Wrapping Up Your Law School Application

If you've decided to go to law school next year, odds are that you've been knee-deep in paperwork for a while. You've already taken your LSATs, and your GPA isn't budging much. So, what can you do to make your law school application stand out beyond the numbers as the deadlines careen ever closer? As it turns out, a lot. Putting the finishing touches on your law school application can make a big difference.

Get the letter out

Think about your recommendations. It's important to choose professors and employers who know you well, regardless of their title. It's better to get a really stellar letter from an adjunct professor than a boilerplate note from the head of the department. If it's been a while since your last class with your favorite professor, include a sample of your work with your recommendation request to jog his/her memory. And if you've already gotten your letters together, don't forget to follow up to thank them!

Put yourself into your essay

Even with all your accomplishments neatly laid out in other parts of your application, you are more than the sum of your extracurricular activities and GPA. The personal statement is a chance to relay information that doesn't quite fit anywhere else and to offer an admissions officer a better, fuller picture of your personality. Maybe you spent your undergraduate days assembling hot rods or took a year off after college to teach English in Vietnam. Here's your chance to talk about it and humanize all those numbers. Avoid using the essay to add up your bragging points, and instead think of a way to stand out from the crowd simply by illustrating something about yourself. And, of course, make sure you have someone read your essays over. And over, and over.

Don't give up on your extracurriculars!

Sure, it might be a little too late to start a whole slew of new activities without appearing like a desperate resume-padder. But that doesn't make you can't make the most of what you've got. Make sure to keep up with the activities you’re already involved in--don’t slack off! If you've been a long and active member of an organization, consider running for a new position or becoming involved in a new way. It's tempting to skip the next meeting of the French club--you do have law school applications to finish up, after all--but it's important to follow through with your activities, and continued involvement will only impress law schools more. Heaven forbid you find yourself on your dream school's waiting list, but if that happens, having an exciting update about your new position will help get you off and in.

Visit, visit, visit

Don't underestimate the power of showing interest in a school--they just might return the favor! If you're deciding between several schools, visiting is always helpful to get a better sense of what your life would be at the school and to see all the things they don't put on the admissions website. Attend information sessions, talk to admissions officers, sit in on a class, talk to students, and check in with the admissions office. Whenever you visit a school, make sure to sign in at the admissions office. By doing so, you're letting the admissions officers know that you're committed to coming to their school, having traveled across town, across the country or around the world to say hello. It never hurts to be enthusiastic.