How do you show diversity to law schools?

Question

I am applying to law school in a couple years. I have a 3.8 and do lots of volunteer work. I have not taken the LSAT yet, but will a 3.8 give me a good chance of getting into a top school such as Harvard or Yale? Or do those schools usually need closer to a 4.0? Are law schools interested in diversity? How can I show diversity on my application? I was thinking of saying that I am the first person in my family to attend college since my mom just has a high school diploma and my dad has a 9th grade education. Also, I have heard that sometimes medical illnesses can show diversity. I have a disease that causes intense chronic pain. After 10 years of pain, I was finally diagnosed last year. The problem is that doctors frequently tell young girls that their symptoms are all in their heads. If I started a support group for young women with my disease, and encouraged them to ge their doctors to believe them, could that be diversity? Is diversity only being black or hispanic?

Answer 1

Diversity usually covers gender, race, age, ethnicity, national origin, within-country geography, sexual orientation, religion, and economic status. Having a medical challenge that you have overcome is not diversity, but it can be used to show adaptability.

Answer 2

There's really no telling what Harvard or Yale might decide regarding admissions.

Acing the LSAT would certainly advance your cause, as would being able to get letters of recommendation from lawyers, preferably Harvard/Yale alumni.

Consider also applying to University of Michigan, their law school is one of the best and might not be as haughty as Harvard...

Now, diversity does include disabilities and gender. However, there is no shortage of female law school applicants.

Why don't you try to find a female member of the law faculty, tenured, at Harvard or Yale who you find admirable, and try to correspond with her regarding your future in law and your chances of admission to study with her? If she gets to like you, maybe she'll pull some strings.