Pre-Law Chat — November 22, 1999

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Chat Transcript:
Six Steps to an Outstanding Law School
Personal Statement

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:04:13 PM)
Welcome to Accepted.com's chat, "Six Steps to an Outstanding Law School Personal Statement." Tonight we will focus on writing bold and brilliant essays for law school.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:04:24 PM)
I would like to suggest that before we start, you click on
The Archeology Enthusiast,
Returning to School,
The Twilight Zone, and
Change
and print out these essays because I will refer to them throughout the chat.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:04:37 PM)
I encourage dialogue and discussion, but I would like to suggest a structure to make it easier to follow the threads of conversation. So here is the protocol:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:04:44 PM)
I will post material to the chat. If you have a question on that material, please type a '?' and I and/or other participants will reply. If one of you wants to comment on the current topic, please jump right in. If you want to ask a question on a different topic, please wait for the second part of the chat.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:04:56 PM)
I will open the second part of the chat to questions. Please ask any questions that you have pertaining to writing for law school admission - essays or letters of recommendation. Again if you want to ask a question or raise a new subject, please type '?'; if you want to comment on a topic currently being discussed, type away!

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:05:08 PM)
First I would like to start with a word about approaching the law school essay(s) as a whole. They represent a special part of your application: your opportunity to bring out aspects of your experience and personality that don't come through in the application, LSAT score, transcript, rsum, or activity list that you will submit, but reveal far more about you as a unique individual and human being.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:05:45 PM)
This year many of you will also write a "diversity essay." This essay and other supplemental essays are further opportunities to bring out material not brought out elsewhere. Again, view this additional essay as an opportunity. Don't waste it by merely repeating material found elsewhere. Exploit it by providing additional reasons for the admissions committee to admit you. Let them see you leading, initiating, overcoming, managing, and handling in different arenas, in this case, when dealing with diversity.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:05:52 PM)
So before you write a word, you need to

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:06:07 PM)
1) Review the questions and analyze which experiences and anecdotes best answer the questions.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:06:13 PM)
2) Determine which combination of experiences as a whole presents the most complete and impressive picture of you.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:06:19 PM)
3) Think about any deficiencies in your record that need to be addressed, and if so, what is the best way to do so.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:06:29 PM)
OK. That was an introduction. I want to start the main part of the chat with a question: What makes an outstanding application essay?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:06:36 PM)
Here are a few attributes of strong application essays:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:06:59 PM)
Justin, before I crank out my answers, do you have any ideas?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:07:14 PM)
about good qualities of an essay?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:07:19 PM)
Yes.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:07:56 PM)
some cogent argument for an application committee to think twice about you

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:08:06 PM)
Good idea.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:08:12 PM)
That's definitely the goal.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:08:17 PM)
Here are a few more:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:08:25 PM)
1) Answer the question

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:08:36 PM)
2) Provide a window into the real you.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:08:44 PM)
3) Demonstrate your critical thinking and communications skills.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:08:51 PM)
These descriptions definitely reveal important aspects of the application essay, but they don't go far enough for two reasons:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:09:04 PM)
1) You have been trained to write impersonal, objective academic papers or equally dull memos. That is being polite. You are trained to write papers that are BORING.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:09:10 PM)
2) They are very different from the engaging, stimulating, revealing pieces adcoms would enjoy reading.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:09:20 PM)
Like the authors of journal or legal articles that so frequently put you to sleep, you have been trained merely to convey information clinically and analytically, not to capture attention or engage.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:09:27 PM)
I prefer to define an application essay as a human-interest story about you. You are quite familiar with the genre. Our newspapers and magazines are filled with them because they grab your attention, hold your interest, and attempt to convince you of the article's message.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:09:37 PM)
Similarly your essay must grab and hold the adcom's attention - and convince the reader to accept YOU!

