CLEO Blog - Prelaw Advising

CLEO Blog - Prelaw Advising http://blog.cleoscholars.com/index.cfm?forumid=15 en-US FuseTalk Standard Edition 3.2 Build 80405 Matthew Niziol LSAT-June 7: Rate your Readiness! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2379 2010-05-26T10:56:43 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2379#comments 0 The LSAT is less than 10 days away, and you need to seriously evaluate your preparedness! Lots of us get nervous as the big day draws near, and a little apprehension and irritability is understandable. But, you should not be taking the LSAT if you are under-prepared or consistently scoring badly on practice tests. Rate your readiness with this short guide and then make the right choice for you. The LSAT is not an "If you fail - try, try, again" event!

Have you completed at least four practice tests?
Four full practice tests will give you a fair average of your LSAT range. You should never be surprised by the score you get on your LSAT. An actual LSAT score can swing as low as 7 points below your average practice test. Do you know your range?

Have you learned and practiced the strategies for the Logical Reasoning and Analytical Reasoning sections?
Completing these three 35-minute timed sections of the LSAT is dependent on understanding the questions and how to work the answer. There is no time to be surprised or to "wonder how to find" the answer. Each second counts!

Are you taking the LSAT now because you "have to make a deadline"?
If you are worried about an application deadline, then you are probably distracted from LSAT preparation. You still have time to take the fall LSAT and submit your scores with your application in November. Do not send low scores with your application only to see your Dream Schools disappear.

If you answered YES to # 1 and #2 and NO to #3 then sharpen your pencils the LSAT is waiting! If you answered NO to #1 or #2, then the LSAT is not for you right now - visit the LSAC Test Date Center website and research your options.

If you know that you are ready to take the LSAT, then let's make the most of the time you have left.

Use the remaining days to focus on these four areas:

Test Anxiety:
Any large standardized test is challenging, but being prepared is the best defense. In addition to studying and practicing the LSAT questions, learn how to manage your test stress.

Test Stress manifests cognitively (negative and demeaning thoughts), physiologically (sleeplessness, racing heart rate, and dry mouth), and behaviorally (procrastination, under/over eating, outbursts). It is important for you to maintain a consistently positive routine prior to the test.

Use positive self-talk by reviewing the steps you have taken to prepare

Take deep breaths to regain your composure when anxiety levels are high

Wear the same comfortable clothing when studying and testing

Use a planner to track and adjust: sleep, meals, study times, and exercise

In the D.C. area, Griffon Prep has a trusted reputation when working with under-represented students. Their website is a treasure chest of LSAT Prep information including:

A Few Ideas for Dealing with Test Anxiety

5 Tiny Mistakes in LSAT Games that can Cost Big Points

Sample Logic Game with timer

The Questions and the Test:
Manage your next 10 days to optimize your strengths. Don't try to tackle studying all the questions at once.

Choose four days to focus on specific sections of the LSAT. Dedicate one day to each type of question. Select three-five sample questions (use the June 2007 LSAT as a guide) and work them to completion. Compare your answers to the answer sheet in the test booklet.
Choose two days to focus only on the section you can most quickly improve.
Choose one day to write two essays from the essay section.

Materials for the Test Day:
Build your Test Day Packet now!

You are allowed two #2 pencils, one highlighter, erasers, a beverage in a plastic bottle/juice box, and tissues. You can bring a watch, but not a digital one.
Most important, have your Admission Ticket and a current government issued ID with your photo and your signature. Acceptable forms of ID include: passport book or driver's license. Employment IDs and passport cards are not permitted.

Take Care of Yourself:
The LSAT is not a test you cram for, and staying up late Friday night re-hashing questions will only exhaust you. The LSAT requires you to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m., so balance your sleep and eating over the next ten days.

If you work best on 5-6 hours, don't change to 8-10 hours, and vice-versa.
And, if you do not eat a lot of fast food normally, don't start now. Find balance in yourself so that you can sustain the 4 hours of the LSAT.

Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things.

Research the test
Learn and practice the methods
Execute your plan to the best of your ability

And, don't forget to breathe...
]]> Matthew Niziol CLEO's "Real World":Internships http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2259 2010-05-04T21:07:43 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2259#comments 0 It's time to get off the couch and find that internship to cap off the last year and kick off the year to come!

Summer Internships and jobs pay the bills, or they teach practical skills you need to be successful in college and law school, but with good planning on your part they can do both! It is time to talk about internships that build experience and why a summer job at the pool is not cool for Pre law students.

Your college courses prepare you for success in the law school classroom. CLEO prepares you for success in the admissions process. A good internship/job prepares you to practice your skills in the "real world" and gives scope to the lessons you learn in class.

As an undergraduate or post-grad applying to law school you don't need to argue before the Supreme Court. You don't need to rub elbows with the politically powerful. You need to know what skills law students use in clinics and in practicum. Prove you can flex the following leadership muscles!

Organizing multiple-step or overlapping projects

Researching a single issue comprehensively and identifying related issues

Brian storming best solutions to challenges/problems

Planning events or programs that involve others

Instead of choosing an internship based on what you already know, choose one based on what you need to learn - see sample legal resumes. You'll be stepping out of your comfort zone; and as a law school applicant now is the time to learn new skills. You can be given responsibility if you ask for it and demonstrate that you are reliable, willing, and able.

You can find the "core skills" that you will need to learn in: law offices, the Public Defender's Office, Legal Aid offices, and in specialty venues. In the first three examples you will most likely be working on the periphery of legal cases. In the specialty venue you will be working on a specific issue: the environment, children's issues, civil rights, business concerns. You will see, hear, and feel the atmosphere of a professional office.

Your "tasks" will be:

Learn the structure of the office and the skills each position requires

Participate actively on as many projects as possible or on one project in its entirety

Build a network of references

Let's talk about who's hiring. You can find summer positions using local resources like your College Career Center or by researching online. According to Prelaw organizations like PLANC, corporations are moving legal services to smaller less expensive firms. Non-profit agencies are looking for more volunteer and unpaid internship support. Start your search where you find agencies in need!

Here are a few good online resources to review:

Surviving the Interview - online videos

The National Jurist - online magazine articles

Legal Aid Society - a non-profit legal services agency

Idealist.org - a site for community based positions

United Way - a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities

Government Agencies - an opportunity for a structured internship

Law School Admission Deans are searching for the "complete student". A strong academic transcript proves that you will be successful in class. A diverse and practical resume demonstrates that you will succeed in Law Clinics and that you will bring "real life" into the classroom. Are you the student they are searching for?

Special Note: Now is the time to learn from other's experiences. Watch these Top Tips for Your Interview.
]]> Matthew Niziol My Life as a CLEO Ambassador http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2218 2010-04-21T11:57:22 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2218#comments 0

To my surprise my work as a CLEO Ambassador has benefitted me nearly as much, if not more than, the undergraduates who I have reached out to. Working as an ambassador has given me the opportunity to answer peers' questions on the law school process; but better yet, it has pushed me to find answers to the questions which have me drawing a blank.

Participating in CLEO's Sophomore Summer Institute (SSI) at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas, this past summer of 2009 I have found myself busier and more focused than ever. The program gave me a piece of law school reality I had never been exposed to - not even in law school workshops!

SSI was academically challenging, intellectually stimulating, and amicably refreshing. Having not only been accepted by CLEO(FREE of Cost) to such a wonderful program, but also having a life changing experience because of it influenced my decision to be an ambassador. I realized there was no better way to express my gratitude than to dedicate a few hours monthly to outreach to undergraduates of disadvantaged backgrounds interested in law school while simultaneously promoting CLEO's greatness.

The program has taught me to take initiative in everything that I do because at the end of the day it's what you've accomplished and not only what you know that matters.

The gains drawn from an ambassadorship go beyond a short blog so I encourage you to ask any questions or voice any concerns by commenting below. May the answers provided allow you to be more certain of what the job requires and the positive change it can produce in you.

I'd hate to think about where I would be in terms of Pre-Law preparation if it wasn't for CLEO. My university does not offer a Pre-Law major and before I got involved in CLEO's programs, I didn't know very much about law school. I had heard of the LSAT but I didn't quite understand the heavy impact the score has on admissions. I knew the application process was rigorous but I didn't know exactly what went in to it. But most importantly, I didn't really know what it meant to study the law. I had no idea what a law experience entailed.

Through the Sophomore Summer Institute (SSI) last summer, I was fortunate enough to dedicate an entire month to learning about law school and the legal profession. I took classes just like a first year law student and had in-depth logic lessons required to succeed on the LSAT. The experience was priceless. I finally had a grasp on what law school involved and I was in love with the study of law.

I learned so much about the application process and all of its intricacies as well as received some real insight from real and former students about the rigors of law school. After an intense month, I felt as though I was given all the proper tools to develop myself into the best possible applicant. However, CLEO doesn't stop there. This entire year I have been continuing to study LSAT logic through the JASD program and I will be attending several other events and workshops specifically catered to each step of the application process.

Where would I be without CLEO? I would probably still be preparing to apply to law school. However I would have many doubts about my legitimate interest in the subject. I would still be wondering about life beyond law school and how lawyers juggle families. I would register for an over-priced prep course that merely grazes the surface of LSAT knowledge. I would write my personal statement, but I wouldn't know exactly what the admissions staff is looking for in an applicant. CLEO changed all of this. I am now armed with knowledge that will allow me to be the strongest applicant I can possibly be to successfully apply, enter, and complete law school.

I feel so fortunate to have had this opportunity. I have many other Pre-Law friends that have little guidance. Many aren't sure how much time they should dedicate to studying for the LSAT or what kinds of classes are in the curriculum in law school. Though they are all extremely intelligent and capable students, they don't have the knowledge I have through CLEO and as a result I find myself passing-on what I've learned. I tell my friends about the courses I took and about the little secrets in the application process like the benefits of applying early, for example. I tell them specifically about how I'm studying for the LSAT and the different kinds of law schools and concentrations. I share some of the stories real-life lawyers shared with me to help give my friends a better idea of what their lives as attorneys may resemble. I try to pass on the knowledge CLEO has given me to those around me.

CLEO's mission is to help those with disadvantages enter the legal profession. However in my eyes, for any 20 year old undergraduate, we're all in need of help and guidance and I'm glad that I can impart what CLEO has given me to others beyond the program.

As a CLEO Ambassador, my role enables me to network effectively on and off campus building alliances with several student movements and organizations. And, I have had two significant moments!

In August 2009, during Orientation Week, in partnership with the Office of Prelaw Advisement, I delivered a brief presentation on CLEO's programs for aspiring law school applicants to a mostly Caucasian audience. I was told that I would probably need to explain what is meant by "Diversity" from CLEO's perspective in order to invite as many potential participants to the program as possible.

I began with a definition of otherwise disadvantaged students, followed by CLEO's understanding of Diversity, including not only minority status based on race, ethnicity and gender, but also age and creed. I discussed academic support programs from Sophomore Super Saturdays to JASD, and A.S.A.P., to name a few.

The second great pre-law experience was during Columbia's Islam Awareness Week, sponsored by Columbia Law students and the Muslim Student Association (MSA). As an honorary member of the latter, I was invited to participate in a series of presentations on religious tolerance on campus and to also introduce CLEO to MSA members - a large audience of juniors and most attendees were predominantly of South-East Asian descent.

I was joined by Columbia Law alumni to talk about Law School and the greater need for diversity in the legal profession post 9/11. My goal was to explain "how CLEO can help you help yourself" in the application process through law school to the Bar Exam.

