Prospective Law School Students: How to Spend Your Gap Year

For prospective law students who wish to take a gap year, there are many jobs and activities that will improve your resume, provide clarity on your future career path, and ultimately bolster your candidacy in the application process. We’ve listed a few ideas below:

• Management consulting/investment banking: For future applicants with a passion for business or an interest in corporate law, spending time at a consulting or investment banking group can increase your baseline knowledge, and understanding of the work.

• Policy analysis/research: If your interests are in constitutional or immigration law, working directly in this space can provide you experience with relevant stakeholders, as well as the ability to speak to your future goals more specifically within your law school application. It may also assist you to more strategically select law school programs that will best position you to do the work you love.

• Non-profit work: If you have identified an interest in public interest law or just in gaining professional skills quickly, working for a non-profit organization could be a sound next step. Typically, nonprofits have lean workforces and, as a result, even recent college graduates are asked to work outside their comfort zone to acquire new skills. Further, it is important to note that some organizations like Teach for America have relationships and scholarship programs with select law schools.

• Paralegal/legal assistant/legal administrator: For applicants interested in learning more about working within a law firm, this type of experience will broaden your understanding of the day-to-day life of a lawyer and will also likely show meaningful commitment to both law schools and future legal recruiters.

While it isn’t necessary to take a gap-year between undergraduate and law school, if you do, it is of vital importance to spend your time thoughtfully and productively.  It may seem appealing, in those months after college, to solely focus on LSAT and application preparations.  But remember, admissions committees will be looking very closely. Meaningful and productive work will help you to construct a narrative that will bolster your story as an applicant and positively contribute to your law school class and experience.  

Prospective Law School Students: When to Consider a Gap Year

Prospective law students often wonder if they should take time off between finishing their undergraduate work and applying to law school. While there is no one size fits all answer, the trend shows that many law schools are expecting and even rewarding students who take at least a brief interlude prior to starting school. 

According to ABA data, the majority of 2024 matriculants did report a gap prior to starting law school (65 percent). Among four of the top five ranked law schools by U.S. News and World Report in 2024, the incoming classes showed that between 70 and 90 percent of incoming students took at least one year off before matriculation. At Yale, 89 percent of the Class of 2027 was at least one year out from undergraduate and 46 percent were at least three years out.

While, it isn’t necessary for all students to take a gap year, it can be a beneficial use of time for the following types of applicants:

• Those with a general interest in the study of law, but without experience in the day-to-day operations of a law firm and/or those who do not yet feel comfortable selecting a career path within the legal industry

• Those who have a passion they would like to pursue, who can spend some time in the field to confirm law school is the right next step to help them achieve their goals

• Those who need to enhance the competitiveness of their application with additional experiences and insight into their future goals

• Those who may benefit from a year of earnings prior to taking on the financial burden of law school

• Those interested in working at a firm post- law school, as prior work experience can be looked upon quite favorably by hiring managers

Check back tomorrow as we discuss productive ways to spend your gap year. 

MBA Re-Applicants: Provide New Insights

So, the last application cycle did not work out in the way you’d hoped. Follow along on the blog this week, as we cover the steps you will want to take for a successful re-applicant journey. While the disappointment may sting, the good news is that business schools will highly value you, as a re-applicant, for your persistence and tenacity.

When you update your application materials, keep in mind that schools may review your updated submission alongside your initial application. You will want to ensure that your updated materials provide new insight to the Admissions Committee on who you are and how you will fit into their program. 

• Check program policy regarding recommendation letters. Many programs request that you provide new reference letters, although you may opt to use the same recommenders. If possible, include at least one new reference who is in a current managerial role and can speak to your recent professional accomplishments. 

• Update your resume to include results you’ve achieved and impacts you’ve had since your last application. Also, consider what activities may round out your resume. Look for professional or volunteer involvements that may set you apart from other applicants. 

