The law school application process is incredibly stressful. It takes a lot of time to prepare, so taking a year off is helpful. I currently work at the Department of Correction in Commissioner Schriro’s office. I had applied to the New York City Urban Fellows Program before graduating so that I could get some “real world” experience before going to law school. I feel like I’ve gained invaluable experience throughout my fellowship, and I can confidently say I am certain of my interest in the law.

I am very happy with my decision to take a year off. I was able to focus on making my application flawless: getting more experience for my resume, fine-tuning my personal statement, getting my recommendation letters and transcripts submitted, and actually filling out the applications. I knew I wanted to attend law school by my sophomore year at John Jay, so I chose the best major for me, English, and worked hard. I also spoke to any and every knowledgeable person about law school: professors, the pre-law institute, current lawyers and 1L, 2L and 3L students. It was important for me to have mentors, because I am the first person in my family to attend professional school.

I applied to twelve law schools: six in New York State and the remaining six spread between Michigan, Washington DC, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Thus far I’ve been rejected from three schools and accepted to four with scholarships ranging from $10,000 to full tuition. (Fun Fact: I’ve been accepted to a lot of out-of state schools and rejected from New York schools.)

Columbia, Brooklyn Law and the University of Michigan may have rejected me, but DePaul, Howard, Northeastern, and Michigan State have all sent me acceptance letters with attractive scholarship offers. And that's not counting Cardozo, Fordham, Cornell, St. John's and Temple – decisions are pending at those schools.

I am very happy with where I am right now. At times everything seems surreal, because my dreams are coming true. I worked so hard throughout college while raising my daughter and building my family. It feels great to see my hard work pay off.

Looking ahead, my plans are to pack up my family and leave New York to attend law school. I am looking forward to getting a fresh start. I’ve lived in New York for 23 years, and I feel like it’s time for change. I am looking forward to my first day of class as a 1L. On that day I will say, "I have officially arrived."

Advice for Law School Hopefuls
Here's what I'd say to other students: First, STUDY HARD FOR THE LSAT!!!!!! Try to take a class and study over the summer into the fall and then take the October exam. This allows you to focus on your coursework during the semester (and keep those grades up) without trying to also find time to study for the LSAT. It takes a lot of time and dedication to succeed. Second, utilize your peers who are also applying. It is a great networking opportunity, and you can build your own little support system. Lastly, do your research. Go to the pre-law institute and talk to Ms. Holness, she can answer just about any question.

Overall, the John Jay English major has prepared me immensely for the work I am doing now at the Department of Correction. Thanks to Professors Dreisinger, Gray, Pease, Escher, Gibson, Carbonell, Davenport, Mills, DeLucia, Heiman, Hendrick and Yukins. I feel extremely prepared to take on the world. The English major helped me hone my critical thinking, analytical, writing, and presentation skills. It also taught me a mantra, "Always EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!"

I am still working on that skill. And probably always will.

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Chad Infante

After deciding to go to grad school to get a Ph.D in literature, Chad Infante applied to no less than 13 doctoral programs. "As an international student, I had to cast a wide net and apply to a whole range of schools," he explains.

There was one criterion that all the schools had to meet: they had to have a diverse enough faculty. Chad's critical interests center on the literature of cross-cultural conversation—that is, writing that gets at what happens when different groups of people attempt to draw each other into dialogue. In his graduate research, he plans to specialize in the study of what he terms "minority conversations" –whether to "build coalitions or resist hegemony or hash out their differences.” He knew that he would need to study in a department that included scholars that focused on a wide diversity of cultures and traditions, including Native American Literature, African-American Literature, Women's Studies and Latino studies, among others.

"When I was taking undergraduate courses, one of my main interests was Native American Literature, so my top choices are programs that have Native American scholars on the faculty." But, he says, that was "only 5 of the 13 I applied to." He selected other programs based on whether it seemed like there was a commitment to diversity and minority literatures.

How did he decide on his list of schools, which include Columbia, Emory, Duke, Brown, Northwestern, Oregon, and Vanderbilt? "I used the U.S. News and World Report rankings to get a sense of which schools would be good to apply to, but then I painstakingly went to each school's department website and looked at the faculty and their research interests." Only after he'd researched schools did he start to write his letter of intent.

Chad took a year "off" from school after graduating last May, but, he reports, "I really did utilize my time as much as possible," using the summer to prep for the GRE and the fall to work on his application materials. In fact, the planning for grad school began long before he even graduated - something that Chad credits for his success. In the senior seminar on prison literature that he took with Prof. Dreisinger last spring, Chad planned to use the essays that he wrote there for his subsequent law school applications. The writing that he did in her class became the core of what he revised into his writing sample - but only after running it by a half a dozen professors first.

"The hardest part of the process," he said, "was figuring out whose advice to take."

It's a process, though, that has yielded remarkable success. Chad applied to some of the most prestigious and competitive graduate programs in the nation, and he's already received multiple acceptances - a number of which come with attractive scholarship packages. While he's still waiting to hear back from schools like Brown and Columbia, Chad has been accepted into Vanderbilt, Emory, and Northwestern. Even though Northwestern has offered him the most attractive scholarship offer -- free tuition and a substantial stipend for living expenses, guaranteed for five years -- Chad says he's leaning toward Emory, which offered nearly as much money, but which seems like it may be a better place for a student with his interests. The fact that he would have no teaching duties for the first year, and teach only one class per semester thereafter, is also a consideration.