As a CLEO Ambassador, reading and presenting materials on the various CLEO programs has made me an educated law school applicant; one who has become well-acquainted with not only the application process and requirements, but also with other crucial aspects of the application such as finances and the various branches of interest in the legal profession.

Aside from improving my speaking skills the greatest skill being an ambassador fosters is TIME MANAGEMENT!

Being a CLEO Ambassador means hosting recruiting events each month, making yourself accessible, responding to emails from students, submitting monthly reports, and attending the CLEO's Saturday Academy; all this while school, tests, family commitments, student organizations. Of course in and of itself, this doesn't seem that difficult. But as with everyone else, commitments add up. Considered independently, it's usually not that big a deal, but then when you consider all your commitments together, you might start to feel some pressure. No matter what, you have to get that report in on time, or you face the consequences that you voluntarily agreed to.

As to how this will be helpful in law school? If I take on a responsibility, then I must successfully fulfill that responsibility. Law school professors will not care that we have so much "other stuff" going on and didn't get to turn in our work. You signed up for law school, so you voluntarily took on the responsibilities of law school. Essentially, you have to learn how to juggle everything by creating a time for all your responsibilities, or you will not successfully perform them!

This is by far the most common advice I have heard from law students through CLEO Programs: PLAN YOUR LIFE! I swear to you by what we have learned through CLEO: a check-list, or a to-do list, or a plain old schedule (that you actually follow!) will make your life easier.
]]> Matthew Niziol Crush The LSAT! June 7, 2010 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2190 2010-03-31T14:29:36 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2190#comments 0 If you are serious about law school, then you are in one of two positions right now. Either you have been comfortably studying for the Monday, June 7th test date or you are frantically planning to practice day and night for the four grueling hours of the LSAT.

If you have been studying for the last three months, the first thing you want to do is breathe. And breathe easily because thousands of law school applicants are taking the same test, they are just as nervous, and you will survive.

If you have NOT been studying for months, then let's do what attorneys do when they panic - make a plan and get it done!

So, right now, determine how prepared you are for the LSAT and commit 100% to your test date.

April and May will be your last chance weeks to prepare for the LSAT. Start by learning what the LSAT measures and how to approach each question type. Simply practicing the same questions over and over will only help you improve the questions you already understand. Review LSAT sample questions/guides to learn how to solve each question so that when the particulars change your strategy does not.

Stress, college deadlines, friends and family can all distract law school applicants during these last weeks. The best way to be successful is to create a schedule and Stick to a Clear Plan.

Plan to study as much as you practice. A schedule that has 1.5 hours of study time and 1 hour of practice time repeated 3 times a week is a good start. You will need to increase the frequency of your practice as the test date draws nearer.

Week One: Study one section of the LSAT and complete one timed 35 minute practice section.
Total test time 35 minutes.

Study the Logical Reasoning section, and

Complete a 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice test

Week Two: Study a new section of the LSAT, review the previous section. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Two section and the Week One section.
Total test time 70 minutes.

Study the Analytical Reasoning Section, and

Complete a 35 minute timed Analytical Reasoning practice test
Complete a 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice test

Special Study Note: Complete one full practice exam at the end of the week.

Week Three: Study a new section of the LSAT and review the previous two sections. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Three section and the weeks One and Two sections.
Total test time 105 minutes.

Study the Reading Comprehension Section, and

Complete a 35 minute timed Reading Comprehension practice test
Complete a 35 minute timed Analytical Reasoning practice test
Complete a 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice test

Special Study Note: Complete one full practice exam at the end of the week.

Week Four: Study the section of the LSAT in which you have received the lowest practice score, and complete a sample Writing Section. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Four section, the Writing Sample, and the weeks One, Two, and Three sections.
Total test time 175 minutes.

Study the LSAT Section in which you received your Lowest Score, and

Complete one 35 minute timed Writing Sample
Complete one 35 minute timed Reading Comprehension practice test
Complete one 35 minute timed Analytical Reasoning practice test
Complete two 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice tests

Special Study Note: Complete one full practice exam at the end of the week.

Finally, seek experts to teach you. You do not need to do this alone. CLEO Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT, Prelaw Advisors, your classmates, and Test Prep organizations can be excellent person-to-person resources.

Choose the Test Preparation program that is right for you. In the D.C. area, Griffon Prep has a trusted reputation when working with under-represented students. Their website is a treasure chest of LSAT Prep information including:

5 Tiny Mistakes in LSAT Games that can Cost Big Points

Sample Logic Game with timer

A Few Ideas for Dealing with Test Anxiety

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) has a thorough resource website. You can download or purchase practice exams and guides from LSAC, and seek advice from CLEO. You can also watch this LSAT Video for more guidance on how to study.

Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things. Research the measures, prepare and practice the methods, and execute your plan to the best of your ability! And, don't forget to breathe...
]]> Matthew Niziol What Did You Learn, Today? http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2115 2010-03-10T13:36:33 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2115#comments 0 G.P.A. and LSAT... that's all law schools care about! No, that is not true. Your entire education is a work in progress and in stages. When an admission panel reviews your transcript it wants to see that you have mastered the prerequisites of graduate education. Did you learn how to learn? Did you follow a clear path that is recognizable to an admissions officer? Do you know what to do next?

CLEO wants you to learn the structure of academic success so that you can be competitive in the admissions process. Academic success brings Letters of Recommendations, provides the facts of a Personal Statement, and opens doors for internships, volunteer projects, and networking. You need to start with the A-B-C's before you get to the L-S-A-T!

Freshman Year: The goal of the first year student is to establish a strong Grade Point Average (GPA), to learn to succeed in multiple learning styles, and to set a clear study routine. Your college career will include lecture, group work, written and verbal projects, and informational and explanatory examinations. In what type of learning environment do you succeed?

Sophomore Year: The goal of a second year student is to demonstrate academic success and progress by choosing challenging classes that follow a clear academic path. In the second year many students get distracted by clubs, internships, and significant others. Don't lose sight of the simple truth: you are a student and we measure success by grades!

Junior Year: The goal of a third year student is to put-it-all-together. Your major, your professors, your clubs and internships combine into a complex equation for success. Choose the education you need and the activities that will support your interests and academic progress. Study Abroad, for example, is only a line on your resume if you can't explain how it enhanced your education!

Senior Year and Post Graduates: The goal of the fourth year and Post-Graduate study is to finish strong and look to the future. Graduation is not the end of your education - it is a time of transition. How will you apply what you've learned and experienced? How will a law school benefit from your education? How will you reflect on the previous three years and learn from your mistakes and successes?

Follow these four steps to academic success and you will be a scholar and not just a student:

A Strong GPA (3.5 and higher) is crucial to standout from the thousands of students applying to law school and to demonstrate that you are a competitive candidate. Law school, along with colleges, rate and rank student success on a finite scale of 0-4. The truth is that GPA below 3.0 significantly diminishes your options. Your volunteer work, personal history, and extracurricular accomplishments - a key part of your education and application - will always be secondary to the academic measuring stick of GPA. Establish a strong GPA by: attending every class session, taking and reviewing clear and concise lecture notes, and practicing "how to" take exams before every major test. Repeat this phrase again and again: "B or Better".
Learning Styles affect student success more than natural intellectual gifts. If you know how to gather the information your professor presents, how to process the information into actionable study tasks and how to present that information on an exam you can learn almost anything. Students who rely on natural "smarts" tend to be good in only one or two subjects. As a law student you need to be excellent regardless of the facts, subjects, evironment, or people. Create a structure for learning now so that when the teaching styles change from class to class your learning style can stay constant.
Clear academic progress tells an admission panel that you can set and accomplish goals along a structured educational plan. Law school is three years of progressively more difficult and specialized classes. You need to demonstrate that as an undergraduate you know what classes are prerequisite to others and how your 120 credit hours (approximately 40 classes over 4 years) culminates in a body of knowledge and skills called a major.

Choose a major that fits your academic goals and utilizes your academic strengths and interests. Ask your prelaw advisor to help you map the classes you need semester-by-semester. Then check them off one-by-one. Understanding the increasing complexity and interdependence of courses as an undergraduate will make the structure of 1L, 2L, and 3L easier to navigate!
Evaluation and Reflection on your classroom participation is the mark of a scholar and not just a student. When your classmates toss away their completed tests - you need to take yours to your professor's office hours. When you engage your professor outside of class you will not only get better Letters of Recommendation, but can deepen your experience beyond the simple three credits other students experience.

Ask your professor to review your notes with you. What did you miss that was important in the lecture? What did you write down that was unimportant? What concepts were incomplete in your notes? Know what format your professor will choose for the test (informational: True/False, Multiple Choice, Short Answer or Explanatory: Essay, presentation, portfolio) and prepare appropriately. Then, after each test; ask your professor how you can better prepare for the next test based on the errors you made on the previous test.

This is a time to follow a structured and unflinching commitment to learning above all else. Your goal is to prepare to be a competitive admissions candidate and a "first year" law student. Remember that law school admission staff and faculty measure success not based on who you know or what's in your wallet, but instead by what you know and what's in your transcript!

The Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) supports academic progress with a series of events. Visit these CLEO sites for more information.

Freshmen Students: Road To Law School

Sophomore Students: Sophomore Super Saturday and Sophomore Summer Institute

Junior Students: Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP)

Seniors and Post Graduate Students (applying for Fall 2011 or thereafter): Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP)

]]> Matthew Niziol Are You Lost? CLEO Has a Map to Your Road to Law School http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2080 2010-02-17T15:08:02 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2080#comments 0 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.

CLEO: Provides workshops, summer programs, and personal assistance.

LSAC's Credential Assembly Service: Manage your applications and offering the LSAT exam four times a year.

Access group: Provides financial aid support to college and graduate students.

Prelaw advisors (guiding you through the application process on your campus).

Faculty, friends, and family (providing academic and personal support and encouragement).

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:

Attend the CLEO Road to Law School free prelaw seminar.

Commit to academic success (3.5 GPA or higher) in classes that prepare you for law school.

Get involved through campus clubs, mentoring, and volunteerism to connect with professionals that can act as guides.

Choose an internship or volunteer project this summer that introduces you to the legal profession for at least 4 weeks.

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:

Attend the CLEO Sophomore Super Saturday free prelaw seminar and apply to the Sophomore Summer Institute.

Choose an academic major and follow a clear academic plan that teaches you to think like a law student.

Stand out from the crowd by choosing Study Abroad, Internships, and the Sophomore Summer Institute.

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:

Attend the CLEO Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT free prelaw seminar.

Choose an LSAT date and prepare at least 3-6 months prior to the test. The LSAT really is that important.

Attend the LSAC Law School Forum in your area to meet Admission Counselors and create a list of potential law schools.

Edit and complete your final Personal Statement draft. Use good writing skills to make a good impression.

Apply to the CLEO Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) prelaw seminar. This is critical for understanding the admissions process by focusing on the personal statement and listening to actual law school admissions staff share their expectations.

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:

Personal Statements should be complete and ready for submission with your application.

Seniors not applying to law school after graduation and Post Graduates are also welcome to apply to ASAP.

Collect the Letters of Recommendation you requested from your professors.

Attend the Law School Forum in your area to make final contacts with Admissions Counselors at the schools to which you are applying.

Complete and submit your applications online via LSAC. Do not procrastinate in the application process, because it is the beginning of the relationship you create with an admissions counselor.

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!
]]> Matthew Niziol What's in Your Wallet? Living in this Economy!: Part 4 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2042 2010-02-02T20:37:58 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2042#comments 0 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.

