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How to Get Into NYU Law School: The Ultimate Guide

How hard is it to get into nyu law school learn the nyu law school acceptance rate and admissions requirements, plus essays examples that work.

learn how to get into nyu law school

Part 1: Introduction 

Part 2: nyu school of law programs, part 3: nyu school of law admission statistics      , part 4: nyu school of law application, part 5: nyu school of law essay strategies, part 1: introduction.

As a top seven law school nestled in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York University School of Law provides its students with an outstanding legal education in the midst of one of New York City’s most culturally-relevant neighborhoods. This combination makes the NYU experience incredibly unique for legal education.

NYU School of Law has something for everyone. From international law and criminal law , to tax law and business/corporate law , NYU offers some of the best programs of study of any law school. Even if you are not sure of what you want to want to do, it is hard to go wrong by attending NYU. It is one of the best law schools for those looking to enter private practice, especially if you are interested in getting a lucrative job in Big Law after you graduate. NYU also caters to those who are interested in working in service of the public interest at a nonprofit, in government, or as a law clerk for a judge. NYU offers significant resources to public interest students, including various funding and scholarship programs , a special office dedicated solely to serving public interest students, and a generous loan repayment program for graduates who spend part of their careers working in eligible public interest jobs.

In this post, we will cover much of what you need to know about how to get into NYU School of Law, including admissions statistics, application requirements, and some tips on how to best approach the essay portion of your application.

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NYU offers several degree options to its students. The vast majority of its students pursue a Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is the traditional degree associated with going to law school in the United States. NYU also offers a one-year Master of Laws (LL.M.), which is most often pursued by lawyers who received their law degrees outside of the United States and J.D. graduates who are looking to specialize in a particular area of the law. Lastly, students at NYU can pursue a Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.), which prepares students for careers in legal scholarship.

In addition, NYU School of Law also has numerous joint or dual degree programs available to students interested in pursuing interdisciplinary studies, including the popular J.D./M.B.A. program with NYU Stern School of Business .  

Part 3: NYU School of Law admission statistics                

With a 2021 first-year J.D. class size of 484 students, NYU is one of the larger top-tier law schools. However, with 104 full-time faculty, 353 courses to choose from in 16 different areas of study, and more than 40 clinics and externships offered, NYU provides a rich academic experience to its students.

NYU School of Law provides a robust picture of its incoming classes. NYU’s first year J.D. class for the Fall of 2023 looks like this :

Demographics:

Students of Color: 47%

Out of college one to four years: 70%

Out of college five or more years: 10%

GPA spread:

25th percentile: 3.77

50th percentile: 3.90

75th percentile: 3.96

LSAT spread:

25th percentile: 174/180

50th percentile: 172/180

75th percentile: 168/180

As you can see, gaining admission to NYU School of Law is no small task. To put some of these numbers into perspective, NYU is tied for second with Stanford and the University of Chicago amongst all law schools in terms highest median LSAT score. Given this high bar, you should definitely spend a lot of time preparing for the LSAT to ensure you get the best score possible. While a high LSAT score alone will not guarantee admission, and students with “low” scores can still gain admission, you should aim for a score in the 170s. 

If you are still an undergraduate, you should study hard and try to get the best grades you can. All else being equal, having a high GPA/LSAT combination improves your chances of admission.

If you are already out of college or are preparing to take time off between college and law school, you should focus on gaining as much experience as possible. As mentioned above, NYU reports that 68% of its current first-year class was out of college for at least one year prior to matriculating at NYU.  

In deciding how to spend your interim years, know that there is no right way to go about it. The decision with what to do with your time is yours alone. That said, here are a few things to consider when charting out your path:

Gain experience to improve your resume. Depending on which area of law you are interested in, you may find relevant volunteer or internship opportunities in your community. For example, if you’re interested in immigration law and live in the NYC area, volunteering with the New York Immigration Coalition would provide experience in a field you could later pursue at NYU Law and explore in a personal statement.

Learn about the law and dive into particular topics and fields of study that you may want to explore once school starts. Take the initiative to broaden your knowledge of the legal profession. Even taking EdX courses on different legal topics can show commitment, motivation, and self-discipline—all of which are required to be successful in law school

Become more well-rounded.  NYU Law loves seeing multi-talented candidates with diverse interests. Consider joining a debate club or a language meetup in your area. If you play a musical instrument, perhaps a jazz jam session can help you explore your talents.

To apply to NYU Law, you first need to sign up for the Law School Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which you can access online via the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). You will submit your entire application online through LSAC. 

NYU has two tracks for J.D. admissions: Regular Admission and Early Decision. Both tracks use the same application, but Early Decision has a separate timeline.

Applications for both tracks traditionally open at the beginning of September. For Regular Decision, you have until February 15 to submit your application. However, NYU notifies admitted students on a rolling basis, so you should try to turn your application in as soon as possible to have the best chance of getting admitted. If you submit your materials on the February 15 application deadline, you should hear back from NYU by late April.

NYU School of Law’s Early Decision process works a lot like the traditional college Early Decision process you may be familiar with. By applying Early Decision, you are committing yourself to attending NYU if you are admitted. After receiving your acceptance letter, you must decline any acceptances from other law schools and also withdraw any pending applications. Failure to take these actions will result in NYU revoking its offer of admission, so think carefully about whether Early Decision is right for you. Applicants that do not receive an Early Decision acceptance may have their applications moved into the Regular Decision pool or rejected entirely.  

To apply Early Decision, you must submit your application by November 15. NYU sends out its Early Decision by late December. If you would like to be considered as an Early Decision candidate, NYU requires you to complete and submit its Early Decision Contract. This can be done in the application prior to submitting it, or if you have already submitted your application, you may also complete the contract and email it to [email protected] , prior to the closing of the application window.

If you are interested in applying to one of NYU’s public interest scholarship programs, it is important to keep track of the special deadlines. As of now, NYU requires all scholarship applicants for the current admissions cycle to submit their completed applications and CAS law school reports by January 1. In addition, scholarship applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 2022.

For more detailed information about the application process, click here for NYU’s FAQ page.

Regardless of whether you apply Regular Admission or Early Decision, you will need to submit the following materials:  

The application form along with an $85 application fee.

LSAT/GRE scores.

NYU now accepts a GRE score in lieu of an LSAT score. While you can apply with either a LSAT score or a GRE score, if you take the LSAT, law schools can see that, even if you prefer to put forward your GRE score.

NYU accepts LSAT scores from test administrations that occurred up to five years before the application date. For example, a score from the June 2019 LSAT is the oldest LSAT score that students applying in the 2024 cycle are allowed to use.

To apply Early Decision, you must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October. All other applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than January.

CAS report .

Two recommendation letters.

If you are currently in school or recently graduated (within two years of your application to law school), both letters should be from faculty from your school. If you have been out of school longer than two years, only one letter needs to be academic.

Mandatory: law school personal statement . NYU provides applicants with discretion regarding the length and content of the personal statement. However, we suggest that you try to keep your personal statement to two pages, single-spaced, 11 or 12-pt font.

Optional: law school diversity statement . No length requirements given. We will discuss how to write this type of essay later in the guide.  

Optional: additional information, if relevant. This includes statements of strong interest in attending NYU and explanations of undergraduate and/or LSAT/GRE performance.

In this section, we will discuss how to approach writing essays for your application to NYU School of Law. We will also show you some full-length essay examples from admitted students so that you can get a sense for how you can approach this process. Keep in mind that there are many approaches you can take to writing high-quality essays. We will highlight some things that successful applicants often have in their essays, but it is important to tailor our advice to your specific situation.

Some general guidelines to keep in mind when writing your essays: 

Focus on crafting the very best writing you can and make sure to proofread your essays for correct grammar and spelling. Since writing well is an incredibly important skill for lawyers, NYU’s admissions officers will absolutely be paying attention to how you write in addition to what you write.

Be sure to carefully follow essay instructions, including length guidelines. Going over a specified word limit will show you have trouble following directions, which is not a good sign for someone to looking to be a lawyer.  

Personal statement  

To simplify the process of applying to law school, we suggest writing a personal statement that can be tailored to each school that you apply to. Try to keep your essay to two pages, single spaced.   

Here are a few things we think you should keep in mind while writing your personal statement:  

Make sure your personal statement touches on why you want to go to law school and highlights your commitment to practicing law in the future. While this might seem like a no-brainer, it is important not to lose sight of the purpose of your personal statement, which in this case, is to demonstrate why you should be a law student at NYU School of Law.

Provide a clear example of your skills or qualities that could translate to success in law school. Law students must be analytical, organized, meticulous, creative, resilient, have good time management skills, and be able to synthesize large amounts of information. Using your personal statement to tell a story that demonstrates that you possess one or more of these qualities and are thus prepared for the rigors of law school can be very effective.

Do not be afraid to use your personal statement to tell an interesting story. We like this approach, because it makes your personal statement enjoyable to read while also giving the reader a glimpse into your life story. Telling a personal story helps to humanize you to your reader, which can help them feel connected to your application.

Pay close attention to your essay structure. Avoid using long words and sentence structures. Each sentence should be succinct and clear. Also use good transitions between paragraphs so that your essay reads smoothly, and your reader is able to easily keep track of the key points you are trying to convey.

Below is an example of what our student, Elan, wrote to get into NYU School of Law (Note: some identifying details have been changed to protect the writer’s privacy.):

At the age of 4, I had presumptively decided to dedicate myself to law enforcement. I roamed my childhood home imitating my favorite detective, Columbo, convinced that I was closing in on bad guys. At age 7, when a rock was mysteriously thrown through the back windshield of my mother’s car in our south Atlanta neighborhood, I was the first to investigate and draw up the usual suspects. At age 13, I decided that I would pursue a career as a forensic profiler for the FBI. I dreamed of wearing a badge, like my hero Columbo, to signify my membership as a dutiful public servant. By this time, my mother and I had left Atlanta for a small, predominantly white town in Texas. At 17, I momentarily reconsidered my plans when I mentioned Rodney King in my senior English class, only to be met with silence by my peers, who had never heard of him. Perhaps their parents had not warned them about police violence as mine had. I briefly considered that their experiences with law enforcement, directly or indirectly, would always be different than mine. And still, despite my brief reservation, my commitment to federal law enforcement was unwavering.

At age 19, my conceptions and career plans collapsed around me. Since moving to New York for college, I had attended numerous forums, lectures, and panels on the intersection of two issues I was intimately but naively familiar with—criminal justice and racial prejudice. My rural Texas hometown never discussed “mass incarceration,” “mandatory minimums,” or “stop-and- frisk.” I was not aware of how severely racial prejudice inundated the criminal justice system, and I panicked at the revelation that it was so powerful and institutionalized as to be written into law.

Despite my childhood convictions, my conceptions of good and bad guys had changed. I had been conditioned to believe that the delineations were clear—those who executed the law and those who disobeyed it—the good and the bad. I discovered, however, that sometimes those with badges, shiny degrees, and high-ranking positions are the bad guys. Sometimes the bad guys have power, authority, wealth, and societal respect. They sometimes sit in boardrooms and county seats. They receive awards and accolades. They stand in court. They even become president.

And the good guys—sometimes the good guys can be found in federal prison for minor drug possession or spending six years at Rikers Island awaiting trial for a crime for which they have not been proven guilty. They are sometimes sixteen-year-old boys in detention centers, who are considered “delinquent” because their teachers do not possess the cultural competency to understand that the violence they face at home and in their neighborhood causes them to act out in class. Sometimes they are fathers killed in dark stairwells because their skin color is inherently threatening. They are women who, by merely speaking up, threaten the power and authority of men and are thus considered “disobedient” or “noncompliant,” warranting a criminal penalty that will keep them subdued. They are the wrongly convicted who have lost years of their life, dignity, and sanity after being punished for crimes they did not commit. They are arrested for being too poor to afford the subway fare. They are subject to societal and legal ostracism because they have been labeled “undocumented,” “delinquent,” and “criminal.”

At 19, I decided that I would not work for the FBI. I felt far more compelled to advocate for those who fall victim to a legal system that targets, marginalizes, and disenfranchises them. My current position in the Public Corruption Unit of the County District Attorney’s Office has allowed me the unique opportunity to witness how the system operates in practice so that I am ultimately equipped to challenge it. I am confident that my career trajectory will allow me to bring both attention and solutions to the various issues plaguing policing, prosecution, and incarceration. Not only will I give voice to these issues, drawing from my personal and professional experiences, but I intend to avidly defend those suppressed and overshadowed by abuses of authority.

At age 23, I recognize the glaring contradiction in the understanding of justice I had as a girl. Distinctions of “good” and “bad” are not black and white, nor are they all encompassing, nor do they wholly quantify a person. That said, as these labels tend to traditionally exist in the criminal justice system, they often differ dramatically from the surface perception. They perpetuate a system that is deeply prejudicial and flawed. As it turns out, I spend every day at my job investigating and analyzing “bad guys,” just as I imagined when I was a little girl. Unfortunately, they are successfully posing as good ones.

Some things we like about Elan’s personal statement:

Elan uses her essay to tell a story about how her childhood interest in law enforcement and desire to pursue a career in criminal justice evolved as she grew older. She details how specific experiences in her life provided nuance to her “simplistic” childhood worldview of criminal justice and complicated her understanding of the law. Through this narrative, she lets her reader know that she has a genuine interest in the law and helps the reader to imagine how she could fit in at law school given her interests.

Elan conveys her story through a well-structured, easy-to-follow narrative. The progression of her essay follows the chronological development of her views on law enforcement. In the end, she relates all of her development back to the views she held as a child, which really drives home how her thinking and understanding regarding the topic of her essay has developed.

Elan’s personal statement is bold. The topic she discusses is not an easy one, but she covers it very well. Her writing gives her readers a genuine look into who she is as a person, which could really help set her apart from applicants who write about more generic topics.

Optional essays (Diversity Statement)

Like most top law schools, NYU allows applicants to include optional essays with their application. These essays can cover topics not addressed in your personal statement that will help the admissions committee gain a better understanding of who you are as a person. We encourage all applicants to consider writing supplemental essays—especially what we like to refer to as diversity statements. These essays give you the chance to highlight what makes you unique and can cover a wide range of topics such as race, gender, sexuality, or particular interests that you have.  

If you are unsure if writing a diversity is the right thing for you to do, we suggest reading our guide to writing law school diversity statements and guide to law school admissions , which cover how to approach this decision.   

If you choose to write a diversity statement, here are a few things we think you should keep in mind:

Feel free to think big . Diversity includes more than the traditional concepts of race, gender, and sexuality. While there is nothing wrong with focusing on those areas, taking time to also highlight other areas of diversity could help set your essay apart from all of the others that admissions officers will read. Pursuing this strategy also opens up the diversity statement to those who might not qualify as “diverse” in one of the traditional areas. Some other examples of diversity include service in law enforcement or military, living with a chronic illness or disability, competing in sports professionally, or growing up in another country. We suggest that you attempt to write a diversity statement if at all possible.

Emphasize why diversity is important to you and how it will influence how you show up in the classroom and law school community. Law schools like applicants who will be engaged and active members of their student bodies. You can use your diversity statement to show your readers how the kind of impact you will have during your three years in school.

If you have an interest in the law (or think you have an interest) and tie it into your diversity essay, we recommend you do so. If you end up changing your mind once you get into the school of your choice, that is totally fine!

Below, we have included a diversity statement from Anthony, who was also admitted to NYU School of Law (Note: some identifying details have been changed to protect the writer’s privacy.):

My mother, her mother, and her three siblings all live within a half-hour’s drive of one another outside of Washington, D.C., and throughout my childhood, I saw my cousins and grandparents almost every day. My close-knit family was therefore very surprised that I did not take a job in the city after earning my graduate degree, but instead decided to work abroad. Just as I was the first and only person in my family to attend a predominantly white institution for college, I am the first to work internationally. They have all but given up on trying to convince me to stick around.

At this point, I am used to being different. As I have pursued a career in foreign affairs, I have learned to grapple with and move past the challenges of being a Black American in spaces where others like me are few and far in between. I have been called a racial slur to my face more times abroad than I have been in the United States, but I still relish the opportunity to immerse myself in other cultures and societies. Similarly, while I was initially distracted and sometimes discouraged by being the only African American in meetings while working in the federal government, I eventually learned to block out those thoughts and focus on the task at hand.

At times that self-consciousness reemerges as I question whether my aspiration to facilitate political stabilization in other conflict-affected countries is justified given the persistent institutional racism within my own. I was dispirited when learning of Trayvon Martin’s murder while I researched education policy in South Africa and of Philando Castile’s killing as I soaked in the beauty of Jerusalem’s Old City, for instance. Nevertheless, I am confident of the path to which I am called, and conquering my doubts has strengthened my conviction that fighting against injustice anywhere is guarding justice everywhere. Now, as I prepare to enter law school, I know my independence of thought and self-assurance in my calling will enable me to challenge common biases and assumptions, thereby helping others to better understand their own roles in promoting justice and peace.

Some things we like about Anthony’s diversity statement:

Anthony uses his diversity statement to bring together how his career interests, life experiences, and racial background have intersected to shape his life. He highlights how these various manifestations of diversity of diversity have impacted who he is and how he will show up in the classroom, on campus, and in his broader life. This combination gives his reader a good picture of who he is and what sets him apart from other applicants.

Anthony’s essay is well-written. He gives his reader a peek into many sides of who he is in a very succinct manner. All of his sentences and paragraphs build upon each other to further his narrative. It is clear to the reader that Anthony is a skilled writer, which will help assure them that he is a good candidate for admission to law school.  

Final thoughts

Getting accepted to New York University School of Law is no small feat. To increase your chances of getting admitted, make sure to follow these steps:

1.     Get the best grades and standardized test scores possible.

2.    Think deeply about why you want to go to law school.

3.    Communicate your desire to go to law school in your application essays in a thoughtful, creative way that highlights the quality of your writing and the unique experience, perspective, and set of skills you will bring to NYU.

About the Author

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on law school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into law school using his exclusive approach.

THERE'S NO REASON TO STRUGGLE THROUGH THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS PROCESS ALONE, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE. SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY 30-MINUTE CONSULTATION TO ENSURE YOU LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE.

Published September 23, 2024

Your Guide to the 2024-25 NYU Supplemental Essay Question

Katie Hindman

Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

The NYU supplemental essay, an optional component of the first-year Common Application application, gives you a succinct and creative opportunity to share a little bit more about who you are with the admissions committee. 

This year’s question is designed to spark the type of connections and critical thinking skills you’ll use daily as an NYU student:

“In a world where disconnection seems to often prevail, we are looking for students who embody the qualities of bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager to understand how your experiences have prepared you to build the bridges of the future. Please consider one or more of the following  questions  in your  essay :

What personal experiences or challenges have shaped you as a bridge builder?

How have you been a bridge builder in your school, community, or personal life?

What specific actions have you taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures?

How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?”

It’s true – we love a good bridge at NYU, whether it be one of the iconic physical ones connecting our global cities or one of the many metaphorical ones connecting our diverse and international student body. These connections are vital at our university. Joining NYU’s vibrant community starts with conceptualizing bridge building in your current life.

To bridge the distance (ha!) between our brand-new question and your unique answer, here are some tips and tricks for writing the NYU supplemental essay (from a real person reading it on the other side of the screen)!

HOW DO I START?

Think of the NYU supplemental question as an exercise in the types of creative thinking you will use as a college student and global citizen. Try to approach it with a sense of curiosity and excitement rather than apprehension or perfectionism.

Everyone’s writing process is distinct. Don’t judge your writing before it’s time to edit! Sometimes the best work starts out as a series of fragmented, unfinished thoughts. Writing a single sentence, jotting down word associations, taking a walk, or journaling may get ideas flowing just as well as a structured outline does.

Remember – the supplemental question is meant to be concise! When you get to the editing stage, make sure your writing is direct. We’re confident you can communicate your thoughts in 250 words or less.

WHAT SHOULD I WRITE?

Don’t limit yourself by contemplating only the grand metaphorical London or Golden Gate Bridges of your life – a subtle piece of wood laid strategically across a creek can be just as significant in its own context. Consider the big and small ways you’ve challenged yourself to unite a community around something important to you. Or, think about how you’re eager and willing to learn this essential skill at NYU. 

Regardless of where or how you grew up, and regardless of the perspective you bring with you to college, you’re guaranteed to come across a person or idea that challenges your perceptions of the world and pushes you outside your comfort zone while you’re here. NYU students enter college eager to use these experiences to hone their bridge building skills. They will then graduate with the confidence to put those skills to world-changing use. 

Use this question to show us you’re ready.

THE BOTTOM LINE…

The answers to this question will be as diverse as the students writing them! Your background is valuable, and every applicant has something worth sharing.

Remember that those of us on the other side of the application are interested in and inspired by you, rather than judgmental of what you choose to share with us. We’re grateful for the time, energy, and vulnerability you put into your application.

The admissions committee wishes you the very best of luck with your final year of high school. Keep being unique, driven, bridge-building members of your communities. We’re excited to read all about it!

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2023 Law School Application Changes Compiled

In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions , we have seen more law schools making changes to their application components and instructions this cycle than in any other we can recall.

For easy reference, we will be compiling these changes below, adding new schools as their applications and instructions are posted.

Please note that, even though all of the below have been announced officially by the law schools, these questions are subject to change prior to the actual application opening date. You can find a list of all law schools' application opening dates here .

Updated October 2, 2023

Fall 2023 Law School Application Essay Changes

Yale law school.

Prior to this 2023-2024 cycle, Yale Law School's application required a Personal Statement and a 250-word essay on a subject of the applicant's choice. Applicants were also offered the option to write a Diversity Statement. This year, the application still requires a Personal Statement and 250-word essay, but in lieu of the Diversity Statement, there are now four different options for Optional Essays to write. Full instructions below.

New Yale Law Optional Essay Instructions: Source

Applicants may choose to submit an essay in response to one of the four questions below, each related to a value that is central to the Law School community. This is an opportunity to provide readers with relevant information that may not be found elsewhere in your application. If you choose to answer one of these questions, your essay should focus on your relevant personal, professional, and/or academic experiences and not on specific reasons why you wish to attend Yale Law School.

The optional essay should be approximately one page double-spaced. The prompts for the optional essay are as follows:

• Option 1: The Law School has a strong tradition of public service and encourages its students to contribute to the community in a wide variety of ways. Describe a community that has been particularly meaningful to you. Discuss what you have gained from being a part of this community and what you have contributed to this community.
• Option 2: The Law School encourages its students and alumni to be leaders, innovators, and changemakers across many different sectors. Describe one of your most important accomplishments and explain why it is important to you. Discuss how you demonstrated leadership, helped innovate, and/or drove change as part of that accomplishment.
• Option 3: The Law School values determination and resilience and recognizes that these traits are critical to success at the Law School and in the legal profession. Describe a significant challenge, disappointment, or setback that you have faced. Discuss how you approached this experience and what you learned from it.
• Option 4: In order to succeed at the Law School and in the legal profession, you must be able to have discussions across difference and be open to changing your mind. Describe a time when you changed your mind on an important topic after discussing it with a person with whom you disagreed or learning additional information. Discuss what you learned from this experience.

Harvard Law School

Prior to this year, Harvard Law required one two-page Personal Statement and gave applicants the option to submit an additional Diversity Statement. This year, HLS has replaced both with two required essays: a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective. Instructions below.

New Harvard Law Essay Instructions: Source

Every applicant must submit both a Statement of Purpose and a Statement of Perspective, responding to the prompts below. Each Statement must be one to two pages in length, using double-spacing, one-inch margins, and a font size that is comfortable to read (no smaller than 11 point). We expect every applicant to use at least one full page for each Statement.

Statement of Purpose: What motivates you to pursue law? How does attending law school align with your ambitions, goals, and vision for your future?

Statement of Perspective: The Admissions Committee makes every effort to understand who you are as an individual and potential Harvard Law School student and graduate. Please share how your experiences, background, and/or interests have shaped you and will shape your engagement in the HLS community and the legal profession.

University of Chicago Law School

Prior to this cycle, UChicago Law gave applicants the option to write a Diversity Statement. This year, they have removed that statement and now include the below prompt as an optional Addendum.

New UChicago Law Addendum Prompt Source: UChicago Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

UChicago Law aims to train well-rounded, critical, and socially conscious thinkers and doers. Describe how your background or experiences will contribute to the UChicago Law community. Example topics include: lessons you have learned; skillsets you have developed; obstacles you have overcome based on your background or upbringing; or topics you have become passionate about studying in law school based on your lived or educational experiences.

Columbia Law School

Prior to this 2023-2024 cycle, Columbia Law School asked for a traditional Personal Statement and gave applicants the option to write a Diversity Statement. This year, applicants will have the option to submit one Supplementary Statement from five options, which are included below.

New Columbia Law Supplementary Statement Options: Source: Columbia Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Optional Supplementary Statements. Please note that these questions are completely optional and if an applicant chooses not to submit a response to any of these questions, it will not have an impact on their admissions decision. Applicants should choose no more than one supplemental statement, which should be no longer than 500 words double spaced. Kindly note that supplemental statement may be shorter than 500 words.

• A hallmark of the Columbia experience is being able to learn and thrive in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives. Tell us about an aspect of your own perspective, viewpoint or lived experience that is important to you, and describe how it has shaped the way you would learn from and contribute to Columbia’s diverse and collaborative community.
• We recognize that many applicants have faced adversity in myriad ways and to varying extents throughout their lives. Tell us about an example of adversity or a challenging circumstance in your own life and describe how you overcame it and how that experience has shaped your life and your own perspective.
• Columbia Law School aims to prepare its students to be advocates as well as effective leaders. Tell us about an example of leadership in your own life whether in an educational, professional, or personal setting and how those leadership skills and qualities would contribute to your legal education and the profession.
• Columbia Law School’s mandatory pro bono program requires that every student devote at least 40 hours to public interest law service during their time in law school. Tell us about your own commitment to public service and describe how volunteer work, advocacy, community service, pro bono work, and/or extra-curricular activities have shaped who you are today and how you want to continue serving the public good during law school.
• Tell us why you are applying to Columbia Law School and how the Law School's programs, faculty, curricular and extra-curricular offerings, location, and/or community would be a good fit for your legal education given your own academic, professional, or personal goals.

NYU School of Law

Prior to this year, NYU Law offered applicants the option to submit an Underrepresented Group statement. This year, that statement has been replaced by an Optional Additional Information attachment with the below prompt.

New NYU Law Optional Additional Information Prompt: Source: NYU Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

New York University School of Law seeks to enroll a student body from a broad spectrum of society. The Committee on Admissions encourages you to provide any information that may be helpful to us in reaching a thoughtful decision on your application. While the choice as to whether and what information to submit to the Committee is entirely yours, any information you provide will be used to give the Committee a more complete understanding of your academic, professional, and personal background; to help the Committee reach an informed decision on your application; and to aid the Committee in selecting a student body with a range of experiences.

This is an opportunity to share with the Committee information about how your background will enable you to contribute to the NYU Law community. Information that has been helpful in the past includes but is not limited to meaningful leadership experience; significant community involvement; personal/family history of educational or socioeconomic disadvantage or unusual circumstances which may have affected academic performance and how you exceled despite those circumstances; and skills you have developed to overcome adversity. This list is not all-inclusive, but we offer it for you to think about as you consider whether such information might be relevant in your case, and to assure you that it is quite appropriate.

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

Prior to this year, Penn Law gave applicants four choices for optional essays—one on diversity (wording changed this year, see below); one on core strengths, goals, and values (same this year); one asking, "What do you find valuable (or challenging) about a collaborative environment?" (removed this year); and one on reasons that the applicant's academic record or test scores do not accurately reflect their aptitude (i.e., a GPA/LSAT addendum) (same this year). This year's new prompts are below.

New Penn Law Optional Essay Prompts: Source

• Penn Carey Law is committed to achieving an expansive and inclusive law school community that brings a diverse range of ideas, experiences, and perspectives to our classrooms. Tell us how your lived experience informs who you are today.
• Describe a significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge.
• What strength or quality do you have that most people might not see or recognize?
• What don't we see in your application file that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee?

University of Virginia School of Law

UVA Law added an optional "Why UVA Law" statement to their application this year (prompt below).