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:09:51 PM)
Which of course gets us back to the reason you suggested earlier.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:10:02 PM)
The admissions staff is made up of human beings plodding through boring, monotonous, frequently trite essays. They are desperate to read something engaging, exciting, and persuasive. When they do, it goes in the admit pile (provided the numbers are there, too.)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:10:10 PM)
Now that we have clarified what the application essay is, let's discuss how to produce one.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:10:16 PM)
Step 1 - General Preparation

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:10:25 PM)
First let's discuss the structure of our model, the human-interest story. It has four parts: lead, theme, body, conclusion.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:10:32 PM)
1. Lead or hook-captures the reader's attention and makes him or her want to read more. Typically the lead is an anecdote, question, gripping description of a scene, a startling statement or statistic, or a quote.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:10:44 PM)
2. Thesis statement

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:10:50 PM)
3. Body-material to support the thesis and anticipate possible counter-arguments or objections

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:11:02 PM)
4. Conclusion-wrap up the article.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:11:11 PM)
Any questions?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:11:32 PM)
Step 2 - Pick a topic and develop your thesis

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:11:45 PM)
"I don't know how to start!" is one of the more common comments I hear. Well to start you will need a topic and a thesis, the point you are trying to make.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:11:52 PM)
The topic(s) of your essays should reveal what is most important to you and distinctive about you. Read that again. You need to write about what is most important to you and distinctive about you. That is a crucial point. When you do choose a topic about which you are passionate, that passion will show through in your writing. And it is obvious why you want to distinguish yourself from your thousands of competitors.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:12:01 PM)
Furthermore, you need to choose carefully because admissions people don't have time or patience for the unimportant, and most schools want you to fit your life's story into two double-spaced pages. At one time, Yale's was even shorter (See "Returning to School"). That doesn't give you much space for expansiveness. Do not write a laundry list of your life or a rsum in prose. Carefully select what you will include.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:12:11 PM)
Once you have selected the topics for the different essays, make sure you are answering the question, if relevant, and making a point. The essays must contain a duality of description and analysis - what is important and why. If you only describe and fail to analyze, you will end up with the resume-like list or an anecdote with no purpose. If you only provide the analysis, for example an expansive theoretical analysis on judicial excellence or even a treatise on what you learned as an intern on Capital Hill (I didn't say at the White House), you will probably produce a pompous collection of platitudes. Maintain that duality of description and analysis.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:12:23 PM)
Analysis means you are making a point. That point is your thesis.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:12:30 PM)
Your thesis doesn't have to appear verbatim in your essay. Its primary purpose is to guide you in writing. A good thesis provides the backbone of a good essay. It helps to direct you; throw out anything that doesn't support your thesis.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:12:39 PM)
Let's take a look at our sample essays. Can you look at the archeology enthusiast's essay and boil it down to a one-sentence thesis?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:13:10 PM)
Actually, that is essay 1, which is what I think you don't have, right?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:13:14 PM)
would that be #1?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:13:43 PM)
OK, I'll just tell you. The thesis is "I want to be a lawyer because I like research, analysis, and writing, activities I have enjoyed on an archeology dig, at school, and while working for an Internet art dealership."

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:13:53 PM)
You can read the essay later. :-)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:14:08 PM)
How about "Returning to School," where the theme is tougher to discern.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:14:20 PM)
The theme is a little tougher to discern, but what would you say it is?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:14:50 PM)
I have experience, and that has sparked further interest

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:15:01 PM)
Good start. Here is my version:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:15:04 PM)
"I want to become a lawyer specializing in medical law because I will be able to combine my work in pharmaceutical sales and utilize my scientific undergraduate training while pursuing a career that will be constantly challenging and changing."

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:15:18 PM)
It's a little more focused and would provide more direction if you were writing the essay.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:15:23 PM)
That is one of the jobs of the theme.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:15:34 PM)
With a defined topic and thesis you should have the direction and focus needed to move on. Any questions?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:15:52 PM)
Step 3 - Outline your essay.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:15:59 PM)
Take a few moments to structure and order your essay. Ask yourself "What are the sub-points I want to make in my essay?" What anecdotes and specifics can I use to support those sub-points and my thesis." Remember to draw on different areas of your life and experiences.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:16:06 PM)
Order them logically and effectively. Again throw out anything extraneous.

paul bodine (22-Nov-99 9:16:06 PM)
(This user has entered Law School Admissions Essays)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:16:14 PM)
Step 4 - Write the body

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:16:28 PM)
Your thesis is the backbone, and your outline is the skeleton. The body, appropriately enough, is the meat of the essay.

