Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Come Through for a Visit

There is only so much that you can learn about a community by reading about it. At some point you just need to check it out for yourself. When deciding on what school to attend, I found the visit to be the most useful and helpful tool. There are things that you can see on a visit that will never come through in a brochure, video or blog. You can get a sense of the morale of a place, get a chance to see it with your own eyes and have the opportunity to imagine yourself there.

There are a few things that you should be sure not to miss on your STJ visit. First of all make sure that you come at a time when you can sit in on a class. Nothing was more valuable to me as a prospective student than actually seeing how a lawschool class works. Pay attention to the professor to be sure but also pay careful attention to the students. The thing that made the biggest impression on me was the extent to which the students seemed completely engaged with the speaker. They hung on every word. Clearly this was a group that was committed to soaking up everything the professor had to say.

Also check out the atrium on the 4th floor. Slightly smaller and definitely less well known than the cafeteria atrium the 4th floor atrium is a great place to study or catch up on some reading before class. Somewhere between the library and the other atrium in volume the 4th floor atrium is a good spot. Not too loud to read but definitely a place amenable to some intense debate.

Think Culture

I assure you that there is more to making an informed decision about where to attend law school than simply comparing rankings. It’s a matter of determining the culture of the school and assessing how you fit within that culture.

The culture of STJ law is one both of cooperation and competition. Both are critical to a successful educational experience. The cooperation is easy to see. Students help each other here. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a student point out a helpful point of law moments before class. I have shared my notes with dozens of students and have received just as much.

The competition is also intense. I have been involved as a student in a higher education setting for the last 12 years. I studied neurobiology, cell biology, pharmacology and biophysics at Ivy League institutions. I can say that without a doubt, that my 1L section was the smartest group of people I’ve ever worked with before. When there’s that many smart people around the competition comes naturally. It’s a good competition, not nasty or petty. It’s the kind of competition that pushes you to excel. Knowing how hard everyone else is working is a powerful driving force.

The other aspect of STJ Law culture worth mentioning is diversity. Located in the most diverse county in the United States, the STJ law student body is equally diverse. Diversity in the classroom is one of those unquantifiable benefits. With diversity comes diverse experience and diverse points of view. Valuable in any educational setting, diversity is particularly valuable in legal education. At St. Johns Law, students are exposed to the vastly differing opinions of people from varied backgrounds. The contribution of diversity to our law school is immeasurable.

One more aspect worth mentioning is the fact that SJU law is part of the greater St. John’s University campus. In addition to access to all of the University’s facilities like the gym, tennis courts and sprawling campus, law students also have access to the wide range of expertise available steps away. Working on a DNA case, not sure what DNA stands for… just ask professor Simms in the biology department. Being on the campus of a major university is a incredible bonus that will only add to and enrich your law school experience.

Myspace and Whatnot

Lawyers are on time, lawyers are prepared and image counts to lawyers. Does this mean that as a law student you need to dress up every day? Well no, though some do. The point we’re trying to get across here is to be very careful about the images of yourself that you put out into the world.

We’re referring specifically to the social networking sites like myspace and facebook. While these websites can be an invaluable way to meet people, network with colleagues and entertain your self in a boring class, they can also present the wrong image. Rumors abound regarding the extent to which admissions committees and law firms check these sites. Assume they do and act accordingly.

Summer in the Admissions Office

Summer is a strange time here. We sit in the middle of the hard work we’ve done, and we look forward to the hard work that’s about to start. Around this time of year there is a large amount of excitement in the office. In a few short weeks all the people that were but names on applications will be walking through the doors to start their legal education. And as they start their education, we once again begin the process of finding the best and brightest students from around the world to invite to join the St. John’s Law Community.

This blog has been established as a way to make the admissions process more transparent and to help potential students learn about our admissions criteria. Gaining admission here is not easy. The competition is tough but the rewards are great. Best of luck and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.