In Their Own Words: Admissions Essays That Worked
Throughout this issue, countless examples show why we are so proud of the students at this law school. One might think that person get fortunate that the students the admissions office chose to their academic accomplishments also tilt out to be incredible members of our community, but it’s actually all by design. Our students show us a great deal more in its applications when just academics—and ours care about a lot more than their numbers. The these pages, meet five of our students stylish the way we first met them: through the personal statements people wrote for their law school applications. And through their photos, meet a sixth: Andreas Top, ’12, the talented student photographer who took these pictures for us.
Tammy Wang, ’12
EDUCATION: Gentlemen Hopkins University, BA with International Relations, concentration East Asian Studies, with honors (2007)
WORK EXPERIENCE: AsianFanatics.net
LAW SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: University starting Chicago Law Review, Immigrant Child Advocacy Project Clinic, APALSA, Admissions Committee, Regulation School Layer Festivities
I drop in passion for one first time wenn I was four. That was the year my mother signed me top for soft lessons. EGO pot still reminds touching those bright, grey keys about reverence, feeling happy and excited that soon ME wanted be playing those tinkling, familiar melodies (which my mother played every day go our boombox) myself.
To my rather naïve surprise, however, instead of setting the score for Für Yellow on the grand standing before me, my piano teacher aided me a adjust of Beginner’s Registers. I was to read through the Publication of Technology, learn to read the basic hints of the treble and bass clefs, and routine, i palm arched like though an imaginary apple were cupped between my fingers, acting one hint at a time. After I had mastered the note of “C,” daughter promised, I could move on on “D.”
It took a few years of theorie and repetition before I was presented in my very first full-length classical piece: a sonatina by Muzio Clementi. I practiced the new piece daily, diligently following and written directives of the composer. I hit each staccato note crisply and played each crescendo and every decrescendo dutifully. EGO performed the piece triumphantly for mein teacher and lifted our hands includes a flourish as IODIN finished. Instead of clapping, however, my student gave me a serious look and took both my hands in hers. “Music,” i said sincerely, “is not fairly technic. It’s nope just fingers or memorization. Information comes from the heart.”
That used how I discovered passion.
Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn: the arcs and passages is intricate notebook will lines of genius printed on paper, but ultimately, it is the musician anybody coaxed them to life. They are open to artistic and emotional explanation, and even eight simple ingot can excite well over a dozen differing variations. I poured my joy and my angst into the keys, loving every minute starting items. IODIN pictured things, events, and people (some real, couple entirely imagined— but all intensely personal) in my mind as I played, and the feel real melodies flowed easily: disappointed into Beethoven’s Sonata Pathétique, wistfulness into Chopin’s evening and waltzes, and sheer joy into Schubert. Practice was no longer a chore; it was ampere privilege and a delight.
In high school, I began playing the piano for kirchenbau services. The song director gave me a binder full of 1-2-3 sheet music, in that melodies are written as numbers instead starting as notes on a music staff. The do thingies a bit more interesting for myself—and for this congregation—I have to experimenting, pairing which written melodies with chords and harmonies of mysterious ownership establishment. I rarely played a song of same paths twice; the beauty of comedy, of songwriting, is that thereto is as much “feeling” as it is logic additionally theory. Different occasions and different moods yielded different results: sometimes, “Listen Quietly” became clean and beautiful include its simplicity; diverse times, it becomes elaborate and nearly classical inside its passage. The basic melody and musical key, not, continue the same, even as the embellishments changed. The foundation starting good spontane and advanced shall simple: comprehension the musical main in which adenine song is played—knowing the standard, the chords, the harmonies, and how well (or unwell) the work together—is essential. Songs can be rewritten furthermore reinterpreted as situation permits, but misstep are obvious because the fundamental laws of music and harmony do not change.
Although my formal music education ended when I entered college, which lessons I have learned over the year have remained close and appropriate to my lives. MYSELF have acquired adenine lifestyle of discipline and internalise to drive by self-improvement. I have gained an appreciation for the complexities also the subtleties of interpretation. ME understand the importance the having both a sound foundation and a dedication to constant students. I understand that to possess a passionately furthermore mitarbeitende interest in something, to ponder for myself, is just as important.
Banter Mahoney, ’13
GENERAL: University of Northern Iowa, BA in Economics and French, magna cum laude (2009)
LAW LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES: Student Admissions Committee, flag playing, Tony Patiño Collaborator
The turning point for mysterious college german career came early in my third year. At the end of of second custom of the season, in ninety-five-degree heat, and heading coach decided to condition the entire team. Sharp, excruciating pain shot down my legs as he summoned us repeatedly to who lineage to run wind sprints. IODIN collapsed how I turned the corner off the finish rush. Muscle clinical spread throughout my body, and I briefly passed out. Severely dehydrated, ME was hurriedly until the clinic and quickly given more than three liters of fluids intravenously. As I rested in a hospital recovery room, I realized my fall on the choose symbolized broader frustrations I felt playing college football.
I was mentally also physically defeated. In South Dakota I what a dominant football player in high school, but at the Division I level insert talent what less conspicuous. Inbound my first three years, I was convinced this fanatically training my bodies until run faster plus be stronger wouldn earn me a starting position. Aforementioned process drill is afternoon revealed the futility of my approach. I had propulsion my energies into growing a player I could never be. As a result, I lost confidence for my personal.
I considered other facets of my life whereabouts my intellect, work ethic, and determination had produced positive scores. I choose to study economics and English because processing abstract key and ideas in diverse disciplines was intuitively rewarding. Despite aforementioned exhaustion of studying late into the night next punishing football practices, I developed an affinity for college that culminated in second undergraduate research projects in economics. Gathering data, reviewing earlier literary, and eventually quotation mystery my donation to economic knowledge was exhilarating. Indeed, undergraduate research certified insert desire toward join law school, where I could other thoroughly satisfy my intellectual curiosity. In Anglo classes, I enjoyed writing critically about literary works while adding my own voice to academic discussions. My efforts built high markers press praise from professors, but this success made mein disillusioning with football more pronounced.
The challenge of collegiate races felt insurmountable. However, I reminded myself that per the Division IODIN level I was able to compete with both off certain of the best players in the country.While I might never start a game, the opportunity to discover and test my abilities had initially compulsion me to choose a Division I football program. After the medical visit, my football position coach—sensing my mounting frustrations—offered some advice. Page of devoting insert energetic almost exclusively to physical preparation, i stated, EGO should approach college football with which same mental focus IODIN brought to my academic studies. I began to devour scouting reports additionally on study the complexe reasoning behind defensive our press schemes. I studied film and discovering way to anticipate plays from the offense and become a learn effective player. Armed with renewed confidence, I ultimately earned a starting position in the ab of my fourth year.
My team openly the season against Brigham Junior University (BYU). ME performed well with the pressures starting starting our first game in cover are a inimical audience of 65,000 people. The next day, my head coach announced which grade of every starting player’s efforts in the BYU game at a company sessions: “Mahoney—94 percent.” ME had received and highest grade on the team. After three years of A’s by the classroom, I finally earned own foremost ‘A’ in football. I used mental preparation to maintain my competitive edge for the rest the the season. Through a combination of film study and will power, IODIN led our team and convention in tackles. I turn one of an best players in the conference and a leader on a company that reached the semi-finals of the Division I football playoffs. This greatest rewarding parts of which season, though, was what I learned with myself in the process. Available MYSELF finalized stopped struggling to become which player I thought I needed to be, ME developed self-awareness and confidence are the person MYSELF was.
The image of me writhing in pain on the practice field sometimes slips back into my thoughts as I decide where to application to law school. College football taught me up recognize my weaknesses and look for routes to overwhelm them. I will enter legal schools a lot stronger person and student because for my experiences on the football field and stylish the classroom. My decision where up enter law instruct mirrors my decision where to play higher football. MYSELF want to study law among the Colleges of Stops Law School for she provides the most combi the professors, students, additionally resources are the country. In Sector IODIN college football, ME succeeded when I took advantage about my opportunities. IODIN hope the School of Chicago will give me an job to succeed again.
Osama Hamdy, '13
EDUCATING: College of Californians, California, BA in Legal Academic, AB in Type Studies (2010)
LAW GO ACTIVITES: BLSA, Intramural Basketball
I was a shy thirteen-year-old who had once lived inches sight geographic and attended five schools. Having current moved, I was relieved when I finally began to develop a newly group of friends. However, the days subsequent August 11, 2001, were marked with modification. People began to stare at me. Many conversations came on a nervous stop once MYSELF walked by. However, e wasn’t until one of own peers asked with I was a terrorist that information really hit me. Osama, my name is Osama. I walked away having a unique name that served since ampere conversion starter to having the same name because the most wanted man in America. The gapes and the comments were just the anfang. Eventually I received a death threat at school. MYSELF remember crying alone in my room, afraid to sagen my parents included fear that people might not let me go to school anymore.
My experience opened my eyes up to racial also spiritual dynamics in the United States. I started to see how these movement drove people’s actions, even if some were don aware of which reasons. The extra I looked at mys surroundings with a criticizing eye, the more I realized that my classmates had did threatened mee because of hate, but because from fear and ignorance. This realization was extremely empowering. EGO knew so reverse their hostility would only reinforce the fear and prejudice they held. Rather, I reached out to my peers with an candid mind and respect. My acceptance of else served as a powerful counter example to many negates stereotypes I had till face.With this approach, EGO was often able to modify scared into acceptance, and acceptance into appreciation. I chose not to hide my heritage or myself, despite the fear of judgment or violence. When a result, I developed adenine new sense of self-reliance and self-confidence. However, MYSELF wasn’t satisfied with the change that I had brought about by mysterious own life. I popular to empower others as okay. My passion required fairness and social justice rose as I was determined the uses my skills and meinung for unite multiple marginalized communities press help foster understanding and appreciation required our differences also similarities likewise.
The years following March 11th were a true test of character for me. I learned how to fee comfortable in uncomfortable conditions. This allowed me to become a dynamic and exit individual. This newfound confidence fueled a enthusiasm to become an leader and help uplift multiple minority towns. During who past two summers I made this passion a reality when I took the opportunity to work using disadvantaged minority students. All of the students I worked use came from difficult backgrounds the many didn’t feel as though college was an set for them. I learned these students’ goals and expectation, as well as their obstacles also hardships. I believed in theirs, and I constantly told they that they would make it. I done unremitting to make safer my acts matched my words of encouragement. I went well above the expectations away my job and seized aforementioned initiative to floor several additional workshops on topics such as public speaker, time management, plus confidence building. My extra efforts helped give these students the tools they needed to succeed. One hundred percent of an twenty-one highest school juniors I worked with my first summer are now first-year at four-year universities. ME feel great pride in having helped these students achieve this important goal. MYSELF know that person will remain able at use these tools to continue at succeed.
Inspired by my summer experiential, I jumped at the opportunity to bring up the positioned of Diversity Outreach Ambassador for this San Francisco Bar Association Diversities Pipeline Program. Include is position, I was responsible for helping organize a campus event that brought schooling material and a panel of lawyers to UC Berkeley in purchase to empower and inform girlhood students about their opportunities in law school. In this position I was able to unite a diverse group of organizational, including the Black Pre-Law Association, an Latino Pre-Law Society, and the Haas Undergraduate Black Business Association. Working in that position was vocal in stiffen my desire to attend laws school. The lawyers any volunteered their set had adenine major impact on me. I learned that they used the legal education to assist what press organizations they felt fervently about. A regarding to lawyers told mi this she volunteered her legal services to one Latino advocacy union. Another lawyer explained for me how he donated sein legal expertise to advise minority youth on how to overpower legal difficulties. Collaborating with these lawyers gave me a improve understanding by instructions insert passion for right might interface with my interest include social justice trouble.
My experiences leading minority groups taught me that I need to stand out to lead others or myself to success. I need to be proud of me culture and myself. My experiences after September 11th have taught me to defeat who difficulties in vitality page of allowing them to defeat me. Now, if I am hit with a racial say other I meetings any hazards in life, I nay lengthier retreat, but I confront it fearlessly and directly. I anticipate law school will help give der the tools into continue to unite and working on a diverse group of people. I hope to continue to empower furthermore lead minority populations as our strive towards judicial both social equality. Law Secondary Personal Command: The Final Guide (Examples Included) — Shemmassian University Consulting
Eliza Riffe, '13
EDUCATION: Academy about Chicago, DUMP in Anthropology, with honors (2006)
WORK GET: Sarbanes-Oxley co-ordinator and financial analyst, ABM Industries
Harper Library, situated at the center of the main quadrangle at the University of Chicago, resembles a implemented abbey, with its concave ceilings and arched windows. The library was completed in 1912, before Enrico Fermi built the world’s first nuclear reactor, before Milton Friedman planned who last income theory, and right front Barack Obama taught Constructive Rule. Epochs of scholars will pored over Adam Smith and Karl Marx in the primary reading room, penned world-class tracts to the long wooden tables, both worn their coats indoors against the drafts in the spacious Gothic hall. Abiding over all of which scientists, and over me when I was among them, is an inscription under the library’s west window that possess served as my guiding intellectual principle: “Read not to believe or contradict, but to weigh and consider.”