Stacey (22-Nov-99 9:16:36 PM)
(This user has entered Law School Admissions Essays)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:16:40 PM)
We are discussing writing the body before the lead because some are more comfortable working in this order, but if you are more comfortable writing the lead first, go ahead and write it that way.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:16:51 PM)
I mentioned earlier that many writers state their theme towards the end of their lead or the beginning of the body. If you are writing a "story essay," an essay telling a story about one event, you may find it more effective to let the theme become clear as the story unfolds, as the pharmaceutical salesman did. His essay is the closest to a "story essay," but the examples I brought today do not really represent that genre.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:17:02 PM)
On the other hand, if you are writing a "tapestry essay," an essay in which you weave together disparate threads from your life's experiences to create a clear picture, you will probably need to include the thesis earlier in your essay. Generally, the reader needs to know the common thread in a tapestry essay in order to see the whole picture. The other three essays are clearly tapestry essays.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:17:13 PM)
Where is the theme in the archeologist's essay? Do you see how it provides a roadmap to the reader? What about "Change," where the theme is introduced in the first line, but really becomes clear much later in the essay.

Stacey (22-Nov-99 9:17:53 PM)
(This user has left DigiChat)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:18:33 PM)
Before we proceed further, I would like to perform a non-scientific experiment. Please respond Yes or No to the following questions:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:18:54 PM)
W. Justin, since you are the only one here it will also be an imagination game.

paul bodine (22-Nov-99 9:19:08 PM)
(This user has left DigiChat)

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:19:11 PM)
looks like Paul Bodine is here, too

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:19:13 PM)
or not

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:19:16 PM)
Let's assume there were ten pre-law applicants here.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:19:31 PM)
Paul is actually one of our editors. I told him I could handle the crowd on my own this evening. :-)

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:19:35 PM)
ok

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:19:53 PM)
If I were to ask the following series of questions, what do you think their answers would be?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:20:11 PM)
1) Have you participated in community service?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:20:18 PM)
2) Have you done legally related work in a volunteer or professional capacity?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:20:23 PM)
3) Do you feel your are academically (in terms of prior course work) prepared for law school? (If not, what are you doing here?)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:20:29 PM)
4) Did you or will you prepare for the LSAT?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:20:50 PM)
yes, no, yes, I did prepare

webmaster (22-Nov-99 9:21:08 PM)
This user has entered Law School Admissions Essays)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:21:14 PM)
OK. But you would anticipate some uniformity in their responses, right?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:21:23 PM)
probably

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:21:32 PM)
Now I am going to ask a different series of questions:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:21:40 PM)
1) How many of you have headed a political campaign?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:21:46 PM)
2) How many of you have worked/volunteered for a legal aid society?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:21:52 PM)
3) How many of you have done research in Bolivia?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:21:57 PM)
4) How many of you have worked for a cutting edge Internet art dealership?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:22:11 PM)
Would you expect uniform responses?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:22:19 PM)
uniformly no, actually

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:22:28 PM)
no being the answer

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:22:40 PM)
Probably only 1 or at most 2 could answer positively and in some cases none would fit the bill, right?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:22:50 PM)
sure

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:22:53 PM)
What is the difference between the two sets of questions?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:23:21 PM)
the first set is probably a given, and the second set is more pointed

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:23:48 PM)
Details make the difference.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:23:55 PM)
sure

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:23:56 PM)
If you talk in generalities you are very similar to your competition. Only by citing specific examples and using detail judiciously can you individualize your essays and distinguish yourself.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:24:04 PM)
Furthermore, would your rather read an entirely theoretical book, or a book that mixes theory and example? Don't anecdotes and illustrations bring to life the theory? Don't they make the book (or lecture) more interesting?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:24:21 PM)
I am assuming that is rhetorical

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:24:35 PM)
Not necessarily. Do you disagree?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:24:55 PM)
not at all- abstracts of a funding program bore me

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:25:17 PM)
And abstracts also bore readers of personal statements.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:25:31 PM)
Specifics, anecdotes and examples will make your essay distinctive and engaging. You can't just tell the reader you want to go to law school or maybe even your reasons for pursuing a law degree; you have to demonstrate that interest or whatever points you are trying to make.

webmaster (22-Nov-99 9:25:36 PM)
(This user has left DigiChat)

