Plan Early . . . And Start Saving Now! This is the one unbending rule of financing law school that is applies to students from freshmen to post-grads! Apply now for the summer Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) event to learn more from CLEO's Financial Aid experts in person.

Watch Dean Reyes Aguilar explain the Financial Aid aspects of law school including FAFSA (:33) and Scholarships (1:11) in detail that you can follow. Then, let's break down the prelaw financial aid timeline starting with Sophomores and ending with Seniors and Post-grads. Find a printable Financial Aid Timeline

Sophomores: Are you ready for the cost of "acceptance" and "rejection"? The application process for law school is too expensive to ignore! Rank your law schools and total their application fees for an estimate of your initial expenses. You can also learn which schools have Fee Waivers and how to request one, in order to releive some of the application costs. The bills start accumulating before you even get accepted - including the travel and hotel costs associated with visiting your top schools and the cost of rejections letters.

Note: Take an online tour of the law school whenever possible.

Juniors: If you want to live like a lawyer after law school . . . then live like a law student during law school! Watch these current law students discuss their solutions to the cost of attendance.

Note: Print your First Year Law Student Budget and use the Law School Cost Calculator to predict your costs.

Seniors & Post-Grads: With your senior year coming to a close or your Post Grad years stretching too long, it is time to finalize your documents. Too often students think Financial Aid offices process paperwork overnight. Not true. Help their staff help you by completing all of your documents thoroughly and submitting them as early as possible.

Note: Read the "What's in Your Wallet? Show Me the Money" blog for an explanation of the virtues and drawbacks of loan types.

Watch Jacqueline's CLEO story - Click here
Watch Ricardo's CLEO story - Click here
Watch Vanessa's CLEO story - Click here

Go to CLEO's Facebook page to post your video stories. We'll see you there!

Edited: 01/03/2012 at 02:52 PM by matthewniziol

EACH YEAR hundreds of students across the nation use College Scholars Programs to prepare for law school. And, the best preparation begins with the experts! CLEO's prelaw experts and resources are ready to help you reach your goals. All you need to do is choose the right program for you . . . and then get involved!

See ASAP Highlights and Photos here
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When: Weekends (Saturday & Sunday) in June & July 2012
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Where: Cities throughout the U.S.
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How: Click here to: Apply online

When: January 2012 - April 2012
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Where:Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA, Washington, D.C., etc . . .
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How:Register online

When/Where: San Francisco, CA (Saturday, January 28, 2012)

When/Where:Boulder, CO (Saturday, February 4, 2012)

When/Where:Washington, DC (Saturday, March 3, 2012)
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How:Register online

Edited: 12/21/2011 at 12:00 PM by matthewniziol

Finally, after 16 weeks you get to rest! Put up your feet, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Law schools and universities are closed from December 23rd to January 3rd this year; so don't bother looking for email from professors about grades, references from LOR writers, or "thick-or-thin envelopes" from law school recruiters - they're on break too!

But there is something you can do. . .

To read more on academic success click here . . .

To read more on the application process click here . . .

To read more on the caring for yourself click here . . .

As you finish taking care of your To-Do list (Academic review, Application Submissions, and Future Planning) find time to squeeze onto the couch. Prelaw students are constantly on the lookout for insightful movies, books, and websites that illuminate the law school experience.

CLEO has a comprehensive catalog for you in the CLEO EDGE Magazine WINTER/SPRING 2012 edition. You can also:

Your ultimate goal in this time of reflection is to enhance your confidence, reignite your creativity, and rejuvenate your faith in your potential. Our Holiday wish for you is that you take time to relax, enjoy the company of good friends, and reconnect with your dreams for law school!

Edited: 11/30/2011 at 02:00 PM by matthewniziol

WHEN: Saturday, January 28, 2012 - 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
WHERE: UC Hastings College of the Law School 200 McAllister, San Francisco, CA 94102
HOW: Register for FREE on our CLEO website NOW!

WHEN: Saturday, February 4, 2012 - 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
WHERE: University of Colorado Law School
2450 Kittredge Loop Road Boulder, Colorado 80309
HOW: Register for FREE on our CLEO website NOW!

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2012 - 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Lawl 3600 John McCormack Road, NE, Washington, DC 20064
HOW: Register for FREE on our CLEO website NOW!

Law School Admissions is like High-Stakes Poker - you've gotta know what cards your holding, who you can bluff, and what ace is up your sleeve? But don't worry; CLEO stacked the deck in your favor! Read this blog for "the Rules of the Game,", and then follow the links to more details on each card in the application deck.

First you need to know who is sitting at the table:

Click here for more LSAC info



Click here for Law School Forums



Click here for more CLEO info

Now let's look at the cards you bring to the table. Start by organizing the application components the way law schools want to review them - this saves you time and anxiety.

Click here for the Choosing Your Best Law School blog post.

Click here for the Personal Statement blog post.

Click here for the L.O.R. blog post.

Click here for more application information

Final Notes: Your application needs to be comprehensive using all the tools available to you and emphasizing your entire experience (Academic, Co-Curricular, Professional, and Personal). The admissions counselor will know that you are serious and worthy of a closer look if s/he thinks you took the time to match your interests with the law school; and that you focus on the details.

Get started with that application, and Good Luck with your submissions!

Edited: 11/03/2011 at 08:53 PM by matthewniziol

Twitter and Facebook may be light years away from Legal Writing, but if most of your writing is in 140 character bursts with Hash tags, and if you fanatically update your status, organize your Facebook Albums, Groups, and Pages around your interests then you could be ready to start your Personal Statement. Shocked? Don't be!

One of the most difficult steps in writing your Personal Statement is bringing clarity from the confusion of life. A Personal Statement jumbled with thoughts and activities and goals is too distracting. You need to simplify you message.

Start with the building blocks. . . Take 20-30 minutes to fill-in the in the columns of this chart. Don't worry about editing your thoughts until later.

Do you see the accomplishment/challenge and "cause & effect" connections above? Consider:



Understanding your own history is the first step to preparing the structure of your personal statement. Law school applicants like to begin writing with the first paragraph. You will have a more profound and encompassing statement if you first Brainstorm the best aspects of you history. Never begin writing without first doing a little research.

No Personal Statement Starter-Kit would be complete without a Top Ten List. Incorporate these suggestions into your writing and you will have a statement that an admissions counselor will find easy to read.

Ready to start writing? Click here to continue . . .

Now that you have taken your LSAT the next step is to wait. That's right! You can't improve your score now, so let's spend the 23 days after the test and before your scores are emailed to get things done. If you know your score is going to be low you may want to cancel it immediately. Visit the LSAT website for cancellation and refund options.

First, expect the best and move ahead with your admissions plan - Scroll down to Jr. & Sr. Year.. If you want to enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday, then make the most of October and be ready to submit your applications by mid November.

CLEO's Choosing A Law School Blog Post can help you continue your search and narrow down your top 5 schools. Each school will have a slightly different application, so review them carefully and edit your responses appropriately. *Recommendation: Review each school's Fee Waiver option. You might find a school will offer you a Fee Waiver if you ask.

Second, write, proofread, and re-write your personal statement and resume to emphasize your competitiveness as an applicant. Don't assume that your Personal Statement sounds as good in the ears of the Admissions staff as it does your head. *Recommendation: Read your statement aloud to as many prelaw professionals who do not intimately know your history because they will better reflect the experience of the law school admissions staff.

Third, choose wisely the people who will speak for you. Your Letter of Recommendation writers will add the academic "Seal of Approval" to your application. Choose writers who can emphasize your academic strengths and your social commitment.

Finally, realistically evaluate your scores. If your score does not make you eligible for your best choice law schools at this time, then evaluate your goals, review your timeline, and get started again. If your score makes you competitive for the schools of your choice, then it is time to show the admissions panel the best parts of your character not captured by a standardized test.

Go To facebook.com/CLEO.Scholars for photos from the other summer CLEO programs including: Texas SSI, Atlanta ASAP, and the Los Angeles ASAP. Start making your 2012 Summer plans now with CLEO's College Student Programs.

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the cleo program has been so wonderful I have learned so much about law school and about lawyers and about the process as well as what it takes. Im so motivated after this program to go off and do great and wonderful things. Im motivated to work harder than I ever have before to reach my goal. I also met some great people here and I learned so much from them because alot of thestudents are so on top of their stuff and this program showed me that even though I thought I had my stuff together other people do too so I have to really do as much as I can.Also our closing reception was wonderful very nice motivational speeches and Ms. Shante martin was so much help with alll her advice and I will definetly plan to contact her if I have any questions.  the reception was beautiful Im so grateful for this experience I am thankful for every individual that made this experience possible and I will definetly share with others how great it has been I hope this program continues to be sucessful and helps out even more students. Thanks again to all that has been involved I look forward to working with cleo in the future.

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