Should personal statements to law schools be a "confessional"?

No.

Often, applicants preparing a first draft of a personal statement to law school feel the need to make a "confession." They feel compelled to describe what they perceive as a profound character weakness. They then to ask the law school for "forgiveness," with the awarding of an admission offer becoming proof of "assurance of forgiveness."

Don't go down this path. Instead, construct a personal statement with carefully crafted positive images of your life and achievements. When you really need to discuss problems or issues you've overcome, package them in a framework of a determination to succeed--with a creative resilience and an overcoming, or at least thoughtful, admirable efforts to overcome, with a retained positive attitude towards challenge.

Remember as well the powerful persuasive principle of "Excellence plus modesty." Demonstrate your excellence in your story, but let the reader draw his or her own conclusions about it.

For more information about winning the fight for law school admission, please see my website www.PrelawAdvisor.com or send an e-mail to BradDobeck@aol.com.