned "investigative" process in regards with an earlier question about foreign UG gpa. Schools of course would like to project a holistic admissions process, but if you were to tradeoff say a decade long experience in a competitive for-profit industry like technology with a very low lsat score, how would you weigh it?

your recommenders could certainly comment on the rigor of your program and/or quality of your school. You may need to guide your recommenders a bit in this regard; be proactive and ask them to include that.

Wouldn't it look odd if a recommender who is not at the school one attended commented on the reputation/quality of the school assuming one is not getting a recommendation from the school? Such a recommender may be seen as not qualified to comment. TIA.

Hello. I'm sorry for not being clearer; my presumption was that there WOULD be a letter of recommendation from a faculty member who taught the applicant at his or her school. So, yes, the recommender should be someone who is qualified to comment on the reputation/quality of the school.

Regarding the first part of your question, the LSAT counts a lot for all applicants, not just international UG applicants. But as I discussed in the post that you referenced, part of the review process, when an LSAT score is on the lower end, is looking for "other evidence" that an applicant would do well. Decisions are not made simply based on the LSAT and/or GPA. They matter greatly, yes, but even in the USA - GPAs mean different things at different schools - both in terms of course of study and in terms of grade curve. That is why they review the entire academic record, not just the GPA on its face. The committee will absolutely take into account both the reported GPA and the LSAC rating for international applicants. I can assure you it is a very thorough process. Also, one of the best pieces of "other evidence" to support that a student would do well, despite a seemingly lower LSAT score or GPA, would be several years of challenging, substantive, professional work experience. Thus, 10 years of experience in a competitive, for-profit industry would be a significant factor in the process, both because most applicants do not have that type or duration of work experience and because it shows skills and qualities necessary to succeed in law school (high-level analytical, reasoning skills and problem-solving skills, discipline, commitment, judgment, maturity, etc.). Further, that type of experience makes an applicant extremely marketable for legal positions as a law student and graduate.

[DerekMeeker]

What do you think when you see a school specifically states that it does not require letters of rec. (i.e. FSU, UF)? Why would they do that instead of requiring 1-4 or 2-4 like nearly every other school? Is that an indication that they don't weigh them heavily at all? I've always suspected that LOR's weren't weighed heavily in most cases (excluding exceptional ones from prominent people) because it's fairly easy to find someone willing to write nice things about you.

Hi, there. I would not assume that because a school doesn't REQUIRE letters of recommendation that the school doesn't place weight on letters. My guess is that when an applicant has an otherwise strong file, those schools don't find them necessary. If you are able to secure 1-2 solid letters of recommendations, however, I would still submit them, particularly if your LSAT or GPA (or both) are on the lower end for the schools.

[FuturePanhandler]

General wisdom on this forum is to apply as early as possible. Generally speaking, when do you think is the latest someone should apply if they still want as many opportunities for scholarships as possible?

[PowerHungry]

I haven't known I've wanted to be a lawyer forever. I didn't really decide that until later in life and even then, it's an idea with advantages and disadvantages for me personally.

How can I take that and still craft a meaningful personal statement when I don't have a lot of "why law" in my background?

[DerekMeeker]

General wisdom on this forum is to apply as early as possible. Generally speaking, when do you think is the latest someone should apply if they still want as many opportunities for scholarships as possible?

Hello. Generally speaking, I would say applicants should apply before January 1 if they still want as many opportunities for scholarships as possible. It's always best to be the "earlier bird" to maximize opportunities. That said, scholarships/financial aid are a moving target during the admissions process. Additional funds could open up later in the process, depending on yield. Also, if an applicant is a highly desirable candidate, some schools will award a scholarship even if the applicant applied late in the process.

[DerekMeeker]

I haven't known I've wanted to be a lawyer forever. I didn't really decide that until later in life and even then, it's an idea with advantages and disadvantages for me personally.

How can I take that and still craft a meaningful personal statement when I don't have a lot of "why law" in my background?

