Stetson Law Admissions Blog

The LSAT is over, and it's time to send out applications. You thought the rest would be easy, didn't you? Then you sat down to write your personal statement — and you're still sitting there. How much should you share about yourself?  What will the admissions counselors think is important or worthy of acceptance? What makes my story unique, powerful, and interesting?  We know. It's tough.

We see a lot of personal statements done both well and poorly.  Here are a few mistakes we don't want you to make.

Attending law school is a serious commitment. Every student considering law school must be ready to invest time and money into this endeavor, and have realistic expectations about post-graduation returns. While some people attend law school immediately after graduating from college, many  people wait a few years and gain valuable work and life experiences.

Many applicants wonder how they can stand out from the crowd and get noticed—in a good way—by an admission committee. Candidates often try to write creative personal statements, find extra special VIPs to write letters on their behalf, or obtain impressive-sounding internships. Law school admission committees have received videos, photo albums, portfolios, resumes on pretty paper, poems, thesis submissions, and more. People are very creative!

We don’t have to tell you that choosing a law school is a big decision. The school you choose drives your future success, so it’s important to attend a school that you not only enjoy, but one that will give you opportunities to flourish.

Transferring to another school may be an option, but it comes with its own challenges and setbacks. For this reason, make sure the school you choose to attend is a school you would want to graduate from.

If you are in the process of applying to law school, take a few minutes to think about each of the components of a file and why they are important to law schools. In addition to reviewing LSAT performance and grades, a lot more happens behind the scenes when your file is reviewed. Law schools look at your writing skills, attention to detail, ability to follow directions, and demonstrated interest or research showing why you are applying to their program, along with the other components to your file.

I hear this question every year: Will you accept a June LSAT for fall?

The answer these days is a resounding yes!

Unlike in the past, many schools (at various rankings) accept the June LSAT for a fall entry. Because each school is different — and has different requirements— you need to ask your schools whether they will accept a June test.

Law school is hard — and can even be described as grueling. Tell any attorney about your dream to go to law school and they will reflect on their horror stories from the first year, the bar exam or even their notorious property professor.

Personal Statements are often thought of as the core of a law school application. Even if you have perfect grades and a perfect LSAT score, a poorly written personal statement will leave doubts about your ability to effectively communicate. Also, you may come across as arrogant because admissions will see you did not take a requirement seriously. This does not make you look good and might overshadow your high marks.

Before we begin, take a moment to recognize yourself for all the great things you have accomplished so far. Thank yourself for being you. Now, I have a sneaking suspicion that you did not actually take a moment for self-gratitude. That’s O.K. However, I encourage you to do this because it will help you get the application process started.

You may have read my Top 8 Most Common Mistakes When Writing a Personal Statement blog. These mistakes focused mostly on grammar issues, inattention to detail and the result of poor editing. Here are a few additional tips focused on what not to say in the statement itself.