New "Why UVA Law" Statement Instructions: Source: UVA Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Why UVA Law (optional) (suggested page limit: two pages double-spaced in 12pt font)

We recognize that some applicants have personal reasons for applying to UVA Law. Such reasons might include, but are not limited to, being a child of someone who graduated from or works for UVA Law, being a descendant of ancestors who labored at UVA, prior participation in other UVA programs, specific interest in our academic offerings, and/or a personal connection to the Charlottesville area. If these reasons are not already addressed elsewhere in your application, you are welcome to include that information here. Please note this question is optional.

Duke University School of Law

Prior to this year, Duke Law required a Personal Statement and gave applicants the option of submitting either or both of two additional essays, a diversity statement and/or a statement of interest in Duke. This year, in addition to the Personal Statement and optional statement of interest in Duke, they are requiring applicants to write 1-2 short essays from a group of six prompts/options, all of which are listed below.

New Duke Law Short Answer Essay Instructions: Source

Short Answer Essay(s) (required): Our admissions process is guided by the view that a law school class that includes actively engaged students who possess a variety of skills, personal qualities, and life experiences helps to advance the Law School's mission, improves the learning process, and enriches the educational experience for all. Please write one or two short essays from the list below. Be sure to label the essay(s) you are answering and use only one attachment even if you submit two short answers. Please limit your answer(s) to approximately 250-500 words per essay.

• What does the rule of law mean to you, and what special background or experience do you have that may help you contribute to its advancement or that underscores its importance to you personally?
• The promise of equal justice is fundamental to our legal system. Why is equal justice important to you personally, and what personal experiences or knowledge do you have that may help you become an effective advocate for equal justice under law?
• Exposure to a diversity of perspectives and experiences can enhance one's ability to deliver effective professional services. Please describe any opportunities you have had to serve clients or your community, either through work or on a volunteer basis, and how your own exposure to different perspectives and experiences helped you.
• Lawyers are members of a learned profession, and are often called to serve the public in a variety of ways. Please describe your interest in public service and any experience that you have had to prepare you for a life of service in the public interest.
• Please describe your interest in learning the law in an open, rigorous, and collaborative environment. Why is a commitment to the free expression of ideas so important in the learning process?
• What does ethical leadership mean to you? Please provide examples of how you have prepared yourself to become an ethical leader.

University of Michigan Law School

Prior to this year, in addition to a Personal Statement, Michigan Law gave applicants the option to write 1-2 additional essays from a selection of prompts. Some of those prompts have been updated this year; full list below.

New Michigan Law Supplemental Essay Instructions: Source

Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials. If you think writing on any of the topics suggested would help us get a better sense of who you are, we encourage you to consider submitting your responses to one or two (but no more) of the following topics. Each essay should be between one and two pages. For ease of reading, please use double-spacing and at least an 11-point font. Please be sure to include the number of the prompt you are addressing at the top of your essay.

• Essay One: Say more about your interest in the University of Michigan Law School. Why might Michigan be a good fit for you culturally, academically, or professionally?
• Essay Two: Describe a challenge, failure, or setback you have faced and overcome, whether long-term and systemic (e.g., socioeconomic, health, or complex family circumstances) or short-term and discrete (e.g., a workplace scenario or a particularly demanding course). How did you confront it? What, if anything, might you do differently?  
• Essay Three: How has the world you came from positively shaped who you are today?
• Essay Four: Describe a quality or skill you have and discuss how you expect it will help you in your legal career.
• Essay Five: Tell us about a time in the recent past when you changed your mind about something significant.
• Essay Six: We seek students who are encouraging, kind, and collaborative, even when it is not convenient or easy. Describe a recent experience where you exhibited these characteristics.
• Essay Seven: One of the goals of our admissions process is to enroll students who will enrich the quality and breadth of the intellectual life of our law school community, as well as to expand and diversify the identities of people in the legal profession. How might your experiences and perspectives contribute to our admissions goals?
• Essay Eight: Think of someone who knows you, but doesn't know you well (i.e., not a family member or a close friend). How would they describe you? Would their description be accurate? Why or why not?
• Essay Nine: If you could have dinner with any prominent person, living or dead, who would it be and why? What would you discuss?

UC Berkeley School of Law

This year, UC Berkeley Law added some additional language to their diversity-focused essay prompt and added a new optional statement on applicants' interest in the legal profession. The latter prompt also gives applicants the option to record a video submission in lieu of a written statement.

New UC Berkeley Law Optional Statement Prompts (including Kira video submission) Source

Perspective and Experiences:

How will you (your perspective, experience, Voice) contribute to diversity in our classrooms and community? Feel free to address any factors or attributes you consider important and relevant. In the past, applicants have included information about characteristics such as: race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, first generation college or professional school student, student parent, re-entry student, geographic diversity, ideological diversity, and others. (500 word maximum)

Interest in the Legal Profession (Video Submission Option):

Please share more about why you are applying to law school by answering one or more of the following questions:

• What about you (your experiences, your values, your perspective, etc.) calls you to law school?
• How will you use your law degree with integrity, vision, creativity, and/or to innovate?
• What makes you hopeful, optimistic, or excited about entering the legal profession?
• How do you see yourself contributing to or advancing the public good as a lawyer, scholar, or advocate?

(4 minutes or 500 words maximum)

For the optional statement, “Interest in the Legal Profession,” applicants are invited to complete this statement in an alternative modality: video submission. This is not an interview. It is another opportunity to share insight into your potential for study at Berkeley Law, and it gives you an additional tool (video recording) for the communication and presentation of that information. You may also choose to complete this statement in written format.

Optional video statements, as with all statements, are unscored and intended only to augment your application. While we will consider the information shared and will use it within our holistic review of your application, no value will be assigned to whether you choose the written or video format.

Candidates will submit this statement via a free, third-party platform called Kira. Kira will allow you to respond to the prompt either via video recording or in writing and provides comprehensive support and trouble-shooting. Please only submit your response through Kira; written or video “Interest in the Legal Profession” statements sent separately will not be considered.

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

Prior to this year, Northwestern Law offered one Optional Essay prompt asking about diversity. This year, they are offering applicants four different Optional Essay prompts, allowing applicants to respond to any or all of them.

New Northwestern Law Optional Supplemental Essay Instructions: Source: Northwestern Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Responding to the following questions is entirely optional and should not be viewed as required.  You may include responses to as many of the four optional essays as you wish or none at all.  These are intended to give you an opportunity to provide additional information that you were unable to include in other portions of the application.  Please limit your response to each essay that you complete to 1-2 pages, double-spaced, and at least an 11-point font.

• Describe your interest in attending Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
• Describe any experiences in your life or unique qualities you think would benefit Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and/or your classmates.  (Relevant information may include but is not limited to financial hardship, educational adversity, special talents, work or community service experience, first generation or immigrant experience, an unusual rural or urban upbringing, foreign residence, military background, or unique family and/or personal circumstance.)
• What does public service mean to you and how do you see yourself engaging in public service or pro-bono work to meet the needs of the underserved?
• Did you face any particular challenges we should know about when considering your academic history or test scores?

Cornell Law School

Prior to this year, Cornell Law School offered an optional Diversity Statement. They have removed that prompt this year and added additional instructions to their personal statement (below). They also used to have a question in their application about reasons for applying to Cornell with a 600-character limit and the option to attach a longer essay. This year, they have made a one-page "Why Cornell" essay required.

New Cornell Law Personal Statement Prompt Source: Cornell Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

RESPOND TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PROMPTS (required). YOU MAY RESPOND TO AS MANY AS YOU WISH, BUT DO NOT EXCEED A TOTAL OF FIVE (5) PAGES.

• We aim to train excellent lawyers. GPAs and test scores have some predictive power, but they don't tell the whole story. Please describe any significant challenges you have overcome, including but not limited to economic hardship, discrimination, trauma, or disability, and/or significant accomplishments of which you are proud.
• In the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War, Ezra Cornell wrote, "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." For over 150 years, Cornell University has remained deeply committed to Ezra's vision. Explain how your life experiences will help inform your contributions to a law school learning community devoted to "...any person...any study." We encourage you to think broadly about what you will contribute to a law school class and eventually to the legal profession, including bu not necessarily to expertise you have, experiences you can share, and how communities of which you have been part have shaped your perspective.
• From its founding, Cornell Law School has not only focused on producing excellent lawyers, but "lawyers in the best sense." A law school education teaches you a craft, and prepares you for a great career, but law is also a calling, and a lawyer in the best sense is one who will, in some way, serve justice. If your career goals include representing under-served populations or otherwise vulnerable individuals or groups, please tell us about those goals and how you hope to pursue them.
• Is there anything else you wish the Admissions Committee to know about you beyond what you have revealed in other parts of your application? You can describe a formative experience, or your motivation to go to law school, or a story that reveals your character, personality, or strengths, or whatever else you think is relevant.

Georgetown University Law Center

Georgetown Law updated their "Diversity Statement" to an "Optional Statement" this year. Additionally, they updated their (separate) Optional Response prompts, as they have many times in the past. All of the new prompts are below.

New Georgetown Law Optional Statement & Optional Responses Prompts: Source: Georgetown Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Optional Statement:

If you would like to share any additional personal perspectives, reflections, or experiences – whether positive, challenging, a combination of both, or something else entirely – that have contributed to who you are as a person and as a future legal scholar and lawyer, we invite you to do so in an additional statement.

Optional Responses:

• What’s the best (or worst) piece of advice you ever received?
• If you could “uninvent” one thing, what would it be?
• Tell us about a moment in your life that you regret.
• Describe your perfect day.
• Share a top ten list with us.
• Prepare a one-minute video.

University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law

UCLA Law slightly altered the wording of their optional "Challenges Addendum" this year. The updated prompt is below.

New UCLA Law Challenges Addendum Prompt: Source: UCLA Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Please share any information about adversity or challenge that you would like us to consider about your personal life experiences. This may include socio-economic challenges; educational challenges; health issues; disability; immigration status; surviving abuse; or complex family circumstances like an incarcerated parent, homelessness, living in foster care, or others. This is not an inclusive list, but simply an opportunity, if you wish, to share any additional aspects of your background that may give us a deeper sense of your strengths and who you are.

The University of Texas at Austin School of Law

Prior to this year, UT Law required a Personal Statement and gave applicants the option to submit a Statement of Economic, Social, or Personal Background. This year, they are giving applicants the option to write responses to one or both of two prompts, below.

New UT Law Optional Statement Instructions: Source

Applicants may submit one or more of the following optional statements to provide to the Admissions Committee additional insight when reviewing their application. Each optional statement may not exceed one (1) double-spaced page with a minimum 11-point font size and 1-inch margins.

• Please address any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and that sheds more light on your unique potential to succeed in the J.D. program and contribute to the University community and the field or profession.
• Civil dialogue and reasoned debate over contested ideas are core values both for the practice of law and in legal education. In light of this, Texas Law is interested in learning about experiences you may have had engaging with ideas with which you disagreed, and how such experiences have impacted you.

Boston University School of Law

BU Law modified the language in their diversity-focused optional essay prompt this year. New language below.

New BU Law Optional Essay Prompt Source: BU Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Consistent with the American Bar Association, Boston University School of Law believes that knowledge about bias, cross-cultural competency (ability to understand people from different backgrounds and engage with them effectively), and racism are central to the legal profession. Please tell us how your education, training, or lived experience has deepened your knowledge about bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism and/or prepared you to explore these topics at BU Law.

Vanderbilt Law School

Prior to this cycle, Vanderbilt Law allowed applicants to submit an optional diversity statement. This cycle, a Lived Experience Statement (full prompt below) is required from all applicants.

New Vanderbilt Law Lived Experience Statement Prompt: Source: Vanderbilt Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

The quality and vibrance of the educational environment at Vanderbilt Law arise from enrolling a student body with a broad mix of individual backgrounds, experiences, skills, knowledge, and interests. Please tell us about any aspects of your background and experience that you believe would contribute to the educational environment.

University of Florida Levin College of Law

Prior to this year, UF Law included a Diversity Statement prompt that they have removed this year. Source: UF Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

George Washington University Law School

GW Law altered their optional Identity Statement prompt this year—new prompt below.

New GW Law Identity Statement Prompt: Source: GW Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

We are proud of the perspectives brought to the GW Law community by individuals from around the United States and the world. To that end, how has your identity contributed to the person that you are today? Examples might include, but are not limited to, lived experiences, obstacles overcome, areas of intellectual or professional interest, background/upbringing, and service.

University of Georgia School of Law

UGA Law has kept their optional Diversity Statement this year. The slightly altered prompt is below.

New UGA Law Diversity Statement Prompt: Source: UGA Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

The School of Law believes the overall educational environment of the law school may be enhanced by life experiences that significantly add to the academic, cultural, geographic, or socioeconomic diversity of the student population. You are invited to explain how your own life experiences would significantly add to the diversity of the student population and enhance the educational climate of the law school. This may also include discussion of your status as a first-generation college graduate or veteran.

Notre Dame Law School

Notre Dame Law has updated the wording of their Different Kind of Lawyer Statement prompt this year—full text below.

New Notre Dame Law Different Kind of Lawyer Statement Prompt: Source: Notre Dame Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

The mission of Notre Dame Law School is to educate a "Different Kind of Lawyer" - one who sees the law as more than just a profession, but as a service to others. Students are encouraged to explore not only the moral and ethical dimensions of the law but also their unique roles in furthering the cause of justice.

Following the murder of George Floyd, Dean G. Marcus Cole wrote an open letter to the Notre Dame Law Community in June 2020 in which he stated the following:

One thing that each and every one of us can do is to end the cycle of hate by ending the separation that leads to it.... Each of us needs to get to know people who differ from us. We must all make a conscious decision and effort to expand our circles.

Considering the mission of Notre Dame Law School, Dean Cole's open letter, and his call to action, please provide a response to one or both of the following:

• What experiences, hardships, or adversity have you faced that have shaped your perspective on law and justice?
• How has your own circle, culture, and community inspired you, your morals and ethics?

The "Different Kind of Lawyer" statement must be the applicant's own work in their own words. It should be no more than two double-spaced pages. If an applicant plans on providing this statement, it must be included with their application at the time of submission. The statement's header must include the applicant's name, LSAC account number, and be titled "DKL Statement."

University of Minnesota Law School

Prior to this year, Minnesota Law offered applicants the option to write a one-page Diversity Statement. This year, applicants will have the option to submit a one-page Supplemental Statement answering the below (similar) prompt.

New Minnesota Law Supplemental Statement Prompt: Source: Minnesota Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Applicants may attach additional statements to highlight or discuss any of the following: Unique backgrounds and lived experiences; demonstrated commitment to racial justice/equity; obstacles or adversity overcome; absences or breaks in academic history; or other matters that may be of importance to the Admissions Committee. Each additional statement should be no more that one-page, double spaced.

USC Gould School of Law

USC has updated their Diversity Statement this year to be a "Diversity of Background and/or Experience Statement"—prompt below. They also removed the prompt for a "Why USC" statement that had previously been an optional essay.

New USC Law Diversity of Background and/or Experience Statement Instructions: Source

USC Gould's admissions process is guided by the view that an individual student that reflects the broad and rich diversity of our society provides a superior educational environment for all law students. The primary goal of our admissions process is to enroll students who demonstrate outstanding academic and professional promise and whose background and experience will enrich USC Gould's educational environment or enhance the diversity of our student body or the legal profession.

• Based on the above, we invite you to discuss any ways in which your lived experiences offer a unique ability that you may contribute to the Gould School of Law. Examples include (but are not limited to) students who:
• Have overcome racial discrimination if that is tied to the student's courage and determination.
• Have been motivated by your heritage or culture to assume a leadership role or attain a particular goal.
• Have struggled against prejudice, economic disadvantage, family or personal adversity, or other social hardships (perhaps as a result of disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or religious affiliation)
• Have lived in a foreign country or spoke a language other than English at home
• Have unusual career goals, employment history (perhaps military or law enforcement experience) or educational background (including graduate study)
• Demonstrate unusual extracurricular achievement (including school or community service)

Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law

ASU Law added a new "elevator pitch video" to their application this year.

New ASU Law Elevator Pitch Video Instructions: Source: ASU Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

You may submit an optional elevator pitch video as part of your ASU Law application in addition to your written materials. The elevator pitch is a concise and compelling summary of yourself that shows your oral advocacy skills. The video should be no longer than 30 seconds. You may only submit one video.

University of Illinois College of Law

Illinois Law added seven Supplemental Essay prompts to their application this year.

New Illinois Law Supplemental Essay Options: Source: Illinois Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Supplemental essays allow you an opportunity to provide us with relevant information that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application materials or that did not fit thematically with your personal statement.  If you think writing on any of the topics below would help us get a better understanding of what you individually bring to the law school class, we encourage you to consider submitting your responses to one or two (but no more) of the following topics.  Your response to each essay should be less than 500 words. Please use a minimum of 11 point font and double space your responses.  Please be sure to include the number of the prompt you are addressing at the top of your essay.

Essay Prompt #1

Describe a challenge, failure, or setback you have faced and overcome, whether long-term and systemic ( e.g., socioeconomic, health, or complex family circumstances) or short-term and discrete ( e.g., a workplace scenario or a particularly demanding course).  How did you confront it?  What, if anything, might you do differently?

Essay Prompt #2

Describe a quality or skill you have and discuss how you expect it will help you in your legal career.

Essay Prompt #3

Tell us about a time in the recent past when you changed your mind about something significant.

Essay Prompt #4

Our law school culture is one of encouragement, cooperation, and collaboration. We actively seek out students who exhibit those characteristics, even when it is not convenient or easy.  Describe a recent experience when you exhibited any or all of these characteristics.

Essay Prompt #5

One of the goals of our admissions process is to enroll students who will enrich the quality and breadth of the intellectual life of our law school community and the legal profession.  How have your lived experiences and perspectives positively shaped who you are today in a way that contributes to our admissions goals?

Essay Prompt #6

Think of someone who knows you in an academic or professional setting, but doesn't know you well ( i.e., not a family member or a close friend).  How would they describe your work ethic, written or oral communication skills, and/or professionalism?  Would their description be accurate?  Why or why not?

Essay Prompt #7

Provide insight into your potential to contribute to a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect in which scholars with varied perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and [sic].

University of North Carolina School of Law

Prior to this cycle, UNC Law required two written statements—one essentially asking "Why law?" and the other "Why UNC?"—and gave applicants the option to submit two additional statements—one on diversity and one functioning as a place for an LSAT/GPA addendum.

This year, the optional diversity-related prompt has been removed, but the required "Why UNC?"-type prompt (Statement Topic 2 in the application) has been updated to include new language asking about how applicants will "contribute to the breadth of perspectives" at the law school. Full prompt below.

New UNC Law Statement Topic 2 Instructions: Source: UNC Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

What is your reason for choosing the University of North Carolina School of Law? How does the institution meet your educational and/or your professional goals? Please include how your academic background, personal qualities, and life experiences inform your pursuit of legal education at Carolina Law and how you will contribute to the breadth of perspectives in the law classroom and broader law school community.

Florida State University College of Law

Prior to this year, FSU Law gave applicants the option to submit a Diversity Statement. That statement has been removed this year, and an optional Seminole Statement has been added—prompt below.

