<p>29 year old male. Im currently an enlisted nuclear power plant operator in the Navy. Im halfway through my sophomore year with a 3.83 GPA from a small school (Valdosta State University). My wife is in her second year of a PA (Physicians Assistant) program. Once my wife graduates we have decided that it is time for the Navy and I to part ways. I plan to transfer to a larger school, most likely the University of Georgia. I was curious what some of you think about my prospects of getting into law school/practicing law with such a late start. I understand that my LSAT will play a HUGE part in this however it is just not a piece of information I can provide at this time. One particular issue Im curious about is while I fit the mold of your stereotypical caucasion male (light brown hair, fair skin, 6'2", english is my one and only language), my paternal grandmother was from Costa Rica. Will my hispanic status help me at all in law school admissions and if so should I use it or would it just appear cheesy/sleezy? Thanks for any feedback you can provide and let me know if there are any further questions about myself that I can answer.</p>
<p>The largest hispanic tip goes to students who are puerto rican (then mexican americans) because these hispanic groups are underrepresented. Before you considered going to law school have you ever identified yourself as being hispanic? When you signed up for the military and they asked your ethnicity, what did you write down?</p>
<p>according to the lsac</p>
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What part should ethnicity play in my personal statement?</p>
<p>Many law school applicants mistakenly assume that the school to which they are applying only cares about ethnicity as a way of fulfilling an unofficial quota of ethnic minorities. This is not the case: Most law schools are genuinely interested in the overall diversity of their student body—**but you must show how your ethnicity will make you a better law student and ultimately a better attorney. It is not enough to simply state your ethnicity **or even to describe your personal history as it has been affected by your ethnicity. A key strategy is to do thorough research on every law school to which you are applying and determine the diversity goals of each school. Structure your personal statement with a purpose and with these goals in mind. </p>
<p>Remember that diversity is broader than ethnicity, and ethnicity is not synonymous with adversity. Do not assume that your ethnicity is the only way in which you can add to the diversity of the student body; consider your entire life experience. Also, do not assume that ethnicity must be broached in stories of hardships and misfortune. However you convey it, you are well-advised to be sincere in relaying your authentic story. Anything less will come across as contrived to the reader and will not be to your benefit.</p>
<p>I appreciate both of you for responding. To answer your question Sybbie, when I joined the military is actually the first time my heritage really came up. Both of my parents are deceased which for some reason caused me to have to produce MUCH more documentation on them than if they had been alive. When my recruiter saw that my grandmother's information he made sure to push through the paper work with me being "Hispanic" on it. So long story short, yes my military record reflects my ethnicity. I knew my military would set me apart some but I want to make sure I do every POSITIVE thing I can to set my self apart with prospective law schools when the time comes. Also, my Hispanic heritage in a way does play into my desire to practice law, one of the areas that is most attractive to me is immigration law. Again, thank you for the responses and I look forward to further correspondence.</p>
<p>
[quote]
One particular issue Im curious about is while I fit the mold of your stereotypical Caucasian male (light brown hair, fair skin, 6'2", english is my one and only language), my paternal grandmother was from Costa Rica. Will my Hispanic status help me at all in law school admissions and if so should I use it or would it just appear cheesy/sleezy? Thanks for any feedback you can provide and let me know if there are any further questions about myself that I can answer.
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<p>You are 29 year-old nuclear plant operator in the navy. You by no means would be regarded as a stereotypical Caucasian male. Your unique life experience, which is far more interesting/extensive than that of the typical undergraduate applying to law school, should mean far more to admissions officers than would identifying yourself as "Hispanic" for the sake of getting into law school. Law schools want their student bodies to be diverse, but diversity does not necessarily imply "race." As a 29 year-old candidate with an interesting background, you have a lot to offer law schools, regardless of how white, or male you think you are. You should not belittle your own life experience as a white male, like you do above, for the sake of applying under the banner of affirmative action. In terms of experience, you are at a huge advantage if you emphasize your time in the military, in a positive or interesting manner, in your application, instead of relying on some racial identity with which you have no legitimate connection/interest, besides your desire to get into law school.</p>
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Also, my Hispanic heritage in a way does play into my desire to practice law, one of the areas that is most attractive to me is immigration law.
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<p>I'm sure the last thing law schools want to hear is some bs about you choosing to pursue law to vindicate the rights of your immigrant relatives with whom you hardly relate. Seriously, you are much better off checking off the hispanic box on your application and being done with it entirely.</p>
<p>Hubrez: While I'm not sure I agree with Spanks's reasoning, I do agree with him substantively. (I suppose I "concur.") When you're asked, tell them truthfully that you are 1/4th Costa Rican. Whatever "bonus" they choose to give you will likely be a small one, but I don't think there's anything you could have done to affect that anyway.</p>
<p>Again, thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. Spanks, you make some really good points. I just hope the admissions people feel the same way when the time comes. Much of this whole process is quite foreign to me, other than my wife and my in-laws I will only be the second person from my family to graduate from college and the first to move into post-graduate work. I will continue to work on the things I can control (my GPA and LSAT preperation) and stop worrying about the things I cant. See you in the forums, Joseph</p>
<p>I think the "late start" will help you, both in applying and actually attending law school. It's a huge advantage to know that there are other ways to earn a living if you end up unhappy in law school. You'll be mature and responsible in ways that a typical 22 year old law student may not be.</p>
<p>Thank you both for your feedback. Faux, I can see where my being a late starter could give me some prospective on law school not being my only option in life but Im wondering as to how it can help me in applying. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with you, just trying to better understand your perspective. Perhaps some of your points could help me better market myself to prospective schools.</p>
<p>Being an older student is a huge advantage. Mature people (as a rule) come to class on time, do their homework, and are motivated to succeed because they've seen the alternatives. As someone else mentioned, the older student can more easily develop a Plan B if things don't work out. He or she is more likely to put events in perspective and not get upset over minor matters. If they've been successful on the job, organizational skills are rarely a problem. Emotional maturity wins the day. I saw this back in my teaching days.</p>
<p>The usual disadvantage is that older people have more responsibilities, like jobs and family, that may get in the way of studying.</p>
<p>A person smart and responsible enough to operate a nuclear power plant would probably make an awesome law student.</p>