Telling Your Story: Brainstorming on Your Law School Personal Statement
A personal statement is really no more than telling a story—one that illuminates the “you” a law school would be lucky to have in its student body. In this series, a jdMission Senior Consultant will discuss how elements of storytelling can—and should—be applied to your personal statement.
About a year ago, my sister called and asked what I was doing.
“I’m brainstorming ideas for my book,” I told her.
“With whom?” she asked. I was alone.
“I’m pretty sure if you’re by yourself, it’s just called thinking,” she said. Ah. Indeed.
Brainstorming, as we all know, is a term commonly (over-)used today in business, education and pretty much any environment to describe how a group generates as many ideas as possible. Apparently, some of us use the term for individuals as well.
Here is why I think I did: the activity felt more brainstorm-y than think-y. To me, “thinking” implies assessing or evaluating, whereas brainstorming is, by definition, not assessing. It is scribbling without reflection or critique every full thought, half thought and almost thought onto the page. If your scribblings include some stupid parts when you are done, that is a good thing. You have done it right.
The reason groups brainstorm, and the reason you should before you start writing your law school personal statement, is that it is the best way to get every idea “out there” instead of just going with the first thing that comes to mind. Why?
Believe it or not, the first thing that comes to mind is not necessarily your best idea.
Before you pick up a laptop or pen and begin drafting, spend 15 minutes filling two to three pages with possible topics. Do not cross anything out. Do not erase anything. Do not delete anything. The point of this exercise is to come up with as many ideas as possible—however wacky, silly or strange it seems.
When you finish, you will probably be surprised at how freeing the exercise felt. Now, you have a whole list of potential directions for your essay and are not locked into to any one or two.
Then you can start the thinking. ?
jdMission is a leading law school admissions consulting firm with a team of dedicated consultants who have not only been through the law school application process themselves, but also possess elite communications skills and can help you navigate this crucial—and often perplexing—process. Your consultant will serve as your coach and partner every step of the way, advising you on school selection, helping you brainstorm law school personal statement topics, editing your essays and resume, helping you manage your recommenders, advising on any addenda, and more!