New FSU Law Seminole Statement Instructions: Source: FSU Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

Located within the heart of Tallahassee, the capital city of Florida, Florida State University College of Law is surrounded by a vibrant legal community.  As Florida has the third largest economy of any state in the United States, there are ample opportunities to practice law in a rich variety of settings – law firms, state government, local and municipal government, courts, associations, non-profit organizations, business settings, and more – which work to serve the legal needs of a diverse clientele made up of a variety of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, and backgrounds.  Florida State University College of Law is a values-based and purpose-driven law school that embraces all perspectives, backgrounds, and students.  FSU College of Law is consistently ranked one of the top schools in terms of student satisfaction – and that is due to the emphasis on creating a culture of belonging, where every person feels valued and has an opportunity to contribute.

In no more than two typed pages (double-spaced, using a 12 point font), please feel free to submit a Seminole Statement to provide the Admissions Committee with insights and examples from your life to share a quality of your character, and/or a unique ability that you possess to describe how you would uniquely contribute to the academic and student communities at the Florida State University College of Law.

Wake Forest University School of Law

This year, Wake Forest Law added a required Imagining Your Future statement and updated the language of their Optional Statement. Both prompts are below.

Source: Wake Forest Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

New Wake Forest Law Imagining Your Future Statement Prompt:

Upload a brief descriptive statement of a job, in terms of the job title and responsibilities, you envision holding (or hope to hold), a decade after graduating from law school and being admitted to the bar.

New Wake Forest Law Optional Statement Prompt:

You may upload an optional statement describing any other information about yourself that you wish to share that is not included in your personal statement.

Examples of optional statement topics include, but are not limited to:

• interest or preference in attending Wake Forest Law compared to other law schools;
• describe how the ethos of Wake Forest University’s motto, Pro Humanitate (“for humanity”), applies to your past experiences and your plans for the future as a law student and attorney.

Uploading an optional statement is not required. There is a separate optional upload for an addendum related to test scores and academic performance.

William & Mary Law School

W&M Law has modified their Optional Essay prompt and removed the description "Diversity & Inclusion Statement." The full updated prompt is below.

New W&M Law Optional Essay Instructions: Source: W&M Law Fall 2024 JD Application (LSAC)

You are invited to submit an essay that describes your life experiences with an emphasis on how the perspectives that you have acquired would contribute to the William & Mary Law School’s intellectual community and enhance the diversity of the student body. Examples of topics include (but are not limited to): an experience of prejudice, bias, economic disadvantage, personal adversity, or other social hardship (perhaps stemming from one’s religious affiliation, disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity); experience as a first-generation college student; significant employment history (such as in business, military or law enforcement, or public service); experience as an immigrant or refugee; graduate study; or impressive leadership achievement (including college or community service).  Please be as concise as possible.

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Substantial Writing Requirements

Option A Option B How do I fulfill my writing requirement to graduate? How do I know if I fulfilled my writing requirement? Courses Offering Substantial Writing Registration Deadlines

For All Substantial Writing Requirements: 

• Students are required to complete either one Option A paper or two Option B papers.
• Regardless of the type of project involved, students are expected to submit original, non-duplicative work for each and every course. When in doubt about the proper use of a citation or quotation, discuss the issue with the instructor. The reuse of work you did for another class for law school credit without approval is a serious offense that may merit severe discipline. (See Procedures for Offenses Requiring Formal Discipline in the Student Handbook for a definition of plagiarism).
• Any writings, whether Option A or Option B, must be faculty-supervised in order to qualify for the writing requirement.
• PLEASE NOTE:  Substantial Writing credit may not be earned for work a student does for pay.
• IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to register for the appropriate credits to satisfy the Option A requirement. A limited number of seminars may restrict the number of students that may write a substantial paper in a seminar (i.e., not all students that win a seat in a seminar will be able to satisfy Option A. Please check course descriptions. A professor may require permission to register for the writing credit of their seminar. Therefore, you should take this into account.).
• If you will satisfy the Option A in a seminar or course (as opposed to Directed Research ), once you have received faculty approval, you must register through COURSES during the add/drop period for the additional Writing Credit associated with the seminar/course by the stated deadline. After COURSES closes for add/drop registration, you must submit an add/drop form to the Office of Academic Services by the stated deadline. No retroactive registration is permitted.

Option A is described as follows:

• The writing requirement : In order to graduate, a student must produce an original analytic paper of substantial length (ordinarily at least 10,000 words in length and undergoes a comment and draft process) under the supervision of a faculty member, who may augment these requirements.
• The character of the paper : The paper must be a sustained piece of writing and not purely descriptive. It should be thorough, well-written, properly documented, and anticipate and address opposing arguments.
• The form of the paper : The paper may be a traditional journal note; the author’s empirical research with analysis; a proposal for law reform with defense and commentary; a memorandum of law or a brief addressing a substantial legal issue: or an equivalent project showing original thought and analysis.
• The scope of faculty oversight : Students should present an outline of their paper to the supervising faculty member for approval before doing substantial work. After approval, the student must prepare a first draft of the paper and, after faculty review, and discussion, the student must prepare a rewritten second draft that is responsive to the instructor’s criticism and acceptable to him or her.
• The time for completion of the paper : A student should have completed his or her first draft no later than January of the student’s final semester to ensure adequate time before graduation for the supervising faculty member to critique the paper, the student to rewrite the paper, and the faculty member to review the second draft and determine whether to approve it or request further work. Seminars with writing credits will satisfy the Option A requirement automatically since an Option A paper is required in order to earn the additional writing credit.

A student may satisfy the Option A requirement under the supervision of a faculty member either through a two-credit Directed Research or as part of a seminar or other classroom activity. In the case of a seminar with an optional one credit writing component, students who write such a paper can earn an additional credit for the seminar by registering for the writing credit portion in addition to the seminar itself. For example, if you are registered for Tax Policy Seminar (LAW-LW.12027) for 2 credits, you should register for Tax Policy Seminar: Writing Credit (LAW-LW.11502) for the additional credit. You may add the Option A Writing Credit on COURSES during the add/drop period, or by submitting an add request via the Law Registrar’s Service Desk until the deadline posted in the registration calendar. Option A Writing Credit courses are listed in the Schedules of Classes. For lecture courses, satisfaction of the course requirements through completion of the Substantial Writing/Option A paper will be awarded the number of credits that the course normally carries.

• Students may satisfy the writing requirement by completing work in two different classes (“Option B”) that can take a variety of forms, including for example, a brief, motion, contract or transactional document, policy analysis, or a series of short papers. Accordingly, it is difficult to set an across-the-board measure for the writing like a specific number of pages or a word count. As a general matter, and subject to whatever specialized requirements are set by the teacher of the course or Directed Research , Option B writing should normally involve a total of 5,000 words of writing, which corresponds to roughly 15 double-spaced pages in print (which might be spread across several different short documents), exclusive of footnotes. If projects are co-written, an individual student must have contributed at least 15 pages or 5,000 words.
• Writing done in a clinic or externship may also qualify for Option B (including, for example, a series of pleadings). Please note that per ABA Interpretation 303-1, students may not use one course to satisfy more than one requirement; clinics and externships by default count towards the  experiential learning requirement .

Find out more about Student Writing.

How do I fulfill my writing requirement to graduate?

Choose one of the options listed below:

1.) One Option A Paper which can be fulfilled by choosing one of the following

a) Registered for a Writing Credit with a seminar and are working with a professor on an Option A paper (i.e.: Creation of the Constitution Seminar and Creation of the Constitution: Writing Credit)

b) Registered for 2-credit Option A Directed Research or submitted a 1,000 word proposal to the Office of Academic Services applying for and registering for an Option A Directed Research. See our Directed Research website for more information.

2.) Two Option B Papers which can be fulfilled by using one or more of the following

a.) Registered for course that offers Option B

To know if the course offers Option B, check the course description. A course description that says yes, offers Option B to all students in the course. No additional registration is needed.

A course description that says By Permission of Instructor only , means that the professor must certify to Academic Services that you have earned Option B in the course.

To apply for this, submit a Law Registrar’s Service Desk ticket  along with professor permission.

b) Registered for a Directed Research Option B or submitted a 1,000 word proposal to the Office of Academic Services applying for and registering for an Option B Directed Research. One paper will be one of the two Option B required papers. See our Directed Research website for more information.

c) Request that a simulation or clinic count toward an Option B if you have already completed your experiential learning requirement. To apply for this, submit a Law Registrar's Service Desk ticket  along with professor permission.

If a student has completed their writing requirement either through one Option A paper or two Option B papers, it is not necessary to submit additional classes to count toward the writing graduation requirement. Please review the How do I know if I fulfilled my writing requirement? to determine if the writing requirement has been completed for graduation. If there are any questions, please submit a service desk ticket.

How do I know if I fulfilled my writing requirement?

Check your degree progress report in Albert and it will reflect courses that will count toward your writing requirement. If you think a course you took should be counting as a writing requirement and isn’t, contact the Office of Academic Services by submitting a Law Registrar’s Service Desk ticket .

Courses Offering Substantial Writing

• Fall 2024  | Spring 2025
• Fall 2023 | Spring 2024
• Fall 2022 I Spring 2023

Registration Deadline

• September 30 for Fall 2024
• February 3 for Spring 2025

You may add the Writing Credit on COURSES during the fall and spring daily cycles or in person at the Office of Academic Services with an add/drop form.

Exception: If there are a limited number of students who can add the writing credit (see course description), students should bid on the writing credit and the seminar/course at the same time.

Writing Credit courses are listed in the Schedules of Classes .

© 2024 New York University School of Law. 40 Washington Sq. South, New York, NY 10012.   Tel. (212) 998-6100

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How to Write the NYU Essays 2024-2025

NYU has one supplemental prompt for all applicants this year, and an additional prompt which is required for Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program applicants. 

Although the prompt for all applicants is technically optional, NYU’s prime location in the heart of downtown New York City, campuses all across the globe, and affiliation with excellent graduate schools in a range of subjects make it highly competitive to gain admission. So, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to share something new about yourself with admissions officers.

Read these examples of past NYU essays about diversity and “Why NYU?” written by real students to inspire your writing!

NYU Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, optional.

Prompt: In a world where disconnection seems to often prevail, we are looking for students who embody the qualities of bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager to understand how your experiences have prepared you to build the bridges of the future. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay:

• What personal experiences or challenges have shaped you as a bridge builder?
• How have you been a bridge builder in your school, community, or personal life?
• What specific actions have you taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures?

How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond? (250 words)

Mlk scholars applicants, required.

Prompt: In under 250 words, please share how you have demonstrated your commitment to the legacy of Dr. King’s ideals of “Beloved Community” as evidenced through academic achievement, research or service. (250 words)

In a world where disconnection seems to often prevail, we are looking for students who embody the qualities of bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager to understand how your experiences have prepared you to build the bridges of the future. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay:

Since NYU has a reputation for being highly competitive, especially in recent years, we strongly recommend that you respond to this optional prompt. You only get so many chances to share yourself with the admissions committee, so any time you’re given an extra one, you should seize it! Especially when the margins between applicants are so thin, you never know what could be the difference-maker.

Understanding the Prompt

This prompt seeks to understand how your experiences have shaped you as a connector and collaborator, and how you will use these experiences and the skills you learned from them to continue working with others in the future. NYU even provides some more specific questions that should help you brainstorm your narrative:

• How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?

Brainstorming

To start generating answers to these questions, consider the following ideas:

• Personal Experiences: What experiences have exposed you to different cultures, perspectives, or groups? Have you ever felt like an outsider and had to connect with others who were different from you? What did you take away from those experiences?
• Challenges: Have you faced any personal challenges that required you to bring people together? What obstacles did you overcome in these situations? How did you change as a result?
• School and Community Involvement: Have you ever organized events or led initiatives that brought different groups together? Did you start or participate in clubs that fostered understanding among diverse students? What was your motivation for doing so, and were you successful?
• Future Plans: How do you see yourself continuing to build bridges in college? Are there specific clubs, organizations, or initiatives at NYU where you plan to make an impact?

Thinking of robust anecdotes, that are both engaging and reflect your values, before you start writing will streamline things significantly. Note, however, that you have a limit of 250 words. While this should be ample space to express your ideas, you likely won’t be able to cover more than one experience in detail, or two shorter ones that are directly linked.

As you brainstorm, though, don’t worry about filtering your ideas just yet. On the contrary, having a longer list is better, as you can then evaluate a wider range of possibilities and determine which one is just right for the point you’re trying to make.

What Makes a Good Response

A strong essay will include:

• Personal Narrative: Begin with a specific story or example that highlights your role as a bridge builder. This could be an instance where you connected different groups at school, or a moment when you mediated a conflict, among other options.
• Clear Examples: Provide concrete examples of your actions. Instead of saying, “I brought people together,” describe exactly what you did—whether it was organizing a multicultural event, leading a discussion group, or facilitating a project that involved different perspectives. This is one of the most important rules for writing vivid narrative essays: “Show, don’t tell.”
• Impact: Reflect on the impact of your actions. How did your efforts change the situation? What did you learn from the experience?
• Future Vision: Conclude by connecting your past experiences to your future plans at NYU. Mention specific programs, clubs, or opportunities where you hope to continue your bridge-building efforts. Don’t just say “I’d love to do something similar at NYU”–instead, tell NYU admissions officers exactly where and how you’ll do so, as that in turn will help them envision you as a member of their community.

Hypothetical Student Examples

To give you some ideas of what a bridge builder could look like, here are some hypothetical examples:

• Ravi , a student with a background in both Indian and American cultures, grew up balancing two very different worlds. In high school, he noticed that students from different cultural backgrounds rarely interacted. To address this, Ravi organized an annual cultural showcase that brought together diverse groups to share their traditions, foods, and music. His essay could focus on how this experience taught him the power and importance of cultural exchange, and on how he plans to continue fostering cross-cultural understanding by taking advantage of opportunities at NYU’s satellite campuses around the world.
• Elena , who was the only female member of her school’s robotics team, noticed that girls in her community were underrepresented in STEM fields. She founded a mentorship program that connected female high school students with women working in tech. Her essay could discuss the challenges of starting the program and how she plans to continue her efforts through WinS, a mentorship program at NYU that pairs students with girls at NYC public high schools who are interested in STEM.
• Marcus grew up in a neighborhood with significant racial tension. In high school, he initiated a dialogue series where students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds could share their stories and experiences. His essay might explore how this project not only reduced misunderstandings but also created a more inclusive school environment. He could then connect this experience to his interest in social justice and the law, and how BIPOC Legal Society at NYU would give him a strong network as he pursues his goals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Vagueness: Avoid general statements about being a bridge builder. Also don’t rely on generic definitions of what makes someone a bridge builder. Instead, provide specific stories and examples that show your actions and their impact, and clearly demonstrate what being a bridge-builder means to you personally.
• Clichés: Don’t rely on Hallmark card-y sentiments like “At the end of the day, we’re all human.” Instead, connect your points to your real experiences, to make your story personal, tangible, and easy to understand.
• Overemphasis on Future Goals: While you do want to discuss your future plans, make sure the majority of your essay focuses on past experiences. The admissions committee wants to see evidence that you’ve already acted as a bridge builder, and talking too much about the future without connections to the past may make you sound naive.

Good and Bad Examples

Good Example:

“The first time I hosted a cultural dinner at my high school, I had no idea what to expect. My parents, who immigrated from Mexico, brought homemade tamales, while my friend Jin’s parents contributed Korean bulgogi. As we set up the buffet, I noticed that students who usually kept to their own groups were mingling, curious about each other’s food and traditions. Conversations quickly blossomed, with students exchanging stories about their families, holiday traditions, and the meanings behind the dishes they brought. For the first time, I saw walls come down as we bonded over shared meals and experiences.

Inspired by this success, I expanded the event into a quarterly gathering, incorporating cultural performances, storytelling sessions, and even cooking demonstrations. Over time, these dinners became a cornerstone of our school’s efforts to promote inclusivity and understanding, bridging divides that had previously seemed insurmountable. Witnessing the friendships that formed and the stereotypes that were dismantled, I realized the profound impact that simple acts of connection can have.

At NYU, I’m excited to join the International Student Council and to continue building bridges through shared experiences. I hope to start a monthly “Cultural Connections” dinner, where students can explore each other’s backgrounds over a meal. I also plan to collaborate with the Office of Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation to organize events that celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures on campus, ensuring that everyone feels seen, heard, and valued in our community.”

Why this is a good example: This response provides a specific, vivid story that illustrates the student’s role as a bridge builder. There’s clear personal growth, and a plan to continue this work in college. In particular, the idea of the cultural dinner shows that the student doesn’t want to just pitch into existing projects at NYU–they want to start their own, to make the school even more inclusive.

Bad Example:

“I’ve always believed in the importance of bringing people together, especially in environments where differences can lead to misunderstandings. In my sophomore year, I noticed that students from different backgrounds often stuck to their own groups during lunch. I decided to encourage more interaction by starting a lunchtime club where anyone could join and talk about various topics, from hobbies to current events. Although the turnout was lower than I had hoped, I felt proud of my efforts to create a space where people could connect.

At NYU, I plan to join clubs that promote diversity and inclusion, and I hope to contribute to a more connected campus. I am eager to participate in activities that bring students from different backgrounds together, whether through cultural events, discussion groups, or volunteer work. I believe that by fostering understanding and collaboration, we can build a more unified community that appreciates the unique perspectives everyone brings.”

Why this is a bad example: This response falls short in a few key areas. The student provides a general description of their efforts to build bridges, but lacks concrete details that demonstrate impact or personal growth. In short, the essay tells rather than shows, which makes it less impactful than the first example. 

The essay also misses an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned or how these experiences will influence the student’s future actions. A partial attempt is made, but the language is vague, as phrases like “promote diversity and inclusion” and “foster understanding and collaboration” could apply to any school, and thus do not showcase a deep connection to NYU, the way references to school-specific opportunities would, or the student’s unique role as a bridge builder. 

By selecting an anecdote that is personal and detailed, and that directly connects to the future you’re imagining for yourself at NYU, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a compelling essay that shows NYU how you’ve been a bridge builder in your own life, as well as how the university’s resources align perfectly with your plans to continue building bridges during your time in college.

In under 250 words, please share how you have demonstrated your commitment to the legacy of Dr. King’s ideals of “Beloved Community” as evidenced through academic achievement, research or service. (250 words)

Do your research.

Before you even start thinking about a response to this prompt, you should research Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his work, and his message, and the notion of the “Beloved Community.” Because this program is known to be selective, you’ll want to show the admissions officers that you truly understand the program’s mission and spirit.

The primary goal of the program is: 

“to develop scholars who strive to realize Dr. King’s ‘Beloved Community’ and who embody ‘a love-centered way of thinking, speaking, acting, and engaging that leads to personal, cultural and societal transformation’ (The King Center). ” 

By doing your research first, you can strategically choose experiences that show that you’re the kind of student who will take full advantage of this program, rather than accidentally selecting anecdotes which may be strong on their own, but don’t reflect the program’s values.

While you should definitely do your own research on this topic, for a rough overview the “Beloved Community” is a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love for all, free from poverty, hunger, and hate. You’ll need to provide specific examples of how you’ve embodied these ideals in your academic life, research, or service efforts.

Brainstorming Questions

The prompt provides three domains in which you may have demonstrated your commitment to the ideas of the “Beloved Community.” Let’s take a look at each one, and think about some things you may have done in each:

• Academic Achievement: Have you taken courses or completed projects that address social justice, equality, or community building? Did you participate in discussions, presentations, or papers that promoted these ideals?
• Research: Have you conducted research on issues like racial equality, social justice, or community service? How did your findings contribute to promoting Dr. King’s vision?
• Service: What volunteer work or community service have you done that aligns with the ideals of the “Beloved Community”? How did your actions directly contribute to fostering a more just and loving society?

There are a few things you should include in your response to make it strong.

• Specific Examples: Use concrete examples to demonstrate your commitment. Rather than just saying “I’ve done research on social justice,” explain what the project was and why you chose to get involved.
• Connection to Dr. King’s Ideals: Clearly link your actions to Dr. King’s vision of the “Beloved Community.” Explain clearly how your work promotes justice, equality, and love–don’t leave anything up to inference.
• Impact: Highlight the impact of your work. How did your actions contribute to a positive change in your community or field of study?

Notice that each point can seamlessly lead into the next to establish a good narrative flow. Begin with anecdotes, examples, and details about the experiences you’ve had. After describing these experiences, connect them to the ideals of Dr. King’s “Beloved Community.” Finally, highlight how your personal impact within the broader experience demonstrates your own commitment to these ideals.

• Student A: A student who took an advanced sociology course and chose to focus his capstone project on the effects of systemic racism in education. He analyzed how inequities in school funding perpetuate the achievement gap, and ended up presenting his results to a local school board while advocating for reforms that align with Dr. King’s ideals of equal opportunity.
• Student B: A student passionate about biology who joined a community health initiative in her neighborhood which provides free health screenings and education about preventive care. She can explain how this work helped address healthcare disparities by directly supporting the health and well-being of underserved populations, in line with Dr. King’s vision for a more equitable society.
• Student C: A student who organized a series of community dialogues between local police officers and students after tensions arose in their town. They could discuss how these conversations aimed to foster mutual understanding and reduce conflict, and thus embodied Dr. King’s principles of nonviolence, reconciliation, and community building.
• Vague Responses: Don’t just say that you care about social justice. Instead, provide detailed examples that concretely illustrate your values.
• Generalizing: Avoid broad statements about equality or justice. Your focus should be on how you’ve personally contributed to these causes.
• Ignoring the Prompt: This prompt isn’t just about social justice in general, so make sure you have a clear, direct connection to Dr. King’s vision of the “Beloved Community.”

“For a final history paper in high school, I explored the legacy of redlining in urban communities. My research revealed how discriminatory housing practices have perpetuated economic inequality, limiting opportunities for minority communities.

Inspired by Dr. King’s vision of a “Beloved Community,” I turned my studying into action by volunteering with a nonprofit that assists first-time homebuyers in historically marginalized neighborhoods. My role involved guiding families through the complexities of securing a mortgage, understanding property taxes, and maintaining financial stability. I also collaborated with the organization to develop workshops that educate prospective homeowners about their rights and resources, empowering them to overcome systemic barriers.

By helping these families achieve homeownership, I aimed to break the cycle of poverty that redlining had enforced for generations. One particularly meaningful experience was seeing a single mother of two receive the keys to her first home, as I knew that this would create a more stable and hopeful future for her children. This work deepened my understanding of economic injustice and reinforced my commitment to fostering a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I believe that by empowering individuals with the tools they need to succeed, I am contributing to the realization of Dr. King’s dream of a just and equitable community.”

Why this is a good example: This response has a specific, detailed description of how the student’s academic work ties into their service efforts. It clearly connects to Dr. King’s ideals of addressing economic injustice and promoting equality, and show that the student made a tangible impact on their community. There is also emotional depth, which makes the response even more compelling.

“I’ve always believed in the importance of equality and treating others with respect, which is why Dr. King’s ideals resonate with me. Throughout high school, I took my studies seriously because I know education is a powerful tool for change. I’ve also volunteered occasionally, helping out at food banks and participating in community clean-ups. I think it’s important to be a good person and do what you can to help others, whether it’s through academics or service. In the future, I hope to continue Dr. King’s legacy by being kind, respectful, and supportive of those around me, doing my part to make the world a better place.”

Why this is a bad example: This response is vague, without any specific examples of how the student has actively worked to advance Dr. King’s vision. It mentions general values like kindness and respect, but does not demonstrate a clear connection to the ideals of the “Beloved Community” in particular, or describe how the student made their community a more equitable place. 

If you identify vivid examples that demonstrate your commitment to Dr. King’s ideals and legacy, and how you’ve already started to make an impact, you’ll be well on your way to showing NYU why you’d be a great fit for this remarkable program.

Where to Get Your NYU Essay Edited For Free 

Do you want feedback on your NYU essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Application Tips: How to Approach NYU Law’s Supplemental Information Section

The NYU Law School application requires applicants to submit a personal statement and a resume. In addition, NYU allows applicants to provide supplementary information in support of their candidacy. Their optional supplemental request is detailed below:

New York University School of Law seeks to enroll a student body from a broad spectrum of society. The Committee on Admissions encourages you to provide any information that may be helpful to us in reaching a thoughtful decision on your application. While the choice as to whether and what information to submit to the committee is entirely yours, any information you provide will be used to give the Committee a more complete understanding of your background: to help the committee reach an informed decision on your application, and to aid the Committee in selecting a student body with a range of experiences.

This is an opportunity to share with the Committee information about how your background will enable you to contribute to the NYU Law community. Information that has been helpful in the past includes, but is not limited to, meaningful leadership experience; significant community involvement; personal/family history or educational or socioeconomic disadvantage or unusual circumstance which may have affected academic performance and how you excelled despite those circumstance; and the skills you have developed to overcome adversity. This list is not all-inclusive, but we offer it for you to think about as you consider whether such information might be relevant in your case, and to assure you that it is quite appropriate.

Approach this optional essay as you would a diversity essay. Start by thinking about: What makes you unique? How has your personal journey likely differed from other applicants? And how has it shaped your world-view and goals? Have you encountered significant setbacks, yet through perseverance and grit, succeeded? How have these setbacks shaped how you approach challenges today? You will also want to reflect on past experiences when you learned and thrived alongside peers from different backgrounds and/or took on significant community or leadership roles. Are you a passionate environmentalist who has spent a great deal of time volunteering for environmental causes and hopes to spearhead a sustainability initiative within the law school? Were you a leader in the student government at your undergraduate institution and hope to take on a similar role at NYU?

Use this essay to show NYU’s admissions officers who you are and how you will be a valued member of their community.

Your story set apart.

*** Enter the $2,000 College Transitions No Essay Scholarship Contest ***

NYU Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompt and Advice

August 23, 2024

In the 2023-24 admissions cycle, NYU received nearly 120,000 applications. That was a record-breaking figure for the university, as was the all-time low acceptance rate of 8%. To put these numbers in proper context, consider for a moment that in 1991, NYU had an acceptance rate of 65%. At the start of the Obama presidency, NYU still only received 37,000 total applications. These numbers lead us to the topic of this blog, the NYU supplemental essay.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into NYU? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into NYU  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Clearly, standing out as an applicant to NYU was a heck of a lot easier a generation or even a mere decade ago. For the Class of 2027, the median SAT score for an admitted applicant was 1540, meaning that even a standardized test score in the 99th percentile won’t do much to separate you from the hordes of equally credentialed applicants.

Although it only has one prompt, NYU’s essay still affords applicants an opportunity to illustrate what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below is NYU’s supplemental essay for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. We then follow with College Transitions’ advice on how to craft a winning composition.

2024-2025 NYU Supplemental Essay

This is a new prompt for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. It’s optional, but we highly encourage anyone who would like to be a serious contender (which, if you’re taking the time to apply, hopefully you are) to answer it.

In a world where disconnection seems to often prevail, we are looking for students who embody the qualities of bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager to understand how your experiences have prepared you to build the bridges of the future. Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay (250 words):

·   What personal experiences or challenges have shaped you as a bridge builder?

·   How have you been a bridge builder in your school, community, or personal life?

·   What specific actions have you taken to build bridges between diverse groups, ideas, or cultures?

·   How do you envision being a bridge builder during your time at our university and beyond?

NYU Supplemental Essay (Continued)

This prompt—and its questions—are focused yet open-ended, offering you the power to decide what aspect of being a bridge builder—past, present, and/or future—you would like to address. As such, take a look at the guiding questions and note which ones resonate with you. Does the term “bridge builder” remind you of an experience you’ve had, a challenge you’ve overcome, or a belief you hold? Perhaps it calls to mind an aspect of your background or perspective. Or, it could speak to a particular social or political cause that you’ve advocated for, a group discussion you’ve contributed to, or a club you founded. Alternatively, in college, what do you want to do ? What type of change do you want to affect? How so?

The strongest responses will look to the future while also incorporating past personal experiences or influences. For example, perhaps, earlier this year, you went out of your comfort zone to speak up at a school board meeting about your school district’s book ban policy, ultimately meeting & agreeing to continue working with a group of fellow students who also opposed the policy. Finally, you can then incorporate how you plan to seek out specific related experiences or resources at NYU.

How important is the NYU supplemental essay?

NYU deems four elements as “very important” in evaluating a candidate. These are: the rigor of your secondary school record, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, and talent/ability. The NYU supplemental essay is considered to be “important” alongside letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and character/personal qualities.

Want personalized assistance?

In conclusion, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your NYU essay, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

Looking for more writing resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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