What should I include in my personal statement

[Sam M]

Hi, I've basically written my personal statement and have tried to follow most of the good advice I've been finding online - things like narrow topic, be yourself, show don't tell, try and paint a picture etc. Now that I'm going back through it I'm finding I'm running into really two main questions on how to make it better and appease the almighty admissions evaluators.

1. I'm writing about growing up in Israel-Palestine and how my experience influenced me as a person and why I want to go into law. The question is: could writing about something as divisive as this turn the reader off? Keep in mind there's nothing particularly inflammatory about it and I don't really "take sides" or really make my position known.

2. Is it important to explain why you want to go to law school (or how your experiences have lead you to choose law) or is this going to be a cliche/turn off for the admissions evaluator?

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Sam,

Just in case you haven't seen it: The PowerScore Ultimate Law School Personal Statement Resource List. If you have time, I strongly recommend watching the Personal Statement seminar I did.

Altight, that aside, let's move on to your two questions:

• 1. No, this is not a problem at all. Divisive topics are ok—they need balanced classes, after all—and it's all about how you write about it that matters. I've seen essays about being atheist that were killer, and then I've seen so-called "safe" topic essays that were awful. Execution is what matters
  
  2. It's nice if it works itself in naturally, but it is by no means necessary (unless they specifically ask you for an explanation, then you do what they want!). I've seen many successful essays that never mentioned a word about the law or wanting to go to law school.

Thanks and good luck!

[Sam M]

Dave, excellent, this is very helpful, many thanks!