Ohio State has an extraordinary support system for their undergraduate pre-law students. Being in the heart of Columbus and home to The Moritz College of Law, location and resources makes Ohio State a top school in the country for law school-aspiring undergraduate students.
Starting at Buckeye Bound, an event that Ohio State puts on for accepted students during their senior year of high school, pre-law students are able to meet and connect with the pre-law faculty that is here at Ohio State. Although, this meeting is just the start. Throughout a student’s time at Ohio State, they have many opportunities to connect with both the pre-law program and their pre-law advisor.
The biggest event that the pre-law program puts on is the 24 Hours of Pre-Law in the beginning of October. After attending this event, I have an increased appreciation for the pre-law program here at Ohio State.
Night of October 5: Law School Dean of Admissions PANEL
To kick off the start of the 24 hours, Ohio State provides students an interactive opportunity to connect with a variety of Law School Admissions representatives. This year, there were representatives from University of Denver, Vanderbilt University, University of North Carolina, and The Ohio State University. Held in the Ohio Union Senate Chamber Room, this collaborative environment allowed for a structured conversation between the panel and students. The panel was able to answer questions on topics such as what should be included on a resume, what to look for in a law school, and the benefits of a legal education.
For me, I greatly appreciated the helpful tips the panel was able to provide students about the law fair the next day. The law schools explained how to steer away from trying to “sell yourself” to the law school. They humbly explained that they have plenty of impressive candidates that are already applying. Instead of focusing on selling yourself, or asking questions that could easily be found online, focus on learning about the law school. Ask questions that you would only be able to ask a human instead of Google. I truly appreciated all of the insights that the panel was able to give, and appreciated the time that the panel gave to prospective students.
Morning of October 6: How to Pay for Law School
This presentation by AccessLex was held in the same collaborative room from the previous night. This presentation was extremely informative to not only the fourth years, but to every other undergraduate student in the audience. It is no secret that law school is a big investment, and can definitely sway someone’s decision on if this path is right for them. In my opinion, it is important to be transparent on not only the tuition cost, but cost of living, fees, textbooks, and even law school prep. Getting a presentation directly from AccessLex, a nonprofit that is focused on making law school more accessible for students, was very helpful for all levels of students. This presentation had an open and honest tone to it, and made students like me feel seen and heard about something that is difficult to deal with when it comes to higher education.
Afternoon of October 6: The Law Fair
The star of the show was the Ohio State Law Fair. I was simply amazed at the size of this law fair. One of the pre-law advisors shared with me that there are more law schools in America that are here then ones that are not, and I think that speaks volumes to the size of this law fair. Held in the Archie Griffin Ball Room in The Ohio Union, the ballroom was filled with over 120 law schools, LSAT preparation companies, and pre-law resources. The law schools in attendance ranged in cost. There were many local law schools, but also a few from cities I have never heard of. There were also appearances from a variety of T20 law schools, ivy leagues, and other “big law” names.
The variety of students was truly inspiring to see. There were first and second years just starting to get the feel of things, and there were also third and fourth years who are in the thick of the law school admission process. There were also a variety of students from other undergraduate institutions in attendance. For example, I saw a large group of undergraduates from Bowling Green State University. Also in attendance was a variety of alumni from both Ohio State and other institutions. Ohio State hosting such an amazing event for their pre-law students truly goes to show just how amazing the program is here.
Night of October 6: Navigating LSAC and Mock Admissions Review
To close out the 24 hours, Ohio State hosted two more events. The Navigating LSAC Session gave students an informative and collaborative insight to this helpful resource. The LSAC, also known as Law School Admission Council, guides the application process for many law school applicants each year. Aiming to present to first, second, and third years with the admissions process still ahead of them, this presentation helped students understand how to navigate their abundance of resources.
Finally, to close out the event at 3:30 p.m., there was a Mock Admissions Review. This meeting was the perfect way to tie the knowledge that the students were able to pick up into one tangible piece: the application. The variety of very knowledgeable college representatives were able to give their two cents into what a student should be putting on their application. Although all schools are different, there were many common themes for what the representatives had suggested about what to include on an application, and how to present it in a cohesive way. Representatives talked about resumes, letters of recommendation, and different items that should and should not be included. They gave tips about personal statements and how to make sure an application tells one cohesive story.
I think the 24 hours of pre-law event that Ohio State puts on annually is an amazing representation of how Ohio State cares for their students. Since starting my time here at OSU, I have felt nothing but supported, especially by the pre-law faculty that I work with. Being such a big school, I can see how concerns may rise for prospective students about how much attention and one on one care every student is able to receive. In my experience, as long as you are active in seeking out the opportunities and asking for help when you need it, Ohio State has the resources and faculty to support you. Overall, I am very thankful that I got the opportunity to attend the 24 Hours of Pre-Law Event here at Ohio State.