What should be on my resume?
Once again, it's the quality, not the
quantity, that counts. Law schools are looking for people who excel.
You can excel in one thing (music, track, ceramics, etc.) or you can
excel by being a leader and a well-rounded person. You are not
judged by the length of your list of undertakings, but by what you
did, how dedicated you were, and what you learned from your
endeavors. Do not pad your resume! Law schools can smell that a mile
away. You shouldn't need to, anyway, particularly if you worked
while going to college. The law schools understand that, between
working and studying (and maybe raising a family, too), there is
only so much time left for extracurricular activities. That's why
it's important to focus on one or two things that you enjoy.
You need an extracurricular activity of some
sort. Maybe two. You can accomplish this easily by volunteering
somewhere—anywhere. Show that you care about someone other than
yourself. Work for a food bank, a battered women's shelter, the
Humane Society, Big Brothers/Sisters. Volunteer at your church,
synagogue, or mosque. Be a tutor to younger students. Take care of
an elderly relative. All of these things count as extracurricular.
It doesn't have to be a college-based group or activity, and it
doesn't have to be in the legal field — just so you do good quality
work and learn something from it. Note: See me for a
comprehensive list of local volunteer opportunities.
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