可能现在还有不少朋友正在准备出国的各种文件，我偶然发现曾经在 [b]美国名校法学院任录取新生委员会委员的Mr. Fong-Sandoval就personal [b]statement发表的建议，可能对已经着手和将来准备着手的朋友有相当大 [b]的帮助 [b][b]　　Q:Mr. Fong-Sandoval, We were hoping you could begin by describing your [b]duties as a member of the Admissions Committee. [b][b]　　A:Gladly, when I served on it, the Admissions Committee was comprised [b]of a total of eleven people:　six students, four professors, and the [b]Director of Admissions.　I read ten personal statements every day for a [b]total of three months.　We started reading the statements in early January, [b]but it would pile up until I was reading 15 statements per day because [b]applications sent in closer to the deadline increased the workload of the [b]Admissions Committee. [b]　　 [b]　　Q:Did your duties include other tasks besides evaluating personal [b]statements? [b][b]　　A:Yes, I read each application package I was assigned in its entirety.A [b]committee member reads all the materials in each application package he or [b]she is assigned, which includes undergraduate GPA, LSAT report, and letters [b]of recommendation. Ipaid careful attention to each applicant's [b]undergraduate course load, and the types of classes taken. I also [b]considered their major. Some applicants included resumes; [b][b]　　I found this to be very helpful in getting a clearer picture of the [b]applicant. I strongly suggest that applicants include a resume even if it [b]is not required for the application. As for the letters of recommendation, [b]my advice is that they should be lengthy enough to convey to the reader the [b]impression that the person making the recommendation knows the applicant [b]well.　Moreover, the letter of recommendation should shed light on the [b]applicant's personality and capabilities. [b][b][b]　　Q:Of all the materials that comprise a law school application package, [b]which component was, in your opinion, the most important? [b][b]　　A:The PERSONAL STATEMENT. Most applicants that the Committee [b]considered, regardless of their undergraduate major or GPA category, have [b]roughly the same numbers.　We were looking for real people, not mere [b]numbers.　 [b][b]　　I can tell you for a fact that some applicants with a straight 4.0 [b]undergraduate GPA and a high LSAT score were denied admission because they [b]wrote horrible personal statements. The Admissions Committee felt that [b]these people did not take the application process seriously. [b][b][b]　　Q:Previously you mentioned that the Admissions Committee received most [b]of the applications towards the application deadline. In your opinion, [b]should applicants submit their applications as early as possible? [b][b]　　A:Well, yes and no.　Yes, if they have dedicated the right amount of [b]time and thought to their application. You see, the early applications [b]received more attention because we had more time to review them. With [b]regard to the personal statements, we could tell who had put in the time [b]and effort, and who had not. [b][b]　　My advice is that it is better to turn in a strong personal statement [b]later on in the process, rather than turning in a mediocre one earlier. By [b]that I mean take time to perfect your personal statement because the [b]Admissions Committee will notice the level of attention that you have given [b]your personal statement, no matter when you turn it in. [b][b]　　If I were a student who was going to turn in a statement early and had [b]not revised or edited it considerably, I would take the extra time to make [b]sure it is well developed and send it in closer to the application [b]deadline.　 [b][b]　　You waste the advantages of early submission if you turn in a bad [b]personal statement. It's a trade off. Nevertheless, don't be too close to [b]the deadline because if the school has rolling admissions most of [b]theavailable spots would have been filled by then. [b][b][b]　　Q:How much time did you spend on each statement? [b][b]　　A:In the first half of the semester about six to eight minutes. In the [b]second half of the semester, due to the increased volume of applications [b]towards the deadline, I was only able to dedicate about three to five [b]minutes per statement. [b][b][b]　　Q:In light of the fact that your average reading time fell from seven [b]to four minutes per personal statement, what is your advice to applicants? [b][b]　　A:A COMPELLING introduction is the most important part of a law school [b]personal statement. As I begin reading, the introduction can put me in a [b]positive or negative mindset