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:25:37 PM)
well, if you can, lets get one-to-one for a minute

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:25:46 PM)
OK

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:25:57 PM)
Go ahead.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:26:04 PM)
I have written a really good personal statement, but I was looking to improve it

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:26:21 PM)
Do you have a question on it?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:26:42 PM)
the pre-law advisor on campus, as well as several journalism professors have read it and usually gasp and say "wow" out loud

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:26:50 PM)
That's fantastic.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:27:15 PM)
I am wondering how much ground a PS can make to an adcom over mediocre LSAT/grades

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:27:41 PM)
Personally, I believe a PS helps to distinguish you from the crowd of people with similar numbers.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:27:57 PM)
hmmm- I might be screwed

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:27:59 PM)
I don't believe it can make up for numbers that are significantly below a school's mean.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:28:25 PM)
I think that if you are within 1 standard deviation from the school's norm, a PS can help a lot.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:28:39 PM)
149 LSAT- 3.1 GPA- 3.62 in upper level studies- I screwed around as a youth, and the LSAT just kills me

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:28:53 PM)
but barring unusual factors, like being a member of an under-represented minority, those numbers count.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:29:08 PM)
Did you take a prep course for the LSAT?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:29:19 PM)
I had a car accident that left me a paraplegic and went back to school to go to law school and be a disabled advocate- I am a paraplegic

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:29:36 PM)
That makes you a member of an underrepresented minority.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:29:56 PM)
I have great grades since the accident, but I took the LSAT twice- 149 the first time and 148 in Oct.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:30:06 PM)
How did you do on your SAT?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:30:21 PM)
ACT- I am from MS- I made a 26

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:30:28 PM)
I didn't take the SAT

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:30:33 PM)
Your more recent grades are in your favor. They do look at trends.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:30:43 PM)
I am not that familiar with the ACT.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:30:54 PM)
The point however is that these test are supposed to predict performance.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:30:56 PM)
me either, anymore- I am 32 as well

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:31:25 PM)
If your performance in school is much higher than predicted by the ACT score, then you can with justification question the LSAT's predictive ability.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:31:36 PM)
I am hoping that the added diversity and public advocacy choices will maybe swing me in at American, actually

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:32:09 PM)
I understand that there is a correlation between SAT and LSAT.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:32:15 PM)
I don't know about the ACT.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:32:35 PM)
I just want advice on which schools might be possible

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:32:37 PM)
You are a little below American's number.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:32:43 PM)
I would still try to apply there.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:32:47 PM)
yes, but enough to kick me out?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:32:59 PM)
Make your case: Improved grades with maturity.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:33:15 PM)
Ability to overcome obstacles.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:33:28 PM)
And, based on what you wrote above, an above average PS.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:33:32 PM)
I am hoping that the grades as of this time around, the disability and a good PS might help

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:33:45 PM)
I think they will.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:33:59 PM)
I would also suggest that you visit Loretta DeLoggio's web site.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:34:08 PM)
I don't want to use the disability as a crutch, but if I gotta deal with it, I might as well get something useful out of it

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:34:25 PM)
She is a law school admissions consultant who specializes in tough cases.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:34:35 PM)
I have e-mailed Deloggio, and she never e-mailed me back

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:34:38 PM)
Even if you don't use her services, her Web site is excellent.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:34:42 PM)
Oh well.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:34:53 PM)
I def. have a narrative PS

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:35:14 PM)
But I completely agree. You have to deal with it, and the story of how you are responding to it should make a unique and powerful essay.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:35:17 PM)
interesting story all around- I was in a rock band that had a major label deal

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:35:25 PM)
Then what happened?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:35:45 PM)
the disability, and the public advocacy angle I hope will bolster my PS

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:36:07 PM)
with the band?- the singer quit, and the other guys decided to call it quits

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:36:38 PM)
You definitely have what to write about. Nothing like life to provide the stories. Would you like to go back to the presentation?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:36:45 PM)
Or do you have other questions?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:37:00 PM)
no, I am interested in the presentation, but I had some questions

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:37:13 PM)
I think you answered them

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:37:18 PM)
Would you mind if I finish the presentation?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:37:21 PM)
please

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:37:41 PM)
Obviously, please stop me if you have any other questions.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:37:45 PM)
ok

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:38:07 PM)
We were talking about using specifics and details to distinguish yourself from the competition.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:38:13 PM)
So how do you include details? Write in specifics. Don't write about "my volunteer work"; write about "meeting Joe, the homeless Viet vet missing his two front teeth."

