1. Include Details
Which programs or courses interest you, and why? It may require a little digging to come up with those answers, but it’s worth it. It will show admission officers you’ve done your research.
Likewise, are there any professors or organizations you’re drawn to? Don’t just state that you’re interested in them, say why.
When we worked together, I encouraged my student Sarah to answer these questions. (We’ve looked at Sarah’s story in my last few articles.) In her supplemental essay, she specifically talked about a professor she admires at the law school.
Which details about your past education, work experience, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities support your interest in a particular law school program (and law school in general?
2. Link Your Objectives to the School’s Programs
How are you going to make an impact on the world? It’s a big question, but this is the time to start thinking about it.
It’s also time to start thinking about how your school of choice will help you do that.
My student Sarah, for instance, wanted to incorporate more sustainable options into the fashion world. Her latest projects included finding ways to reuse old clothing. But she needed the resources at Cornell, like “Walter the sweating mannequin” to see whether her ideas will work.
Sarah had very specific objectives that Cornell’s programs can support. It may seem challenging to identify your own right now, but with a little discussion and one-on-one work together, we can get there.
For instance, maybe you’re a prospective chemistry major. As you know, some chemistry labs are better-equipped than others. Does your top-choice school have the best chemistry lab in the Northeast?
Or is there a professor at your dream school who’s well-known in your major for making major advancements?
At the simplest level, try to show what excites you about your future, and how your school of choice can help make your future goals a reality.
3. Link to the School’s Values
A great way to show why you and the school are a perfect fit for one another is by linking your own goals or experiences to the school’s values or mission statement.
In doing this, you link your own goals to what the law school is best-known for. See how that might make a great impact on a law school admission officer?
You can apply all of these same principles in your supplemental essay, too.
But again, you’ll only be able to make a strong argument if you’ve chosen the right school for you in the first place.
If you’re still in the early stages of that process, head on over to my law school admissions resources page to check out articles on every aspect of the admission process, including choosing a law school.
Until next time,
Steve
P.S. If you’re further along in the law school application process, you might be wondering about how to connect your college major to law school in your application essays. Keep your eyes peeled for my next article, where I’ll share some strategies for dealing with this.
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