• Submit new essay responses. Show commitment and don’t be afraid to expose some vulnerability. Some MBA programs will provide a re-applicant question, while others (including Stanford and Harvard) do not. If the application does not provide you explicit space, use your personal statement to show the reader your leadership or innovation potential through a recent endeavor. You will also want to explain the reasons behind your re-application. Ensure that your writing is clear, cohesive, and polished. 

• See below some sample re-applicant essay questions. (While some programs deem the question optional, we encourage you to take advantage of this additional space to demonstrate exactly why your candidacy is more compelling than in your previous application.)

Chicago Booth: Upon reflection, how has your perspective regarding your future, Chicago Booth, and/or getting an MBA changed since the time of your last application? (300 words)

UPenn Wharton: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)

Northwestern Kellogg: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

MIT Sloan: (Optional) Tell us what has changed for you both personally and professionally since you last applied. (short answer) 

Columbia: How have you enhanced your candidacy since your previous application? Please detail your progress since you last applied and reiterate how you plan to achieve your immediate and long term post-MBA professional goals. (500 words)

NYU Stern: If you wish to highlight any changes from your last application, you may do so in the optional essay 3: Please provide any additional information that you would like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee. (250 words) 

MBA Re-Applicants: Update Your Strategy

So, the last application cycle did not work out in the way you’d hoped. Follow along on the blog this week, as we cover the steps you will want to take for a successful re-applicant journey. While the disappointment may sting, the good news is that business schools will highly value you, as a re-applicant, for your persistence and tenacity.

Once you identify your last submission’s weaknesses, consider some of these strategies to improve your likelihood of success as a re-applicant. 

• Apply in Round 1 or Round 2 of the admissions cycle. 

• Consider if there are other, more accessible, programs that could prepare you for your desired career. 

• If you have a low/marginal undergraduate GPA, consider taking additional courses to bolster it. And be sure to address any red flags, such as a low GPA, in optional essays.  In doing so, you don’t want to make excuses for your low GPA.  Rather, you want to guide the reader to those areas of your life, such as professional projects or leadership roles, that you believe are more indicative of your ability to thrive in a rigorous environment.

• Think about how your test scores compare to those of admitted students. Are you willing to get a tutor or take a course to improve your score? Remember MBA admissions committees will only ever consider your highest score, no matter how many times you’ve taken the exam.

• Try to gain more professional and/ or volunteer experience(s) that will provide leadership and teamwork opportunities, as well as demonstrate your interest in and commitment to your future goals.  

MBA Re-Applicants are Highly Valued by Admissions Committees

So, the last application cycle did not work out in the way you’d hoped. Perhaps you didn’t receive a seat at your dream school or within your desired geographic area. Whatever your experience, you now find yourself thinking about re-applying to business school. Follow along on the blog this week, as we cover the steps you will want to take for a successful re-applicant journey. While the disappointment may sting, the good news is that business schools will highly value you, as a re-applicant, for your persistence and tenacity.

Before you begin the re-applicant process, assess your initial application effort. Did you receive any acceptances, or waitlist offers? What components of your application were weak?

• Consider your school selection. Did you apply only to elite or reach programs? 

• Did your GMAT/GRE score and undergraduate GPA fall within the average ranges for admitted applicants at your preferred schools?

• Did your application materials present your strongest case? Were your written materials clear, grammatically correct, and polished? Did your resume accurately reflect your academic and professional qualifications? Did your essay responses adequately demonstrate your commitment to an MBA, as well as show the reader your abilities in innovation (critical/creative thinking and problem solving) and/or leadership and/or teamwork?

• When in the cycle did you apply? Applying later (after the January deadlines) can negatively impact an otherwise qualified candidate. 

Need Clinical Experience? Check out the SDN Activity Finder.

If you are a premedical student looking to supplement your learning and enhance your medical school application, check out the Student Doctor Network (SDN) activity-finder. The activity-finder allows you to sort through summer or next-term experiences, organized into the following categories: medical/clinical work experiences, volunteer/community service experiences, research experiences, and shadowing experiences. Then it provides a list of organizations and resources for you to consider by location.  

Need Clinical Experience? The Must-Knows if You’re Considering EMT Training

Many premedical students consider EMT training and certification because it can provide excellent clinical experience and patient interactions. Could it be the right fit for you? 

There are a lot of benefits that medical school admissions committees view favorably.

• As an EMT, you will develop your leadership skills and understanding of some of the work and challenges physicians may face. 

• You will gain foundational medical knowledge and clinical experience that will be useful throughout medical school and may ease the transition between your undergraduate and medical studies. In a recent study at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, which added EMT certification into the first-year curriculum, most students agreed that the certification eased the transition into medical school (82 percent) and “increased awareness of patient’s lives and circumstances” (91 percent). 

• You will hone your ability to stay calm and clear-headed under duress, which will certainly benefit you as a medical student, resident, fellow, and attending physician.

EMT Certification Process. To become a certified EMT, you must take the equivalent of about six college credits at an accredited school, which includes CPR, controlling blood flow, and patient communication and interactions. You will then take the NREMT exam which is made up of two components: a written, cognitive section that measures your medical knowledge and a psychomotor skills assessment that measures practical skills in patient assessment and emergency response skills. After passing the test, you can apply for EMT certification through your local EMS agency. 

After certification, you will want to consider paid versus volunteer opportunities. Paid employment generally takes shift structures. Volunteer work is more flexible. If you consider paid employment, you will want to look for emergency response or ambulatory work, rather than interfacility transfers. Emergency work will provide you with the most opportunities for meaningful clinical experiences. To understand the opportunities available, check with your local EMS agency, fire departments or hospitals. 

Is it the right fit?

• What types of clinical and/or research experiences have you already had? In what areas might your future medical school application benefit most?  

• Do you have the time… really? If you want to gain EMT certification, consider it earlier in your undergraduate career or as an activity during a gap year. You won’t want to combine EMT certification with studying for the MCAT, coursework, and medical school applications and interviews.

• What volunteer or employment opportunities are available for you locally? Are they a good fit with your schedule and interests? Gaining the certification without the associated patient experiences from working or volunteering will not provide you with any meaningful benefit as an applicant or medical student.

Need Clinical Experience? Consider a Medical Scribe Position.

If you’re a pre-med on the hunt for some high-quality clinical experiences, medical scribing could be an excellent fit. This paid position can help you to develop a strong network of provider relationships, gain an excellent foundation in medical terminology, observe clinical decision-making first-hand, and learn about the daily work and challenges of life as a physician. 

The work. Medical scribes serve as assistants to a physician (or multiple physicians) taking notes and charting patient encounters, inputting documentation into the Electronic Health Record (EHR), responding to patient questions and messages as directed by the physician, locating health records, and even researching information as requested by the physician. Scribes play a key role on a medical team as they free up the physician to focus on patient interactions while the scribe takes responsibility for administrative tasks. Scribes work closely under the supervision of a physician and do not have independent decision-making responsibilities. They work across a variety of specialties, including but not limited to: Emergency Medicine, Oncology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Family Practice, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Pain Management.

The training. After obtaining the position, medical scribes receive between a few weeks to a month of training in preparation for the position. This training is typically paired with a period of shadowing a fellow medical scribe. Even with this onboarding, most scribes feel overwhelmed early on in the role due to the steep learning curve. Scribes need to learn the styles and preferences of the physicians that they work alongside, including their preferred charting methods, as well as the EHR system and the new terminology. 

The benefits. 

• Medical school admissions committees view scribing favorably. A scribe’s work demonstrates their commitment to a career in medicine by showing that they have an intimate understanding of the work of a medical provider. They will gain foundational medical knowledge and experience that will be useful throughout medical school and may ease the transition between their undergraduate and medical studies, and inform their future career path.

• Scribes can gain experience within a specialty, including a more thorough understanding of the challenges that physicians in those roles face. 

• Scribes will have the opportunity to develop a wide network of provider relationships, some of whom may be willing, and able to write detailed recommendations based on their work alongside of them.  

