Think of it this way: you didn’t decide to quit school when your first option didn’t work out. You’re simply taking a different route – one that will give you better tools for reaching your end goal.
Now that you know your decision by no means makes you any less valid an applicant than your peers, it’s time to translate this idea into your own law school personal statement.
But how? And is it really that important?
As it turns out, acing law school application essays is critically important for students transferring law schools.
So, if you want to increase your odds of getting accepted by your law school of choice, you’ll have to provide a compelling law school personal statement. Here’s how:
1. Address the Transfer
We tend to want to shy away from uncomfortable topics. Yet, the law school personal statement is your opportunity to explain why you’re transferring. Avoiding the topic will only leave admission officers wondering, and they could draw the wrong conclusion. Explain your decision clearly, presenting the reasons why the previous law school wasn’t for you. However, avoid blaming the school, any professors, or other factors which could present the law school in a bad light.
2. Prove Your Worth
Next, it’s time to show your reader why you deserve a shot in the law school admissions process. What makes you unique as a law student? Which qualities do you possess that would make you a valuable addition to the student body? What are your goals for the future, and what positive impact have you already made during your education?
3. End on a Future-Focused Note
Once you’ve addressed your reason for transferring as well as the factors that make you a unique, desirable student, wrap up the essay on a future-focused note. Here’s a final sentence from an exceptional undergraduate transfer student essay (featured in a US News article):
As Doctor Samuel Johnson once said, “The next best thing to knowing something is knowing where to find it.”
-A transfer student whose essay helped gain admission into Amherst College
I don’t always recommend using quotes in the law school personal statement essay, but in this instance, the statement is a fitting way to keep the tone optimistic. Plus, it’s placed at the end of the personal statement, when the student has already written an entirely original piece in their own words. Thus, the quote simply wraps up what the student has said, and therefore doesn’t come across as cliché.
Ultimately, law school transfer students have some unique challenges in the admissions process, but it’s still completely possible to write a winning law school personal statement. Follow the advice above, and if you need any help, you can always feel free to reach out to me.
Until next time,
Steve
P.S. While these are three main rules to follow for transfer students, you should still bear in mind the other basics of law school application essay-writing, like “Show, Don’t Tell.” In my next article, we’ll discuss one of the most challenging law school application essay topics, and how I helped one student ace it. Stay tuned!
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