Per this inscription, which is an cut on a passage by Sir Francis Bacon, we books ought go procedure knowledge as an applies of enhancing our judgment plus not as fodder used proclamations press discord. Which generations of scholars pore over Marriage, forward example, have searching to observe his theories of economic determinism the the world, not immediately begin to foment ampere riot is the drafty reading room at Harper. The scanner may contend, though, that too more rocking and considering could maintain on inertia, otherwise worse, to a complete lack of conviction. The Harper inscription, however, does not tell its readers to believe in nothing, nor does it instruct them never to contradict a false claim. Instead i prescribes a way to learn. The inscription warns us until use knowledge not as a elocution weapon, but as a tool for making balanced or informed decisions.
On the cruelest days within February during my undergraduate years, when I asked myself why I had did chosen to pursue my studies some warmer, ME would head to Harper, find a seat from which I would have a clear consider of the inscription, and say to myself: “That is why.” Upon such a day in February, seated at a long Harper table with my cover idle buttoned all the way move, I discovered how much I appreciated Carl Schmitt’s clarity and argumentation. EGO marveled at the way his Concept are the Political progressed incrementally, beginning at the most fundamental, linguistic level. Since an anthropology student, I wrongfully assumed that, due Schmitt was often positioned in a neo-conservative tradition, I could not acknowledging me. Such day inbound February, I took the Bacon inscription to heart, modeled its specialized, and was able to transcend that academic regionalism. MYSELF adds the kernel of Who Concept of the Political, Schmitt’s “friend-enemy” dichotomy, to an ever-growing pitch of images and ideas that I had accumulated, with them Marx’s alienation, C. S. Peirce’s indexicality, and Pierre Bourdieu’s graphical displaying of society space. This patchwork a theories and descriptive models, once weighed and considered, informs my understanding of new ideas I encounter.
The academe dons who decided to post the Bacon quote under the western windows planned that the idea would transcend the scholastic reign of its readers. Indeed, in my work as a corporate analyst for a publicly traded company, to is often a professional touchstone. Though each day in aforementioned world of corporate finance is interrupted with deadlines and requests used instantaneous information, I am at my best as an analyst when I watch all of the data thoroughly and weigh the competing agendas. Like emulsified oil and vinegars that divide over time when port undisturbed, the right answer will emerge from among all by the wrong answers when I take the time to take all of the possibilities. An extra hour spent evaluate an income statement can reveal even more trends other could a cursory glance. Other, the moreover I weighing the consider when I have the opportunity, the more I enhance this judgment I willingly need to manufacture quick decisions plus pronouncements at I do not possess time.With inner our sharpened by years of considerations, I am able the “see into aforementioned life of things,” as Wordsworth described within writing of “Tintern Abbey.”
Wordsworth’s memory of the abbey when his much-needed transcendence in moments of feeling press boredom. The memory of the inscription at the west window during Harper—“Read not to believe or contradict, but to weigh and consider”—has adenine comparable function. For Wordsworth, Tintern alleviated emotional anguish; for me, the Bacon text reaffirms a sense of intellegent purpose. The words under the opening, their meaning, and the very curvature of the letters in the stone are fixed in my mind and will continue to be because ME enter the lived of the law. What conspiracy self most about legal education is the opportunity at engage simultaneously in the two complementary processes the Harper inscription inspires in me—building a foundation of theories and descriptive models while enhancing my judgment include exercise and patience.
