Personal Statement Do’s and Don’ts

This blog comes from special guest, Dan Brooks, the founder of The Admissions Sherpa.

The personal statement allows you to show the admissions committee something they might not garner from the rest of your application. Some call it an interview or an elevator pitch. Here are three dos and three don’ts to remember.

The Do

1.  Be personal

It’s called a PERSONAL statement for a reason. The admissions committee wants to know about you. If you talk about an experience, keep the focus on your involvement and the impact it had on you. If you talk about a meaningful relationship, make sure the committee wants to admit you and not your uncle.

2. Be specific

The more details you can include, the better. Committees read thousands of personal statements in a given cycle (not to mention other addenda). Sincerity is paramount, and small details connect the reader with your story.

3. Be compelling

Everyone has a compelling story to tell. Find yours and tell it to the committee. Most schools have a two-page limit on the PS, so each word matters. Make sure every word has a purpose and is used to draw the reader into your story. No need for gimmicks or over-the-top attention grabbers. There is no substitute for a sincere and well-developed PS.

The Don’t

1. Aspire

If nothing else in your application indicates a genuine interest towards a specific sector of law, now is not the time to aspire. Your prior coursework, internships, and hobbies likely paint a picture in one general direction. If there’s no clear connection, don’t claim to know you’re destined for family law because you really, really want to help people. Unless you have a truly convincing case, you run the risk of sounding disingenuous or naïve.

2. Experiment

It may be tempting to write your PS in iambic pentameter, shaped like the school’s mascot, or disguised as a cookie recipe. Now is not the time to try something wacky; these tricks simply don’t work. Your PS should reach outside the bounds of boring while remaining well developed, well written, and free of experiments.

3. Repeat

A common mistake is to rehash your entire resume into your PS. This is a waste of an opportunity. The PS gives you a unique space to tell the committee more about an aspect of your life not typically put on paper. What motivates you? What experiences have shaped your life? How have you overcome a particular obstacle? Don’t feel as though the PS needs to be a comprehensive summary of your life; the best ones aren’t.

Bonus Action!

Do read each school’s PS instructions. While the vast majority of schools allow great liberty with the PS, some may provide a more specific prompt. Keep a keen eye for formatting instructions. For example, “your PS must be 2 pages or less, with 1” margins, in size 12 font.” Formatting restrictions often require unwelcomed edits to comply, but it’s better than being the applicant who cannot follow directions.

Best of luck!