"I'm really in love with Emory. Craig Womack, Abdul JanMohamed and Mark Sanders—they are on the faculty there, and I would love to work with them." Still, he says that "I'm going to Northwestern in early March, and I'm open to it, even though it's not my main choice."

"Really, I couldn't be happier. I've had very supportive friends and family, and the English department has been wonderful. I honestly think it is the best department in the whole school."

"Basically, it was the personal guidance I got [that made the difference.] I remember during my second semester I talked with Professor Pease about a personal problem I was having about my choice of major—my mother was telling me one thing, and I was feeling another. She's been my adviser and confidant ever since. I don't know what I would have done without her and other professors who guided me."

In fact, the most important thing that other grad school hopefuls should do, he says, is "find individuals who will support you." The other key to getting into graduate school is "knowing early." "I know that it is hard for many students because they no idea what they want to do after graduation. But if you can figure it out before junior year, it is so much easier."

"I love the prospects I have for the future." Even though a lot remains up in the air, he says, "I know one thing for sure: once I move I will definitely get a cat or a dog. I will need something to unconditionally love me when I'm in grad school."

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Johanny Santana

I owe a lot to the Pre-Law Institute. Without the help and guidance of Vielka Holness, I would not be in the position that I am in today. Through the Pre - Law Institute, I attended events held by various organizations throughout New York City. You learn about the application process, the common myths about law school, and how to finance your legal education. You also get to meet law school admissions representatives in person, and you learn that the people who read your application aren't impersonal and calculating; they are real and want the students who are admitted to succeed in their school.

I also took John Jay's Pre - Law Boot Camp, which was an informative week-long program that mentally prepared me for the application process. Finally, I attended the LSAT Scholarship Prep Program here. I am extremely grateful that I was chosen for this program because I've heard that programs like Kaplan and Princeton are impersonal and a waste of money. Caroline Nelson was the instructor for that program, and she has forever changed my life with the instruction and guidance she provided for the LSAT. In a nutshell, all of the programs and activities that prepared me for law school were a direct result of my affiliation with the Pre - Law Institute.

When I first came to this school, I was a Criminal Justice Major. The program was great, but I was not satisfied with it. I changed to the English Major as soon as it became available. The Major is responsible for my development as a writer and as an intellectual. I feel that I am prepared for law school because of the courses I took and the professors that taught me in the major. There is really no doubt that the English Major directly prepared me for success: three out of the four letters of recommendation that I sent to law schools are from English professors!

Last fall, I applied to a wide range of schools: Berkeley, Columbia, Fordham, Cornell, Georgetown, Duke, Cardozo, Maryland, Michigan, and Pacific McGeorge, among others. So far, I've gotten into Fordham, Pacific McGeorge and Cardozo, which has also made me a scholarship offer. Berkeley and Columbia did not offer me admission, and I am still waiting to hear from the other schools.

Cardozo is one of many schools that considers your application to the general J.D. program as your application to all scholarship opportunities at the school. The scholarship that I received is called the Nathaniel E. Gates Scholarship. It covers three-fourths of their tuition fees.

I feel like I've finally accomplished something. The best part is that it is on paper. I can always pull out my acceptance letter and say "Aha, I did this!" To know that one law school wants you as their student is amazing, but to know that more than one school wants you is indescribable. This is honestly what it feels like when you know that you have worked hard and have done the right thing all along. I never thought that this could feel so real.

Looking ahead, my short term plans consist of visiting the schools that I have been admitted to. Hopefully as the acceptance letters will continue to roll in - trust me my fingers are crossed - I will be visiting more schools. My long term plans are to do well in law school. I hope to study abroad in my 2L and 3L years. Once I graduate and have practiced law for sometime, I hope to become a judge.

As far as what I'm looking forward to, I would have to say it is the Socratic method of teaching that they use in law school. I can't wait to experience it. I want to learn about the small details that are overlooked, and how these details can change a case. I am also looking forward to meeting new people and studying abroad. It is something that I have always wanted to do. If I do get the chance to study abroad in law school, it is going to be a sweet two-for-one deal.

The ABCs of Law School Applications
To any John Jay students hoping to go to law school, I'd say: Affiliate yourself with the Pre - Law Institute! Once you do that, only good things can come from there. Honestly, you have to be dedicated. Preparing yourself for the LSATs and then applying is not an easy process; it is mentally and physically exhausting, but the rewards are satisfying and worth the trouble. If I had to break it down into steps, though, this is what they would be:

A) Get your family and friends to understand that what your are committing yourself to is important. I sat down with my friends and family, and I explained to them that I was serious about getting into law school. For the next few months they left me alone.

B) Get into a worthwhile LSAT prep program. Once you have found the program that works for you, STUDY like you mean it. Love the LSAT. As Caroline Nelson would say, "The LSAT is like your jealous boyfriend." You need to give it all of your time.

C) Find someone to help you with your personal statement. I was fortunate enough to have Professor Tung and Professor Yukins help me with mine.

D) Send your applications out early. Vielka Holness will tell you to send them out by November 15th, and she is right. When you send your application makes a difference.

E) Last but not least, apply for financial aid. It is an extremely important step.

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