The first is during the enrollment period. That is students not qualifying for some educational loans because of their credit histories.

The second is after graduation. More new lawyers are finding they are under-employed or having difficulty finding a job. That results in their being unable to make loan payments.

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.

Filing bankruptcy, foreclosures and repossessions of property are all noted on individuals' credit reports and will most notably affect their eligibility for private educational loans and the Graduate PLUS 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.

Stafford loan is limited to $20,500.

Perkins loan is limited to $6,000.

The Graduate PLUS loan is the bridge between those amounts and the total Cost of Attendance.

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:

Review your credit reports, as they begin the application cycle, and learn what is on their report so there are no surprises late in the process. Credit reports can be requested for free.

Know your credit score early may have enough time to rehabilitate negative marks on the report or make alternative arrangements, like seeking a co-signer for the loan.

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.

Get started, now! "It's never too late", does NOT apply to financial aid!

Learn the types of aid (loans &scholarships) and choose wisely!

Don't stray from the path of security with unplanned financial commitments!

Know the economic environment. Don't be caught off guard by current events!

]]> Lynda Cevallos What's in Your Wallet? Staying Out of Trouble: Part 3 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2031 2010-01-27T11:51:55 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2031#comments 0 You worked hard to get to law school - Don't fail out because you lost control of your finances! Law students stray from financial security, but Dean Aguilar is going to share how to keep your "money on your mind ..."

"I think the way students most commonly stray from the path of financial security during law school is by not considering or acknowledging the full financial implications of committing to law school until very late in the admissions process." - Dean Reyes Aguilar.

The Problem

The Fix

Download link

Pre-Law Financial Aid Timeline

By considering long term implications and doing cost benefit analysis during the admission process, students will be in the practice of having finances be a part of their overall decision making plan.

The Problem

The Fix

Now having said this, there are a few specific things Dean Aguilar has seen law students commonly do in regard to their finances that should be addressed.

The Problem

deferred

type of loans

The Fix

9 month school year

Students need to prepare themselves by paying down their debt-especially consumer debt- before entering law school. That may require delaying enrollment.

The Problem

Borrowing educational loans is not difficult-especially when one gets to the point of signing the promissory note. Students will often just fill in the maximum award amount they are eligible for without really thinking about what costs need to be met.

The Fix

Student Budget

Finally, students can't keep track of how much they are borrowing and from what programs unless they keep records.

The Problem

Record Keeping

In regard to deadlines, the best financial assistance (for example: scholarships and Perkins loans) is limited. Once awards have been made the funds are committed and some funds are awarded on a first-come-first served basis. If students miss the deadline, they miss out on the funding.

The Fix

Special Note: Don't be caught unaware of the financial commitment you are making. A legal education is an all encompassing endeavor. You will be challenged intellectually, emotionally, and financially. Do your research now and you will trim your stress as a 1-L!
]]> Matthew Niziol What's in Your Wallet? Show Me The Money: Part 2 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2012 2010-01-19T11:56:28 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2012#comments 0 Financial resources are available for law school. These resources include: scholarships, work-study, VA Benefits, wages, employment benefits, and loans. There are virtues and drawbacks to all the resources I listed. I will address the most common type of financial aid for law students: the loan programs. -- Dean Aguilar.

There are private educational loan programs and loan programs guaranteed by the federal government. The virtue of these loan programs is that they make funding available to assist students in paying for their educations. The drawback is this borrowed money must be repaid with interest.

Over 80% of recent law school graduates used loans as a resource to finance their educations.Over 80% of recent law school graduates used loans as a resource to finance their educations.
The national average debt for 2008 graduates of public law schools was approximately $71,000 and the average for graduates of private law schools, was just over $91,500.
These figures reflect debt from law school only. They do not include undergraduate or consumer debt.

What distinguishes these programs are the details of interest rates, what happens to accruing interest while the students are enrolled, what are the repayment options, and if loan cancellation or forgiveness apply to the individual programs.

Private education loans, also known as alternative education loans are offered by private lenders-most often banks.

Private student loans are not subsidized by the federal government and are therefore not as tightly regulated as the federal loans.
Eligibility for private student loans often depends on your credit score and therefore they are difficult to qualify for in the current economy.
Private student loans typically have variable interest rates, with changes in the interest rate tied to an index, such as LIBOR or PRIME.

A virtue - due to the low primary credit rate set by the Federal Reserve Board, the private student loan programs have relatively low interests rates. However, if we enter an inflationary period the current interest rate will climb.

A drawback - borrowers are unable to take advantage of income based repayment options, loan forgiveness opportunities, and loan cancellation due to death or disability offered through the federally guaranteed loan programs. Also, borrower may defer payment on the loans while enrolled, but interest does accrue during that time period meaning they owe a larger amount on the loan than what was originally borrowed.

Federal student loans are essentially made under three programs: the Federal Family Education Loan Program or FFEL Program; the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program; and the Perkins Loan Program. The loans under these programs are Stafford, Graduate PLUS, and Perkins Loans. All of these loans have fixed interest rates which will not change.

The Perkins interest rate is 5.0%, the Stafford is 6.8% and the Graduate PLUS is 7.9% if you borrow from the Ford Direct Loan Program (it is 8.5% if you borrow from any other lender).
A student borrower must complete and submit to the Department of Education the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" or FAFSA.

A virtue - A portion of the Stafford Loans (up to $8,500 annually) and all of Perkins Loans are subsidized.

A drawback - The Graduate PLUS and the remainder of what a student borrows from the Stafford Loan program is unsubsidized. However, a student borrower can make quarterly payments on that interest significantly reducing the cost of the loan over a ten year repayment period. Of course, these payments should not be made with loan money.

A virtue - The Stafford and Perkins Loans are very easy to qualify for. A student borrower simply cannot be in default on another federally guaranteed student loan. Other than that, students' credit will not affect their eligibility for the Stafford or Perkins Loans.

A drawback (potentially) - The Graduate PLUS Loan program is a credit-based loan. The credit check is not as strict as the private loan programs and if a person has a negative credit record it is easier to rehabilitate in order to qualify for the Graduate PLUS loan program as compared to the private loan programs.

Finally, virtues of the federally guaranteed loan programs include the repayment options and loan cancellation or forgiveness that are available to borrowers.

The Perkins Loan is a simple ten year note, but if the borrower goes into "law enforcement" work the loan can be cancelled in full after five years of employment in this field. Law enforcement includes working as a prosecutor, but not a public defender.

Stafford and Graduate PLUS Loans have multiple repayment options. The standard ten year repayment option means you will have the same monthly payment for the ten years it will take to pay-off your debt.

Graduated payment option will be paying off the debt in ten years, but payments in the earlier years will be smaller and will then progressively increase through the ten year term.
Extended repayment means the term of the loan is extended up to 30 years. How much a borrower may extend repayment is dependent on the amount of debt. The monthly payment will be the same over the entire term of repayment.
Income-sensitive repayment plans adjust monthly payments relative to income. Annually, the lender establishes the loan payment using a formula that considers the borrower's income. Income-sensitive repayment options are especially good for high debt /lower income borrowers working long term in the public or non-profit sector.

Borrowers may qualify for the the loan forgiveness after working ten years full-time in qualifying employment.

Next week Dean Aguilar discusses: How law students get in financial trouble and how to avoid it!
]]> Matthew Niziol What's in Your Wallet? Paying for Law School: Part 1 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2001 2010-01-12T14:08:18 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=2001#comments 0 You can dream about law school all day, but writing that first tuition check can be a nightmare. CLEO asked Dean Reyes Aguilar University of Utah, SJ Quinney College of Law to "Talk Numbers" and help you face the facts about financing law school.

This is a four part series in which Dean Aguilar explores What You Need To Know about paying for law school. Let's start with the basics:

Question: What steps can an undergraduate student take to prepare for financing law school?
Answer: Dean Aguilar advises ...

The first thing I want to address is stating the obvious, but warrants mention. From the perspective of financing law school, one of the best things one can do is perform well in courses and develop strong academic skills.

The "free" money that is available to law students is in the form of scholarships or fellowships Federal grant programs (Pell grants in particular) are not available for law school. For law school scholarship or fellowship awards, the selection criteria often place significant weight on the academic record of the student.

So especially if you are early in your undergraduate career, it makes sense not only academically, but financially to focus on your studies and seek to excel.

The second action students can take is to address debt. Be wary of debt. While it may be necessary to take on some debt to support an undergraduate education, acquire that debt in a prudent manner and at a reasonable level.

Education related debt can be sensible, but too often there is over reliance on loans-especially credit cards or other consumer debt. Too much debt will affect students' future opportunities.

Be aware that law school graduates are subjected to credit checks and review of their financial history as part of the Character and Fitness evaluations they go through when applying for bar admission. Too much debt or a bad credit history may raise questions or concerns from the character and fitness committees.

The third action is to know and understand the types of loans to which you are obligating yourself. Know if you are taking out private or federally guaranteed loans.

While some of the federally guaranteed programs may currently have higher interest rates, those rates are fixed and there are options available at repayment that can allow for monthly payments that are sensitive to your income.

Most private educational loans have variable interest rates with no cap and limited repayment options. This could create issues if we enter an inflationary period with rising interest rates.

Also, know if your loans are accruing interest while you are in school. Educational loans that are accruing interest while you are a student are called "unsubsidized" loans.

Over the life of this type of loan, the in-school accrued interest can add substantially to the total cost of your debt. So if you are able to do so, make quarterly interest payments on these loans.

Use earnings from work or other non-loan financial resources to make quarterly interest payments. You should not be making interest payments with borrowed money.

As undergraduate students approach graduation and prepare to apply to law school they should begin setting a sound knowledge base for financing their legal education. Have a budget and plan to address the application process.

Law student debt is wide ranging and varies from school to school. This also holds true for salaries of recent law school graduates. Salaries, in addition to being wide ranging, can vary dramatically from geographic region to geographic region and practice sector to practice sector.

In short, as it relates to financing your legal education, do the cost/benefit analysis. Know what you are getting into financially before committing to attend law school.
]]> Matthew Niziol Prelaw Winter Break: Re-creation or Hibernation? http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1952 2009-12-16T13:03:20 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1952#comments 0 But semester break is not always a quiet time and it is not always restful.

The life of a law student and an attorney is one of sixty-second "siestas" in a seventy hour work week. This winter break learn how to re-create not hibernate! Let's start at the top...or actually the bottom... to build a restful and productive winter break.

Abraham Maslow "studied the healthiest one percent of the college student population" along with others in society and discovered what you probably already know: you've got to take care of yourself (body, mind, spirit) before you can be an advocate in the lives of others. A college or university's winter break is typically 3 weeks long. That is just enough time to (1) rest your body, (2) reconnect with family and friends, and (3) re-focus your mind.

Over the winter break Re-Create your health by balancing your healthy sleep and eating. Crashing into your pillow for a few hours of sleep when cramming will get you through finals, but you'll be a zombie in January if you keep it up through the holidays. It is time to take care of yourself.

Exercise your physical needs with walking/jogging, yoga, or meditation and
Exercise your safety needs by re-organizing your living space -throw out all the clutter that piled up during finals. Review your new class schedule, and gather the supplies you will need in the spring semester

You know that our success is usually built on the support of our friends and families. Friends and family answer our stressed-out calls in the middle of the night or bring us food to get us through tough tests. As a pre law student you can also find wisdom in experiences of your friends. We all know that a network of friends and mentors can make us more competitive law school candidates. But, not everyone knows why.

