LSAT Blog: LSAT Unplugged YouTube / Podcast

Why law school applications are stressful (and how to fix it)

There are a few big reasons why applying to law school is so stressful.

For one, there are deadlines. Knowing you have to complete a task by a specific date can cause alarm. That’s a problem, because the closer you get to your deadline, the more pressure you’ll feel, and the more your creativity will be impacted. (That’s why I always recommend starting the law school application as early as possible – see my advice for beginning the law school application process.)

Another cause of stress comes from not knowing how to write the perfect law school personal statement. But you’ve come to the right place, and by now, you’ve probably collected lots of insights from my articles about how to craft a brilliant PS all your own. So, cross this stressor off your list, too. Even if you need more help, you can always reach out to me.

But there’s one final aspect of the law school admissions process that causes stress, and unfortunately, it’s not one that we can solve.

There’s no way to tell just how much your law school personal statement matters compared to, say, your LSAT score or GPA.

And it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon. Admission officers even say that transparency is impossible, because each student and law school has unique qualities.

So, part of the stress of applying to law school is simply coming to terms with the unknown aspects of the process.

We’ll never be able to know for sure to what degree each law school – or even how much each admission officer – weighs your law school personal statement over other factors. But one thing is for sure: the law school personal statement
does matter.

Google “How much does the law school personal statement matter” and it will yield all sorts of conflicting results. Don’t bother reading them. Like I said, at present, there’s no way to quantify exactly how much it matters.

But consider this: I’ve seen dozens of success stories from students whose LSAT scores and GPAs could have been better. They had their sights set on competitive schools, and perhaps their general application alone wouldn’t have been enough to help them get into these top universities. Yet, they used the law school personal statement as an opportunity to show admissions officers that they’re more than numbers and grades.

I bet you’re more than that, too. Shouldn’t you use the opportunity to show your law school of choice that you’re more?

For now, we can’t erase the unknowns. But what we do have the power to do is write the best possible law school personal statement for the greatest chance at getting accepted. Think of it this way: the law school personal statement could matter even more than we realize in admissions decisions. If that’s the case, it’s not worth leaving anything up to chance.

Write an incredible law school personal statement, submit it, and then ease your mind knowing that you did the best you possibly could in applying to your top-choice law school.

That’s how you avoid stress, even in the face of unknowns.

Until next time,

Steve

P.S. I’ll share with you another thing that matters: closely following the application’s directions. Some students get so wrapped up in their law school application essays that they accidentally overlook critical factors like word count and other requirements. Don’t make these simple mistakes. Always take the time to triple-check the prompt to make sure you’ve fulfilled all of the requirements completely.

Recommended Resources:

1. Law School Admissions Coaching

Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement.

2. Law School Admissions Guide
I've written a concise guide to the law school admission process with tips on completing every aspect of your applications from start to finish. It's a small price to pay for a whole lot of guidance, and it's short enough that you'll actually read the whole thing.

3. Law School Admissions Cheat Sheet
Quick-reference guide for the law school personal statement, the "Why X?" essay, and the law school résumé. (You can also get it with the LSAT Cheat Sheets.)

Law school application essays - “why our school?”

Each law school application essay topic presents its own unique challenges, but many students I work with feel that the “Why X Law School” prompt is the most difficult. I’ll share a bit of their experiences to explain why, along with tips to help you tackle this topic.

1. The Reasons That First Come to Mind Aren’t Always the Best
Maybe you like the law school’s location, or maybe you were drawn most to the updated dorm rooms. Of course, you probably have dozens of reasons for wanting to go to a particular law school, but the ones that come to mind aren’t always the ones that will make the best impact on admissions officers.

How to Overcome It: Don’t start writing immediately after reading this prompt. Instead, perform a brainstorming session where you list all the reasons why you want to be a student at your law school of choice. Think broadly, considering as many aspects of the law school experience as possible. Include clinics and journals and other forms of student life, as well as academics.

Explain how the school’s program would allow her to pursue your interests and goals, and how specific classes and extracurriculars would support your unique interests.

2. The Desire You Have to Go There is Difficult to Put Into Words
Did you just get a feeling when you visited your top-choice law school that made you want to be there? Oftentimes, these thoughts and emotions can be difficult to put into words.

How to Overcome It: Instead of trying to describe the feeling itself, think instead about the factors that made you feel a certain way. Did you sit in on a lecture and see how well a professor kept their students’ interest? Did the welcoming, diverse student body make you feel right at home?

