J.D. applicants shouldn’t be afraid to show some personality during admissions interviews, law school officials say. Applicants who are conversational have a much better shot of acceptance than their peers who are overly formal.
Mark Hill, senior director of admissions at Duke Law School, says one mistake applicants sometimes make in admissions interviews is giving very brief, matter-of-fact answers.
“There are people who will just answer the very direct question that they’re asked and stop,” Hill says.
By contrast, Hill says, the applicants who impress him are those who not only fully answer all his questions but who also offer insights on what they have learned from their experiences.
It’s also essential, Hill says, for applicants to articulate a clear reason for why they want a law degree.
“The baseline is a sense that it is a reasonably well-informed decision to go to law school because something about the work appeals to you,” he says.
Here are three traits law school officials say they look for during admissions interviews.
1. Commitment: Danae McElroy, director of admissions of the law school at the University of California—Los Angeles, says she appreciates when applicants describe how they have pursued their personal interests.
“Whether it’s leading a campaign on campus, starting a student organization, gaining meaningful work experience, starting a business, crafting a thesis, or engaging in creative endeavors, students who pursue their passions (and are able to talk about them!) stand out—critically, even if those passions don’t relate to the law,” McElroy said via email.
Doug Sylvester, dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, says his favorite admissions interview was one with an applicant who applied to the school a second time after having been previously rejected.
Sylvester says the applicant spoke eloquently about how much she wanted to attend the law school, explaining that the school’s namesake – retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor – was her personal hero.
2. Collegiality: Sylvester says that when applicants show they would be a pleasure to teach and a joy to work with, that is a powerful argument in their favor, helping sway admissions officers to say yes when they might not otherwise.
“We know they’re smart, right? So what we’re looking for is someone you’re going to love having around and that you’re going to love having as an alum for the rest of their life,” he says.
Sylvester says schools want to pick students who will not only thrive academically but who will also contribute to the law school community and be strong ambassadors.
“It’s not your numbers, it’s not your LSAT, it’s not your GPA,” he says. “It truly is personal enthusiasm for the institution and a real ability to convey a sense of self in a short amount of time.”
3. Poise: Experts say although law school admissions interviews can be stressful, the best approach for applicants is to prepare thoroughly by reflecting on what they can contributeto a law school class and researching the school beforehand. Then, relax once the interview starts, knowing that every effort has been made to prepare.
“If a student is clearly nervous speaking with me, I have to wonder how they will interview with a judge, a partner at a firm, or our faculty for a research assistant position,” Jacob Baska, director of admissions and financial aid at the University of Notre Dame Law School, said via email.
Cameron Dare Clark, a third-year student at Harvard Law School, says he worried about his admissions interview as an applicant, but it wasn’t nearly as scary as he had feared it would be.
“There were no ‘gotcha’ questions intended to make me feel flustered or catch me off-balance,” Clark said via email. “I was asked questions about my personal statement, work experience, academic accomplishments, and interests in attending law school. While nearly every applicant will feel compelled to over-prepare for their interview, applicants can rest assured that their interview will not be an intellectual inquiry meant to challenge or confuse them.”
Source: usnews.com