Finding good friends to talk with can help you understand the possible conclusions to each decision when you find yourself at the crossroads.
Learn from the successes and mistakes of others without falling into the same traps. Your friends have experiences in the classes you did not choose, with the prelaw events that you missed, and the internships that you turned down.

Tell them your stories and listen to their stories. Your social network (friends) can understand the difficulty you faced in making your choices and can empathize with your struggle like no other person you meet (professor, advisor, or parent). You will meet these students either today as friends or tomorrow in the courtroom.

During your break connect with students from your school and schools like yours. Also, look for students from schools that are dramatically different than yours. Ask:

what problems they faced during their semester,
what insights they found,
what books they read and class projects they completed, and
what special events were unique to their schools.

The CLEO Diversity in Legal Education Blog,
CLEO Scholars on Facebook,

As you finish taking care of your basic needs (re-energizing your body and spirit, connecting with friends) it's time to re-focus your mind. 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 2010 edition. You can also find the 25 Greatest Legal Movies according to the ABA Journal online. Read articles in Newsweek, Time, and preLaw Magazine.

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!
]]> Matthew Niziol Law School Revealed http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1918 2009-11-25T09:48:41 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1918#comments 0

Seeing the future through the experiences of others is a skill that all law students need to learn!
An attorney knows that you create the future with your choices, but also that many of the choices you will face have been made by students before you. CLEO has asked three (3) current law students to use what they've learned to describe your future. What are you going to learn from this glimpse into your unfolding world? And, what choices will you make?

In the future: You will learn many truths about "life as a law school student"

A truth I was never told was how incredibly do-able law school is. CLEO certainly prepared me with conversations from law school professionals that gave insight on how much work law school would be. That, coupled with advice from attorneys I knew all let me know I was in for a huge work load. I certainly thought I was getting into a sleepless, food-less study frenzy.

However, what I didn't know was how important a tight schedule is. Discipline and strict adherence to your study schedule can provide the necessary amount of sleep each night and a stressful, yet do-able life.

Jessica Sinkfield, CLEO Fellow 2007, First Year Law Student
Howard University School of Law

CLEO offers a wide spectrum of prelaw events for undergraduates, graduates and post graduates. CLEO Scholar Spotlight is one student's experience with CLEO's progamming.

In the future: You will meet people who influence your law school experience

The most important people, in my law school experience, are the lawyers who share my similar background. Many of them were not just first generation law school graduates, but also first-generation-college graduates. They understand how law school can be a very foreign concept to certain students. Not all students can look to family for guidance.

Consequently, these lawyers in my community have taken me under their wing and given me wisdom and insight. They have been through law school themselves and want to make the transition easier for current students who come from a similar environment.

Faisal Akhte, CLEO Fellow Denver 2008, Second Year Law Student
Emory Law

CLEO alumni have found success in every aspect of the legal profession. The Winter/Spring edition of the CLEO Edge explores A Moment in the Life of a Lawyer. The lawyers outlined in this series include an associate with a law firm, a general counsel for a national legal association, a military officer, a program director of a charitable foundation, a law school dean and a legal recruiter for a public interest organization.

In the future: You will choose majors that prepare you for law school

I would recommend [a] major in hard sciences, engineering, or business. Majoring in these fields gives law students a chance to cite their undergrad experience in the field and to apply it as a lawyer. Also, taking logic courses to improve reasoning is a good thing to do.

For example, a student that majored in computer engineering can cite that she would like to work in the intellectual property field. Similarly, a student with a business/accounting background can cite these prior learned skills.

Lastly, as you know, minorities generally have lower LSAT scores than their white counterparts. One of the ways to combat that is to encourage minorities to pursue majors that develop their logical reasoning skills. There is a correlation between what a person majored in and their score on the LSAT.

Adil Saleem, CLEO Fellow Denver 2008, Second Year Law Student
KU Law, The University of Kansas

Choosing your undergraduate degree is an essential step in your prelaw experience. Identify the major that: builds your coginitive skills, engages your intellect, and introduces you to resources beyond the classroom.
Each student will choose the major that is best for herself/himself. Be sure to make an informed choice.

A Final Note: Your law school experience will be special to you because you will make unique choices! The law school path, nonetheless, has been well marked by the countless students that have gone before you. Listen to their wisdom. Learn from their experiences. Make the best choices. And, mark the path for the students that will follow you.]]> Matthew Niziol Final Cut: Choreographing Your Application http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1870 2009-10-27T23:37:33 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1870#comments 0 Law school Deans of Admissions make the "American Idol" judges look like members of your personal fan club. Getting to the final cut, means putting together your best admissions application. If you will commit to working hard and dreaming big CLEO is ready to help you choreograph your audition with the Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) program. Start by asking yourself how well you fit into the culture of the law schools you are choosing.

Academic Goals: Always remember that law school are at their heart a school.

Will your academic strengths and goals be nourished and met at the school you choose?
Can your learning style be applied (with modification) to the classes in the school you?
Is there room for academic growth and reward at the school you choose?

Personal Style: Law School is tough enough without battling a mismatch in your personal style and the style (personality) of the school?

Can you succeed in the pace of the school?
Does the school environment make you feel comfortable?

Social & Spiritual Community: Community may keep you sane at Law School.

Can you find a community that you identify with?
Can you find a community that will support your personal history while encouraging you to grow as a person?
Can you be happy at this school?

Next focus on The Big Picture of your undergraduate experience. The application process began the day you chose to be a prelaw student and culminates when you accept a seat as a 1L (first year law student). Evaluate the classes and resources that are preparing you for law school.

The professors you chose will become your best sources for Letters of Recommendation.
The student organizations you joined will influence your choice of the law school whose student culture best matches your ideal environment.
How well you managed your finances during your undergraduate years will make the "sticker shock" of law school tuition more bearable.
And, your Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score will guide your ranking of "possible" and "reach" schools

The culmination of these choices will lead you to a computer where you will begin researching your best fit law schools.

The key players in the law school application process include CLEO, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), the Office of Admissions at each law school, and your peers. CLEO's ASAP Program will help you understand each aspect and organize your efforts. You can read the experiences of students that have participated in the 2009 ASAP program on this blog site.

Keep reading and you will find the wisdom of CLEO's Legal Dream Team - three law school Dean's of Admissions - guiding you through this complex process.

The process of completing your law school admission is exciting. Law school admissions staffs are looking for students that will enhance the classroom experience and who will contribute to the legal community. They are looking for you. Your job then is to present a clear and coherent narrative of your personal history and your promise for the future.

Michael States, Assistant Dean of Admissions, University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill: There is no one thing after the G.P.A/LSAT score combination that draws an admissions committee's attention. A common mistake that applicants make is that they think they have to focus on one or two particular things in their application. Your task is to present as clear a picture as possible of who you are as an applicant. That means that your resume, personal statement, letters of recommendation, etc., are equally important parts of your application. You want to present yourself as a complete person with several things to offer to a school. That's what draws a committee's attention.

Organizing the process will save you time and anxiety. As a law student you will be exercising these skills every day. You will be expected to follow the directions on each application without exception or embellishment.

Noé Bernal, Assistant Dean for Admissions, Villanova University School of Law: It is important to keep your research organized by either setting up a spreadsheet or making index cards on the information that is important to you. Your notes should include deadlines for applications and financial aid/scholarships, as well as school-specific requirements. Keep in mind that although the overall admissions process may be similar at most schools, there are school-specific instructions that you should follow. When in doubt, please contact the admissions office to request more information and/or to address any concerns you may have regarding their procedures.

The personal statement is a perennial stress inducer for law school applicants. Although some law schools will give you a topic, most law schools will expect you to present an original personal statement. Personal statements are not a time for you to explain discrepancies in your grade point average, or academic and personal transgressions. If necessary you can give necessary details on these topics in an addendum. Your personal statement should be an opportunity for you to converse with the reader and illuminate your application in a way not achieved by your resume and transcript using anecdotes, examples, and from time to time even whimsy.

Dean States: There is no preferred format. There are hundreds of people who will be reading your personal statement and they all prefer different things. Your goal is to answer the question(s) asked of you, in the way that you are asked to in the instructions.

Letters of Recommendation are a second component of the application package over which you have varying control. Remember that law schools are in fact schools. Therefore, your best recommendation writers are professors that can write clearly about your academic success. A professor that can write systematically about your academic progress, involvement in class, improvement after each grade, and your commitment to education is best. The farther your writers are from that classroom experience the less effective they become. Keep in mind; this is not a name-dropping contest.

As you develop your search, you will need to identify what it is you want from your legal education. Then you can compare your needs to the schools' profile, culture, and curriculum. As you visit Law School Forums and fairs you can ask the admissions personnel: "What aspect of your Law School (programs, personnel, students, faculty, facilities, diversity, location, etc...) do you value most?"

Tracy Simmons, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, Chapman University School of Law: (I value) diversity of opinion and the ability to become involved in the entire law school. We have a great building to study in and the weather cannot be beat and some of the nicest students you will find out there, but I think that our students benefit from being taught by professors from a variety of political and ideological backgrounds and disciplines in the law.

As you more clearly define your needs from a law school you will be able to better evaluate the offers that each school makes. Follow a clear process for pursuing and dismissing potential law schools.

Dean Simmons: Start with your own personal checklist/ranking of what you deem important. Are you looking for a small school, or a school with particular program or certificate emphases, or a school that has a specific type of academic support program, or a school close to home or far away from home?

After that, what are you being offered? What are the terms of the scholarships AFTER your first year? (Renewal terms) What are your opportunities to keep your debt down beyond merit scholarships - work study, Perkins funding, outside/donor scholarships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, stipends, etc.

Lastly, if you can visit the campus. You want to get a sense of what the campus environment is like and how comfortable you will be. If you cannot physically get there, participate in online chats, virtual tours, ask to speak to current students and alumni, specially asking to speak to people who share similar interests or are from your home town or those that have moved to a location you may want to practice in, etc.

The last piece of advice on selecting a law school is keeping an open mind. You will be choosing a school, community, and colleagues with which to share the next three years. Do not let yourself be rushed into this decision.

Dean Bernal: Applying to law school can be stressful and time-consuming; however, there are some things you can do to prevent from being overwhelmed. A good place to start is by looking at the U.S. map and realistically narrowing down which states/regions of the country you would consider for law school.

If, for example, you know that you want to stay close to home, then you can best utilize your time by only researching schools in your region. The caveat here, however, is that by doing this, you may actually miss out on some great opportunities by not considering schools where you might actually be a really good fit.

P.S. Being unique is a positive, but if you think you can embellish your application with videos and photos reminiscent of the movie "Legally Blonde", then you need to know this.

Each year at Prelaw Advising conferences admissions counselors host a workshop called "You're Not Going to Believe This...Again and Again and Again!!!!" recounting the crazy things applicants have sent to Admissions Offices. These workshops "deal with things to tell students NOT to do when they ask, "How can I make my application stand out from others? Can I send them my baby tooth and tell them that I have wanted to come to their law school since I was born?""

A panel of experienced law school admissions officers discusses the bizarre, tacky, unbelievable communications and items they have received from applicants...Don't let them talk about you!

]]> Lynda Cevallos Secrets of a Strong Recommendation Letter http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1827 2009-09-29T21:27:59 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1827#comments 0 Each and every part of the Law School Admission application has a specific function and form. It is your responsibility to put them together into a clear picture of your readiness for law school.

