How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement: Write powerful essays for law, business, medical, or graduate school application

PART 1

CREATING PERFECT PERSONAL STATEMENTS
THE QUESTIONS
PREPARING TO WRITE YOUR ESSAYS
WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT: CONTENT AND THEME
THE ULTIMATE TEST FOR CONTENT
WHAT THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR
ALMOST EVERYONE MAKES THIS MISTAKE
GETTING CREATIVE—ESPECIALLY IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS
TAKING RISKS IN EXPRESSING YOURSELF
DISCUSSING YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
DISCUSSING WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT OR UNIQUE
DISCUSSING YOUR MINORITY STATUS OR DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUND
DISCUSSING YOUR MOTIVES AND ASPIRATIONS
DISCUSSING WHY YOU WANT TO ATTEND THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL
EXPLAINING DEFICIENCIES, INCONSISTENCIES, AND BLEMISHES
DISCLOSING SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET
DISCUSSING YOUR RECOMMENDERS AND OTHER“INFLUENTIAL” PEOPLE
WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT: STYLE AND FORMAT
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS AND CONCLUSIONS/SUMMARIES
UNCONVENTIONAL AND GIMMICKY WRITING STYLES
UNCONVENTIONAL AND GIMMICKY FORMATS AND PACKAGES
TYPEFACE, TYPE SIZE, AND HANDWRITTEN ESSAYS (PAPER-BASED APPLICATIONS ONLY)
PAGE LIMITS AND WORD LIMITS
OBTAINING ASSISTANCE IN WRITING AND EDITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT
SUBMITTING OR REFERENCING SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
THE TOP 10 DO’S AND DON’TS FOR WRITING PERSONAL STATEMENTS
TOP 10 RULES TO WRITE BY
TOP 10 PERSONAL STATEMENT PITFALLS
PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
THE AMCAS APPLICATION FORM
THE AMCAS “PERSONAL COMMENTS” ESSAY
“SUPPLEMENTAL” OR “SECONDARY” APPLICATION ESSAYS
APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOLS VIA THE LSAC WEB SITE

PART 2

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS AND IN-PERSONS INTERVIEWS
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
WHAT THE SCHOOLS WANT TO KNOW FROM YOUR RECOMMENDERS
SELECTING YOUR RECOMMENDERS
APPROACHING AND ASSISTING POTENTIAL RECOMMENDERS
UNDERGRADUATE PLACEMENT FILES AND CREDENTIAL SERVICES
IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT REQUIRE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
SUBMITTING FEWER OR MORE LETTERS THAN REQUIRED
“SEALED” RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
WAIVING YOUR RIGHT OF ACCESS TO RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
SUBMITTING A “DEAN’S CERTIFICATION”
THE LSAC LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION SERVICE (FOR LAW SCHOOL APPLICANTS)
COMMITTEE LETTERS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICANTS
THE AMCAS LETTERS SERVICE FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSION
THE GRE PERSONAL POTENTIAL INDEX (FOR MASTER’S AND PH.D. APPLICANTS)
IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS
ARRANGING FOR AN INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW FORMAT AND DRESS CODE
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE INTERVIEW

PART 3

THIRTY GREAT PERSONAL STATEMENTS BY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS
ESSAYS THAT RELATE A PERSONAL ANECDOTE
ESSAYS THAT ADMIT SHORTCOMINGS
ESSAYS THAT CONNECT THE APPLICANT’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
ESSAYS BY RISK-TAKERS WITH DISTINCTIVE POINTS OF VIEW
ESSAYS BY APPLICANTS CLEARLY FOCUSED ON GOALSs
ESSAYS BY APPLICANTS WITH UNIQUE LIFE EXPERIENCES
ESSAYS THAT EXPLAIN WHY THE APPLICANT CHOSE THIS SCHOOL
ESSAYS THAT EXPLAIN DEFICIENCIES OR BLEMISHES
ESSAYS BY APPLICANTS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO A CAUSE
ESSAYS BY MULTIFACETED APPLICANTS

PART 4

ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS
ADVICE FROM LAW SCHOOLS
BERKELEY LAW (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, SCHOOL OF LAW)
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF LAW
UCLA SCHOOL OF LAW
ADVICE FROM BUSINESS SCHOOLS
COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
THE FUQUA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, DUKE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS M.B.A. PROGRAM
LEONARD N. STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
AMOS TUCK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DARTMOUTH COLLEGE)
ADVICE FROM MEDICAL SCHOOLS
STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEDICAL SCHOOL
PRITZKER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON