Short Sample Law School Admissions Essay - Continued

by EssayEdge.com - The World's Premier Application Essay Editing Service

Page 5 of 5    Back

Admissions Essay Structure and Outline Categories:

Essay Structures | Sample Outline and Essay
Help on Tackling the Short Essays | Essay Writing Templates

As a member of the highest form of life on our planet, I feel a deep responsibility to contribute to the quality of life of human beings as well as our plant and animal cohabitants.

I plan to spend my time at the University of Virginia learning how to foster my favorite word: life.

What are the three words that best describe you, and why?

Fortunate, confident, concerned—this is how I would describe myself in three words.

I have been fortunate enough to have access to good schools and extracurricular activities. I have parents who love and support me both emotionally and economically. Our home is comfortable, our friends are plentiful, and we have had the opportunity to travel and observe many cultures.

This supportive environment has nurtured the confidence I now possess. When presented with a challenge—academic, athletic or interpersonal—I approach it with the attitude that I can handle what comes. This confidence has helped me push through difficult situations, and keep sight of whatever goals I set for myself.

Despite my privilege and my confidence, I am also extremely concerned. I love the natural beauty of our world and the diversity of its people. I enjoy living on Long Island 's seashore, but I know that we have to take care of our waters, wilderness and atmosphere to maintain this quality of life.

I'm also concerned that not everyone gets to enjoy these aspects of life. They are busy trying to make ends meet, or even trying to stay alive. We not only need to treat our planet well, we need to treat each other with respect.

I plan to use my fortunate circumstances, my confidence, and my concern to make the most of a university education, and graduate ready to go out into the world and work for the values I hold.

COMMENTS:

Even before the admissions officer begins to read the text of these essays, she already sees that the applicant has used a consistent structure. Each essay features several short paragraphs, giving the pages at least the visual impression of cohesiveness. The advisability of such short paragraphs notwithstanding, this applicant's effort to organize all the essays similarly is to be commended and emulated.

Still, there is some stylistic variation within the set. For example, she has responded rather creatively in the "Influential work of art or science," and "Favorite word" essays, while she has taken a more traditional approach to the "Define success," "Intellectual interests" and "Three words that describe you" essays. All the essays clearly share the same author, but she allows her poetic self to shine through in the more creative essays and sticks to a straightforward, expository style in the other three. By doing so, she presents herself as a multifaceted thinker, one likely capable of synthesizing her "selves" and producing truly original academic work at the university level.

  Back to Short Essays