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:38:21 PM)
Don't write about interning; write about a specific project - research for a particular piece of legislation - where you took the lead and shined.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:38:27 PM)
Focus, focus, focus.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:38:33 PM)
Let's look at the sample essays again. For example, "Change."

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:38:50 PM)
Note how the writer uses detail to bring her theme to life. Can't you imagine her shock when she first boarded that New Jersey school bus? After reading her essay, do you believe she is a person with some metal to her? Is a personality coming through?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:39:01 PM)
Obviously, the archeologist makes excellent use of detail throughout her essay.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:39:08 PM)
Note the balance between description and analysis in all the essays. Do you feel like you are meeting distinctive individuals? Are they cookie-cutter clones?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:39:21 PM)
In writing your essay, don't be afraid to show emotion without being maudlin or melodramatic. Gentle humor is acceptable, but not required and should never be forced.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:39:32 PM)
Step 5 - The Lead

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:39:38 PM)
The lead, like the beginning of almost any written piece, is the most important part of your essay. Put your most interesting anecdote, tidbit, quote at the beginning of your essay.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:39:44 PM)
Let's review what a lead can be: an anecdote, question, gripping description of a scene, startling statement or statistic, or a quote.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:39:53 PM)
Whatever you do, please don't start your essay with "I was born in..." or "My parents came from...." Those openings are about as sleep inducing as Valium.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:40:13 PM)
Let's look at our sample essays. Please read the first paragraph in each of them.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:40:33 PM)
In "The Twilight Zone" the writer immediately grabs your attention and keeps it as she discusses the impact of the Northridge earthquake on her life and ambitions.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:40:45 PM)
The returning student uses anecdote to launch his essay. This lead represents an effective use of anecdote and detail. Any comments?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:40:53 PM)
Step 6 - The Conclusion

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:40:59 PM)
All good things must end, and so too must your essay. That's the purpose of your conclusion - to wrap up your essay.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:41:09 PM)
In the conclusion you should:

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:41:16 PM)
1) Restate or state your thesis

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:41:22 PM)
2) Remind the reader of those activities you really want them to remember.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:41:28 PM)
3) Tie up your essay by referring back to the lead.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:41:39 PM)
Let's look at our sample essays and see how they concluded.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:41:45 PM)
How did the Twilight Zone conclude?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:42:09 PM)
Interestingly, she too is interested in public interest law.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:42:27 PM)
She hit the high points again in her conclusion and tied it up beautifully by referring back to the Twilight Zone.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:42:38 PM)
You don't have to end an essay by returning to the opening image or anecdote, but if you can, you are really tying the whole package together.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:43:06 PM)
This concludes the presentation part of the chat. If you were really writing your personal statement you would need to go back and edit it thoroughly, perhaps show it to a few others (maybe even an Accepted.com editor) and finally whip it into top shape. But for now, I would like to ask if you have any other questions.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:43:21 PM)
I have one

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:43:25 PM)
OK.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:43:27 PM)
You have the floor.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:44:05 PM)
I start my conclusion with "If Christopher Reed can be an advocate for the disabled, I surely can." Is that too much?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:44:32 PM)
Have you mentioned Christopher Reed or similarities to his situation earlier in the essay?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:44:47 PM)
other than I have a spinal injury too, no

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:45:22 PM)
Obviously, it is difficult for me to answer without having read the essay, but I am a little concerned about introducing a new element in the conclusion.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:45:36 PM)
I don't want Reed to be stuck in there from nowhere.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:45:40 PM)
my thought was that if he is as disabled as he is and goes out and puts himself on display, I can do what I can

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:45:55 PM)
I am sure that you can and the point is well-taken.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:46:08 PM)
I mentioned the disability earlier, and use him as an example

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:46:12 PM)
Have any of the people who read the essay reacted like I just did?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:46:25 PM)
If not, then it probably fits.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:46:56 PM)
I don't think it is "too much." To the contrary, Reed is providing an inspiring example for many.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:47:19 PM)
ok, I feel confident about it, but I am always questioning, and will second guess even after the mailbox is closed!

