Visiting is Vital

One thing the experts emphasize is visiting the school before you make a final decision. I couldn't agree more. A school could look really nice on paper, but it's the intangibles that can really make or break a decision.

Tips for Visiting:

• Call ahead and set-up an official time
• Leave early 
• Dress professionally
• Come with questions
• Talk to the students
• Take time to explore the surrounding area if possible
• Write thank you notes after the visit 

My Visiting Experience:

I went on one law school visit and was considering it as a viable option. But from the very beginning the tour was unorganized and the building looked like a prison (not somewhere I want to spend 3 years of my life in!). The library was small and did not have much study space available, and the overall impression did not make me want to add it to the top of my pro/con list. But if I hadn't gone and visited I would not have been able to see all those factors because they weren't available online.

Likewise, I've had great experiences as well. One in particular I thoroughly enjoyed because not only was the visit day organized superbly, I ended up making a friend. I happened to be getting there last minute (because surprise, I got lost) and sat towards the back next to this girl. We got to talking during a break, and ended up having a lot in common! If I decide to go to that law school, I could even have her as a potential roommate now. I was also able to talk with students that day and get their impressions of the school, things they liked and internships they had as well as getting to talk with some of the faculty.

One thing I've realized throughout this is that I'm not alone. Friends and family are eager to help me with the process. For example, I had one friend mention she had a friend who went to a law school I was considering. She talked with him, and I was able to meet up with him when I visited the school and get a good feel for the school from a student's perspective (who was not a paid tour guide). Use those connections whenever possible because they can offer valuable insight! Likewise, I hope to be able to return the kindness everyone has shown me someday to prospective law students.

Foray to the Forum

Today I'm going to be focusing on #7 from my previous blog: attend a LSAC Forum. 

After I took the LSAT in June, I decided it would be good to attend a law school forum in July, hosted by LSAC (LSAC is the centralized website that you send all your application information to. They compile it, and send it to all the law schools for you). A law school forum is basically a law school fair where representatives from most law schools come and you walk around and talk to the different admissions counselors, get tons of brochures, and if you're lucky even a few fee waivers. There are also seminars you can attend that explain the application process or financial aid. 

Anyway, I signed up for the closest one which was in Chicago. Cool I thought. I love big cities I thought.

WRONG. Or at least driving in them.

See here's the problem, while I may have mental capacities to do well in school, directions and I do not coexist very well together. Meaning, I get lost ALL the time. It's a real struggle. Even with the beautiful invention of GPS I still manage to get lost. Also, I prefer simple country roads to crazy multiple lanes. 3 or more = stressed Maddie. 

Well, no surprise, on a day where I definitely didn't want to be late, I got lost. AND had to drive over one of the biggest bridges. Fun fact, I HATE driving over bridges. Irrational fear? Maybe. Still terrifying? Definitely. Throw in road construction, and it made for one crazy morning.

Pictures of Scary Chicago Skyway Bridge

To make it worse once I finally found the Marriott I pulled into a parking garage that was NOT the Marriott's, realized that all the cars were facing me (apparently it's some place where people park the cars for you...seemed really sketchy to me) and took a creepy "short-cut" down an alley that I was sure I was never going to make it out of. 

Needless to say it started out rough. 

But, once I got there I was so glad I made the trip. I met so many of the admissions counselors for the schools I wanted to attend. I was able to talk with them all, ask questions about their schools, pick up a few fee waivers and even make some friends. I also found some of the seminars I attended very helpful. Especially the one about financial aid. 

I would recommend if you're considering applying to law schools to go to a forum or law school fair if you get the chance. It really helps being able to have a face-to-face conversation with the admissions counselors. 

A few tips for the day:

• Dress professionally. I saw a wide range from suits to jeans. But my motto is "dress to impress." Nothing flashy, but also nothing that looks sloppy or like you don't care. I think first impressions, whether we like it or not, are in part based upon appearance.  
• Leave early. Even though I was "late" by my own standards, I knew myself and my propensity to get hopelessly lost so I left about 2 hours early. And sadly I almost needed all of my extra time. Plan accordingly for the unexpected.
• Practice first. Don't go to your number one pick first. I went to a table where I had no intention of going and chatted with the admission's counselor for a while. It calmed my nerves, and it actually turned out to be really helpful. She was kind and informative and breaking the ice without pressure helped give me confidence for the rest of the day.
• You don't have to go to all the seminars. Only go to the ones that really interest you. Otherwise, you may waste valuable time sitting through something you don't really want/need to hear.
• Talk to other people. It may sound simplistic, but while I was waiting in lines, I used that time to talk to other people. It made the lines seem less long, I got to meet some fun people, and I wasn't worrying about talking to the representative.