3. You Also Have to Prove Why You’re a Good Fit for the School
Remember, you’re not just explaining why you want to attend your law school of choice. You must also explain why the law school should want to have you attending their school. Many students overlook this factor in the “Why X Law School” essay, and instead focus only on the school.

How to Overcome It: Explain which unique factors you’d bring to the law school. Do you have drive, passion, and dedication? Show your reader how you embody these unique qualities. If possible, try to link your personal values to the law school's mission statement to make a compelling case as to why you’d be a great addition to the student body.

Now that you know how to tackle the biggest challenges from the “Why X Law School” essay, it doesn’t seem so difficult anymore, does it?

Until next time,

Steve

P.S. There’s no getting around it – even with the right information, applying to law school is still stressful. In my next article, I’ll share with you exactly what makes the process so stress-inducing, and how to overcome it by writing an excellent law school application essay.

Recommended Resources:

1. Law School Admissions Coaching

Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement.

Law school admissions: transfer students

The law school personal statement is difficult for any student, but for transfers, it poses special challenges. There’s the dilemma of addressing the “elephant in the room:” yes, you are coming from another law school.

But that doesn’t mean you’ve failed in your educational journey thus far.

In fact, law school transfer students may have unique advantages in the admissions process. They’re already more seasoned than other incoming students. They know what they don’t want in an educational setting, and they’re also proving themselves to be dedicated to overcoming challenges.

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!

Recommended Resources:

1. Law School Admissions Coaching

Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement.

Law School Application Essay: Why X?

One of the law school application essays that many students choose to write about is the one that asks, “Why our law school in particular?"

There are different variations on this question, but they’re all asking the same things:

What is it about this particular school or area of study that you find interesting? Why? How will this educational setting allow you to thrive, not just during your time here, but also in your career?

There are two important components to answering these questions:

• First, you must describe what makes you unique. Which educational experiences do you have that show why you’re interested in a particular area of study? What will you bring to the law school that’s valuable to them? Why would they want to have you as a student?

• Secondly, you must also describe why the law school is the perfect fit for you. What attracts you to that law school? Is it a specific professor? Does one of their programs have a unique advantage that you’re drawn to?

In the first version of her essay for Stanford Law School, Samantha achieved only one of these components. She told us about only herself, highlighting her interest in patent law.

The problem was, she left out what made Stanford Law so appealing to her.

By leaving out this one essential element, she really only completed half of the essay. Even though it met the word count requirements, her original essay would have been missing a key element, and law school admission officers would have noticed.

Thankfully, Samantha came to me for help and we were able to catch the mistake in time. For her final version, Samantha's essay had clear examples of why Stanford Law would provide the perfect learning environment for her.

She also cited the Dean’s philosophy and how it relates to her educational and career goals and explains how some of the school’s legal clinics truly excite her.

Could your essay be missing some key details like Samantha's was? Don’t submit it before finding out. Read about how you can answer the question, “Why do you want to go to this law school?” in my articles here, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need any further help.

Until next time,

Steve

P.S. There’s a lot more to writing a “Why X Law School” essay than the two bullet points I listed above. While those are the two main components, you must also incorporate the other elements of law school application essay-writing we’ve discussed so far, like “show don’t tell.” I know it’s a lot to remember, but when you have a well-written law school application essay that can help get you into your top-choice school, it will certainly pay off!

Recommended Resources:

1. Law School Admissions Coaching

Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement.

Law school personal statement stress

For as long as it has existed, the law school personal statement has been a source of stress for students planning to continue their education. Unfortunately, as more students have their sights set on top law schools than ever before, competition to get into those law schools is increasing.

That means the law school personal statement will probably always be a stressful process. But aside from the fierce competition of getting into, say, a top-14 law school, what else makes the process so mentally and emotionally challenging?

In my experience, many applicants find the law school personal statement more stressful than even the LSAT!

Why?

Because the law school personal statement is unlike anything most applicants have ever written before.

It’s not a persuasive essay, nor is it a research paper. It’s certainly not the five-paragraph essay you’ve been writing since grade school, nor is it simply a creative writing exercise.

Doing something completely new for the first time can make us nervous. But when you’re doing something new for the first time that also has such a significant impact on your future, it can be terrifying.

But there’s good news. Although the law school personal statement is indeed important – perhaps even the most important component of your application -- after your LSAT score and GPA, of course -- it may not need to be as stress-inducing as you think.

