When composing an application essay, it is important to think about how to make the essay intriguing for the reader. An effective personal statement would stimulate interest from the college of your choice, invariably making you stand out from the other applicants. To whip up an effective application essay, you have to make sure that the most basic and important ingredients are present in the article.
Effective topic
The first thing to be considered is the topic. Come up with a theme that is engaging for the reader. Do a little research if necessary. Bear in mind that the topic itself should demand attention. It should be something you are also interested in, so that you may be able to convey your thoughts in a more convincing manner. If you know the subject too well, you won’t risk sounding unsure or a little hesitant. You can be more passionate with your writing.
Good writing style
A good writing style conveys competency. One of the most effective methods of writing is by telling it as a story and letting the words flow from your hands. Avoid random sentences inserted in between paragraphs and instead establish an outline and follow it. Determine the subtopics you are going to discuss beforehand so you will not have any problems on what subject goes first. A good writing style promotes clarity of thought.
Grammar error-free essay
Proofread your personal statement as many times as possible. Submitting a grammatically incorrect essay will surely shoot down your chances of being chosen for the college. Most admission officers are very meticulous when it comes to grammar. Don’t be sloppy with essay writing. If you really want to get in, make sure that it’s clean and clear for readers to understand. Handing an error-free essay will promote your eligibility for the college.
Related links:
Improving essay tone – Improving the tone of your personal statement
Writing convincingly – Writing an effective personal statement
Bad essay samples – Identifying a poorly written personal statement
Writing personal statements – All about writing an effective personal statement
Personal statement advice – Guide to writing personal statements
Did you ever wonder why it’s called personal “statement” instead of just application essay? Well, this is because your application essay should have the same elements of a compelling speech. If you’re geared toward becoming a lawyer, then you should put more effort into your personal statement. Why? Because writing is second nature to legal professionals. Lawyers make legal correspondences and have to explain their arguments in details, especially when engaging in legal battles. If you can’t make a persuasive law school personal statement now or convey your message clearly, can you defend other people’s rights or convince the jurY in the near future?
Here are three simple tips that are sure to create a great impact on your personal statement. With these in mind, good essays can turn into golden tickets to law school admission.
Always be positive
Nobody wants to hear what cannot be done. So instead of dwelling on the negative, focus on solutions or propose something that should be done. This is especially helpful when presenting your views or position on certain issues, be it personal or political topics. When you express yourself using a positive language, you come off as enthusiastic, objective, and reasonable. Even if you express your own convictions, you won’t sound too arrogant or offensive.
Using a positive voice will also encourage readers to act on your behalf or at least hear out what you have to say.
Avoid qualifiers
An outline will help you get started the right way. You’ll then know what to write about and what to focus on. With a clear thought on things you want to convey, you won’t make the mistake of sounding too unsure. For this reason, you should avoid words like “rather,” “possibly,” “quite,” and “probably.” How can you convince your readers if you lack confidence in what you’re saying? Didn’t you give your ideas much thought? This will be the impression the admissions panel will get from your personal statement when you use qualifiers.
Vary your sentences
Even with great ideas or stories to tell, if lines flow the same, the admissions officer will easily get bored and may refuse to go over the whole thing. Although your law school personal statement is a serious matter, it doesn’t mean that you can no longer be creative. Express yourself better by improving the flow of your thoughts. Varied sentence structure can add more life to your essay. Use simple, compound, and complex sentences. Also use transitions to give readers warning signs to where your paragraphs or sentences are heading.
Grab a sample law school personal statement to serve as your guide. You have to see for yourself what makes a compelling speech or persuasive writing piece.
Using a Sample Law School Personal Statement as a Guide for Your Scholarship Essay
When applying for scholarships, you will most likely be required to submit a scholarship essay. These essays are a standard requirement of every graduate school or any fellowship that gives out scholarships to qualified students. Scholarship essays are basically personal statements that serve to demonstrate your qualifications, past experiences, interests, and your motivations in applying for the said scholarship. One of the best guides in writing an effective essay for your scholarship is a sample law school personal statement.
The scholarship essay and the law school personal statement
A sample personal statement for law school basically covers your reasons for attending the said law school, your qualifications in pursuing law studies, and the relevant experiences you have had which makes you a more qualified candidate. In other words, a law school personal essay should be a reflection of your qualities and qualifications. Writing an essay for your scholarship application is no different. This essay should serve as your introduction to the selection board. While an excellent personal statement will not automatically win you a scholarship, submitting a poorly written one can deter your chances of being shortlisted.
