Aloha all! It’s so nice to be back!
As it nears the height of application season, things can seem hectic and stressful; every day seeming like an eternity as you wait to hear back from schools. It’s completely natural to feel anxious about what your future holds. However, it all becomes worth it when you come home to find that acceptance envelope in the mail. This week I’ll be outlining your next steps before enrolling.
Schedule a Visit
Once you get accepted to a law school, schedule a visit! It’s difficult to make a decision that determines your next three years without getting to the know the campus and community. At Loyola, you can chat with our fabulous admission staff and ask them any questions you may have regarding timeline, procedure, etc. You can also schedule a tour of our campus. A current law student will take you on a guided tour of our building and along the way, describe what their day is like. Because each one has been through at least one full semester of law school, they know everything from time management and exam preparation techniques to the best study spots on campus (fourth floor library cubicles!). In addition, you can also sit in on a lecture. One of our class greeters will take you to one of their doctrinal classes, where you can meet a professor and get a preview of what law school is actually like. Almost every law school uses the Socratic method, which involves cold calling students. Class visits provide a good introduction to what you’ll be required to do. Don’t worry, professors never cold call visitors, so rest easy.
Let us your decision
Our first deposit, which lets us know you’ll be joining our Loyola community, is due by April 15. If you are accepted after that date, you can refer to the date listed on your acceptance letter.
File your FAFSA
Law school is an investment. Because of this, it is important to get your ducks in a row, i.e. registering and filing your FAFSA. FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid allows you to take out loans from the government to pay for law school. Be sure to apply as soon as possible. Loyola’s School Code is 001710.
Apply for Outside Scholarships
Beyond scholarships from the university and loans, there are hundreds of organizations that grant scholarships. The key is applying to as many as you can. Your goal is to take out the least amount of loans as possible. If you do your due diligence now, you’ll have less to worry about when you graduate. Loyola lists ones sent to them on their outside scholarship page.
We at Loyola take pride in our community. You’ll aim to help others reach their potential, just as others will help you to reach yours. We cannot wait to expand our Loyola family!
Thank you so much for reading this week. Stay tuned as I update my blog throughout the semester with tips and advice to make the most of your law school experience.
Loxley Keala is a 1L at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She is blogging about the journey of her first year of law school. To search all posts written by her search the Loxley category on the right hand side. Questions for Loxley? Email law-admissions@luc.edu with the subject “Ask Loxley” and she will make sure to answer them in a future post.