Do law schools fact check your personal statement?

Asked by: Dr. Marcelino Swift DDS  |  Last update: July 31, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (51 votes)

Finally, this may go without saying, but don't stretch the truth or out-and-out lie in your personal statement. Law school admissions committees will be able to tell. And yes, they will check. Once you have a personal statement topic in mind, set aside some time to write—and just let yourself go.

Do law schools read your personal statement?

Law school admissions teams read hundreds of statements, so it's important to write one that stands out. Ultimately, a good law school personal statement is engaging, unique and descriptive of your personal qualities that would make you a good attorney.

What do law schools look for in personal statements?

We want you to use the personal statement to show us that you have the skills needed to succeed in law school, beyond what your LSAT score or GPA can tell us. We're looking for things like a strong work ethic, motivation, and the determination to overcome obstacles.

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.

Do law schools check your resume?

Getting into a top law school is extremely competitive, and will only be accepted if your résumé indicates that you are the best and most worthy for admission. So, if you submit a haphazard résumé, hoping your LSAT score and GPA are enough to get you in, you're most likely shooting yourself in the foot.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS | my personal statement

22 related questions found

Do law schools check your Instagram?

A study conducted by Kaplan Test Prep revealed that 43% of law school admissions officers have Googled or looked up applicants on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms. Furthermore, 37% said that they have found something online that negatively impacted an applicant's chances of admission.

Can a high GPA offset a low LSAT?

Emphasize Other Strengths

High grades can help offset a low LSAT score, as can strong recommendation letters from professors, professional experience and a well-structured personal statement.

What should you absolutely never do when writing your personal statement?

The ten biggest mistakes when writing your personal statement
  • Telling a story. ...
  • Repeating information already contained in your application. ...
  • Spending too long discussing personal issues. ...
  • Making simple grammatical errors. ...
  • Failing to demonstrate capability of university-level study. ...
  • Using clichés.

Is it bad to open a personal statement with a quote?

Don't use a quote.

It can be tempting to use a quote that has inspired you when writing your personal statement. However, admissions officers generally won't appreciate this, and it will most likely result in eye rolls.

What should you not start your personal statement with?

Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes and clichés like 'when I was young…' They want to know about you now, not your childhood or Shakespeare!

What do law schools look at when you apply?

There's really no way around it—your LSAT score, GPA, and the rigor of your undergraduate course work are basically the most important things law schools are looking for. Also keep in mind that your LSAT score and GPA can make a huge difference in the scholarships and grants you'll be eligible for.

What does a good law personal statement look like?

Tell the Admissions staff something about yourself, your experiences and your life. Use vivid, descriptive prose with the intent to draw readers in and keep them interested. A boring, flat essay can be the kiss of death. There are three different essays to consider when applying to law school.

Do law schools look at the writing sample?

Although LSAT Writing samples don't receive a score, they are considered by law school admission committees when reviewing individuals' applications. Each law school uses LSAT Writing in its own way. However, most law schools view LSAT Writing samples as an integral part of their admission decisions.

Can you reuse your personal statement for law school?

You don't need to write an entirely new personal statement if you are reapplying to law school. However, at the very least, the last few paragraphs of your previous statement should be updated to address why you didn't attend law school the first year you applied.

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.

Can I use the same personal statement for different law schools?

As you can see, while one draft reflecting on a particular interest or story could respond to most of these law school personal statement prompts, you cannot - and should not - submit the same essay for all law schools. Make sure your essay is geared toward answering the question each institution asks.

Who reads your personal statement?

Your personal statment will be read by both subject specialists in the course you have applied for and our Director of Admissions. If you are invited for interview, you may be asked questions relating to things you wrote in your personal statement or it may not be mentioned at all.

Should you avoid using I in a personal statement?

Consider The "I" Problem: This is a personal statement; using the first person pronoun "I" is acceptable. Writers often feel rather self-conscious about using first person excessively, either because they are modest or because they have learned to avoid first and second person ("you") in any type of formal writing.

Can your personal statement be about anything?

The good news is that most of the prompts are general and many of the applications--including Common App and the Coalition Application--will allow you to write about anything.

What makes a personal statement weak?

Choosing a bland topic that admissions committees see over and over again. Overstating the obvious and using clichés. It's very likely that the applicants you are competing with also like science and want to help people. Lying or making up a personal story for your essay.

What is the best closing sentence for a personal statement?

State in your conclusion that “I'm looking forward to learning how to embody [write down the course's values you resonate with], to grow and succeed in [mention your field of study].” There's so much value packed in this simple personal statement ending.

What makes a personal statement stand out?

Conventional wisdom leads to conventional personal statements. To stand out, an admissions tutor needs to be able to see you, your interests and experiences, your thoughts expressed in your own words. Keep it simple. Explain what attracts you to your chosen course and how the course may help shape your future.

What is the lowest LSAT score accepted at Harvard?

As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School. If you have a GPA of 3.94 or higher and above a 175, you are pretty much a lock for admission, particularly given the class size of ~560.

Is 148 a good LSAT score?

Typical LSAT score ranges include: 120-147 Low. 148-156 Mid. 157-164 High.

Should I cancel my LSAT score if I did worse?

Should You Actually Cancel Your LSAT Score? In the final analysis, if you have strong reason to believe you've done poorly, and if you have time to take the test again (and to further your preparation), there's nothing wrong with canceling one LSAT score (but only one).