What you should include in your personal scholarship essay
Your chances in getting a scholarship are dependent on a number of factors. The selection committee will have to evaluate your transcripts, recommendations, annual family income, and, of course, your personal essay.
More than a simple recount of your qualifications and achievements, your scholarship essay should have a theme and a voice. To make it unique from the rest, your essay must also contain stories and examples. Different scholarship organizations provide different instructions, so make sure you follow the instructions clearly. Proofreading your essay will also help you achieve a well-written and error-free piece.
Since these essays are basically personal, there is no specific format which you can follow. However, you can use sample personal statements as guides when writing your scholarship essay.
Finding helpful sample personal statements
A sample personal statement for law school can be found on the web. Many colleges and educational institutions online provide sample personal essays for those who in search of valuable guides. Nonetheless, a critical examination of these personal statements is very important. You need to make sure that you are following an infallible guide, and not one that has loopholes in content or grammar.
Personal statements can be written using two approaches. You may use the more conventional or mechanical approach, wherein you will focus on your motivations, qualifications, relevant experiences, and your reasons in applying at the school. The second approach is being referred to as more anecdotal in style. Here you will use a more creative way in highlighting your strengths, through the use of stories, examples, and anecdotes.
Writing your scholarship essay can be considered as one of the more difficult, but nevertheless highly important, aspects in your application. With the help of a sample law school personal statement, however, you can pick up certain pointers in making your scholarship essay stand out from the rest.
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Skimming, Reading Critically, and Scanning a Sample Law School Personal Statement
One of the best things that you could do before you write your personal statement for law school is to read admissions essay samples. Read on and find out why you should do it and how to do it right.
Why read a sample law school personal statement
Admissions officers, experts, and professors recommend that you read several samples of law school personal statement. Doing this would give you idea on how to structure your own essay. You can actually use these sample essays as models when you write your own. But make sure that you only use excellent sample admissions essays as models. Below are the ways on how you should read a sample law school personal statement so you can get ideas from it.
How to read critically, skim and scan the sample admissions essay
There are various strategies for reading. One of them is skimming. When you skim, you go through the whole pages, trying to get the essentials in the materials. Another way is scanning. Scanning is going quickly through the materials, but this time, you look for something specific. Critical reading, on the other hand, requires time because it involves thorough reading and careful analysis of the materials. When reading, you have to pay attention to the structure and style of the writer in order to get ideas on how you should write your own essay.
How to start your essay
Before you brainstorm for the topic or theme of your admissions essay, you should look for many excellent samples of admissions essays online. You can also approach your friends or professors who have been into law school. Ask them if they could let you read their personal statement samples. First you should skim the essays to know what the topics of thesis statements of the essays are, then you should scan the sample essaye for specific information, and then you have to read them carefully and thoroughly. When reading the sample personal statement, take note of the its structure. Ask yourself what makes this specific essay attention grabbing. You also have to study how the theme was used effectively and how the topic was developed. Take note of how the writer used the connectives effectively to maintain the smooth flow of the sentences.
What to remember when using a sample personal statement
When you use a sample personal statement as model, you have to avoid plagiarizing the work of the writer. You should keep in mind that you are only using the sample personal statements as models. You only have to get ideas regarding the structure and style of the essay. In the end, your personal statement is still about you. This is why you have to write as uniquely as possible.
After you have made sure that the content of your essay is attention grabbing, you then have to ensure that the grammar and other technical aspects of your personal statement are impeccable. It is also advisable that you let a law professor read your essay because, more than anyone else, a law professor can give you helpful suggestions and tips if your essay needs revision.
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Effectively Discussing Your Motivations in Your Essay with the Help of a Sample Law School Personal Statement
The members of admissions committees look for a certain factor that could make them decide if you make or break your chances of getting into law school. You don’t have to write about a near-death experience or a tragic incident in your life in order to grab the attention of the admissions officers. Showing your passion and motivations for the field that you are applying to, if done effectively, will make them notice your admissions essay. According to some experts, among the most compelling essays are the ones that discuss about the applicants’ motivations.
Why talk about your motivations
One of the secrets of a successful person is a good dose of motivation. Motivation is actually the driving force that can help one go on even when adversity arises. If you are motivated, chances are, you won’t easily give up when obstacles come your way. This is why, for some admissions officers, a person’s motivations are a plus. So if you are a motivated person, use this virtue to get better chances of obtaining admissions into the law school that you dreamed of. Below are some tips that you should keep in mind when writing about your motivations in your personal statement for law school.
