To write a strong personal statement, most applicants have learned that it’s important to follow the age-old advice, “Show, don’t tell.”
However, many students ask, "How do I apply this advice to the most important essay of my education – the personal statement?"
Chances are, you’ve also heard that your personal statement needs to stand out – maybe that’s why you're reading this in the first place. After all, admissions officers read tons of personal statements, and many of them are similar to others. You want yours to be unique and inviting, but of course, still make sense to the reader.
So, how do you walk that fine line, while also mastering the “show, don’t tell” writing style?
It’s easier said than done. “Showing” is all about creating an image in your reader’s head. At same time, you have to make sure you don’t fall into the trap of “laying it on too thick” – this comes across as unconvincing and can end up hurting your chances in the end.
If you’re like most students I work with, by the time you’re writing your personal statements, you won’t have much control over your LSAT, GPA, and recommendation letters.
However, the personal statement is the one aspect you can still control completely. It’s the blank slate you’ll use to show the admissions officers why they should want you at their school.
Sure, your test scores and grades matter. Your achievements will play a role in the application process, but what’s even more important than those is how you present yourself.
Sometimes, students think the personal statement is simply a place to list the reasons why they’re great, and why School X should accept them.
Yawn.
No offense, but that’s simply boring.
You have a more compelling story to tell – I’m positive of that. I’ve helped thousands of students write captivating personal statements about the educational experiences shaped them into the applicants they are today. By working with them one-on-one, I’ve helped them tell their true stories in a way that grabs the attention of law school admission officers.
Another thing I’m sure of is that your story doesn’t have to be an earth-shattering tale of pulling a child from a burning building or climbing Mount Everest. (If you have a story like this, great! However, if you’re like other 99.9% of us, don’t worry.)
In fact, the best personal statements are brought to life by details that may not seem important on the surface. Did your “silent reading” sessions help you discover your love for reading and writing? Or, did your favorite professor encourage you to think about becoming a lawyer?
Let your readers see these specific moments in your life!
Then, use these images to support the points you want to make. How did this experience help to shape the person you are, and the person you’d like to become by attending your dream school?
Many of the students I work with say their lives are “too boring” and that nothing interesting has happened to them. After working with me one-on-one, they begin to see that this idea is simply untrue.
What matters is whether these events are important to YOU. You make the event interesting through the way you tell your story.
Bottom line: you already know what schools are going to ask about you. You also know that you're going to have to prove that you can describe your experiences and accomplishments in a persuasive way.
The problem is when you’re down to the wire and under deadline pressure, writer’s block sets in. All of a sudden, you have trouble remembering all the awesome things you've done. Or, perhaps creative writing has never been your strongest suit, and you’re struggling to find inspiration in the first place.
The good news is, you don’t have to be an English major to write an attention-grabbing personal statement. Nor do you have to wait until you’ve picked out your schools to start it.
Start Brainstorming NOW!
It’s never too early to start thinking about your educational experiences and the qualities that make you unique. Make a list, gather some anecdotes, and write these out long before you start putting applications in. That way, you won’t be scrambling to recall all of the amazing things you’ve learned at the last minute.
I recommend keeping a running document right on your computer desktop or on your phone. Think of it like a journal. (I know it sounds like just another item to add to your "to-do" list, but when it comes time to write your personal statements, you'll be glad you did.)
Here are some things I suggest adding to your document:
Your experiences – Consider clubs, activities, and sports, but think beyond these common extracurriculars as well. List some other kinds of experiences that helped shape who you are today.
Your accomplishments - If you add to this list every time you accomplish something new, you might be surprised at everything you've actually done. By personal statement time, you’ll have lots of information to pull from.
Your interests - You'll certainly go through a lot of these in your law school years. But what are the constants? Which passions do you always return to, and will continue to evolve well into your future?
You don't have to get super-detailed with these – we’ll get to that later. You can just add some quick notes and list the important insights to help jog your memory for writing time.
My wife and I had our first child in March.
