if PS includes background, what can i put in DS ?

[LovingLaw89]

Fears overcome?. I was thinking about writing about my dental phobia and how i got over them, but it wouldnt connect much with being a good law student.
Experiences interning? I interned at a nationally recognized news channel & a civil rights organization.

Anything else?

Also, is one page, double spaced good enough?

[wjo9522]

http://www.lsac.org/JD/diversity/minorities-in-legal-education.asp

"We use the term diversity broadly to include all aspects of human differences, including but not limited to socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, geography, disability, and age."

Unless your dental phobia qualifies as a 'disability', I doubt that this qualifies as diverse, as defined by LSAC.

[fortook]

Not trying to be mean, but dental phobia- really?  No one likes going to the dentist or court for that matter, its just part of life.  Sorry, not everything in life that we don't like doing is a phobia.  If it were I'd have a phobia of grocery shopping- most annoying thing ever.

[fortook]

The civil rights angle is good, btw. 

[LovingLaw89]

Does it matter if the internship was from 12-08 to 5-09?
Also how long is it suppose to be? One page double spaced?

& my phobia story is compelling but I guess admissions dont want to hear that

[LovingLaw89]

Not trying to be mean, but dental phobia- really?  No one likes going to the dentist or court for that matter, its just part of life.  Sorry, not everything in life that we don't like doing is a phobia.  If it were I'd have a phobia of grocery shopping- most annoying thing ever.

No it's not that I didn't like going and that I was so scared that after avoiding the dentist for 12 years I went finally and hyperventilated and started crying n I threw up .. (I know) and this was during a cleanning!!

Anyways I got over it and now my teeth are fixed!

[fortook]

The usual standard is three pages double spaced, but I've seen a few schools limit it to two pages so I would keep it under three.  Just remember make it easy to read.  Admissions people get sick of reading the same crap over and over (I'd imagine).  I'm not sure why you would think 2008 is a problem.  Too long ago?  If anything its a good thing because it shows a pattern.  And 2008 wasn't that long ago, its fine.

Don't sweat too much over your ps.  Depending on you LSAT and where you apply respectively, it may not even be read.  Remember, some schools get thousands of apps and like ten people that review them- all applicants start to look the same after awhile. 

[LovingLaw89]

Thanks for your reply but i think you described how a Personal Statement should be, not a diversity statement.
I couldnt find examples of good diversity statements online. Are they only 1 page double spaced? Should they follow the same format as your PS (if its 1.5 spaced)?

Thanks and yes i think i might write about my experience interning at the civil rights organization.

[fortook]

Ha, sorry bud.  You re right.  I should read through the whole title next time .  Try Ivy files and TLS.  There has to be examples somewhere.

[wjo9522]

Try this link: http://www.top-law-schools.com/paul-pless-interview.html

Asst Dean Paul Pless addresses the DS issue in a TopLawSchools.com interview...

"TLS: Does Illinois accept diversity statements if one didn't initially send one along with the expected personal statement? Would you recommend doing that?

If you think you have something else to add to your file that is relevant to our decision, sure. Make sure it is concise."