• Scribes will demonstrate their ability to thrive on a team. Scribes must learn to work well with a variety of physicians who will each have a different style. They will also learn to deal with stress and be proactive in asking questions and picking up information quickly, which will benefit them as a medical student, resident, fellow, and attending physician.

The Law School Interview: Apply Point’s Tips for Success

Today concludes our deep-dive into the law school interview. We’ve compiled a list of common interview questions, by type, to help you with your preparation. Be sure to review our posts from throughout the week, if you missed them!

Apply Point’s Tips for Success

• Outline the key points and experiences you would like to discuss within the behavioral interview and take responsibility for bringing up these points. It is most helpful to review all of your application materials again, and highlight those stories that will showcase your abilities and strengths in the areas of critical thinking, leadership, problem solving, and teamwork, as well as those experiences that reinforced your commitment to the study of law. 

• Nearly every response in a behavioral interview should include a story, even those that don’t ask you to recall a specific situation. This will not only make your interview more compelling and specific, but it will be much more memorable to the interviewer. 

• Speak about any recent accomplishments or events not included in your application. Continue to improve your candidacy even after you’ve submitted your application.

• Be proactive about bringing up red flags or weaknesses in your application. Address these head-on during the interview because they will inevitably come up within the admissions committee’s discussions. Rather than make excuses, talk about what you’ve learned and how you will continue to improve moving forward.

• Practice delivering your responses to interview questions aloud, and be sure to limit most responses (to behavioral interview questions) to between 1.5 and three minutes. Ask us for a list of behavioral interview questions so you can practice and prepare. 

• Prepare two to three school-specific questions for the interviewer that demonstrate your interest in and enthusiasm for the program.  

• At the end of the interview, thank your interviewer, reiterate to them if their program is your first choice, and send a hand-written thank you note.

The Law School Interview: Share Stories

We’re deep-diving into the law school interview this week. Check back daily as we’ve compiled a list of common interview questions, by type, that we will publish to help you with your preparation. 

Share stories. Use stories from your life to show your interviewer who you are, how you’ve grown, and what you will bring to the incoming class. Spend some time brainstorming and reviewing anecdotes that can be tailored to different behavioral questions and demonstrate the qualities law school admissions committees are looking for. 

• Tell me about a time when you challenged the group consensus. Tell me about a time when you came up with an innovative solution to a problem.

  To respond to a situation-based question, use the SAR (Situation, Action, Response) model. Spend about 20 percent of your response on the situation, and the remaining 80 percent on the actions you took and what resulted/what you learned. The SAR model also applies to a question like: What is your greatest weakness?  You will want to spend 20 percent of your response on the weakness, and 80 percent discussing the actions you took/are taking to improve, and what the results have been/what you’ve learned since beginning your improvement plan.

• What is your greatest strength? How would you sum up your leadership style?

  For questions where a simple claim would seem to suffice for a response, always take it a step further. Make a claim, THEN back it up with a specific example to illustrate that claim—in a group project, professional/intern experience, or extracurricular role.

The Law School Interview: Understand Your Fit

We’re deep-diving into the law school interview this week. Check back daily as we’ve compiled a list of common interview questions, by type, that we will publish to help you with your preparation. 

Understand your fit with the school. You must prove to the interviewer that their law program is the perfect intersection between where you’ve been and where you want to go. Do your homework and be prepared to discuss how your past experiences and future goals have inspired your interest in their offerings. 

• Why [specific school]?

  Look at the mission of the school, student organizations, courses, faculty, research and experiential learning opportunities, and come to the interview prepared to explain how you would engage. Keep in mind also that law schools are integrated in their local communities, so consider your fit here too. Do you have a particular interest in working within the state, or in a rural/urban environment? Did the location of the school impact your decision to apply to this program? Why?

  Prepare also for related questions such as: What do you hope to gain from our law school? What hesitations do you have with our program? 

The Law School Interview: Know Thyself

We’re deep-diving into the law school interview this week. Check back daily as we’ve compiled a list of common interview questions, by type, that we will publish to help you with your preparation. 

Know yourself. This interview is about giving the admissions committee a view into who you are. Think about your interests, passions, and underlying motivations. Here are some questions that you might receive.

• Tell me about yourself.

  You’ll want to prepare an elevator pitch (consider a one-minute version, as well as a three-minute version) that provides an overview of your background and interest in law school. What have been some of your most meaningful experiences, that reinforced your commitment to the study of law?  Why? Are there specific experiences that prompted an evolution in your perspective so notable you want to include them here too? What led you to make certain academic and professional decisions? 

• Why Law School?

  Your response to this question should demonstrate your interest in the study of law. You’ll want to highlight key experiences in the areas of critical thinking, ideally in an academic or legal setting, that reinforced your desire to attend law school. Prepare also for related questions such as: Why now? What is your legal dream job? Where do you see yourself in ten years?

• What has been your most meaningful academic or professional accomplishment to date? Why?

  Prepare to speak confidently on any of the experiences you have listed in your application materials. What did the experience teach you about yourself? How did it challenge you? How did the experience reinforce your interest in pursuing law school? How did it change or reinforce your views of the legal system—and your desired role within it—in the U.S.?

• Would you change anything about your undergraduate education? Why? 

  If there is a red flag pertaining to your undergraduate education (for example, a semester with a low GPA or a transfer between schools), this may present a good opportunity to address it. Without making excuses, emphasize what you learned from the experience and/or point to other areas of your academic record that are much more indicative of your ability to compete in a rigorous academic environment. 

  If you do not have a red flag to address, you may want to talk about that missed opportunity to study abroad or take a class in philosophy. Did an early disappointment ultimately inspire you to change your path to pursue law school after graduation? Be sure to link your chosen topic to qualities related to your law school candidacy.

  Prepare also for related questions such as: Why did you choose your undergraduate institution? What did you enjoy most about your undergraduate education? 

The Law School Interview: An Overview

Most law schools don’t interview their applicants. But among those who do, an admissions director or alum will typically conduct a 20 to 30-minute behavioral interview where they will assess your interpersonal traits, commitment to and aptitude for the study of law, and your interest in and potential to contribute to the school/community. They will also want to ensure that your interview is consistent with your application.

Here’s what you’ll want to demonstrate:

Overall:

• Consistency between application and interview

Interpersonal:

• Professional manner/maturity

• Clear communication style

• Leadership/influence

• Confidence

• Intellectual curiosity

• Collaborative

Commitment and Aptitude:

• Clear understanding of what a legal career entails

• Goal orientation/motivation

• Time management

• Perseverance

• Integrity/ethics

Community

• Interest in school/excitement about offerings

• Willingness/ability to contribute to the school community

• Fit with student body/diverse elements you will add to the community

Begin preparing for your interview by thinking through your most meaningful experiences that will help demonstrate your skills and abilities in the areas of critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork, as well as those that reinforced your commitment to the study of law. As with your personal statement, you’ll want to show the interviewer your strengths and potential through specific examples, rather than limiting your content to claims.  

Check back throughout the week, we’ll share a list of common interview questions, by type, to help you with your preparation. 

Top Ten Tips. MBA Behavioral Interviews

If you’ve been invited to interview at any or all of the schools on your list, congratulations! Now, it is time to begin preparing. See below for a list of our top ten interview tips:

1. Upon receiving the invitation, schedule the interview as soon as possible. This will enable you to avoid scheduling conflicts and select the time of day when you have the most energy and the fewest distractions. 

2. Read all you can about the program, and follow them on social media to stay abreast of their latest announcements, research findings, and other content. If possible, schedule an in-person visit prior to the interview, which often will include a tour, class observation, and lunch with current students. Talk to current or former students already in your network to gain insight on the interview process and other aspects of their MBA experience. 

3. Review your application and think through how you will succinctly, yet cohesively, explain your path to this point. What have been some of your most meaningful experiences that reinforced your interest in the study of business? You will likely receive some introductory question(s), which will require a three-minute elevator-pitch response, as well as several others that will require you to back up claims you make about your abilities in the areas of innovation, leadership, and teamwork with specific examples from your professional life. 