Your Letters of Recommendation (LOR) describe your progress in an academic world by people whose opinions are respected. Admissions Committees will evaluate you and your judgment based on the people you choose to represent you. What are your Letters of Recommendation saying about you?

A strong LOR evaluates your academic successes and development over a period of time by professionals who understand "learning" in college and post-graduate schools. If you always remember that law school is a school first and foremost, then you can appreciate the value of professors' LOR.

LET'S START WITH THE BASICS:

V.I.P letter writers are only good if they actually know you. A generic V.I.P. letter looks shallow next to a letter that describes your academic success or commitment to a social issue. Law schools will not accept an under-qualified applicant no matter who writes a reference letter.

Choose 3 Letters of Recommendation writers to describe different aspects of your experience. The only theme you want to repeat is academic success and valuable skills.

Give your LOR writers: time, information, and complete resources. A hastily written LOR without personal anecdotes and with contradictions to your personal statement or resume is worse than ineffectual - it can sink your application.

Never accept a generic LOR! Meet your LOR writer more than once. Bring your resume, your personal statement, and explain why you are choosing law school. The better a LOR writer knows your goals the more profound the LOR.

Your LSAT score, college transcript, and undergraduate major demonstrate your preparedness for law school. Your LORs need to show that you can be successful in law school by accepting, managing, and adapting to new knowledge and ways to thinking in a classroom setting. Who knows that better than your professors and supervisors?

CURRENT STUDENTS:

Faculty and Teaching Assistants should be your primary source for LORs. Seek out a professor who can explain how you have been successful in difficult classes in comparison to other students. Highlight the strengths you can offer a law school: Academic and co-curricular success

The three years of law school are progressively more challenging. Ask your professors and TAs to write about your experience in specific classes and as you develop in your major.

It is easier to write a LOR you are expecting rather than when a student shows up during finals week. Tell your professor that you are considering law school at the beginning of the semester, so that s/he can watch you throughout the class.

Note: If you are choosing to work between college and law school, request LORs now and send them to be held by the Credential Assembly Service(formally LSDAS).

POST GRADUATE STUDENT & WORKING PROFESSIONALS:

Professional supervisors can be good sources for LORs when you connect your work experience to your academic or professional goals. A professional LOR needs to match the successful law school skills with the language and duties of your position. You may need to help supervisors translate work experience into skills for legal study. Highlight the strengths you can offer a law school: Post-collegiate "real-world" experiences, maturity, and professional skills.

Attention to detail and ability to research, organize, and integrate new and complex information into previously learned information.

Problem solving using clear methods to achieve a clear result.

Communicating complex details in a concise written and oral presentation

Note: As a working professional, you need to demonstrate that you can handle the challenges in law school. Find the chapter of Older Wiser Law Students (OWLS) at your local law school. These students were in your shoes not long ago.

Keep in mind that your choice of LOR writers should emphasize your entire experience (Academic, Co-Curricular leadership, and professional/community service experiences). Choose the people who will "stand-up" and can proudly recommend you to study law.

Recap: Give your LOR writer all the documents they need up front. Give them a copy of your personal statement, resume, a letter addressed to the Credential Assembly Service, and your signed LOR Form. Make the process as simple and efficient for them as possible. Then follow up...

]]> Matthew Niziol LSAT SEPTEMBER 26th: Are You Ready for The Last 10 Days! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1803 2009-09-16T09:15:09 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1803#comments 0 The LSAT is less than 10 days away, and you need to seriously evaluate your preparedness! Lots of us get nervous as the big day draws near, and a little apprehension is understandable. But, you should not be taking the LSAT if you are under-prepared or consistently scoring badly on practice tests. Rate your readiness with this short guide and then make the right choice for you. The LSAT is not an "If you fail - try, try, again" event!

Are you taking the LSAT now because you "have to make a deadline"?
If you are worried about an application deadline, then you are probably distracted from LSAT preparation. You can submit your application in November and your LSAT scores can follow. Do not send low scores with your application only to see your Dream Schools disappear.

If you are feeling unprepared, click on this link to find a guide to managing the December or February LSAT tests. Don't run from a challenge, but if you do decide that the September 26th LSAT is not for you, then visit the LSAC Test Date Center website and research your options. If you know that you are ready to take the LSAT on September 26th, then let's make the most of the time you have left. Use the remaining days to focus on these three areas:

The Questions and the Test:
Manage your next 10 days to optimize your strengths. Don't try to tackle studying all the questions at once.

Choose four days to focus on specific sections of the LSAT. Dedicate one day to each type of question. Select three-five sample questions (use the June 2007 LSAT as a guide) and work them to completion. Compare your answers to the answer sheet in the test booklet.
Choose two days to focus only on the section you can most quickly improve
Choose one day to write two essays from the essay section.

Materials for the Test Day:
Build your Test Day Packet now!

You are allowed two #2 pencils, one highlighter, erasers, a beverage in a plastic bottle/juice box, and tissues. You can bring a watch, but not a digital one.
Most important, have your Admission Ticket and a current government issued ID with your photo and your signature. Acceptable forms of ID include: passport book or driver's license. Employment IDs and passport cards are not permitted.

If you work best on 5-6 hours, don't change to 8-10 hours, and vice-versa.
And, if you do not eat a lot of fast food normally, don't start now. Find balance in yourself so that you can sustain the 4 hours of the LSAT.

Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things.

Research the test
Learn and practice the methods
Execute your plan to the best of your ability

And, don't forget to breathe... ]]> Matthew Niziol Getting Ready: What's Your Plan http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1784 2009-08-26T09:14:31 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=1784#comments 0 Each year (from freshmen to senior) you have a series of tasks to complete if you want to be competitive for law school admission. Last year hundreds of students used CLEO's Scholar program: Sophomore Summer Institute, CLEO Connection, and ASAP to moved ahead. Did you? It's not too late.

Let's get started! Law school and the legal profession survive on organization and planning. As a prelaw student you should be able to prioritize, organize, and evaluate your educational and law school admissions tasks. Start by reviewing CLEO's Prelaw Timeline for students and determining where you need to begin.

Next, choose the CLEO program that is right for your experience and register immediately. You will find information for students on the CLEO website.

Finally, seek advice from professionals. Prelaw advisors are available on most of your campuses. You can expect these professional advisors or faculty to guide you through each semester's course selections, choosing a major, getting involved in student clubs and networking. But remember that "Your Education is Your Responsibility - Own it!"

You can test your prelaw knowledge with this online Facebook quiz created by Ellen Grigsby, Pre-Law Advisor at the University of New Mexico.

Follow the advice given by CLEO's experts for each undergraduate year. Together with CLEO, you can develop the classroom, community, and professional skills that will make you a competitive candidate in the admissions process and more importantly a successful student once you enter the law school of your choice.

Freshmen Year:
Attend CLEO's- The Road To Law School

"As a prelaw student, you need to be exceptionally aware of the choices you make. You will make choices every day of your college experience. From New Student Orientation to Graduation, you should consider each choice as an opportunity to bring you closer to the law school experience you want to create. As a pre-law student, every class, club, internship and special project should prepare you for law school. Think of the next four years as practice for your first day as a 1L - by Matthew Niziol

Sophomore Year:
Attend CLEO's - The Sophomore Super Saturday Seminar and Sophomore Summer Institute

"Your advisor will look for signs of strengths and weaknesses in basic skills such as writing, logic, or speaking, clear deficiencies in math and science, or distaste for the controversies of politics and public policy. For all these reasons, you should schedule a planning meeting with your Pre-Law Advisor early in your sophomore year. The sophomore year offers opportunities that will not come again." - by Stanley Clark

Junior Year:
Attend CLEO's - Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and ASAP

"If you have been planning for law school and working with your Pre-law Advisor since freshman year, you should be right on track to commence the law school application process in your junior year. Skip ahead to the to-do list, enjoy checking off the items already covered, and start the year with a clear picture of the road ahead." - by Dianne Williams

Senior Year:
Attend CLEO's - Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and ASAP

"As you approach your senior year, there are several strategies to consider in the application process. Your attention should now turn to three important activities: final preparation for taking the LSAT, writing your personal statement, and organizing your letters of recommendation. Your goal is to have all application materials in the hands of the law schools by the time you take the LSAT." - by Jerry Polinard

One last note: Your fellow students are talking to each other. Are you in the conversation? Go to CLEO on Facebook at Facebook.com/Cleo.Scholars.

We'll see you there!]]> Matthew Niziol Get a Summer Internship: More Than Just A Paycheck! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=682 2009-06-03T08:32:57 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=682#comments 1 It is time to talk about internships that build experience and why only a summer job at the pool is not cool for Pre law student.

Your undergraduate classes prepare you for success in the law school classroom. CLEO prepares you for success in the admissions process. A good internship/job prepares you to apply your experience in the "real world" and gives scope to the lessons you learn in class.

A good internship/job will allow you the opportunity to practice your leadership skills. If your summer internship/job does not allow you to flex the following leadership muscles, then it is time to dust off that resume.

Organizing multi-step or overlapping projects

Researching with a single issue focus

Brian storming and choosing best solutions to problems

Planning events or programs that involve others

As an undergraduate you won't be given the keys to the executive dining room. But, you can be given responsibility if you ask for it and demonstrate that you are reliable, willing, and able.

Many people choose a summer job or internship based on what they already know, and where they are already comfortable. As a Pre law student, you need to choose internships based on what you need to learn. You might be stepping out of your comfort zone - and as a law school applicant now is the time to learn new skills.

You can find the "core skills" that you will need to learn in: law offices, the Public Defender's Office, Legal Aid offices, and in specialty venues. In the first three examples you will most likely be working on the periphery of legal cases. In the specialty venue you will be working on a specific issue: the environment, children's issues, civil rights, business concerns. You will see, hear, and feel the atmosphere of a professional office. Your "tasks" will be to:

Learn the structure of the office and the skills each position requires

Participate actively on as many projects as possible or on one project in its entirety

Build a network of references

You can find summer positions using your local resources like your College Career Center or by researching online. Here are a few good online resources to review:

The National Jurist - online magazine articles

Legal Aid Society - a non-profit legal services agency

Idealist.org - a site for community based positions

United Way - an clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities

Government Agencies - an opportunity for a structured internship

A strong academic transcript proves that you will be successful in class. A diverse and practical resume demonstrates that you will succeed in Law Clinics and that you will bring "real life" into the classroom.]]> Matthew Niziol JUNE LSAT: TICK - TOCK - TICK - TOCK! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=631 2009-04-22T09:16:02 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=631#comments 0 If you are serious about law school, then you are in one of two positions right now. Either you have been comfortably studying for the June 8th test date or you are frantically planning to practice day and night for the four grueling hours of the LSAT.

If you have NOT been studying for months, then let's do what attorneys do when they panic - make a plan and get it done!

So, right now, determine how prepared you are for the LSAT and commit 100% to your test date.

The month of May will be your last four weeks to prepare for the LSAT. Start by learning what the LSAT measures and how to approach each question type. Simply practicing the same questions over and over will only help you improve the questions you already understand. Review LSAT sample questions/guides to learn how to solve each question so that when the particulars change your strategy does not.

Stress, college deadlines, friends and family can all distract law school applicants during these last weeks. The best way to be successful is to create a schedule and Stick to a Clear Plan.

Plan to study as much as you practice. A schedule that has 1.5 hours of study time and 1 hour of practice time repeated 3 times a week is a good start. You will need to increase the frequency of your practice as the test date draws nearer.

Week One: Study one section of the LSAT and complete one timed 35 minute practice section.
Total test time 35 minutes.

