哈佛大學在2005年度最新美國大學綜合排名中居第一名。哈佛大學法學院是美國最古老法學學院之一，可以說是執(zhí)法律教育界之牛耳。以下是哈佛大學法學院personal statement的要求。申請者應該展示自己的背景、經歷和觀點。你自己可以決定personal statement的內容以及最好的表達方式，但是無論怎樣，讀者都希望對你“本人以及法學院潛在學生”有一個理解。要求就是有說服力的、清楚的、簡介的、適時的（persuasive, clear, succinct, and timely）。誠懇、直接、有深度的個人陳述最有助于申請（Candid, forthright and thoughtful statements are always the most helpful.）
   
全文如下：

　　Applicants present themselves, their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas to the Admissions Committee in a Personal Statement. Because people and their experiences are diverse, you are the best person to determine the content of your own statement. It is for you to decide what information you would like to convey, and the best way for you to convey it. Whatever you write, readers will be seeking to get a sense of you as a person and as a potential student and graduate of Harvard Law School. In this context, it is generally more helpful to write what you think readers should know to have a better sense of who you are rather than writing what you think the readers want to read.

　　The Personal Statement can be an opportunity to illuminate your intellectual background and interests, or to provide information about yourself and your achievements that may not be fully evident through other information provided in the application. In many ways, you are preparing a case. As in most legal cases, it is important to be persuasive, clear, succinct, and timely. There are few substitutes for careful forethought and planning in this process.

　　We understand that it can be difficult to discuss oneself on paper, but our experience is that written statements are valuable in the selection process. Candid, forthright and thoughtful statements are always the most helpful.