Saturday, November 1, 2008

Mistakes to Avoid in Law School Applications

Ok, been reviewing a lot of applications this weekend so I want to tell you of some common mistakes people have been making:

1. Pay attention to whether a school wants you to list things in chronological order or reverse chronological order.
2. Don't submit a 4 page personal statement when 3 will do. Especially when a school has a 3 page limit.
3. Don't forget to check a school's guidelines for their personal statement topics.
4. Don't try to write a diversity statement if you have nothing to say. If it feels like a stretch, it is a stretch.
5. Be very, very careful about the things you attach electronically. Turn off Track Changes!!!!

Hope this helps!

46 comments:

  1. Hi Ann,
    On my diversity statement, I accidently have the page numbers off on the headers. It's 3 pages, but I am afraid that this may discount my application, do you think I should re-email a copy of my statement with the pages correctly numbered?

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a great example of something I would not stress over.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Ann,
    Should I still re-send it with the correct page number? I am REALLY worried!! :(

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Ann,


    If the school has a 500 words limit on the PS and I sent out a PS with 700 words because I just couldn't cut it, will it really disadvantage my application?

    ReplyDelete
  5. You can if you are really worried about it, but this is not a big deal.

    ReplyDelete
  6. THIS IS WHY I need everyone to use names - here I have 2 anonymous people and it's not clear who I am answering.
    For the 700 word person, I believe in following directions. It's cocky to think you have more to say than anybody else... .I never have any problem getting a PS to the right length. But, that being said, it's not the end of the world either. I hope everything else in your application is fantastic and that every word in your PS was worth it ; )

    ReplyDelete
  7. Here's a good tip for the first anonymous and anyone else making minor errors- PRINT OUT YOUR FINAL APP IN PDF form before submitting it. Mistakes are more noticeable when looking at a paper application. If you want to save paper just go to print options and print multiple pages per sheet.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Ann,

    As I fill out my applications, I have noticed that there are many blanks for things that aren't applicable to me. Should I fill these blanks with N/A or is it okay to just leave them blank??

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Mary,
    Use your judgment on this because some things would look silly with an N/A and others, if you left it blank it would look like you forgot to answer.....
    (This is why I check my clients' applications before they are sent ; )

    Good luck!
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ann,
    I need to get advice from a third person because I cannot talk about this to anyone I know.

    I am an engineer at a very prestigious technological university and I will be graduating with High Honors. During my sophomore year, I went through a traumatic experience and had to go to private counseling for a year after. Subsequently my grades that year were not what they should have been.

    I am very confused as to what to do about my application. I do not want to use what happened to me or give any excuses for my not-so-stellar performance but at the same time I do not want to lose out on admission into a good school because of the dip in my grades. Should I submit an addendum?

    Thank you,
    confused girl

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Confused Girl,
    The answer to your question really depends upon what the underlying issue was. The general rule is that if it's something that would not impact your performance in the future, you should point it out succinctly and professionally and credibly in an addendum. However, if the issue would raise questions about your mental or emotional preparedness for the rigors of law school then you may want to reconsider.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ann,

    Thank you so much for your immediate response, I appreciate it greatly.
    Another thing I would like to thank you for is for giving us the opportunity of asking questions anonymously.

    My traumatic experience was that I was raped and I know that might be a little too much information, but I think it be more helpful in answering my question. Being a South Asian, the attached social stigma was staggering so I was unable to reach out to my family to help me get through it. Luckily through the help of support groups and my excellent friends I was able to get out of it and am performing at my best again.

    I have kept it private for so long and I do not even know where to begin writing an addendum. I have an amazing pre-law adviser who has been helping me with the application process but for obvious reasons I am absolutely unable to divulge this information to him which is why I am thankful for this opportunity.

    Do you think it would hurt my chances of getting in if I admitted to counseling and what happened to me?

    Thank you,
    confused girl

    ReplyDelete
  13. Dear Confused Girl,
    I appreciate your bravery in addressing this issue and I do think it should be mentioned - if its not your PS topic then it is absolutely appropriate in an addendum to put your undergraduate work in context.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  14. First, thank you so much for this blog!