for the rest of the essay. A strong [b]introduction catches my attention, makes a good first impression, and [b]compels me to read on carefully and with interest. [b][b][b]　　Q:You said that if you found the introduction compelling, you would [b]read the rest of the applicant's essay "carefully," as if it is a good [b]thing; but would an applicant necessarily think a "careful" reading is [b]good? [b][b]　　A:On the whole, yes. Let me explain. I think I know what you are [b]driving at, and yes, a careful reading means the personal statement must [b]not only start strong, but finish strong. [b][b]　　Also,the more attention I give an essay, the more likely I'm going to [b]see errors I might not see on a quick read; so thorough editing is [b]essential. However, the more attention an applicant gets, the more the [b]opportunity for a personal connection between the reader and the applicant. [b][b][b]　　Q:If established, will this personal connection necessarily translate [b]to the applicant being accepted? [b][b]　　A:Not necessarily, but I'll tell you one thing--it gets that person [b]CLOSER to being accepted than the other applicant who wrote a dull personal [b]statement.　Dull personal statements are a chore to read.Indeed, I know for [b]a fact that dry, dull, and unmotivated personal statements actually WORK [b]AGAINST applicants. [b][b]　　The bad writing tells me that the applicant did not take the [b]application process seriously. Let me emphasize that the application [b]process includes making the effort to write an engaging personal statement, [b]not just merely listing your stellar grades.　While your good grades get [b]you noticed, this notice may not be enough to gain you acceptance if the [b]rest of your application package is deficient. [b][b][b]　　Q:Was the recommendation of only one member enough to accept or reject [b]an applicant? [b][b]　　A:One committee member's recommendation was not enough, in and of [b]itself.　But one member's recommendation did carry some weight with the [b]other Committee members. [b][b][b]　　Q:Given that there are many readers, would you advise that the personal [b]statement be written in such a way that it engages many different people? [b][b]　　A:Sure, but always make sure that is clear, well written, and [b]COMPELLING. [b][b][b]　　Q:In your opinion, what did a winning personal statement consist of? [b][b]　　A:Consistently, the personal statements that grabbed my attention,and [b]in my opinion, other readers' as well, had a THEME.These personal [b]statements had a structure that clued me in quickly as to the applicant's [b]experience, traits, and potential.Thus, the winning statement laid a solid [b]foundation in the first paragraph. [b][b]　　The winning personal statement needs to build on that foundation and [b]demonstrate that the applicant has direction in life and has the drive, [b]ambition, and motivation to make it in law school and beyond.The personal [b]statement is a window to the personality of the applicant and should be [b]crafted carefully. [b][b]　　Indeed, one should leave an impression that one is confident but not [b]arrogant.A little modesty helps as well.I wasn't that interested in the [b]list of an applicant's accomplishments. I was more interested in their [b]character and potential. [b][b][b]　　Q:So, would it be fair to say that the use of themes like "overcoming [b]adversity," "personal growth, " or "family history," as well as the use of [b]analogies help make a personal statement stronger? [b][b]　　A:Definitely! [b][b]　　 [b]　　Q:At the other end of the spectrum, what, in your opinion, makes a [b]personal statement a loser? [b][b]　　A:Disorganization. A bad personal statement forces the reader to dig [b]into the statement to even get a faint idea as to the personality and [b]potential of the applicant. Writing a statement that asks for effort from [b]the reader is a nonstarter.Another problem area is lack of enthusiasm. [b][b]　　I liked to see a little passion from applicants as to why they want to [b]become lawyers. I wanted to see some drive. I also wanted to see how they [b]contributed to their community or their school. Another concern is whether [b]the applicant appears conscious of his/her identity and accomplishments. [b][b]　　Another indicator of a poor personal statement is typos. I believe that [b]everyone on the Admissions Committee sees typos as red flags. Typos show [b]that the applicant clearly did not take the personal statement seriously. [b]Avoid long paragraphs and run-on sentences. Don't