What Do You Need To Go Complete? (A General Forum for Specifics.)

[pikey]

To clarify on William and Mary:

• The personal statement is a typical general one (write about activities/accomplishments, personal or cultural background, career goals or special talents).
• The Optional Essay is to write about an event in your life of which you are especially proud.
• The other optional essay is for people applying to certain fellowships in Courtroom 21, Institute of Bill of Rights, Law Library, etc and should note your interest in and qualifications for those fellowships.
  

     

[spud1987]

I have a question.  If I'm a white, middle class, male coming straight from college do I have to write a diversity essay?  It doesn't seem like I could write too much for an essay like this.  I've had some unique experiences but I honestly don't think their worthy of a diversity statement. 

[Lorelai Gilmore]

To jump onto the last thread.  Is there a difference btwn a personal statement and diversity statement if the personal statement topic is broad, such as describe a life experience that has molded you to want to become a lawyer?  In that case, can't we just write an experience that makes us different with a lawyer spin?  Or is a diversity statement about getting through obstacles?  I'm a little confused on it.

[pikey]

To those who have questions about diversity statements, this is a good prompt (one of U Mich's optional essays) that I posted on the other board:

How might your background and experience enhance the diversity of our student body or of the legal profession?  You might discuss perspectives or experiences relating to socioeconomic disadvantage, disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, or religious affiliation.  You might also discuss atypical career goals, employment history, educational background or special talents or skills.

The diversity statement speaks to what makes you different from the rest of the applying class.  It doesn't have to be about a specific experience or obstacles that you've overcome.

[pikey]

Here's some of the stuff that I've researched for my apps:

Resumes
Columbia: Recommended
Duke: Required
GWU: Optional
Georgetown: Required
NYU: Optional
Northwestern: Required
University of Chicago: Required
University of Florida: Required
UVA: Optional
Vanderbilt: Optional

Optional Essays (or means 1 of 2, and means that you can write more than one)
Duke: Diversity statement or "Academic essay"
Georgetown: Diversity Statement
NYU: Brief statement to discuss your ethnic/racial/cultural identity.  Also invite you to submit any relevant additional info.
Northwestern: Diversity Statement and Why Northwestern
Tulane: Diversoty Statement
University of Michigan: 1 or 2 of 7

• Why Michigan
• Future Career Plans
• GPA/LSAT not reflecting your ability
• Descirbe a failure/setback that you've overcome
• Describe an experience that speaks to the problems and possibilities of diversity in an educational of work setting
• Skills/values of a good lawyer
• Diversity statement

U Penn: Why Penn and Diversity Statement and GPA/LSAT not reflecting your ability
Wake Forest: Diversity Statement
Yale: 250 (NOT OPTIONAL)

[xk]

Northwestern:

Why us and Diversity essays are only suppose to be one paragraph

You'd probably want to interview with them as well...

NYU:

RTK and other public interest scholarships require a seperate letter of recommendation and a 750 word essay discussing you commitment to public interest work

Minnesota:

Statement of Purpose

"As you prepare a statement, you should consider commenting on why you wish to obtain a law degree and, in particular, why you are interested in the University of Minnesota."

Yale:

Personal Statement is Optional


Named Scholarships for the T-14

Michigan:

Darrow (up to full tuition and stipend)
Invitation to Apply, additional essay (why you want a law degree, I think)

Columbia:

Hamilton (full tuition)
Automatically considered

Sharp (full tuition and stipend)
Automatically considered, interview

NYU

RTK, Furman, An-Bryce too many to name.  See the link:

http://www.law.nyu.edu/depts/financialaid/aid/scholarshipprog.html

I think several of the scholarships are run through the RTK program, which means that those interest should write the 750 words PI essay and get the additional letter of recommendation.

Georgetown:

Dean's Award (full tuition, I think)
Invitation to Apply, additional essay

Duke:

Mordicai (sp?)
Invitation to Apply, additional essay, interview (I think)

Penn:

Levy (2/3 tuition)
Invitation to Apply, additional essay, interview

[pikey]

Yale:

Personal Statement is Optional

Don't kid yourself.  I doubt very many people get into Yale who don't send in a personal statement.

[xk]

Yale:

Personal Statement is Optional

Don't kid yourself.  I doubt very many people get into Yale who don't send in a personal statement.

I didn't say I wasn't going to send one.  The OP's post was regarding what you needed to do to go complete, and you don't need a personal statement to do that at Yale. 

[dcarealsattaker]

Washington University (St. Louis) has a place in its application for a "Why WUSTL?" essay.

[FossilJ]

Moni and xkz, you guys officially rule.  That's a whole lotta editing I gotta do.