    Secondly, I have a well documented learning disability. Despite my best efforts and letters of appeal written by my doctor, I have been rejected for MUCH needed extended time on the December LSAT. I have a pretty strong GPA (3.77), but I have been scoring in the low 150s to high 140s on every practice LSAT I've taken.
    Would it be appropriate for me to submit an addendum and/or a letter from my doctor explaining my disability so this is hopefully taken into consideration when evaluating my [likely embarrassing] LSAT score?

    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Slow Reader,
    That might be appropriate, especially if you were given extra time on exams in college.
    Did LSAC tell you there was any additional documentation you could provide to be reconsidered? If so, pursue it to the end - be an advocate for yourself. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Ann,

    I am very worried.

    I made a boo boo in my Personal Statement. I used too, instead of to. Will they notice? Will it make a huge difference?

    If so should I ask to send a corrected essay?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Ann,

    I made a boo boo in my personal statement.

    I accidentally used the word too, instaed of to. I am so worried. What are the chances they notice? Would that be a make or break?

    Should I call and ask them to let me replace the essay?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Call and see if you can send a new version.... Then send it with a nice little cover letter.
    For safety schools, this will not break your application. And, in reality, if this is the worst thing in your file then it's pretty darn good overall.... I've seen a lot of disastrous application files as a director of admissions....

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Ann,
    I have a sort of weird question-- I was enrolled in college for from 2003- Spring 2007, then spent a year working on an undergraduate thesis while not at all enrolled in classes (I did technically have an incomplete that year for my indepdenent study "class"). I got my degree in May 2008.
    I've worked full-time since Jul 2007.
    On my dates of attendance, do I put 03-07, or 03-08? I want to list my post-college work experience as starting in 7/07, but I'm afraid it will look like I'm trying to be misleading. I know they should be able to figure this out if they see my transcript, but I don't want to seem dishonest.
    Also, is it worth writing an addendum about this?
    If you'd prefer not to answer, I totally understand. Thanks so much either way for all the great advice on this blog!
    Lindsey

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi Lindsey - thanks for reading. Either a 1 sentence addendum or a footnote on your resume should take care of any concerns. Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Ann,

    Currently I am enrolled in an MA bioethics program that I hope to complete in one year (typically an 18-24 month program). My question is two fold:

    1) Should I make note of the fact that I am completing the program quicker than usual?

    2) To what extent does a graduate degree count in the application process? Can it off set such things like a lower undergrad GPA (3.36)?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Tom,
    It can be useful to point out how quickly you're finishing the program, and there are several appropriate options for doing so.
    While your UGPA will be what is used for index purposes by the school and is what "counts", your graduate work may be a "plus factor" in your application materials if you stress it effectively.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ann,

    I made a really stupid mistake on my application, and somehow checked 'female' instead of 'male'. Should I call my contact in the admissions office and let them know? Also, will this completely discount my application?

    Thanks,
    Dumb Guy

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dear Dumb Guy,
    I feel like there might be a "punked" camera on me.... this is definitely not a question that I've answered before, so you win bonus points there.
    Um, yes. correct the mistake.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Ann,

    Thank you so much for your blog. I recently submitted an application to a school before thoroughly checking the school's admissions website. I submitted my application with blanks but the school requests that you put "N/A" for questions that do not apply. Should I contact the school about the mistake? Should I send a new application? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Lauren,
    I know, those schools get you with the website instructions that aren't on the application, don't they?
    Call the law school to confirm if you're really worried, but this is BEYOND minor and is not the reason you won't get into school. You're probably the only person that even noticed that instruction : )
    Call the school and see if your application is considered complete even though you left those blank. If not, ask them how best to correct the situation.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Ann,

    I made a pretty silly mistake. I misspelled Summa cum laude on my resume. I know the irony is quite entertaining, but I'm worried about the implications this will have on my applications. I spelled it with one "m". Should I resubmit a corrected copy of my resume? Will it count heavily against me?

    ReplyDelete
  28. Zoola,
    I caught one of my clients making the exact same mistake just last week!
    For safety schools, forget about it. For others, send a new version of your resume and ask them to replace it (or at least add it) to your file. You get points for trying.
    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ok, Send the new resume in hard copy form to each school's admissions office? With a cover letter explaining the mistake? Should I mention the mistake?