4. Convince them that their program is at the perfect intersection of where you’ve been and where you want to go. Be sure you can speak about specific courses, professors, case competitions, experiential learning opportunities, etc. that interest you most.  And explain why, citing some of your past experiences and/or future goals.  Remember, depth is better than breadth.  We would rather you explain at length one or two specifics that really set the program apart for you, than briefly mention seven to ten.

5. Prepare to weave into your responses what you will be able to offer the school. Make it clear how your experiences and interests, personal and professional, will benefit the school and create a stronger, more diverse MBA class and alumni base.

6. Think through your biggest career successes and failures, and consider what you learned from both. When answering a question about one of your failures, spend only 20 percent of the response on the situation and mistake. The rest of your response should be devoted to the actions you took to gain a better understanding and improve, and what you learned as a result.

7. Determine if there are any red flags in your application and, if so, craft a response that addresses the issue without making excuses. For example, if asked about the ‘C’ you received in Calculus your sophomore year, discuss what you have done to improve your quantitative ability since then, and make mention of those specific areas in your transcript and post-baccalaureate experience that are more indicative of your ability to compete in a rigorous academic environment.  

8. Stay current on domestic and international news. The Economist is wonderful, one of our favorite publications. You will also want to be aware of any news related to your current company, industry, and desired career path as these are great areas from which your interviewer may draw questions.  Setting up Google alerts for key phrases related to your company and industry will also help ensure you’re up to date.

9. Prepare three questions, which demonstrate your knowledge of and enthusiasm for the program, to ask the interviewer at the end of your session.

10. Compose a hand-written thank you note and snail mail it to your interviewer. In the note, thank them for their time, reiterate your interest in the school with specifics, make note of something memorable you spoke about during the interview, and, if applicable, make the yield protection statement (If admitted, I will attend.).

Post-Interview Questions: What to Ask Your Student Interviewer

As your interview wraps up, your interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You must have them. Being interested and thoughtful demonstrates your commitment to the program.

With student interviewers, your questions can be more personal, but you still want to show that you know something about the school. It's also a good idea to ask a question that relates to something you've just discussed or about a commonality that you two share, or that you share with the school:

• You mentioned that you're involved in researching X. I, too, have a background in researching X. Or, if you’re into completely different areas of research: I’m very interested in pursuing research at Specific Lab. Can you tell me more about your work at Specific Lab?

• My grandfather was in the Army, and I value our veterans. I know that the medical school has partnered with the local VA center to address both chronic pain and mental health issues. Have you worked there? What is it like?

• I’ve read about X, Y, and Z organizations here. What clubs and student organizations do you belong to? Have they proven valuable to you?

Post-Interview Questions: What to Ask Your Faculty or Admissions Committee Interviewer

As your interview wraps up, your interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You must have them. Being interested and thoughtful demonstrates your commitment to the program.

Some questions you might ask a faculty or admissions committee member include:

• I read about X clinical opportunity currently offered to medical students in their second year. Is that going to be available in the future? Can you tell me more about that opportunity?

• I worked on a Y study as a research coordinator, and I'm very interested in the Y research happening here. Are there plans to expand that?

• How diverse is the student body? Are there support services for minority students?

• I have not lived in an urban setting, but I have worked with underserved patients in a small town. About how many patients does the student-run clinic see a year?

The Medical School Interview: Don’t Forget, You’re Interviewing Them Too.

As your interview wraps up, your interviewers will ask if you have any questions. You must have them. Being interested and thoughtful demonstrates your commitment to the program. Perhaps you've visited this school before your interview day or spoken to current or past students. Terrific. But if everything you know about a program came from their website, this is your chance to find out more. You should be open to every school you're applying to—so this is about engaging, not interrogating. This Q&A flip is also a chance to show that you've done your due diligence. Be precise instead of broad. A weak question such as "What research opportunities are currently available?" will require your interviewer to launch into 1,000 things, most of which won't apply to you—oh, and that you could have read about on their website.

