<p>I will be applying to Law Schools next fall/spring and had a question some law students or admission directors could possible answer, specifically, what should I put on my personal statement? My friend said to write about coming from a disadvantaged background. He says that schools will be more willing to allow "someone like you to gain admission over others"...but I am having a hard time wanting to write something along the lines of "first college grad from whole family, poor growing up, got expelled from high school...and here I am now, a 3.4 student majoring in Philosophy, scored a 16(wont put last #), went to SFSU, etc." I feel it would be useful to mention my strengths, not a sob story. Well, I guess you could say it takes a strong person to do what I have done (not trying to give myself a comp), but from an outside perspective they would think so. Any hints that do not get at a disadvantaged background would be useful, thanks!!!</p>
<p>Essays</a>, Admission Information, Undergraduate Admission, U.Va.</p>
<p>(directed to college applicants but good advice nonetheless)</p>
<p>Don't know if this will be useful or not...but, I think it's important to not forget where you came from. Remember that you've probably have had obstacles others haven't. In my own experience, a college counselor(I know, not law school), really wanted to know what drove me to seek higher education considering my background and he urged me to write a personal statement on this topic. I think your other qualifications will shine by themselves, but if you write such a personal statement then your strengths will also be affirmed. Just by the fact that you have overcome them, etc. Maybe if you focus on one particular obstacle, it'll seem less like a sob story. But it will always depend on how you write it. It'll always have to be more on how you have moved past it, where you are now, and how much stronger you are rather than dwelling on how terrible it was.</p>
<p>I know what you mean. but you can always mention all those things in passing in a statement focusing on your strengths. these could appear as reflections on your life as you talk about what you have become, who you are, which is the point of a persoanl statemenet.</p>