Toc: PART 1 CREATING PERFECT PERSONAL STATEMENTS THE QUESTIONS PREPARING TO WRITE YOUR ESSAYS WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT: CONTENT AND THEME THE ULTIMATE TEST FOR CONTENT WHAT THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FOR ALMOST EVERYONE MAKES THIS MISTAKE GETTING CREATIVE—ESPECIALLY IN YOUR OPENING REMARKS TAKING RISKS IN EXPRESSING YOURSELF DISCUSSING YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE DISCUSSING WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT OR UNIQUE DISCUSSING YOUR MINORITY STATUS OR DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUND DISCUSSING YOUR MOTIVES AND ASPIRATIONS DISCUSSING WHY YOU WANT TO ATTEND THIS PARTICULAR SCHOOL EXPLAINING DEFICIENCIES, INCONSISTENCIES, AND BLEMISHES DISCLOSING SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET DISCUSSING YOUR RECOMMENDERS AND OTHER“INFLUENTIAL” PEOPLE WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT: STYLE AND FORMAT INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS AND CONCLUSIONS/SUMMARIES UNCONVENTIONAL AND GIMMICKY WRITING STYLES UNCONVENTIONAL AND GIMMICKY FORMATS AND PACKAGES TYPEFACE, TYPE SIZE, AND HANDWRITTEN ESSAYS (PAPER-BASED APPLICATIONS ONLY) PAGE LIMITS AND WORD LIMITS OBTAINING ASSISTANCE IN WRITING AND EDITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT SUBMITTING OR REFERENCING SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS THE TOP 10 DO’S AND DON’TS FOR WRITING PERSONAL STATEMENTS TOP 10 RULES TO WRITE BY TOP 10 PERSONAL STATEMENT PITFALLS PERSONAL STATEMENTS AND MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATIONS THE AMCAS APPLICATION FORM THE AMCAS “PERSONAL COMMENTS” ESSAY “SUPPLEMENTAL” OR “SECONDARY” APPLICATION ESSAYS APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOLS VIA THE LSAC WEB SITE PART 2 RECOMMENDATION LETTERS AND IN-PERSONS INTERVIEWS RECOMMENDATION LETTERS WHAT THE SCHOOLS WANT TO KNOW FROM YOUR RECOMMENDERS SELECTING YOUR RECOMMENDERS APPROACHING AND ASSISTING POTENTIAL RECOMMENDERS UNDERGRADUATE PLACEMENT FILES AND CREDENTIAL SERVICES IF THE SCHOOL DOES NOT REQUIRE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS SUBMITTING FEWER OR MORE LETTERS THAN REQUIRED “SEALED” RECOMMENDATION LETTERS WAIVING YOUR RIGHT OF ACCESS TO RECOMMENDATION LETTERS SUBMITTING A “DEAN’S CERTIFICATION” THE LSAC LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION SERVICE (FOR LAW SCHOOL APPLICANTS) COMMITTEE LETTERS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICANTS THE AMCAS LETTERS S