Well, first, it doesn't matter whether you've wanted to be a lawyer forever or if it is a more recent decision. What matters is that you are able to articulate why you are applying to law school now and what your career goals are. There is obviously something that has inspired or influenced your decision to make a career change at this point in your life, so it would be important to include that as part of your personal statement or in a supplemental essay. That said, the topic or theme of your personal statement can focus on something else, i.e., it doesn't necessarily have to be a "why law" essay. The purpose of the personal statement is to convey to the admissions committee the voice or perspective you would bring to a classroom and to the law school community. There are many things that you could write about from your personal, academic, professional and/or community experiences. If you are able to easily and effectively transition from whatever experience(s) you are discussing in your personal statement to a brief discussion on why you are going to law school and what your career goals are, you should. But don't force it into the personal statement if it doesn't naturally flow from the theme or topic of your personal statement. In that case, write a one-page supplemental essay (some schools provide this option; for others, write it as an addendum) that discusses your interest in law school, career goals, and why that particular school is an ideal fit based on those goals/interests. Also, check out my blog on how to choose a topic for your personal statement. http://www.deanmeekerconsulting.com/deans-list-2/

Good luck!

[BillsFan9907]

I've got perhaps two controversial questions:

1) in light of the fact that schools only report the highest lsat, do any of them actually are about previous scores?

2) assuming there are multiple LSATs, do schools care about the reason for the retake(s)?

This question cuts to the matter of whether such addendums are superfluous.

[jw316]

I've got perhaps two controversial questions:

1) in light of the fact that schools only report the highest lsat, do any of them actually are about previous scores?

2) assuming there are multiple LSATs, do schools care about the reason for the retake(s)?

This question cuts to the matter of whether such addendums are superfluous.

Don't mean to hijack but when you answer #1.) regarding highest lsat/caring about previous scores can you do so from the HYS and non-HYS perspective?

[Cradle6]

One of the most common law school interview questions is of course: "why law?"

How does one answer such a question?

It seems difficult to articulate a satisfactory and specific enough answer to such a general question.

[DerekMeeker]

I've got perhaps two controversial questions:

1) in light of the fact that schools only report the highest lsat, do any of them actually are about previous scores?

2) assuming there are multiple LSATs, do schools care about the reason for the retake(s)?

This question cuts to the matter of whether such addendums are superfluous.

Don't mean to hijack but when you answer #1.) regarding highest lsat/caring about previous scores can you do so from the HYS and non-HYS perspective?

Well, I can discuss it from the perspective of having been the decision-maker at a top 10 school (which I would venture to say, based on sitting on many panels with my colleagues from peer schools, is a similar perspective at most T14 schools) and from the perspective of having worked - in my first admissions job many years ago! - at a regional school.

So, do schools care about previous scores? (And by that, I assume you mean "lower" scores.) I think the University of Michigan's response to this question on the FAQ page of its website nicely summarizes the prevailing viewpoint of most top schools:

"The ABA requires law schools to report score information based on an admitted student's highest score, and therefore, that is the score to which we give the most weight. We do, however, consider the average score as well, because data provided by the Law School Admissions Council suggests that it has the greatest predictive utility. The average score becomes less useful, though, as the disparity between two scores increases; for that reason, if you have a significant disparity between scores (six or more points), it would be very helpful to address any explanation for the difference in an optional essay or addendum."

So, will they look at all scores and consider them? Yes. But how much weight is given (or not given) to a lower score depends on the disparity between the scores, as noted above, and the reason for the disparity (which gets to part 2 of the question, because the "reason" for the disparity will be known to the school only if you provide an addendum). If I saw two scores that were within 1-4 points of each other, I wouldn't necessarily expect an addendum because that disparity is not atypical in repeat test takers. If I were to see a greater disparity between scores, however, I would want to see an addendum. And most of the top schools have something similar (including Stanford, via a blog) to Michigan on their websites in response to this question, though Michigan is the only one that lists a definitive point spread for which an addendum is expected. (Note, Yale's website says: "We do not average scores, nor do we look at only your high score.") The point is, there is likely to be some question on the part of the admissions committee as to why there is such a disparity and you don't want your application to raise any questions without answering them. So, it is better to write a concise addendum and explain why the higher (or highest) score is the better (or best) indication of your potential than to not write one.

Outside of the top 14 schools, I would simply say there is "diminishing" significance placed on lower scores in the case of multiple tests. (And many will not consider the lower scores at all.)