Tip #1: Be honest in writing your essay
There are applicants who think that in order to get their essays noticed, they have to make it grandiose to the point that they manufacture information about themselves and their experiences. Always remember that the people in charged of reading your essay are experts in the field. So for sure, they can see through your lies. It is important, therefore, that you do not sacrifice sincerity for a melodramatic essay. Even if the events or the instances in your life that motivate you to pursue a study law is not grandiose, moving, and life-changing, you can still use it to get better chances of getting admissions. Just focus on how this little spark of motivation can eventually grow into a flame. What is important is you don’t manufacture passion, desire, and motivation. Just write in your own voice and be very natural with it.
Tip #2: Strive for uniqueness
Uniqueness should be one of your goals in writing a personal statement. Many applicants would also talk about their motivations in entering law school. But you can still have an edge over these applicants if you just make an effort to make your admissions essay unique. One of the ways to do this is by presenting a four-dimensional picture of yourself. This means you have to include not just your strengths but also your weaknesses. Uniqueness can also be achieved if you take a risk sometimes. This means that you could try something new and creative when writing your essay.
Tip #3: Be clear and concise
Clarity is also very important. Your personal statement is your chance to tell the committee about the things that you won’t be able to show on your resume and test scores. So make sure that you state everything clearly.
You can read a good sample law school personal statement in order to give you an idea on how to write your own. There are available essay samples online.
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Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
If you’re planning to pursue a JD degree, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law is a good choice. The college opened its doors to aspiring lawyers and legal educators in 1964 and received its current name on 2006 in recognition of US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. As a major department of the Arizona State University, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law offers not just JD degrees but also hybrids like JD-MD, JD-PhD in Law and Psychology, JD-PhD in Justice Studies, JD-MBA, and a two-year MLS (Masters of Legal Studies). To learn more about the legal educational institution, visit its official website.
Baylor Law School
The Baylor Law School is the oldest law school existing in the state of Texas. The school was founded in 1857 and has since been a provider of top-notch legal education with a strong underlying Christian commitment. The graduates of Baylor Law School are remarkable and well-known for their excellent services as part of the federal and local government. Many of the alumni of Baylor Law School, with their education and training, pursued careers in public service and became senators, congressmen, judges, justices, and ambassadors. For more information on Baylor Law School, just visit its official site.
Ave Maria School of Law
Just like Baylor Law School, the Ave Maria School of Law integrates a Roman Catholic perspective with legal instruction. Located in Ann Arbor and established in 1999, the Ave Maria School of Law was granted full accreditation by the American Bar Association in 2005. The school offers degrees with specialization in philosophy and ethics as well as courses on Dignity in the Workplace, Papal Teaching and the Law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution. To learn more about the Ave Maria School of Law and its admission process, visit the official website.
Boston College Law School (BC Law)
The Boston College Law School, one of the graduate schools of Boston College in Newton, Massachusetts, was founded in 1929. What makes BC Law one of the most prestigious schools in the United States are its programs in public interest law, human rights, and social justice. The college also has very high standards in selecting students, assuring that only the most talented will receive quality legal education in BC Law. Among the notable alumni of BC Law are former American Bar Association President Michael S. Greco, US senator John Kerry, and others who became senators, judges, justices, congressmen, and ambassadors.
Brooklyn Law School (BLS)
Norman P. Heffley and William Payson Richardson established Brooklyn Law School in 1901 with a goal of enabling women, immigrants, and less privileged members of society receive legal education. BLS today has a diverse student body, as well as a multi-faceted academic community. In addition, the school offers joint degrees in partnership with other academic institutions. Examples of joint degrees are the JD-MBA with Baruch College, JD-Masters in Urban Planning with Hunter College, and JD-MA in Political Science with Brooklyn College. Learn more about BLS and its course offerings through its official website.
Boston University Law School (BU Law)
As a branch of Boston University, the Boston University Law School was founded by a group of law teachers, jurists, and lawyers in 1872 with the aim of enabling anyone with merit to access quality legal education. What distinguishes BU Law from other law universities is the fact that it uses the Socratic method of teaching. Through this method, students are encouraged and are able to engage in interactive and intellectual discussions with lecturers and and fellow students. Those interested in pursuing degrees at BU Law School may want to consider having joint degrees, considering the school offers them in association with other Boston University colleges and graduate schools. To learn more about BU Law and its curriculum, visit the school’s official website.
Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law (Campbell Law)
The Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law was founded in 1976 and is located in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The school is a graduate department of Campbell University, that is why it has Campbell Law as its shorter name. The aim of the school is to produce graduates who are professional and competent in the legal industry while showing strong moral conviction and social compassion. Among the programs offered in Campbell Law are the JD-MBA program and the JD-MTIM (Masters in Trust and Investment Management) program. The JD-MTIM is offered to interested students in partnership with the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business of the Campbell University. Learn more about Campbell Law, its program offerings, and the admissions process through the official website.
Chapman University School of Law (Chapman Law)
Located in Orange, California, the Chapman University School of Law was established in 1995 as a private, non-profit law school. It is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools and the American Bar Association. Students who would like to pursue a combination of degrees can look into the program offerings of this school and choose programs such as the JD-MBA, JD/MFA in Film and Television Production, and the LL.M. Degrees in Prosecutorial Science and Taxation. Graduates of Chapman Law are proud to have undergone training and instruction with an emphasis on good citizenship and ethics, making them truly competent lawyers. Visit the official website of Chapman Law to learn more about the school and the admission procedure.
Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law (Case Western Reserve Law)
The Franklin Thomas Backus School of Law is the law school department of the Case Western Reserve University, giving it the nickname, Case Western Reserve Law. It opened its doors to students in 1982 and has since been producing competitive, recommendable, and brilliant graduates. Many of them serve in the local and federal government as lawyers or politicians. Among the joint-degrees offered in Case Western Reserve Law are the JD-MSSA (Social Work), JD-MBA, JD-MD, JD-MA in Bioethics, and JD-MPH (Public Health). Check out the school’s official website to submit an online application.
Charleston School of Law (CSOL)
The Charleston School of Law is one of two law education institutions in South Carolina. CSOL was founded in 2003 with the aim of producing competent lawyers with strong moral fiber. To promote a healthy intellectual discussion among its students, CSOL hosts three student publications—the Charleston Law Review, the Federal Courts Law Review, and the Maritime Law Bulletin or MALABU. Topics covered in the said student publications include issues on human rights, current events, and legal studies. Learn more about CSOL, its program offerings, and the admissions by visiting the school’s official website.
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
Cleveland Law School was the original name of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law when it was established in 1897. It is the law school department of Cleveland State University that is located in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1946, the law school merged with the John Marshal School of Law and received its current name. Students who wish to enroll at Cleveland-Marshall can look into various degrees offered including JD degrees, LL.M. programs, and five dual-degree programs. As the first evening law school in Ohio and one of the country’s first schools to open doors to women and minorities, Cleveland-Marshall promotes quality education that is accessible to anyone. Visit the official website of the school to learn more on offered programs and admissions.
The City University of New York Law School (CUNY Law)
The City University of New York Law School was established in 1983 and is well-known for its specialization in public interest law. “Law in the Service of Human Needs” is the motto of the school and its curriculum is geared toward serving the disadvantaged and disempowered members of society. In accordance to and as proof of the aim of the CUNY Law curriculum, specializations and clinics revolve on issues in Community and Economic Development, Economic Justice Project, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and International Women’s Human Rights. More information on CUNY Law and its programs can be found at the school’s official website.
Marshall-Wythe School of Law (W&M Law School)
Thomas Jefferson founded the Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1779. It is the law department of the College of William & Mary, the second oldest college in the United States after Harvard University. W&M Law School, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, is the oldest law school that exists in the country and it is often ranked among the top 30 US law schools. A few of the most notable programs offered at W&M Law School are the Election Law Program, Human Rights and National Security Law Program, and the Institution of Bill of Rights Law. To know more about the programs, the school, and the admissions process, visit the school’s official site.
Cornell Law School
As one of the graduate schools of Cornell University, Cornell Law School was established in 1887 in Ithaca, New York. Cornell Law is also one of the five renowned Ivy League law schools. It offers JD-MBA, JD-Masters in Global Business Law, JSD, and LL.M., among others. In addition, programs such as Public Interest, International Human Rights Clinic, International and Comparative Law, Clarke Program in East Asian Law and Culture, and extensive externships are offered by Cornell Law. Apply to this school by completing an online application form at the official website.
Columbia Law School
Otherwise known as Columbia Law, Columbia Law School is one of the most prestigious legal institutions in the United States. This school is one of the graduate departments of the Ivy League-member institution, Columbia University, and it has a highly selective admissions process. Graduates of Columbia Law have become successful lawyers, congressmen, senators, businessmen, ambassadors, and diplomats. Among them are the famous Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt. Students eager to specialize in intellectual property, and corporate and international law will do better to proceed to Columbia Law because the said programs are the school’s forte. Learn more about this law school by visiting its website.
