Hi all,

I am facing a big doubt, as I am applying to some LLM programs togheter with my girlfriend. We are engaged from more than ten years and we share the very same interests and goals.

The fact is that we have a very similar profile: we both graduated from the same European law school and we both are teaching/research assistants in the same universities, we both are SJD candidates at the same university with a merit scholarship, we both have published some scholarly work, we both have had a working experience in the same field for a couple of years and, therefore, we both have a very similar (and mostly academic) profile. We also are used to jointly perform scholarly researches and we are a well-tested working team.

I am now wondering whether it would be opportune or not for us to mention our private relationship - and the fact we are applying to the same law school - in our personal statements. In any case, our resumè will obviously show a parallel lifework and a marked connection between our personal experiences, as well as our respective academic and professional vocation: the circumstance should be obvious whether we disclose it or not (not to mention that our applications will be sent from the same address).

The fact is that we also are aware about the tendency towards the "diversity" in choosing the panel of admitted students of most American law schools and we are concerned that such similarities could endanger our admission chances.

Having said that, do you think that said circumstance would represent a strength or a disadvantage for us from the point of view of an admission committee? Should we mention or not in our personal statements about our relationship and should we stress the fact that we both are applying to the same law school, or it could endanger our chances to be admitted?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

thats a tough one my friend. i think it all depends on what you guys want, do you want to go to the same school? in my POV you shouldn't disclose it, I dont see how it can help you, nonetheless, it may harm you, since they could think that you guys are a 2x1: if one of you doesnt get in then the other one declines the invitaton, and no University likes that...

GoodLUCK