<p>I've been going over applications and thinking about my personal statement and was wondering if anyone knew where to find well written examples of personal statements or a place that gives good tips. I went to my college's prep center and all their recs were useless and I thought the examples they had were overly dull and poorly written. I'm thinking that maybe I'm misunderstanding how these things are supposed to be written. Is it supposed to be similar to a cover letter for a resume? </p>
<p>There is a book by Montauk (Richard) & Klein entitled something like "How to Get Into a Top Law School" which has some suggestions and some examples. Anna Ivey's book on law school admissions may have too. </p>
<p>It is NOT at all like a cover letter for a resume.</p>
<p>jonri... Thanks. I'll look into that today. I didn't think it was supposed to be like a cover letter but some of the examples I've been reading have been very much in the format of "This is who I am, this is where I come from, this is why I'm qualified, and this is what I want to do." Some started out with interesting stories and such but some were just so dull. </p>
<p>I've been reading on other law forums and getting some pretty good ideas.</p>
<p>I know there's at least one book (and probably more than that) dedicated solely to law school admissions essays. Borders has an entire section for standardized test books, admissions books, etc. and they might have something helpful for your browsing. You can also find info online, but you'll have to be more skeptical.</p>
<p>While you certainly don't want your essay to put anyone to sleep, note that law schools don't subscribe to the creative prompts that many undergrad schools do. No "tell us your proudest moment," "imagine you were a character in a book," or "descibe yourself as a mathematical equation." They come, by and large, in two forms: (1) Attach an essay to tell us anything else you think we should know; and (2) Why do you want to go to law school? Still sounds like you read some pretty weak examples, but just be aware of this fact as you continue :)</p>
<p>Deloggio on her website (google it) has some excellent advice on her website regarding Personal Statements and other kinds of essays (including diversity statements). Top-law-schools and lawschooldiscussion websites (also google up) have excellent advice and postings on Personal Statements.</p>