- Posts: 6
- Joined: Jan 23, 2021
- Tue Jan 26, 2021 8:50 pm
#83581
For UT Law there is an optional statement* that could be an opportunity to expand upon my professional experience as an industry advocate working closely with state agencies and the legislature (full-time work while also being a single parent). My questions are:
1. Is this an appropriate topic for this optional statement?
2. If not, should I consider writing about being a first gen college graduate (as the daughter of a single mother)? Specifically that I worked full-time to help support my family while also going to school full time.
3. I assume the admissions committee will already understand that I am applying as a URM. If that's accurate, is it recommended that I expand upon that in my personal statement and/or optional essays?
Alternatively: If the personal background statement is appropriate to focus on my professional experience, should I consider my suggestion in question 2 above as a topic for an undergraduate performance statement**? The reason for consideration is my GPA is significantly lower than the average GPA cited on their 509 report.
*Statement of Economic, Social, and/or Personal Background: Texas Law is interested in specifically learning about an applicant’s economic, social, and/or personal background that may not be apparent in the rest of the application or shared in the applicant’s personal statement. The committee recognizes that ordinary predictive measures for academic success might be of less value if prior performance has been partly the result of other contributing factors. An applicant may choose to describe the challenges as a first-generation college graduate; an applicant's struggle with a serious physical or mental disability; an applicant's encounter with discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or national origin; or an applicant's limited educational opportunities due to geographical or other restrictions; or whatever the applicant believes is appropriate and relevant. The committee believes factors such as these may contribute to an applicant's academic potential and how they will enhance the richness and diversity of the learning environment.
**Undergraduate Performance: If your academic performance for one or more academic terms was markedly different from that of others, please explain. Please make any other comments about your college transcript(s) or your preparation for college that you believe will help the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application.
1. Is this an appropriate topic for this optional statement?
2. If not, should I consider writing about being a first gen college graduate (as the daughter of a single mother)? Specifically that I worked full-time to help support my family while also going to school full time.
3. I assume the admissions committee will already understand that I am applying as a URM. If that's accurate, is it recommended that I expand upon that in my personal statement and/or optional essays?
Alternatively: If the personal background statement is appropriate to focus on my professional experience, should I consider my suggestion in question 2 above as a topic for an undergraduate performance statement**? The reason for consideration is my GPA is significantly lower than the average GPA cited on their 509 report.
*Statement of Economic, Social, and/or Personal Background: Texas Law is interested in specifically learning about an applicant’s economic, social, and/or personal background that may not be apparent in the rest of the application or shared in the applicant’s personal statement. The committee recognizes that ordinary predictive measures for academic success might be of less value if prior performance has been partly the result of other contributing factors. An applicant may choose to describe the challenges as a first-generation college graduate; an applicant's struggle with a serious physical or mental disability; an applicant's encounter with discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or national origin; or an applicant's limited educational opportunities due to geographical or other restrictions; or whatever the applicant believes is appropriate and relevant. The committee believes factors such as these may contribute to an applicant's academic potential and how they will enhance the richness and diversity of the learning environment.
**Undergraduate Performance: If your academic performance for one or more academic terms was markedly different from that of others, please explain. Please make any other comments about your college transcript(s) or your preparation for college that you believe will help the Admissions Committee in evaluating your application.