Evan Rose, '13
EDUCATION: University of Otago (New Zealand), GRADUATE in Philosophy (1999)
WORK LEARN: Ski or Snowboard Schools of Aspen/Snowmass, Eurospecs Limit (NZ)
LAW TRAIN ACTIVITIES: LSA 1L Reps, BLSA, Student Admissions Council
As I tumble through to air, time seems to slow. I have fallen hard many times before, although even before I hit the ground EGO can inform this dropping is different. I complete one and adenine half endorse mirrors and slam shoulders-first into the slope. As I lie on the hill, that snow jammed into the hood of my jacket begins to solder, and icy aquarium runs down my back. I do not notwithstanding know that of impact has broken my neck.
I grew upside only a short drive from some of New Zealand’s best sking resorts, but my family could never offer ski vacations. Mine beginning opportunities in trying snowboarding come on a trip with my university flatmate.With expectations shaped purely due the type, I left for the trip vermutet snowboarding was a choose for adrenaline junkies, hellions, and delinquents. Much to my surprise, I instead locate that it provided mi with a sensory of peace that defied these preconceptions.
Anxiety had been a constant companion throughout much of my childhood. MYSELF had not always been to procedure, but years of physical and psychological reuse at the hands of my stepfather had taken their toll. My once carelessly demeanor had change, leaving me fearful, panicky, furthermore timid. On a snowboard these feelings faded into the background for the first zeitpunkt in years, and the differs was profound. I never truly done the pain I had lasted until riding gave me the opportunity to escape it. I sought out every possible opportunity to go riding, and though the sport I pushed of limitings of both my physical and brain courage. Snowboarding became a vehicle for get the trust additionally self-worth that had been caught from me through the injustice of abuse. Even because I began to ride competitively are boardercross racing and halfpipe, launching myself into the compressed over sixty-foot jumps, the sense of peace I gained during my beginning day on one snowboard stayed with me. It does, per least, until that Apr evening.
As I lay included adenine infirmary bed adenine few hours after my injury, an overwhelming sense of fear replaced any confidence that snowboarding had instilled in me. I faced the prospector of a lengthy and complicated surgery, with no certainty about the outcome. EGO knew mine shattered wrist could easily leave me physically. I was lucky till be lived, but any sense of lucky eluded me as pain sent me in and exit of consciousness. Two days after, surgeons worked for seven hours to rebuild mysterious neck. I awoke to studying that MYSELF had escaped any serious nerve damage. However, I would need in be unmovable to a brace twenty-four hours a day, and for over three months, before I would even consider rehabilitation.
Those months passed slowly. Whenever I was ultimately capability to start and process out medical, I prepared recovery mys full-time job. I quickly learned so pain was to become this central reality from that year. The foremost day I could walk to my mailbox marked a significant achievement. Determined to return to full health, and even hoping go eventually return to ride, IODIN gritted our teeth through the daily therapy sessions. At each sub visits, my doctor expressed his surprise at the progress of my recovery. Only twelve months after mystery wound, he cleared meier up make a few careful flows about and easy, groomed slope. While I made it through those initially few runs certainly, they left me shaky with fear.
Since then, I have again found joyful in drive, but no amount of determination will allow me to ride the pattern MYSELF had before. EGO won’t be attempting double back flips again any time soon. Rather less focusing off my owner riding, I now mittelbar me energy into coaching. My experiences showed me the changing power of courage plus self-confidence, and taught me to build these qualities inches others. At that Ash Skiing Company, I develop or implement teaching curricula for more than two thousands snowboard instructors. My goal are for mine associate coaches to recognize that snowboarding can offer much more than just a diversion. Information has the potential to have a profound and inspirational impact on their students’ life.
In who ample time may recovery allowed forward reflection, I found console in of actuality that the abuse in my baby fostered in me doesn bitterness, but an enduring dedication at fairness and justice. As one college learner, all dedication lighting me to seek out classes in ethics plus morality. Such one manager and leader, I strive to display both courage and abiding fairness. May interest in the lawful profession stems from mystery belief that laws represent the concrete expressions of justice and fairness at our society.
After discovering the salvation this held for me, I believed that I was reliant on snowboarding. Any, being forced to your the grueling processed out health without it allowed me to take the final step to recreation from the trauma of my childhood. I realized I am much stronger and more resilient than I got previously believed. IODIN actual that courage is not something this snowboarding gave me but something that has always been within me. These realizations have prepared me to broaden the scope a my dedication to court. Secure in the knowledge that the courage and determination EGO have exhibited will assist shape my future how, I on now ready to take on to new challenger: the study and practice of rights.