Now, all of that said, of course the answer to almost every admissions question really is "it depends." I know - it's frustrating to hear that and may sound like a cop-out, but the reality is, the admissions committee is always looking at each piece of information or each component of the application within the greater context of the application. What I mean by that is, if you've got two LSAT scores and there is a significant disparity between them, but everything else in your application is stellar and without question, I probably am not going to care so much about that one lower LSAT score. But if there are other weaknesses in the application, particularly ones that raise questions (uneven grades for example), AND I see multiple LSAT scores, then I'd become more skeptical and less likely to dismiss the lower LSAT score.

Rarely are answers to these questions cut and dry, but hopefully that provides additional perspective for you. The reality is, since the ABA changed its policy - which used to require law schools to report the AVERAGE of multiple test takers (and, hence to US News for rankings purposes) - to requiring that schools report the higher/highest score of multiple takers, this issue is far less significant in the admissions process than it used to be.

[sneakyleo]

I've got perhaps two controversial questions:

1) in light of the fact that schools only report the highest lsat, do any of them actually are about previous scores?

2) assuming there are multiple LSATs, do schools care about the reason for the retake(s)?

This question cuts to the matter of whether such addendums are superfluous.

Don't mean to hijack but when you answer #1.) regarding highest lsat/caring about previous scores can you do so from the HYS and non-HYS perspective?

Well, I can discuss it from the perspective of having been the decision-maker at a top 10 school (which I would venture to say, based on sitting on many panels with my colleagues from peer schools, is a similar perspective at most T14 schools) and from the perspective of having worked - in my first admissions job many years ago! - at a regional school.

So, do schools care about previous scores? (And by that, I assume you mean "lower" scores.) I think the University of Michigan's response to this question on the FAQ page of its website nicely summarizes the prevailing viewpoint of most top schools:

"The ABA requires law schools to report score information based on an admitted student's highest score, and therefore, that is the score to which we give the most weight. We do, however, consider the average score as well, because data provided by the Law School Admissions Council suggests that it has the greatest predictive utility. The average score becomes less useful, though, as the disparity between two scores increases; for that reason, if you have a significant disparity between scores (six or more points), it would be very helpful to address any explanation for the difference in an optional essay or addendum."

So, will they look at all scores and consider them? Yes. But how much weight is given (or not given) to a lower score depends on the disparity between the scores, as noted above, and the reason for the disparity (which gets to part 2 of the question, because the "reason" for the disparity will be known to the school only if you provide an addendum). If I saw two scores that were within 1-4 points of each other, I wouldn't necessarily expect an addendum because that disparity is not atypical in repeat test takers. If I were to see a greater disparity between scores, however, I would want to see an addendum. And most of the top schools have something similar (including Stanford, via a blog) to Michigan on their websites in response to this question, though Michigan is the only one that lists a definitive point spread for which an addendum is expected. (Note, Yale's website says: "We do not average scores, nor do we look at only your high score.") The point is, there is likely to be some question on the part of the admissions committee as to why there is such a disparity and you don't want your application to raise any questions without answering them. So, it is better to write a concise addendum and explain why the higher (or highest) score is the better (or best) indication of your potential than to not write one.

Outside of the top 14 schools, I would simply say there is "diminishing" significance placed on lower scores in the case of multiple tests. (And many will not consider the lower scores at all.)

Now, all of that said, of course the answer to almost every admissions question really is "it depends." I know - it's frustrating to hear that and may sound like a cop-out, but the reality is, the admissions committee is always looking at each piece of information or each component of the application within the greater context of the application. What I mean by that is, if you've got two LSAT scores and there is a significant disparity between them, but everything else in your application is stellar and without question, I probably am not going to care so much about that one lower LSAT score. But if there are other weaknesses in the application, particularly ones that raise questions (uneven grades for example), AND I see multiple LSAT scores, then I'd become more skeptical and less likely to dismiss the lower LSAT score.

Rarely are answers to these questions cut and dry, but hopefully that provides additional perspective for you. The reality is, since the ABA changed its policy - which used to require law schools to report the AVERAGE of multiple test takers (and, hence to US News for rankings purposes) - to requiring that schools report the higher/highest score of multiple takers, this issue is far less significant in the admissions process than it used to be.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you.

With regard to an addendum, what if you don't really have a good explanation - e.g. you just studied more the second time, or you just kind of froze the first time? Any honest explanation in at least the latter situation is bound to sound like excuse-making, I would think.