One way to alleviate some of the stress of the law school personal statement is to remember admission officers are just people, too. (You can see that from my discussions with them on the LSAT Unplugged YouTube channel and podcast.)

And here’s what one undergraduate admission officer had to say about the process:

“Sometimes, the fear or the stress out there is that the student thinks the essay is passed around a table of imposing figures, and they read that essay and put it down and take a yea or nay vote, and that determines the student’s outcome. That is not at all the case.”

This quote comes from Tim Wolfe, an associate provost for enrollment and dean of admission for the College of William & Mary. Wolfe further clarifies that he simply views the essay as “one more way to learn something about an applicant.”

He also says that while he’s seen well-written essays, they don’t always send a powerful message about the student who wrote them, and they wind up being forgotten. On the other hand, essays that convey student’s personality and experiences are the ones that truly stand out.

Ultimately, the process of writing the law school personal statement will always be stressful. But as long as you’re delivering a clear and powerful message that can really resonate with your audience, you may not have to be as worried as you’d think.

Until next time,

Steve

P.S. Part of making as powerful an impact as possible with your law school personal statement starts with choosing the right topic. While many topics are similar in nature, selecting the general theme that best aligns with your unique experiences is important. Find out how to do that with these guides.

Recommended Resources:

1. Law School Admissions Coaching

Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement.

Law school personal statement review

You’ve been following my advice, and you think you’ve written the best possible law school personal statement you can.

You’ve used the “show, don’t tell” writing technique, checked for grammatical errors, and used spell check.

You’ve also made sure your law school personal statement answers the 7 most important questions I’ve listed here.

Maybe you’ve printed out your law school personal statement, since reading it on paper can help you find mistakes that are easy to spot on the screen.

Maybe you’ve even read your law school personal statement out loud, which is something I recommend to all of my students. (It allows you to identify any awkward phrasing or areas that might be a little unclear.)

By this point, maybe your law school personal statement looks absolutely flawless to you. Think you’re ready to submit it?

Not just yet.

Why not? There’s one final – but critically important – thing you must do before you send it off.

You absolutely must have someone else read your law school personal statement.

See, when students write their law school personal statements, they may assume that their reader will understand their thoughts. This happens to all of us, and it’s because we’re the ones writing. If it makes sense to us, we just believe it will also make sense to our audience.

The problem lies in the fact that there are sometimes things you may know that your reader will not. The only way to tell for sure whether you might have an issue like this in your law school personal statement is to have someone else read it.

Who could read it? That’s completely up to you. But sometimes, it may help to have someone who isn’t super close to you take a look.

If someone knows you too well – say, a best friend, sibling, or parent – they, too, might fall into the same trap. They might understand things about you that won’t be obvious to a law school admission officer, who doesn’t know you at all.

For this reason, you might seek out a professor, mentor, or classmate who’s a friend (but perhaps not your best friend) whose input you value. Of course, you could also come to me, too!

Just why is it so important to have another set of eyes look over your work?

Let me share a story as an example:

Lauren, a student who came to me with her law school personal statement, lacked some details in her first draft, making her essay a bit difficult to follow. Her goal was to study both business and law (dual-degree JD/MBA). She explained in her law school personal statement how having both business and legal skills would be useful for her career goals. Yet, she needed to clarify how her educational and work experiences experience led her to value these two very different subjects.

By encouraging her to dig a little deeper, I helped Lauren share her business and legal experiences in her essay (including participation in a startup incubator). The end result was a much clearer personal statement that was easy to follow and made a more powerful statement about her educational passions.

What could a second set of eyes do for your law school personal statement?

Until next time,

Steve

P.S. Have you ever wondered what law school admission officers have to say about the stress caused by the law school personal statement? Check out my discussions with them on the LSAT Unplugged podcast and YouTube channel.

Recommended Resources:

1. Law School Admissions Coaching

Get personalized 1-1 help on every aspect of the law school admission process -- or just the law school personal statement.

Want to increase your LSAT score? Get my free Easy LSAT Cheat Sheet today.

LSAT Blog: LSAT Unplugged YouTube / Podcast

Pages

Why law school applications are stressful (and how to fix it)

Law school application essays - “why our school?”

Law school admissions: transfer students

Law School Application Essay: Why X?

Law school personal statement stress

Law school personal statement review

About Steve Schwartz