Spring semester is well underway! It's the time to consider what you've accomplished as a prelaw student and what goals to set for summer and fall. The law school application process is too complex with classes, majors, GPA's, personal statements, LSAT scores, applications, and letters of recommendation to "play it by ear". And, just when you think you have a grip on all the documents you get bombarded with advice from prelaw advisors, law school admissions counselors, faculty, friends, and family.

What you really need is a good "game plan" (clear and concise) that you can follow step-by-step from today until you are sitting securely in your first 1-L class. CLEO has clearly marked the journey - NOW you have a map!

First-Things-First: Don't procrastinate in the process if you want to be successful! Applying to law school begins in your freshman year. Here is a good "rule of thumb": The sooner you start participating in prelaw programs the more resources you will find. Here are some of the resources you can tap into.



Second: Don't get intimidated by the process! You can survive and thrive throughout the process if you break it up into clear steps. The good news is that the CLEO Edge magazine, available in print and online, includes a concise timeline and articles describing the milestones for each of the four undergraduate years. Check your progress and make a plan for the last two months of this semester and the summer that keeps you on track.

Freshmen: Your goal this year is to understand the prelaw landscape and then make fundamental investments that will make you a competitive law school candidate! You should:



Sophomores: Your goal is to engage in the academic and prelaw community! In this year you will "earn your stripes" academically and develop the experiences that law schools will seek in a competitive applicant. You should:



Juniors: Your goal is to succeed in the system! All law school applicants will take the LSAT, request Letters of Recommendation, and research the more than 200 law schools. You need to complete these tasks in a clear and concerted effort. You should:



Seniors: Your goal is to put it all together! As a senior you need to proactively compile and submit all of your law school documents in a TIMELY fashion. NOW - is always the answer to the question, "when is the deadline?" You should:



Finally, there are key steps that need to occur in every year of your road to law school. For instance, you need to begin managing your finances in your freshmen year and continue receiving scholarships and aid as long as you are an undergraduate. You should develop a strong relationship with the professionals and professors that will help you prepare for law school. And, you should engage in the community and cultural activities that introduce you to diverse student leaders. But in the end, you need to commit to the process and reaffirm your commitment each semester.

Your goal is to keep your dream front and center; and to chase it with your heart and your intellect!

Foreclosures, unemployment, and soaring tuition costs affect everything - especially financial aid. If you missed the financial melt-down, then you must have been living under a rock or locked in the library. In the final installment, Dean Reyes Aguilar (SJ Quinney College of Law) shares recommendations on today's economic situation for Pre-law students and paying for law school?

There are two primary challenges I see students confronted with in paying for law school as a result of the current economy.



In regard to students' credit histories, people are behind on loan payments or are defaulting on debt, due to job losses or reductions in salaries, thereby making them ineligible for some educational loans.



The Stafford and Perkins loan programs are affected only if a borrower is in default on a federally guaranteed student loan. But Stafford and Perkins loan programs limit how much a student can borrow annually.



So it is very frustrating, understandably so, for students who are qualifying for some aid, but not enough to get them through the school year. My first recommendations in this situation are:



For new lawyers who find themselves underemployed or having difficulty finding a job, their challenges will be making student loan payments. If their debt is from the federally guaranteed loan programs, they can take advantage of the income-sensitive repayment option. (I discussed this payment plan option in Financial Aid: What's in Your Wallet Part 2.)

The Income-sensitive option adjusts a borrower's monthly loan payments to be sensitive to his/her income. This repayment option can be a very helpful safety-net for high debt /lower income borrowers. New attorneys can stay up-to-date with news from the ABA Journal online.

In this four part Financial Aid series, you should learn that financial planning is as important in preparing for law school admissions as your personal statement or your LSAT score. Acceptance to a law school you can't afford can be more disheartening than a mailbox full of rejection letters. Take the following steps now so that you can be more successful in law school tomorrow.