Also: Pre-Law Students Are Eager to Run, but Cautious about
Expressing Political Beliefs in Law School Application
Company Website:
http://www.kaptest.com
NEW YORK -- (Business Wire)
Fresh off an historic presidential election that has fueled increased
political activism on both sides of the aisle, a new Kaplan Test Prep
survey shows a jump in the percentage of pre-law students interested in
politics*. Over half (53%) of the over 500 students surveyed say they
would consider running for political office, up from 38% in 2012, the
last time Kaplan surveyed on this topic. This 53% nearly ties the
all-time high of 54% who said they would consider running for office
when Kaplan first surveyed students shortly after President Obama was
elected in 2008.
This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170222005979/en/
Approximately 35 percent of all members of Congress (both in the House
of Representatives and Senate) are lawyers, the largest identified
profession in the current Congress, though
markedly down from a post-World War II high of 59% in 1965.
Additionally, about half of all current U.S. governors graduated law
school.
Despite many pre-law students’ passion for politics, many are
apprehensive about putting their beliefs into words in the admissions
process. When asked, “In general, do you think it's better for
applicants to avoid discussing their political beliefs in their law
school application personal statement?”, nearly half (46%) say yes; 16%
say no; 29% say it depends; and the remaining 10% don’t know.
But a separate Kaplan survey of law schools finds that admissions
officers don’t necessarily think it’s a bad idea for applicants to
discuss their political beliefs**. When asked the same question, 42%
disagreed with the statement “it would be better for applicants to not
discuss their political beliefs in their personal statement.” Of the
remaining respondents, 28% agreed that politics should be avoided in law
school application personal statements; 26% say it depends; and 4% don’t
know.
“Law school has long been a bullpen of aspiring politicians, and we
think the recent election showed many pre-law students of all political
persuasions how important it is stay involved and stand up for what you
believe,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs,
Kaplan Test Prep. “When it comes to expressing political beliefs in your
law school personal statement, we advise applicants to do it only when
you can do a good job of weaving together your personal narrative and
career goals. For instance, if you want to go into public interest law,
by all means, talk about your college internship in the governor’s
office or your canvassing job for an advocacy group. But just to spout
your political opinions with no larger goal may alienate admissions
officers who don’t agree with you or who think you didn’t use your
personal statement wisely. It can show poor judgement.”
For a short video illustrating the survey’s findings, click here.
* Kaplan Test Prep e-surveyed 514 of its LSAT® students between
December 2016 and February 2017.
** For the 2016 Kaplan Test Prep survey, 98 of the 205 American Bar
Association-accredited law schools were polled by telephone between
August and September 2016. Included among the 98 are 28 of the top 50
law schools, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council,
which neither sponsors nor endorses this product.
About Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com)
is a premier provider of educational and career services for
individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the
world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of
online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital
products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized
tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and
graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys,
physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and
graduate admissions consulting services.
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company
(NYSE: GHC)
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170222005979/en/
Contacts:
Kaplan
Russell Schaffer, 212-453-7538
russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
Twitter:
@KapTestNews,
@KaplanLSATPrep
Source: Kaplan Test Prep
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.