As a 3rd year pre-law student, I feel stressed by the pressure to secure the perfect internship and have my future career plans figured out. I am also a first-generation Latina college student, which brings about its own adversities. I looked for resources at UC Davis to help lighten the unique burdens I faced. In addition, I found pre-law fellowships that may be useful for individuals in the political science/politics field. Here, I share the resources that have helped me that will hopefully help you too!
Resources at UC Davis
At UCD, the Cross-Cultural Center (CCC) offers an inclusive space that I love to study at. The vibe is perfect for studying, since you can tell that everyone around you is motivated to study.
El Centro provides a similar vibe. By being in this center, I feel determined to achieve my goals because I am surrounded by goal-oriented Latinx students. Home is 7 hours away from campus, but I feel supported academically here, whether it was resources such as a blue book for my midterm or their emails checking in to see my progress.
Apart from on-campus centers, I am involved with Davis Pre-Law Society, which is a club tailored to providing resources and connections to those who want to pursue law school in the future. I have been able to make connections with past alumni, allowing me to hear their personal journey and advice on how to succeed in law school.
Pre-Law Resources Outside of UC Davis
Besides resources on my home campus, I have been able to find fellowships tailored to helping underrepresented students thrive in LSAT prep. No matter the type of law you’re considering, these programs are here to assist you through it all. Our own UC Davis School of Law, also known as King Hall, has an outreach program, which provides first-generation students with a better understanding of how law school works. They offer this program during winter and summer, so don’t miss out! Similarly, programs such as the LEAP fellowship provide a lengthy journey alongside you as they help with LSAT prep and law school applications. There are also cool opportunities to do residential programs such as TRIALS at Harvard and NYU!
Every student has a unique college experience, which also means that every student has their individual challenges and lessons learned. Thankfully, with the resources I found throughout my academic journey, I have overcome every obstacle I’ve encountered. Now, even after my time at Davis is coming to an end, I can be confident I will thrive in my future legal journey.