Sometimes I wonder if I'm in over my head.
I can admit that my whole plan of going to law school is a lofty one. I've decided to apply this semester even though I'm still considering a gap year, just to keep my options open. The process of getting accepted into a law school (especially when you aim high like I do) is lengthy and stressful. There are many things to think about, all on top of trying to graduate from Tufts with my sanity and GPA intact. My senior fall semester is looking to be jam-packed full of studying, planning, and soul-searching as I try to navigate it all.
 |
| Add about 100 more puzzle pieces and you've got my current state. Source |
There's a lot I need to cover in the next 2.5 months or so, but I want to focus on one aspect in particular today - writing a personal statement. Similar to a college essay, a personal statement is supposed to show the school a side of you that they couldn't see from test scores and transcripts. The major difference between the essay I wrote to get into Tufts and the essay I'll write for law schools is the theme. Law school admissions officers are curious to know why you want to be a lawyer. They want you to tell a story that connects your experiences and desires with a law school education.
It's a daunting task. I have to get across my unique life experiences, positive qualities, dedication, and inspiration for going to law school in less than two pages. For someone who tends to be long-winded in the first place, just the idea of narrowing down what I want to say is overwhelming.
Since explaining things to other people often helps me find clarity, here's a list of tips for any personal statement:
Pick a theme. I think the easiest way to narrow down your focus is to decide on a theme before you even start writing. That way, you go into it with a sort of framework that you can organize your thoughts around. For example, I want to focus the personal statement on my desire to help people, which has been a driving force throughout my life. This is what I'll connect to why I want to go to law school.
Create a workspace. In my experience, finding the right place to work is critical. If I'm not in an environment that suits my needs, I find it a lot harder to work. I know that if I tried to write my personal statement in my dorm room, I'd probably be staring at a blank document for 4 hours and then going on YouTube. So, find a place that is both fairly comfortable, distraction-free, and conducive to your working style.
 | |
|
Make an outline. Up until a couple of years ago, I was the type who didn't understand the purpose of outlines. I took the "wing-it" approach with writing, just letting my thoughts flow one into the next. There's certainly an advantage to that - in fact most of my blog posts are written this way - but I find that something like a personal statement really needs more structure. If you start out with an outline, even a very sparse one with major ideas you want to touch, you're less likely to forget to include something. With only two pages, it's really important that you hit all the high points.
These are only the first things that came to my mind, but feel free to do your own additional research! The Career Center has lots of excellent resources for you to look through. Pre-Law folks, remember that there's also Pre-Law Advising!
 | |||
| The more you know. |
Now, go and make yourself jump off those pages!
Signing off,
Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015