You should also keep your focus on the program. Asking an interviewing physician: "What made you choose your field?" is something you do at a lunch mixer. The questions you ask during an interview session should relate to how you and the school will fit together. If you're going to ask three questions, ask at least two meaty ones. You want to include details in your questions that show that you've done your homework on the school. After your third program-related question, close out by asking if you can contact them with other questions in the future. And if the school is your top choice, tell them right now. As we cover elsewhere in this guide, schools want to accept students who will definitely attend.

Check back throughout the week, we’ll provide sample interview questions that you can use to engage your faculty and student interviewers.

How to Use Community Service Experiences to Enhance Your MBA Application: Answering Your FAQs

Your MBA application should showcase the full range of your interests, abilities, and experiences. In addition to your academic and professional life, how you spend your free time can be telling. Today, we’re addressing our most frequently asked questions about how to incorporate community service into your MBA application.

I volunteered a lot in college, but I haven’t had much time to do so since I started working. Should I include those older experiences in my MBA application?

Your MBA application can include any experiences from the start of college onwards. Do keep in mind that the significance of your contribution matters. Participating in one “walk against hunger” your sophomore year will not carry the same weight as spearheading an initiative or raising a significant amount of money. Again, emphasize depth over breadth.

I am working constantly and don’t have time to volunteer right now. Should I try to fit something into my schedule?

Community service can enhance your application, but it is not a deal-breaker if you don’t have it. That being said, don’t forget to consider any volunteering you’ve done as a part of your company. Many firms include community service as a component of the performance framework. So, if you routinely help organize your company’s “dress for success” program, make note of that. 

I don’t volunteer for a nonprofit organization, but I do serve on committees at my workplace. Should I include this in my application?

Yes. Think about all that you do within your workplace that falls beyond the scope of your professional responsibilities. Are you a member of the holiday party steering committee? Or a participant on a DEI initiative? Those activities that go beyond your role are opportunities to demonstrate leadership, innovation, teamwork, and a commitment to giving back to and bettering your workplace.  

How to Use Community Service Experiences to Enhance Your MBA Application

Your MBA application should showcase the full range of your interests, abilities, and experiences. In addition to your academic and professional life, how you spend your free time can be telling. But before you run out and sign up for various volunteering gigs, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

• Show commitment and continuity. If you had experiences in college with a particular organization, say supporting the environment or working with the homeless population, you may want to pick up a role with a similar organization locally. Spend time on a cause you really care about. 

• Prioritize depth over breadth. A years-long involvement or considerable weekly time commitment with one organization is preferable to brief interactions working on a large number of causes. You will have more opportunity to make an impact.

• Flex different skills. Volunteer organizations are an excellent place to apply skills you may not yet demonstrate professionally. If you think your resume (or current position) is lacking in experiences that demonstrate leadership, innovation and/or teamwork, see if you can gain that experience in a volunteer setting. Entry-level professional roles typically don’t involve much people management, however, leading a non-profit initiative or committee often does! 

Check back tomorrow as we address FAQs related to community service and the MBA application.

Your Law School Application Resume: Don’t Forget the Basics

Yesterday we posted about the importance of focusing on results in your resume. Here are a few more important elements to keep top of mind while you’re crafting your resume.

Don’t forget to…

Keep it relevant. Your resume should only include experiences from the start of college onward, and should showcase your abilities in critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, and/or teamwork.

Review the Guidance. Some law schools instruct you to “submit a resume,” while others such as Yale Law School, provide unique specifications for your “activities section” submission. Review the school’s admissions page to confirm any instructions including format and/or page limits. If the school does not provide formatting guidance, you should keep it simple. Opt for left-justified text in an easy-to-read font—we prefer Garamond—sized between 10 and 12. 

Use proper grammar. Even the best writers can get worked up about creating resume text. Don’t overthink it. Make use of active verbs to showcase your contributions. Use proper punctuation and the appropriate tense (present for current activities, past for past activities). And do not lean on corporate jargon, rather you will want to ensure that you explain what you did and your results in a way that a classmate would understand.