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:47:30 PM)
That is the sign of a true writer!

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:47:51 PM)
I was hoping that more people would turn out and I could see some other questions

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:47:55 PM)
To the contrary, Reed is a symbol for and of the disabled.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:47:58 PM)
So was I.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:48:11 PM)
that was my thought

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:48:20 PM)
Let me ask you, did you find the presentation informative, albeit a little late for your purposes?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:49:03 PM)
I enjoyed looking at my thoughts on a screen..............but I enjoyed it

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:49:15 PM)
What did you think of my thoughts?

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:49:39 PM)
I enjoyed them- I have pounded this law school thing in my head for over a year now

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:49:53 PM)
I have done my time over this stuff, I think

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:50:06 PM)
I realize that you are really a little beyond the presentation content, but I thought I would ask.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:50:23 PM)
You may also want to talk to Maxx Duffy, who attended a chat here earlier.

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:50:34 PM)
it is always nice to see another person's ideas

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:51:09 PM)
particularly if you are concerned about handling that LSAT.

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:51:14 PM)
(This user has entered Law School Admissions Essays)

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:51:19 PM)
well, I'm off, and up out..............presentations for class, don't you know- thanks

W. Justin (22-Nov-99 9:51:25 PM)
(This user has left DigiChat)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:51:29 PM)
If i were you I would put my best foot forward in the PS, as you have apparently done.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:51:39 PM)
Hi Steve, do you have any questions?

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:51:56 PM)
Hi I 'm just looking for info on PS

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:52:15 PM)
Well the presentation part of the chat has concluded.

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:52:30 PM)
Bummer I look for the transcript

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:52:33 PM)
There is quite a bit of information on writing personal statements on the Accepted.com web site in the law section.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:52:43 PM)
And we will post the transcript probably in about a week.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:52:55 PM)
If you have a question, I will be happy to answer.

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:53:53 PM)
I don't have a BA and need to have an outstanding Statement. My LSAT is good, but I really need to stand out, any suggestions?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:54:17 PM)
Don't most law schools require a BA?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:55:14 PM)
I suggest you read the sample essays on the site and also review the articles in the law section of the Accepted.com site.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:55:30 PM)
Between the samples and the advice, you should find quite a bit of useful material here.

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:55:33 PM)
Yes, but I have found one here in L.A., that will accept me without one. ABA Accredited

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:55:43 PM)
Which one?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:55:57 PM)
Also, how far are you from a BA?

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:56:06 PM)
Whittier Law School, actually in Costa Mesa. Thanks for your help.

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:56:13 PM)
Orange County

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:56:34 PM)
I'm about a year and 1/2

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:57:17 PM)
If you have a high LSAT, have you considered getting the BA so that you can go to a more highly ranked law school and take advantage of the increased earnings that accrue when you graduate from more highly ranked schools?

Steven (22-Nov-99 9:58:59 PM)
I have and with a BA, I have a good chance of getting into USC or UCLA, but I already work a firm that will offer me employment having a degree from any school.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:59:24 PM)
OK. Well you have obviously done the calculation.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 9:59:51 PM)
I noticed that Whitter has a reasonable pass rate in California. You may want to ask them what their flunk out rate is however?

Steven (22-Nov-99 10:00:26 PM)
I guess I really have to think about that also, I don't want to sell myself short. Thanks for your help. I will continue on your site. Flunk rate is 13% is that High?

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 10:01:15 PM)
I don't think so. I believe that SW is much higher. I remember hearing that it is between 1/3 to 1/2.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 10:01:23 PM)
So Whittier's seems pretty good.

Steven (22-Nov-99 10:01:42 PM)
Thank you for your help.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 10:01:49 PM)
But with lower ranked schools, that have acceptable bar pass rates, you do want to check how much support you will get on the way.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 10:01:53 PM)
You are very welcome.

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 10:02:01 PM)
Have a good evening and good luck with your application!

Steven (22-Nov-99 10:02:08 PM)
Thanks bye

Steven (22-Nov-99 10:02:09 PM)
(This user has left DigiChat)

LAbraham (22-Nov-99 10:02:20 PM)
Bye. Thanks for coming. (This user has left DigiChat)