    ReplyDelete
  30. Good morning,

    I have a question concerning addenda. After taking the October LSAT, I wanted to improve my score and decided to retake the exam in December. The day before the exam, I suffered extreme abdominal pain which precluded me from performing to my best ability. I canceled my score, and ten days after the exam, went through a major surgery.

    Should I write about this in an addendum to my schools? The point I want to get across is that I could have improved, given the higher scores I was receiving on practice tests, but that this severe illness (which resulted in surgery) prohibited me from doing so.

    I'm concerned that they won't be convinced that I could have improved significantly, if at all. On the other hand, this seems like a specific situation I would want to address.

    Thank you so much in advance for your advice!

    MK

    ReplyDelete
  31. MK, I think your surgery makes your reason very credible and is worth mentioning in an addendum.
    Good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Ann,

    I made a really dumb mistake. I accidentally filled in my graduation date as 06/08 on the common app form, and it populated all of my apps that day. My dates of attendance are right (08/03-06/07), but the grad date is wrong. I sent this to harvard, columbia etc. Should I be terrified? What should I do?

    kt

    ReplyDelete
  33. Katherine, don't be terrified but do correct the mistake. Send each law school an email with the correct date.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Ann,

    I too made a dumb mistake -- I listed one of my LSAT test dates as 10/03/08, when it should have been 10/04/08.

    Is it worth e-mailing the schools to clarify?

    Sincerely,
    Calendar-challenged

    ReplyDelete
  35. One day? too tiny to correct! don't worry about it! Happy Weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hi Ann,

    Thanks for your help!

    In general, though, do schools count "Correction" emails as a mark against you?

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi Ann,

    I have a question, I have applied to a law school which Im very eager to get accepted to (its my #1 choice) and I think I have a great shot at it. Because Im so eager to hear back I have already called once on the application status and was informed they haven't made a decision yet... is it okay for me to call back again and ask again a few weeks later (I dont want to seem to noisy etc).

    ReplyDelete
  38. Insanely quiet, some schools are just faster than others in getting back to people. I don't know when you applied, but so long as you know your application is complete, just hang tight and be patient.... No reason to call unless months go by...

    ReplyDelete
  39. Hi Ann,
    I got a 165 of the Oct LSAT and a 173 on the Dec LSAT. Should I include an addendum in my applications concerning the first score? My only excuse would be related to stress and under performance.

    Thanks,
    JW

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi John,
    That's a pretty significant jump. You should explain it, but a 1 sentence explanation is probably sufficient.
    Congrats on the high score.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hello Ann,

    Although I proofread my application three times, I did not sign it until I submitted the application electronically. I just reviewed my app, again, and realized that I entered the wrong date! It reads 2008 instead of 2009. Should I call the admissions office, or will it bring unnecessary attention to my mistake.

    Thanks,
    Living in the past.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi Ann,

    I am super stressed out by this process. I proofread my application three times for each school and dated the electronic app when I submitted the form. I just noticed that in 3 of my applications (Harvard, Penn, and Stanford) I wrote 2008 instead of 2009 in the signature section of the application. Should I call the admissions office correcting this mistake or will it draw unnecessary attention to my mistake.

    Thank you for your advice in advance.

    Living in the past

    ReplyDelete
  43. Pablo, I feel for you! Really!
    I would just send a simple one sentence email explaining the mistake in the date and leave it at that.....

    ReplyDelete
  44. Hi Ann,

    I recently sent out a couple of applications with my work resume attached instead of a law school resume. Will this affect my chances of being admitted in a major way?

    Thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I have a question that no one has asked. I may be the only one with the nerve. My UGPA is 2.6 - and yes, I have a learning disability but that is only a tiny reason for my undergrad performance. You can probably guess the larger reasons: fraternity, girls, sports. Now, two years out of college, I am incredibily REMORSEFUL and mad at myself. How can I come back from this lack of maturity? The LSAC told me that they will never consider more classes taken after the degree is granted. My LSAT is 155. I have grown up so much, and if I am given a chance to go to law school, I will be the hardest working student in the school. Can you give me advice? Thank you for this blog. Sincerely, Former Slacker.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Dear Former Slacker,
    I'm in such a good mood today that I am going to answer your question, but on my new blog page at http://www.lawschoolexpert.com/blog/

    (It's my birthday!!!)
    Ann

    ReplyDelete