Study the Logical Reasoning section, and

Complete a 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice test

Week Two: Study a new section of the LSAT, review the previous section. Complete a 35 minute timed test for the Week Two section and the Week One section.
Total test time 70 minutes.

Study the Analytical Reasoning Section, and

Complete a 35 minute timed Analytical Reasoning practice test

Complete a 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice test

Special Study Note: Complete one full practice exam at the end of the week.

Study the Reading Comprehension Section, and

Complete a 35 minute timed Reading Comprehension practice test

Complete a 35 minute timed Analytical Reasoning practice test

Complete a 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice test

Special Study Note: Complete one full practice exam at the end of the week.

Study the LSAT Section in which you received your Lowest Score, and

Complete one 35 minute timed Writing Sample

Complete one 35 minute timed Reading Comprehension practice test

Complete one 35 minute timed Analytical Reasoning practice test

Complete two 35 minute timed Logical Reasoning practice tests

Special Study Note: Complete one full practice exam at the end of the week.

One last word on study and practice: Evaluate! If you only take a practice LSAT once, you will not have a clear history of success. The LSAT can be affected by your stress and anxiety, restfulness, or concentration and distraction. Build a track record of success by taking the practice test multiple times (at least 3 times). Evaluate your speed in each section, the types of questions you consistently answer correctly and incorrectly, and how often you guess versus knowing the answer.

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) has a thorough resource website. You can download or purchase practice exams and guides from LSAC, and seek advice from CLEO. You can also watch this LSAT Video for more guidance on how to study.

Also, seek out experts to teach you. You do not need to do this alone. CLEO , Prelaw Advisors, Test Prep organizations, and your classmates can be excellent person-to-person resources.

Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things. Research the measures, prepare and practice the methods, and execute your plan to the best of your ability! And, don't forget to breathe...
]]> Matthew Niziol Education & Practice: Study In The Classroom - Live In The Real World http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=614 2009-04-02T09:20:03 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=614#comments 0 As you write your history into your personal statement and imagine your impact on the legal world, take time to look over the horizon at the future of the legal landscape.

Prelaw students are making an investment in the future and they need to know: What will the profession look like when I graduate? What skills learned during law school will I need the most? Will I be the kind of lawyer I am dreaming of today?

Online resources like the ABA JOURNAL and news reports on television will keep you current, but CLEO, can take you to the next level. CLEO Alumni, Associates, and Fellows, who attend the CLEO Scholars Programs across the United States, can be one of your best resources and a critical component of your prelaw preparation. Distinguished CLEO Alumni have become deans and professors, federal and state judges and legislators, and practitioners in all areas of the legal profession.

Asking attorneys about the future of the practice, their day-to-day business, and how well law school prepared them for the real world is invigorating. They are able to share personal and professional stories of challenge and triumph. A good role model or mentor can give you just the touch of inspiration needed to push through the long days of law school.

CLEO wants to help you get started by asking a panel of diverse attorneys about their experiences practicing law and the toughest question of all ...What happens after law school?

Let's start with:

If you could change and/or enhance one aspect of your law school experience to positively impact your legal career, what would it be and why?

Peter F. Asaad, Esq: Immigration Solutions Group, PLLC. Continued interaction with my former classmates I find always has a positive impact. Whether it's referring a client, collaborating on cases, learning about new opportunities, gaining insight on how to balance family and work, or just social get-togethers for a night away from work, there is much to be gained from continued interaction with former classmates.

Thus, if I could enhance one aspect of my law school experience, I would like there to be greater interaction among former classmates. For example, intramural sports, online message boards, listserv, and chat rooms designed exclusively to interconnect my law school classmates for continued interaction would be a great enhancement.

How did law school prepare you (academically and/or personally) for your professional experiences after law school?

Carlos Quintana, Esq:Office of the Solicitor at the U.S Department of Labor . One of the most valuable lessons I learned in law school is that any issue, whether personal or professional, can be approached from different perspectives and that has enhanced my ability to appreciate different points of views.

Currently, I am an attorney with the Office of the Solicitor at the U.S Department of Labor, where I provide legal advice to the Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs on all international activities of the Department, including responsibilities concerning the International Labor Organization, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), various Trade Acts, and international child labor and core labor standards technical assistance projects.

My course work at American University's Washington College of Law (WCL), which consisted mostly of international law and trade courses, has also proven to be extremely valuable as a government attorney working on labor issues related to trade.

Personally, law school presented one of the most difficult challenges I have faced, and the experience enhanced my confidence in my ability to meet future challenges.

Professionally, my law school education at WCL provided a strong foundation in legal writing, research, and analysis. In addition, as a student attorney with WCL's Community Economic Development Law Clinic, I gained the practical experience of working with clients in real life situations.

That experience has helped me better advise my clients at the Department of Labor, allowing me to communicate complex legal concepts in a way that makes sense to them and to explore alternative solutions that meet my clients' needs.

How closely, and in what ways, did your expectations of the legal profession (during law school) match with your actual experiences of the legal profession?

Samantha Ahuja, Esq: GreenbergTraurig. Having worked prior to law school, I knew that my expectations of what practicing law and the reality would differ greatly. During law school the focus is on base skills and setting the ground work for learning analytical skills and issue spotting. In the real world, there is no point system, no right or wrong answers and often no opportunity to have a "do-over." This is often a challenge on a daily basis which requires a great deal of patience.

From my previous work experience, I knew that I would have to be prepared to not really know anything despite three years of grueling work in law school. Now that I have been practicing for 5 years, I realize that I knew more than I thought I did and that now I have more confidence in my abilities.

While law school is a full-time job, your finals and papers are dates in which to measure your success and accomplishments. In practicing law there are often no such dates and it is harder to find time appreciate your accomplishments. I expected to be challenged with new experiences and situations on a weekly basis and I have not been disappointed thus far. The biggest surprise to me is how much I love having a J.D. and what the degree has allowed me to do for others.

How has the legal profession changed while you have been practicing? And, what changes do you see in the near future that a prelaw student should consider?

Christopher Caple, Esq: Office of Senator Bill Nelson (Florida). For me, legal practice has not changed much on Capitol Hill. Mainly this is because few Capitol Hill staffers actively practice law. Although many staffers have law degrees or licenses, they are not necessary. The skills required to be a good staffer, however, make legal study sufficient for success.

The skills you get from legal study are: research, writing, and analytical. The need for superior application of these skills has not and will not change.

A tip for the student in the Admissions Process: When you research a law school don't stop at the admissions page - check the career services page too. Each law school's career services website will show the types of law and professional sectors in which its students practice. Most law schools will report (by percentage) which sectors its graduates enter. If you want to practice in the business sector and 80% of a school's graduates go into government service, then you might consider a different school.

And, be careful about taking the salary ranges for graduates at face value. Remember that these ranges are approximations and are based on alumni self-reporting. With that cautionary hint, you can find information on the legal profession after law school and the Bar Associations at the LSAC website. Bar Associations can open new sources for personal and professional networking.

Final Note: Many students will enter law school committed to practicing a specific type of law. Later, after studying and participating in legal clinics, they find their true passion and position in the profession. As you look toward the horizon, be sure to keep your options open as you seek your place in the practice.
]]> Matthew Niziol Where Are You Now? Marking Your PreLaw Progress. http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=591 2009-03-05T16:56:58 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=591#comments 0 The law school application process is very complex with many interlocking components: classes, majors, GPA's, personal statements, LSAT scores, applications, and letters of recommendation. 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 day one until you are securely in your first 1-L class. CLEO has clearly marked the journey - NOW you have the 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.

CLEO: Providing workshops, summer programs, and personal assistance

Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS): Managing your applications and offering the LSAT exam four times a year

accessgroup: Providing financial aid support to college and graduate students

Prelaw advisors (guiding you through the application process on your campus)

Faculty, friends, and family (providing academic and personal support and encouragement)

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. Take some time to check your progress and to make a plan for the last two months of this academic year 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:

Attend the CLEO Road to Law School free prelaw seminar.

Commit to academic success (3.5 GPA or higher) in classes that prepare you for law school.

Get involved through student clubs, mentoring, and volunteerism to connect with professionals that can act as guides.

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

Attend the CLEO Sophomore Super Saturday free prelaw seminar and the Sophomore Summer Institute.

Choose an academic major and follow a clear academic plan that teaches you to think like a law student.

Stand out from the crowd by choosing Study Abroad, Internships, and the Sophomore Summer Institute

Attend the CLEO Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT free prelaw seminar.

Choose an LSAT date and prepare at least 3-6 months prior to the test. The LSAT really is that important.

Create a realistic list of law schools and begin researching their programs and visiting their campuses.

Attend the CLEO Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) prelaw seminar. This is critical for understanding the admissions process by focusing on the personal statement and listening to actual law school admissions staff share their expectations.

Edit and complete your final Personal Statement draft. You will have started this process at ASAPASAP.

Collect the Letters of Recommendation you requested from your professors.

Complete and submit your applications online via LSAC. Do not procrastinate in the application process, because it is the beginning of the relationship you create with an admissions counselor.

In addition, there are key steps that need to occur on 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!]]> Matthew Niziol Money, Money, Money... Financing Law School! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=575 2009-02-10T14:02:54 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=575#comments 0 If you live like an attorney when you are in law school, then you will live like a student when you graduate!

You may have learned that talking about a woman's age, religion, or money in public is taboo. But when it comes to planning for law school you need to get comfortable talking about Savings, Loans, and Debt! Completing applications, writing personal statements, and sweating through the LSAT can all be for naught if you find your wallet empty and the tuition bill in the mail.

One reality of law school is that you are making a huge financial investment in your future and it can be overwhelming. The good news is that CLEO has expert Financial Aid advisors facilitating workshops at programs like Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) to help you be successful. Like good health care, financial planning is preventative. If you ignore it now; you'll pay for it later!

We have asked our financial aid expert, Dino Koff, Director of Financial Aid at Dartmouth Medical School, how you should prepare for the sticker shock of law school tuition. Read carefully. Then register online for ASAP. And, finally schedule an appointment with your school's Financial Aid Advisor. There is a lot to do and the clock is ticking.

CLEO Blog: What are the first steps when planning financial aid/financing for law school?

Mr. Koff: It is really important to plan out the full three years of law school before you attend. There should be no surprises at the end of three years in terms of the amount of loan debt you have acquired. Also, you should know what money you received in aid is renewable for three years compared to a one time award.

All financial aid will allow you to live and attend law school. The important part to know about the aid is which dollars you will need to pay back and what is free money. Furthermore, if it needs to be paid back, is it accruing interest while you are in school?

Tip! If a family member offers you a financial gift while you are in school to help you live - consider paying off interest while you are in school because keeping your debt at principal only while in school is an amazing gift.

CLEO Blog: What Plan of Action do you recommend to undergraduates who want to prepare for the cost of law school?

Mr. Koff: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation - Can you tell what the most important word is? I cannot stress enough how important it is to start the financial aid process early. Early does not mean March of your senior year but possibly your junior year (or earlier).

While you are choosing a school, it is important to (1) note which schools offer merit aid compared to need based aid - And, which schools offer both? (2) Obviously, figuring out what merit aid is based on - is it LSAT, GPA, other talents? (3) Finding this out early so you can better prepare/market yourself.

Different law schools list or publish different outside scholarships. These are scholarships that the schools do not control/award but promote because it helps students finance law school. A simple Google search (I typed in "law school scholarship") comes up with over 21 million different hits. It is not worth checking out all 21 million, but it is worth narrowing the search down to a manageable number that can be investigated.

