Can you use the same personal statement for every law school?

Asked by: Amina Gleason  |  Last update: July 29, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (6 votes)

So, writing one essay to send to every school won't suffice. While you can write a barebones essay on one topic to serve as a skeleton, make sure to tweak and expand on it to suit each school's specific question.

Do you need a different personal statement for each law school?

Applicants should tailor their personal statement to each law school where they submit an application, Ivy adds. "Harvard Law School is very different than Columbia Law School even though both of them are excellent schools," she explains.

Can you use the same personal statement twice law school?

If you are a re-applicant, consider adding a new recommender to your existing recommender pool, one that reflects your current activity and acts as an update to your application. Begin writing or re-writing personal statement/essay; If you are a re-applicant do not use an essay from previous applications.

Can you use the same personal statement for multiple schools?

Can I use the same essay for all my college applications? You can use the same personal statement and additional information essays for all of your college applications. The supplemental essay is a bit different as it tends to be more specific school focused.

Can I reapply to law school with the same personal statement?

Even though law schools may see your old materials, don't just submit the exact same essays. They will want to see a new personal statement and supplemental essays to show that you really are taking reapplication seriously. Some schools (like Penn Law) will ask you specifically why you didn't enroll in school.

Picking Your Personal Statement Topic - 7Sage Law School Admissions

36 related questions found

Can you reuse your personal statement?

You should contact your choices for further advice about your personal statement and provide any further information directly to them. I applied last year and I want to use my old statement – is this OK? It's OK to reuse your previous statement if you have applied before.

Do you have to rewrite your personal statement as a reapplicant?

Yes, your reapplicant personal statement must be different from your original personal statement. After all, your story has changed, and your new personal statement must reflect that. This isn't to say that you should delete your last personal statement.

Can you send the same personal statement twice?

You should never use the same personal statement, when applying for multiple jobs you can use a similar statement for each, but it should be tailored to each individual role if possible.

Can you change your personal statement after submitting to one school?

Once submissions have begun, students can only revise their personal statement three times. It should also be noted that once an application has been submitted to a school it can no longer be revised. Any subsequent changes will only be reflected in the applications you submit moving forward.

Can I edit my personal statement after submitting to one school?

While you can't edit your personal statement after submitting it to a college, you can edit it between submitting applications. So if you pressed submit there is something you can do to avoid that sinking feeling in your stomach next time.

What to do if you get rejected from law school?

How To Handle Law School Admission Rejection
  1. Take a break.
  2. Exercise.
  3. Reassess your options.
  4. Consider waiting another year.
  5. Option to transfer.

How long should you spend on law school personal statement?

Law school applicants should plan to spend time brainstorming their topic, developing outlines, writing, proofreading, and revising their personal statements before submitting them. It can take law school applicants 2-4 weeks to write a good personal statement.

Can you appeal a law school rejection?

Although it doesn't happen often, law schools sometimes offer admission to previously rejected candidates. Alternatively, they may offer conditional admission or waiting list status. In most cases, however, an appeal does not result in a change of status.

What not to say in law school personal statement?

Lofty, pretty words that come off as vague should not be included in your law school personal statement. Be specific and look for overly abstract phrasings. If you notice one, try to determine if it's necessary and if so work on clarifying the point you are trying to get across.

How much do law school personal statements matter?

The personal statement, one of the most important parts of your law school application, is an opportunity to highlight your writing ability, your personality, and your experience. Think of it as a written interview during which you get to choose the question.

Who should read my law school personal statement?

You should have a peer, professor, or admissions advisor read your essay. The core question to ask them to evaluate is, “Do you have a good sense of who I am and why I want to attend law school after reading this?” If the answer is no, revisions are necessary. For big changes, rewrite instead of editing.

Should I use the same personal statement?

For many/most applicants, the prompts are similar enough that the same personal statement template can be used with minor adjustments for each school (see Tip #2 on personalization). For some applicants, however, the prompts are different enough that you should write multiple personal statements.

How many times can you change your personal statement?

You are allowed unlimited edits to the essay after your first application submission. To edit your personal essay, go back into the Common App tab and click on the Writing section. Simply click within the text box and make any changes that are needed.

Can I edit my personal statement after assigning it?

Reviewing/Editing the Personal Statement

Personal statements can be edited at any point during the application season — even when assigned to programs that have been applied to.

Can you use the same personal statement as you did 3 years ago?

It's OK to reuse your previous statement if you have applied before. However, if you are now applying in a different name, make sure you fill in the 'Previous Name' box when completing your application.

What happens if your personal statement is flagged?

The UCAS Similarity Detection Service

2.3 If a personal statement shows 60% or more of plagiarised matter, the application will be considered by Admissions but the applicant will be informed of the detected plagiarism and the seriousness of this offence.

Can I copy and paste personal statement?

No matter how similar the essay questions are, never simply cut and paste an entire essay. As we noted earlier, no two questions will ever be exactly alike. As you write or edit from a different essay, keep the image of the school you are writing for in mind. Try to individualize each essay as much as possible.

Do schools know if you are a reapplicant?

Assuming you didn't get in anywhere previously, schools will only know whether you are reapplying to their program, but not others. Moreover, they can only see your previous application if they saved it in their database.

Do you have to submit the same personal statement to all schools?

If you're applying to multiple graduate school programs, you should tailor your personal statement to each application. Some applications provide a prompt or question. In this case, you might have to write a new personal statement from scratch: the most important task is to respond to what you have been asked.

Is it harder to get into med school as a reapplicant?

Unfortunately, yes—reapplicants are at a disadvantage. This is because reapplicants need to demonstrate how they're a stronger applicant this year than they were the previous year. The medical schools you've already applied to will expect to see growth and notable changes in your application.