Not so much.
As you’ve found out from my previous articles, the same rules just don’t apply when it comes to writing the law school personal statement.
Here’s why: when a simple word works, it’s best to leave it. When students try to replace perfectly suitable words with long, fancy synonyms, it’s often an attempt to sound more intelligent.
But law school admission officers can see right through it.
That’s not to say that using synonyms makes you look less intelligent. It just means law school personal statements aren’t necessarily a place for you to “show off.” Rather, they’re a place for you to make a meaningful impact on your reader: the admission officer.
And you can do that with simple language.
(The Hemingway App is a great tool for this.)
So, just how important is word choice in the law school personal statement? Probably not as important as you might think… but it still matters.
In fact, what matters most when it comes to word choice is selecting words and phrases that showcase your authentic voice, instead of trying to write like someone you’re not.
This is good news for you, because it will simplify the writing process
.
When students first start working with me, one of the things they tend to overthink is word choice. They expect to get each word out perfectly on the first draft. Oftentimes, they spend a lot of time thinking carefully about the next word as they’re typing.
In doing so, they lose focus and get off track.
After meeting with me just a couple times, they discover how to stop overthinking and instead write more naturally. (I have a few useful tips students always find helpful, and I’d be glad to share them with you, too.)
By freeing yourself from having to choose every single word perfectly, you can get your point across more easily with simple, effective language.
Then you can go back and fix as needed.
So how will you know which words to leave, and which should be changed for better flow and readability?
That’s where I can help. Not only have I showed countless students how to master the law school personal statement by achieving a natural, genuine voice, but I’ve also spent lots of time getting to know admission officers to find out precisely what they’re looking for. When I chatted with a former Harvard Law School admissions officer, she told me they typically review thousands of applications each cycle.
Will your law school personal statement have the power to stand out?
Let’s make it happen – just reach out, let me know what you’re struggling with, and how I can help.
Will share more soon,
Steve
P.S. Sometimes, writing the law school personal statement isn’t just a matter of finding the right word. It’s also about getting the words out in the first place. If you’ve been putting off your first draft because you don’t know where to start, I’m here to help. You can come to me at any stage of the process – whether you haven’t begun or you have a draft ready but it needs some polishing. In the meantime, watch for my future articles to get more advice.
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