get too complex. Don't [b]get too fancy either. [b][b]　　Stay away from nontraditional formats or gimmicks--like writing your [b]personal statement as a legal memo, printing it on legal pleading paper, or [b]formatting it as a legal declaration/affidavit. I thought that such [b]gimmicks were pretentious and the other committee members thought that the [b]gimmicks discounted the content of the personal statements. [b][b][b]　　Q:Exactly how competitive is the law school application process? [b][b]　　A:Very competitive. Most people's GPA and LSAT scores are pretty much [b]the same--they fall within a tight range. Everyone, in terms of interests, [b]is pretty much the same: similar clubs, similar schools, similar classes. [b]The only area, in my mind, where you can really set yourself apart and [b]shine is in your personal statement. [b][b]　　Of course, stellar academics are always going to put you into a [b]positive light.　However, good numbers do not excuse the applicant from [b]taking the application process seriously. [b][b][b]　　Q:Please rate the importance of the following elements in the personal [b]statement evaluation process: creativity, clarity, personal feel, format or [b]organizing theme, and voice or perspective taken by the applicant. Please [b]rate each of these on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most important. [b][b]　　A:Well, most of the criteria you mentioned are interrelated and all are [b]important. Indeed, I expected each one to be present in the statements I [b]was reading. It's hard to separate them, so it is hard to rate them on a 1 [b]to 10 scale. However, since you posed the question, here are my estimations [b]Creativity: [b][b]　　This element is important because you want to connect with the reader [b]early and maintain that connection throughout the statement. Dull, boring, [b]uncreative writing will not draw the reader in, and will not hold the [b]reader's interest. [b]Clarity: [b][b]　　This is important because this element is assumed to exist in all the [b]personal statements that the Admissions Committee reads. It is a threshold [b]assumption of competent writing. Now, if the applicant does something to [b]shake that assumption, I'd say the applicant would have serious problems [b]getting accepted. A reader must be able to follow along with the personal [b]statement. The writer must be able to clearly communicate his or her [b]character, feelings, thoughts, or messages. [b]Personal Feel: [b][b]　　My definition of "personal feel" is how much the applicant connects [b]with the reader. The personal feel is what　can really convey your [b]character and potential if done correctly. Creating or developing a [b]personal feel, or personal connection, is the most important aspect of [b]writing a personal statement, that's why I gave it a 10. [b][b]　　However, it is probably also the most difficult aspect of writing a [b]personal statement. An applicant might want to have a neutral person, [b]someone who doesn't know the applicant well, read the personal statement to [b]test for this personal feel.　The neutral reader's feedback is valuable [b]because they are in the same position as the Admissions Committee-- [b]anything unclear to your reader will most likely be unclear to the [b]Admissions Committee, too. [b]Format or Theme: [b][b]　　In my opinion, regardless of how personal or creative the statement is, [b]if it's unorganized, it shows that the applicant does not know how to write [b]well.　A format or theme is basic to any essay.　We assume that given the [b]application schedule, each applicant will have come up with some theme or [b]format.　The absence of a theme or format is absolutely inexcusable! [b]Voice and Perspective: [b][b]　　I would rate and analyze this element the same as "creativity" because [b]it involves the same concerns. 　　 [b][b]　　Q:Above all else, what mistake should an applicant avoid in drafting [b]their personal statement? [b][b]　　A:Avoid a superficial approach, you must be PERSONAL that's why this [b]essay is called a "personal statement." [b][b]　　Q:So you would agree with the summary that personal [b]connection/revelation is the most important element of a law school [b]personal statement? [b][b]　　A:Yes, because it shows me and the school what makes you a viable [b]candidate, what will contribute to your success, and it conveys your [b]character.　We are looking for people, not numbers. [b][b]　　Q:Thank you for your time and your insight, Mr. Fong-Sandoval. [b][b]　　A:You're very welcome.