In such a divided nation, involvement in politics can be a sensitive topic regarding law school admissions, but it doesn’t have to be.
Engaging in politics is a great way to be active in our community and make a difference, but it can also feel like taking a risk that could undermine your chances of admission.
Many pre-law students worry about how law schools will view their political affiliations, believing that the political leanings of a given law school or the human bias of admission officers can play a role in law school admissions.
“I’m cognizant of that (risk), so I’m sure everyone is at least somewhat cognizant of it,” said Isabella Thomas, pre-law government and Spanish junior.
During my first semesters of college, I stayed away from political clubs or extracurriculars because of this fear of hurting my law school application. Additionally, I hadn’t been exposed to as much politics as I would have liked, and I didn’t know where my political ideologies fit.
But at the same time, I cared about politics and wanted to get involved.
When I came across Texas Political Consulting, a non-partisan student organization, I decided to join as a consultant because the organization aims to “provide pro-bono political strategy and analysis for campaigns, non-profits, officials and advocacy groups.”
Multi-partisan clubs allow you to engage in politics and work with people from across the political spectrum. If you’re interested in politics, find a political club that resonates with your passions or helps you discover them. HornsLink is a great resource for that.
Thomas is one of the founders of TXPC, and she discussed the motivations for making it a non-partisan student organization.
“One of the main reasons I wanted to make (TXPC) non-partisan was to be more inclusive,” Thomas said. “Doing a multi-partisan thing comes with its own unique challenges, for sure. But I do think that one of the benefits of (being) politically ambiguous (is that) you can find your own space inside the organization.”
Joining non-partisan clubs is one way to get involved in politics if you’re a centrist or want to explore different political views, but it’s also possible to engage in partisan activities without hurting your chances of admission.
Admission officers value diverse perspectives and ideologies. The diversity of thought and nuance that law students are exposed to is part of what makes law school such an enriching academic experience. This diversity is also inherent to the law and legal profession.
“All perspectives are valuable to law schools,” UT pre-law advisor Karintha Fenley said. “Whether you fit into that more left, right or centrist leaning, they want to know who you are, and you can eloquently articulate that to them on paper.”
Regardless of your political stance, there is value in caring about your community, being active, engaging in civil discourse and maintaining an open mind. These are all qualities that can be demonstrated through political involvement. What’s important is that your actions reflect your true values and passions.
“There’s something to be said for folks who sign themselves up to want to work within the system that we have in order to change it for the better, the better that they want to see, the good they want to see,” Fenley said. “(Law schools) love to see community engagement. They love to see when somebody’s actively engaged in advocacy, volunteer work and helping others.”
Politics shouldn’t be something to fear, and neither should political organizations. The key to demonstrating that you care about politics without hurting your law school application is to advocate for what matters to you while remaining transparent, authentic and open-minded — ready to listen to and engage with various perspectives.
Mendoza is a philosophy junior from El Paso, Texas.
