Law School Discussion

Good ones, y'all--snort--Jesus Christ trademarked

22. 101 ways to get out of Jury Duty

23. My epic college graduation party: beers, bongs and hookers

24. Abridged & updated diary entry from the day Kurt Cobain died

25. My first gavel

(I've had some wine, these may not seem funny to me later)

dani

Aight, Tex--heh--

y'all are great, this is fun--

7. How I convinced my parents illegal downloads are in fact perfectly ethical

all of my work over on the PS board gave me an idea--anyone here read McSweeneys? (http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/) I've been wanting a good idea for a "McSweeneys List," so as to be immortalized on their hilarious wesbite. Here's an example of a McSweeneys list:

Socially Awkward Situations During Which It Would Be Acceptable to Mess With Texas. BY BENJAMIN SUMLIN

Texas shows up to the party already drunk with the girlfriend nobody likes.

Texas partied too late, asks to copy homework.

Texas asks if it would be "cool to hook up with your ex."

Texas has a habit of spending more time than needed in the bathroom.

Texas bogarts the remote just before Lost.

Texas demonstrates little respect for "personal space."

Texas finds and eats the little snack cakes you've been hiding in the back of the pantry.

Texas needs you to cover rent "just until I get back on my feet, man, I swear."

Texas brings up an anecdote about his recent colonoscopy.
_____________

Here's what I was thinking:

Somewhat Dubious Law School Personal Statement Topics

1. Knows a guy who did the sister of the fellow who one walked Johnny Cochran's dog

2. The time I fell in a sewer

etc. Will it work? Will LSD be immortalized on McSweeneys? Well, only if some of y'all are freakin' hilarious, I guess.

(If I get enough funny ones to choose from, I'll post a poll to choose the best, & email it off with some moniker we choose.)

~dani

I totally agree with Redemption. Out of the 50 only 4 were awesome.

Redemption: Have you ever gotten "yelled" at for editing a ps. I told one guy his ps was a sob story but it was about someone else. I knew more about the other person he talked about. He was fuming mad when I told him.

In my years of tutoring, I've had people freak out on me, cry, break down--it's not the norm, but it happens. The thing is, the advice usually 'takes,' even if an acknowledgment isn't given--I call it 'flipping switches.' Once you've questioned something someone has written, they can no longer honestly take for granted that it is good. So, even if they're grumpy, they usually do something with the info offered.

I've only had one person give me the what-for so far here, although I suspect others might have wanted to tell me off. ;-)

dani

excellent--thanks for the post, Gemini! I've been trying to convince a few people to avoid the Autobio route--it *is* too busy, and the PS doesn't have enough room to do every subject justice. In the end, the adcomm has nothing memorable to walk away from the PS with.

Along this same line, I've heard that running through all life accomplishments is a no-no; that just reads like an extended resume.

It is best to choose 1-2 events that are symbolic of the direction of one's life/one's accomplishments. Choosing is difficult--that's why I advocate for "kill your darlings." Including *everything* isn't an okay compromise--it's a mistake.

I haven't seen any political essays yet, in the vein of your #3. However, I could see how applicants who are uber-political could write an anti-meat-manifesto, or why-Bush-rocks essay, or save-the-marmoset essay. I suppose this should be qualified, though--if someone worked on a marmoest campaign and did cool s***, that could be appropriate. I'm reading the adcomm's warning as "please don't send us an extended political rant--this a personal statement, not an op-ed."

That said, I've read some pretty smokin' essays here, and those who are really committed to the revision process are doing well, IMHO.

thanks for posting this info!

dani