There is plenty of outside scholarship money available but the key is finding it early enough to apply for it. Preparation early will allow you to know the requirements and deadlines for all scholarships before it is too late.

TIP! Don't forget-Loan repayment/loan forgiveness can be almost as valuable as a scholarship if you are planning on a public interest/public service career. Make sure you ask law schools if they offer these programs before you enroll.

CLEO Blog: How do law school students stray from the path of financial security, and what wisdom do you share with them when they stray?

Mr. Koff: It is very difficult to have financial security while in law school and having no income. With good planning and discipline, it is easier to navigate the financial roadmap. Law students know what tuition is and normally they can add 4-6% a year to predict what tuition will be for 3 years. This will be a fixed cost because with increases it is set. But where many students stray is sticking to spending plans in relation to living expenses.

When I work with students in creating spending plans, I advise them that any money saved on [daily] living is normally loan money saved. For example, living alone in an apartment may be $700 a month with full utility cost but living with a roommate maybe $500 a month with split utilities. If you are living on loans, it is important to take the economical path. Most financial aid offices will help you create a spending plan and help you get organized.

I remember working with a student who would not eat at home but only at restaurants. This student was burning cash and life was becoming financially stressful. We sat down and talked about a spending plan and we agreed to a meal out a week. The amount saved was staggering and made it easier for the student to agree to this.

TIP! A major way to keep from straying is to remember that loans are not income. Most (students) do not have a job in law school so if you are coming from a job- adjusting your living style is important because the lower the loans, the lower the payments.

In order to be more comfortable talking about your money and the costs of law school, you can start by getting a clear picture of your spending habits and income. Take an hour to complete a budget review of your expenses for the last month. Then, make a budget plan for this month and keep track of any times you stray from your plan. Your goal is not to break the bank!

Finally, if talking about gross adjusted income, the hundreds of dollars you spend at Starbucks, or the thought of being bound to debt makes you squirm, register now for the summer ASAP event nearest to you and meet Dino Koff in person. Now, start saving!
]]> Matthew Niziol It's a conversation, really! Writing Your Personal Statement http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=563 2009-01-12T15:45:07 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=563#comments 0 personal statement is the most intimate sharing of your thoughts, experiences, educational goals, dreams, challenges, and success with a real person whose job it is to bring great students to his or her law school. Once you accept that premise, writing a personal statement is like talking to a friend or mentor.

The topic of your personal statement will be unique but its structure must be clear and concise. Your personal statement is a conversation not a wandering middle of the night jam session. You need to speak seriously about your life and why that law school will be the better for admitting you.

Michael States, Assistant Dean of Admissions, University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill: There is no preferred format. There are hundreds of people who will be reading your personal statement and they all prefer different things. Your goal is to answer the question(s) asked of you, in the way that you are asked to in the instructions.

When you are done writing, a reader should be able to make a clear outline of your points and arguments. Your prose should flow seamlessly together without skipping erratically from topic to topic. You need to tell one story no matter how complicated - your story!

And keep in mind, that your personal statement should illuminate your application in a way not achieved by your resume and transcript. Use anecdotes, examples, and from time to time you can even interject a bit of humor.

The first thing you can do to prepare the structure of your personal statement is to understand your own history. 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.

Most students will be able to divide their college years into three categories: Academics, Co-Curricular Organizations, and Personal Accomplishments. Use these categories as column headings on a T-chart and then add as many bullet items describing your accomplishments and challenges in each area. Fill an entire page and do not be nervous about bragging or adding too many items. Trim the bullets that you do not need later. When you are done, ask a friend or family member to add bullets to your lists from their memory, and to read your list for items that surprise them. These bullets will be the basis for your personal statement. Look for commonalities in all three columns.

Academic Accomplishments: These are the successes and challenges you faced in classes or in your degree program. Law school is another form of higher education and admission counselors need to know that you are an active learner and that you have success in the classroom.

List items like:

Classes in which you earned high grades or were actively engaged

Scholarships or awards you received related to your classes

Internships related to your major or classes

Special assignments (i.e. thesis, public speaking events, group projects)

Co-Curricular Organizations: These are the activities that, by your choice, supported your education and integrated your classes with the larger context of society. These are not the one-time events that disappear from memory after a few hours.

These events are the ones that you committed to over numerous semesters, on and off campus, and in which you developed and demonstrated your leadership skills. Law school is tough and admission counselors need to know that you can balance your personal life, social life, and your classes without sacrificing quality or forgetting that your education is the priority.

List items like:

Student Clubs or sports teams that support your major and developed collaboration skills

Internships and volunteer projects that required significant commitment and supported either your major or a special area of interest (i.e. Habitat for Humanity serving your interest in poverty and social justice causes)

Study Abroad

National organizations like CLEO, Hispanic National Bar Foundation or The National Black Prelaw Conference, and events like the College Scholars Program, ASAP, Sophomore Summer Institute, and the many resources available to prelaw students.

Personal Accomplishments & Challenges: These are the moments in your life that defined your personality, your work ethic, and your interaction with society. These events can be cause for celebrations or catastrophes. Many students like to speak about "surviving" very difficult times in their lives. They spend 800 words describing the terrible incident and only 200 words explaining how they interact differently with the world because of the incident. You need to turn that ratio around.

Whether you are thinking of a wonderful semester of study abroad or a tragic car accident, do not focus on the event. Explain how the event changed you and how you apply that experience in your education and your life goals.

List items like:

Growing up and contributing to a single parent household

Overcoming learning and physical disabilities

Cultural and life altering experiences

As you write about your personal statement, use personal stories to prove your points or examples of your success and goals. Never write about a goal or personal challenge without being able to clearly explain the steps to complete your goal or your reflections on the challenge.

Use the structure of What, So What, and Now What.
Each of your paragraphs or each component of your story can be broken down as follows:

What: This is the details section.

What did I do?

When, where, and how did it take place?

Who was involved and why was I part of the event?

So What: This is the why is it important to the writer or the reader section.

How did I change because of the event?

Are my assumptions about people, organizations, and processes different?

Am I better off now than before, and how?

Is any individual, society, school, locality different because of my participation and if so how?

Now What: This is the "putting my new experience to work" section.

How will I react to similar situations in the future?

What choices will I make or decision making process will I use now, because of my experiences?

How did this affect my interest in law school and practicing law?

A few attributes or areas of concern you might consider writing about include: your Educational Plan, Commitment & Dedication to a cause, and Contribution to your "community". You can write 2-3 paragraphs on each (any) topic that will go into your essay. Then, you can trim those paragraphs to meet your word limit.

Tips for Success! Incorporate these suggestions into your writing and you will have a statement that an admissions counselor will find easy to read.

1. Don't Waste Words!: Don't waste words telling the reader what you will later show them. Don't organize your statement while writing your first paragraph. Do the Brainstorming first. If you write a "mini-preview paragraph" to start the process, DELETE it when you are done. It is better to get to the point!

2. Too Many Topics: A personal statement that is "chuck-full" of memories and stories is difficult to read and will appear cluttered. Choose a theme for your statement and only use examples that support or illuminate that theme.

3. Focusing on Someone Else: A personal statement that explains your reaction to a life altering event, family experiences, or mentors in your life is ok. BUT, do not forget that this is your personal statement. When the reader is done you want them to remember you not the other people in your life.

4. Grammar, Spelling, Typos "oh my!": These are the basic building blocks of good writing; and law students write constantly. Show the reader that you understand grammar rules and they do not need to teach you remedial writing. NO GRAMMAR or SPELLING MISTAKES! And, PROOFREAD OUT LOUD to make sure you wrote what you meant to write.

5. Why you cryin'?: Don't try to explain a low LSAT score or GPA in your personal statement. You can use an addendum (a one-page memo) attached to your application for discrpancies in your scores or indiscretions that need further explanation.

6. Humor: A little levity goes a long way, but this is not a stand-up routine. Remember that the reader of your statement may not share your sense of humor or rapier wit. Be careful not to offend with inappropriate humor.

7. Engage the Reader: The admission committee member reading your statement is also reading hundreds of others. Bring them into your statement by making them think not just read. Through your writing, encourage them to actively reflect on your thoughts. Do not waste their time.

8. Read Good Personal Statements: Read personal statements from successful students. Get an idea of the type of statements you like by reading others'. You can find lots of personal statement books at your library and local book store. BUT, your personal statement cannot be a copy of someone else's with the names changed. Examples should be a guide not a crutch.

9. A Fresh Pair of Eyes: Find someone who can read your statement for an unbiased and bluntly honest critique - not your best friend. Ask your Pre Law Advisor or CLEO's Pre Law Advisor, or a neutral law school professor who understands how a personal statement should be written.

10. The Quandary About Quotes: Don't use someone else's words when your words get the job done. Originality is always better than duplication. Law schools need to know that you can express your own thoughts without relying on old and over used quotes. If you use a quote it needs to support your ideas and not vice versa.

Finally, when you apply for admission you can count on this "Rule of Thumb":

The Reader will give as much attention to your personal statement as you gave it as the Writer. Generic essays are easily spotted and ignored. Take time to understand the purpose of the personal statement questions posed by the school and the personality of the school itself.

The Reader 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 attributes of the law school.
]]> Matthew Niziol Prelaw Winter Break: Recreation or Hibernation http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=552 2008-12-23T14:18:18 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=552#comments 0
The life of a law student and an attorney is one of sixty-second "siestas" in a seventy hour work week. This winter break learn how to re-create not hibernate! Let's start at the top...or actually the bottom... of Maslow's Hierarchy.

Abraham Maslow "studied the healthiest one percent of the college student population" along with others in society and discovered what you probably already know: you've got to take care of yourself (body, mind, spirit) before you can be an advocate in the lives of others. A college or university's winter break is typically 3 weeks long. That is just enough time to (1) rest your body, (2) reconnect with family and friends, and (3) re-focus your mind.

Exercise your physical needs with walking/jogging, yoga, or meditation and

Exercise your safety needs by re-organizing your living space, reviewing your new class schedule, and gathering the supplies you will need in the spring semester

As many of you know, our success is usually built on the support of our friends and families. Friends and family answer our stressed-out calls in the middle of the night or bring us food to get us through tough tests. As a pre law student you can also find wisdom in experiences of your friends. We all know that a network of friends and mentors can make us more competitive law school candidates. But, not everyone knows why.

Finding good friends to talk with can help you understand the possible conclusions to each decision when you find yourself at the crossroads. You can learn from the successes and mistakes of others without falling into the same traps. Your friends have experiences in the classes you did not choose, with the prelaw events that you missed, and the internships that you turned down. Tell them your stories and listen to their stories. Your social network (friends) can understand the difficulty you faced in making your choices and can empathize with your struggle like no other person you meet (professor, advisor, or parent). You will meet these students either today as friends or tomorrow in the courtroom.

During your break connect with students from your school and schools like yours. Look for students from schools that are dramatically different than yours.

Ask:

what problems they faced during their semester,

what insights they found,

what books they read and class projects they completed, and

what special events were unique to their schools.

Make plans to attend national Prelaw Programs together and to collaborate on community events, political campaigns, and internship searches. You can find prelaw students willing to share online at The CLEO Diversity in Legal Education Blog, Facebook, Myspace.com, and while Volunteering

As you finish taking care of your basic needs - re-energizing your body and spirit, connecting with friends - it is time to re-focus your mind. 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 2009 edition. You can also find the 25 Greatest Legal Movies according to the ABA Journal online. Read articles in Newsweek, Time, and preLaw Magazine.

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! ]]> Matthew Niziol The Admissions Process: Finding Your Best Law School http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=529 2008-11-18T09:12:22 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=529#comments 1 CLEO is ready to help you audition in the Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) program if you will commit to working hard and dreaming big.

You can navigate the process and be competitive if you dedicate yourself to the details. Applying to law school requires you to manage lots of documents and people without losing focus on your goal of a legal education.

The Big Picture of the application process can span months and even years from the time you begin college to finally accepting a seat in a law school as a 1L (first year law student). From the beginning you need to choose classes and resources that prepare you for law school.

professors

Letters of Recommendation

student organizations

law school

finances

law school tuition

Law School Admissions Test

LSAT

ranking

The key players in the law school application process include CLEO, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), the Office of Admissions at each law school, and your peers. CLEO's ASAP Program will help you understand each aspect and organize your efforts. You can read the experiences of students that have participated in the 2008 ASAP program on this blog site.

Keep reading and you will find the wisdom of CLEO's Legal Dream Team - three law school Dean's of Admissions - guiding you through this complex process.

The process of finding the best law school for you is exciting. Law school admissions staffs are looking for students that will enhance the classroom experience and who will contribute to the legal community. They are looking for you. Your job then is to present a clear and coherent narrative of your personal history and your promise for the future.

P.S. Being unique is a positive, but if you think you can embellish your application with videos and photos reminiscent of the movie "Legally Blonde", then you need to know this.

]]> Matthew Niziol The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT): Monster or Manageable? http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=516 2008-10-16T14:05:33 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=516#comments 0 If you are serious about law school, then you are in one of two positions right now. Either you have recently taken the four grueling hours of the LSAT, or you are practicing day and night for the next LSAT exam. Let's do what attorneys do when they are at a crossroads - make a plan!

If you have already taken your LSAT exam, then the next step is to actively wait. That's right! You cannot change your score now so let's spend the twenty three days after the test and before your scores are posted online to get things done. First, expect the best and move ahead with your admissions plan. CLEO's Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) program can help. Complete your personal statement and submit your law school applications. Your scores will follow your application to the schools you choose via the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC).

Second, evaluate your scores realistically. If your score does not make you eligible for a law school 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.

If you have not taken the LSAT exam yet, the first thing you want to do is breathe. But, breathe easily because thousands of law school applicants are taking the same test, they are just as nervous, and you will survive.

Yes, the LSAT is a tremendously important test. Your individual score - on a scale from 120-180 and in comparison to your fellow test takers - will weigh heavily in the admissions process. And yes, the test is only offered four times a year (February, June, September/October, and December). And yes, you do not want to take this test more than once.

In order to be confident when you complete the LSAT it is important to know exactly what you are getting into. The LSAT has been painstakingly reviewed and documented. LSAC has a thorough resource website. You can download or purchase practice exams and guides from LSAC or college and commercial bookstores. You also have CLEO sponsoring the prelaw College Scholars events in major cities across the nation. Do as lawyers do...research, prepare, practice, and execute!

Start by learning what the LSAT measures and how to prepare for and practice each part. The LSAT is a logic and reasoning test. It is not a facts and dates test.

The LSAT, like the legal profession, is concerned with your ability to rationally, logically, and analytically resolve complex situations.

The LSAT is a half day test comprising of five sections of 35 multiple choice questions. The three multiple choice sections are: Logical Reasoning (twice), Analytical Reasoning, and Reading Comprehension. One section of the LSAT will be used to test future questions and is not tallied into your score. However, this section is indistinguishable from the rest of the test. The final section is an un-scored writing sample that is sent to each law school to which you apply.

I know you want to know numbers. The national average on the LSAT is generally in the 150-155 range. But to be competitive you will need to aim for a score in the highest percentiles.

Preparing and practicing for the LSAT is a full time commitment and the most effective path to a high score. The LSAT exams offered in the June and September immediately following your junior year are recommended because your scores will arrive in November with your application; and if you are a current student you can prepare and practice with less academic intrusion from your other classes.

Know that it is never too early to begin preparing and practicing for the LSAT

Plan to prepare/study as much as you practice. A 1.5 hour prep time vs. 1 hour practice time schedule repeated 3 times a week is a good start. You will need to increase the frequency of your practice as the test date draws nearer.

Seek out experts to teach you. CLEO's Sophomore Super Saturdays, Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT, and Sophomore Summer Institute are excellent person-to-person resources. LSAT preparation texts can be purchased, but remember that not all texts are alike. Scrutinize the different options (texts, videos, online options) before choosing the one that best matches your learning method.

Simply practicing questions over and over will not help you improve anything, but the questions you already understand. LSAT question types and suggested approaches to solving the question should be studied so that when the particulars of a question change your strategy does not.

One last word on preparation and practice: Evaluate! If you only take a practice LSAT once, you will not have a clear history of success. The LSAT can be affected by your stress and anxiety, restfulness, or concentration and distraction. Build a track record of success by taking the test multiple times (at least 3 times). Evaluate your speed in each section, the types of questions you consistently answer correctly and incorrectly, and how often you guess versus knowing the answer.

Being successful on the LSAT is like being successful in all things. Research the measures, prepare and practice the methods, and execute to the best of your ability! And, don't forget to breathe...
]]> Matthew Niziol "Just Showing Up" does not get it done for prelaw students! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=499 2008-09-16T13:24:14 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=499#comments 0 balance between co-curricular activities and their class attendance and homework. Law School Admission Personnel recognize bogus involvement and are wary of student over-involvement. So, how can you get involved as an undergraduate, and be a more competitive law school applicant?

You can get started by attending CLEO events, visiting your college or university Student Life/Activities Office, seeking clubs related to your major, finding internships available through your career center and volunteer activities through local and national non-profits.

Get involved in national prelaw opportunities with CLEO Scholars Programs, the Hispanic National Bar Foundation, the National Black Pre-Law Admissions & Preparation Conference and Law Fair, and Phi Alpha Delta Prelaw Society. On campus find your Prelaw Advisor, prelaw student clubs, and honor societies like Phi Beta Kappa (4-year colleges and universities) and Phi Theta Kappa (at Community Colleges).

Prelaw students should look for opportunities to develop leadership skills and to demonstrate commitment.

A good rule of thumb when measuring a person's level of commitment to a club or goal is to ask yourself, "do they have stories they love to tell?" When a law school applicant can go on and on in detail about her internship at Legal Aid or his volunteer weekends at Habitat for Humanity then an Admissions Counselor can know he or she was committed. Similarly, a personal statement that includes these short stories is also more engaging and demonstrates the personality of the applicant.

Now here is the trick, students who are over-involved or inconsistently involved do not inspire confidence in their ability to complete tasks and goals. Remember, law school is a long three year commitment to education. You want your involvement to show that you can focus your interests and maintain your obligations over years and through adversity.

How can you get involved responsibly and develop a co-curricular education to match your in class time? Keep it simple. Research your opportunities for student organizations, internships, and volunteerism; and then choose the two or three that will best meet your goals. Three good goals for your extracurricular activities are:

Leadership Development: develop your organizational, inter-personal, and problem solving skills

Networking: meeting students and professionals that will help you achieve goals and will support you in times of difficulty

Community Service: demonstrate a social conscience through active community service and service learning

You will be told that LSAT scores and GPA are the only criteria that law schools care about. Don't believe it! Prelaw students are not the culmination of their "scores". Once you have met the GPA and LSAT threshold required by law schools you will be compared to other applicants based on the quality of your contribution to your college/university and your community.

Competitive law students have engaging personalities, unique personal histories, and they have gravitas. Remember that "just showing up" is not leadership. A prelaw student should seek leadership and discover ways to contribute to their legal education and the legal profession.
]]> Matthew Niziol Start-off This Year Right! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=482 2008-08-27T10:28:08 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=482#comments 0
Each academic year has a series of tasks that you will work towards as you prepare for admission to law school. Some tasks are external (completing applications and applying for financial aid) while others are introspective.

Let's start with:"Is Law School Right for You." Read this eye-opening article and answer the questions raised within it. It is time to consider the reality versus the myths of law school and a legal career.

So you are still choosing a law school education? Then let's get started. Law school and the legal profession survive on organization and planning. As a prelaw student you should be able to prioritize and organize your educational and law school admissions tasks. Start by reviewing the excellent Prelaw Timeline for students.

Next, choose the CLEO program that is right for your experience (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors) and register immediately. You will find information for students on the CLEO website. Getting involved with students across the country will help you evaluate your preparedness, network with students and professionals, and develop the skills needed to be a successful law school applicant.

Finally, seek advice from professionals. Prelaw advisors are available on most of your campuses. You can expect these professional advisors or faculty to guide you through each semester's course selections, choosing a major, getting involved in student clubs and networking. But remember that Your Education is Your Responsibility - Own it!

Follow the advice given by CLEO's experts for each undergraduate year. Together with CLEO, you can develop the classroom, community, and professional skills that will make you an competitive candidate in the admissions process and more importantly a successful student once you enter the law school of your choice.

Freshmen Year:
The Road To Law School

"As a prelaw student, you need to be exceptionally aware of the choices you make. You will make choices every day of your college experience. From New Student Orientation to Graduation, you should consider each choice as an opportunity to bring you closer to the law school experience you want to create. As a pre-law student, every class, club, internship and special project should prepare you for law school. Think of the next four years as practice for your first day as a 1L - by Matthew Niziol

Sophomore Year:
The Sophomore Super Saturday Seminar and Sophomore Summer Institute

"Your advisor will look for signs of strengths and weaknesses in basic skills such as writing, logic, or speaking, clear deficiencies in math and science, or distaste for the controversies of politics and public policy. For all these reasons, you should schedule a planning meeting with your Pre-Law Advisor early in your sophomore year. The sophomore year offers opportunities that will not come again." - by Stanley Clark

Junior Year:
Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and ASAP

"If you have been planning for law school and working with your Pre-law Advisor since freshman year, you should be right on track to commence the law school application process in your junior year. Skip ahead to the to-do list, enjoy checking off the items already covered, and start the year with a clear picture of the road ahead." - by Dianne Williams

Senior Year:
Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and ASAP

"As you approach your senior year, there are several strategies to consider in the application process. Your attention should now turn to three important activities: final preparation for taking the LSAT, writing your personal statement, and organizing your letters of recommendation. Your goal is to have all application materials in the hands of the law schools by the time you take the LSAT." - by Jerry Polinard

]]> Matthew Niziol Welcome to CLEO! http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=125 2008-07-01T15:53:02 -05.00 http://blog.cleoscholars.com/blogpost.cfm?catid=99&threadid=125#comments 3

Welcome to the CLEO Diversity in Legal Education Blog! On this site we will talk about the reality of a prelaw education, the programs that CLEO sponsors, and the challenges and triumphs you encounter as you diversify the legal field. CLEO staff and colleagues will share practical insights and discuss how to become a competitive law school applicant.

Most importantly, this blog will give voice to our valuable assets...CLEO participants like you!

On this Blog you will:
1. get advice from current CLEO Scholars
2. learn about the CLEO Scholars Program, A.S.A.P., Sophomore Summer Institute, and CLEO Connection
3. share your profound moments

The CLEO Diversity in Legal Education Blog is an open space for us to talk about our experiences, to plan our next steps, and to support one another. The road to law school is rigorous, but as students, advisors, and professionals we can reach our goal.

Now, bookmark our page and create your username so we can get started!

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