Thank you for this thread!

[DerekMeeker]

This is incredibly helpful, thank you.

With regard to an addendum, what if you don't really have a good explanation - e.g. you just studied more the second time, or you just kind of froze the first time? Any honest explanation in at least the latter situation is bound to sound like excuse-making, I would think.

Thank you for this thread![/quote]

Ah, but there is a big difference between making excuses and and taking responsibility. So, if you were to say, for example, when I took the LSAT the first time, I had a full and challenging course load and I was juggling multiple responsibilities due to my involvement in extra-curricular activities on campus, that is making excuses. But saying something along the lines of: The first time I took the LSAT, I did not properly prioritize my commitments or manage my time. I learned a valuable lesson...(and here is what I did differently the next time I took the test, and now I know what I will need to do to succeed in law school). That is owning a mistake, taking responsibility, and showing what you learned from it. And that is important for many reasons: it shows strength of character, honesty, maturity, judgment, professionalism, and commitment. Extremely important qualities for success in law school and for the practice of law (big time).

The bottom line is, if there is a significant disparity in test scores, in most cases, it is because the applicant did something differently and/or the circumstances during which s/he took the test were different. Just be honest (and concise) about whatever the circumstances were in an addendum, take responsibility and show what you learned from the experience. Again, that is better than being silent on the matter and leaving open the possibility for doubt as to your candidacy.

[Adrian Monk]

Dean,

Is it ok for me in my ps, to explain about how my upbringing, where i come from, and certain experiences have inspired me to towards a particular area of the law. is that ok? because ive heard some people saying that in ps, its not a good idea to explain what kind of law you would see yourself practicing. will it hurt me in any way? thanks!

[DerekMeeker]

Dean,

Is it ok for me in my ps, to explain about how my upbringing, where i come from, and certain experiences have inspired me to towards a particular area of the law. is that ok? because ive heard some people saying that in ps, its not a good idea to explain what kind of law you would see yourself practicing. will it hurt me in any way? thanks!

Hello. Yes, it is absolutely fine to discuss in a personal statement what type of law you are interested in practicing - as long as 1) it flows directly and naturally from the rest of the essay, and 2) there is something to back up what you are professing as your interest. Keep in mind that the admissions committee wants to have a sense of who you are (i.e., the perspective you would bring to the classroom/law school, how you would contribute based on your background, experiences, convictions, values, etc.), but they also want to have a sense of why you are interested in law school/becoming a lawyer. Somehow, that must be conveyed through the various components of your application. How you do it depends on factors that are unique to your application. What I mean by that is, you may not be able to put everything into the personal statement (particularly for schools for which there is a 2-page limit). You have to be very careful not to write a broad sweeping essay that is a mini-biography with a concluding paragraph that generically discusses what type of law you want to practice. It is a mistake that many applicants make. So, back to my first point: if you can write a substantive, compelling essay that is delving into a few specific experiences (flowing from your upbringing) and that naturally leads to your interest in law (and it sounds like, from your question, it does), then you have accomplished both goals (showing the admissions committee the perspective you bring and why you are interested in becoming a lawyer). The most important thing is that your personal statement is a stand-alone piece, i.e., it is a cohesive essay that tells a story. But if a 2-page limit for the personal statement is going to take away from your story, i.e., the story that shows who you are/perspective you would bring, because you also are trying to cram in your career goals at the end, then use a supplemental one-page essay to discuss your career goals and your interest in that particular law school.

Now, just to quickly address my second point above, i.e., that "there is something to back up what you are professing as your interest," again, as long as it naturally flows and there is a direct connection to what you are writing about, it is fine. So, for example, if you grew up working in your family's small business, you may be writing about your background (and showing what that taught you, skills and characteristics you developed, e.g., hardworking, disciplined, committed, able to manage multiple responsibilities from a young age, etc.) AND it may also have inspired your interest in business law, with a particular interest in working with small businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, etc. That makes perfect sense and has the potential to be a very strong essay. If, on the other hand, you discuss in your essay your interest in environmental law, and there is nothing (or very little) in your background/experience to support that, it of course comes across as disingenuous and the essay will not be cohesive.

Hope that clears up that myth! Sounds like you are on the right track.