Welcome Class of 2023 and Welcome Back Pre-Law Students!
Hello students! Our first blog post of the 2019-2020 school year features an overview of many of the events happening on campus in the next week. We have also included a brief update on Pre-Law Advising Services (PLAS), including information about our brand new online appointment scheduling system, the Law School Fair on Thursday, October 3 at the ARC, as well as our first two Pre-Law 101 Sessions, set for Monday, September 9 (for Political Science Majors only) and Tuesday, September 17 (open to all students). Scroll down for more on that. We will resume our regular blogging schedule next week. Our postings will include updates on PLAS programs, campus events, internships, and information on a variety of pre-law topics and items of interest so keep checking in!!
Pre-Law Advising Services Updates for Fall 2019
1. What’s going on at PLAS? All of our events are listed in our Event Calendar here: https://calendars.illinois.edu/list/2508 Note that some of our workshops have limited seating, like the Pre-Law 101 sessions, the first two of which are set for Monday, September 9, for Political Science Majors only, and Tuesday, September 17, open to all students, so you’ll want to register for those in advance. We will add a few programs as the semester progresses. Be sure to check our blog September 2 for an overview of the semester’s events!
NOTE: If you look at our Events Calendar you will see that many of our event locations have not yet been identified. Some room locations that have been included could change at any time. This is due to ongoing construction in our building. Please continue to check our PLAS Events Calendar and our posts on Facebook throughout the semester to make sure you know where your workshop is being held!
2. Attend a Pre-Law 101 Workshop. If you are a new pre-law student you’ll definitely want to attend a Pre-Law 101 Workshop, which will answer most of your questions about what it means to be pre-law and how you can maximize your opportunities as an undergrad. Note: as mentioned above, the first two Pre-Law 101 sessions are set for Monday, September 9 and Tuesday, September 17. These sessions are all listed in our Event Calendar and you can register there.
3. How do we keep in touch? Blog, Facebook group, Twitter, email
The best way to keep up with pre-law news is to read this blog and join our Facebook group or follow us on Twitter (@UIUC Pre-Law). We send occasional emails but we don’t want to clog your inbox…so instead, we update this blog, Twitter and our Facebook page at least once a week.
4. Making an appointment… BIG NEWS! We have just launched our brand new online appointment scheduling system! Go here to schedule an appointment with an advisor. And PLEASE be patient if you have any issues with the online process. It will likely take a while to work out all of the kinks with this new system. If you do encounter problems, you can always call our office at 333-9669 to schedule an appointment. Except please, if you’re sick, stay home in your jammies! You can call us at the appointment time if you really need to talk. Otherwise, please reschedule.
5. Want to get our PLAS emails? Just go to lists.illinois.edu, search for “prelaw” and add yourself with your Illinois.edu email address. We typically only send one or two emails per week so that shouldn’t be a concern. And if you change your mind later, you can always remove yourself from the list.
Coming Soon!! Save the date for the Law School Fair! On Thursday, October 3 from 10 am – 2 pm at the ARC! Over 100 law school reps will be here to meet YOU! Click here for more details, including a list of who’s coming.
Upcoming Campus Events
Welcome Days/Welcome Week 2019 — August 24 – August 31, 2019
Quad Day: Sunday, August 25
The fall semester kicks off this weekend with Quad Day, Sunday, August 25, Noon-4pm! Come out for a day of learning about any and every Registered Student Organization on the Illinois campus. Campus offices and local organizations will also be lining the Main Quad for you to get a taste of how diverse the university is and what it has to offer. The Illini Union vendors will be there, along with the Rec Room, so you can see what they are all about! Special performances by the Marching Illini and other RSOs will take place. With over 600 RSOs present, you are bound to find something you are interested in. Remember — law schools like to see applicants who are both good students and who are involved in their community. For more information on the benefits of joining an RSO, check out our recent blog post here.
For more details about Quad Day and other Welcome Week Events, check out the Illini Union webpage: https://union.illinois.edu/see-and-do/events/welcomeweek-2019
Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations
Wake Up Call – Saturday, August 24, 3-4:30 pm
Foellinger Auditorium
Sponsored by 100 Strong and the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center
Paleta Social – Monday August 26th, 6–8 pm
La Casa Cultural Latina, 1203 W. Nevada St., Urbana
After the first day of classes, La Casa holds a social for new students to come and meet other new and returning students, while returning students can catch up with fellow classmates, all while enjoying a paleta/ice cream. It is also an introduction of La Casa to new students in an informal manner.
Women’s Resources Center Open House | Aug 27, 2018 4-7 pm
616 E. Green St., Suite 202, Champaign
Come celebrate a brand new semester with the WRC!
LGBT Resource Center Welcome Back Event – Thursday, August 29th, 4:30–6:00pm
Illini Union 314
Celebrate the start of a new year with food, music, and opportunities to meet LGBT Resource Center staff, LGBT RSOs, campus partners, and more! Come find out how to get involved with and stay connected to LGBTQ life at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign! All students, staff, faculty, and community members including partners are invited.
Welcome Black BBQ! Wednesday, September 4th, 3-5pm
Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center, 1212 W. Nevada St., Urbana
Help us kick off the school year the right way at our annual Welcome Black BBQ! The BBQ is co-sponsored by the Black Faculty and Academic Professional Association. As such, the bbq is an opportunity to connect with old friends, make new ones and to engage with faculty and staff from across the university.
Asiantation – Sunday, September 8th, 4–7pm
SDRP Multipurpose Room (2nd floor) 301 E. Gregory Dr., Champaign
For twenty five years, students have been producing “Asiantation,” a new student-welcoming program and resource handbook to introduce first year students, transfer students, as well as graduate and professional students to the Asian and Asian American campus community and resources. Learn more about AAPI student organizations and see how you can get involved.
Native American House Welcome – Thursday, September 12, 4:30–7 pm
1206 W. Nevada St., Urbana
For more information about the OIIR and their Welcome Back Days events, go here: https://oiir.illinois.edu/events/welcome-back-days-2019.
Other Campus Events and Opportunities
Career Center
The Career Center offers a variety of programs to help you identify career paths through workshops, career fairs and individual meetings. They will have an Open House on Quad Day, August 25, from 1-3pm at their office at 715 S. Wright Street with FREE ice cream, games and prizes! The Career Center schedule resumes next week. Here are some of their upcoming events:
Creating Your Powerful Resume and Cover Letter Workshop – Tuesday, August 27
4-5pm, Career Center Conference Room 143, 715 S. Wright Street
Career Fair Prep Workshop – Wednesday, August 28
5-6pm, Career Center Conference Room 143, 715 S. Wright Street
Information Night for International Students – Friday, August 30
5:30-6:30 pm, Career Center Conference Room 143, 715 S. Wright Street
Illinois Part-time Job Fair 2019 – Tuesday, September 3, 10am-2pm, Illini Union
Looking for a part-time job on campus or in the Champaign-Urbana community? This is the event for you! The Illinois Part-Time Job Fair is open to all students on campus seeking opportunities to make some extra money while completing their academics. Opportunities at this fair are paid positions. Check out the event in Handshake to view a full list of employers attending! https://app.joinhandshake.com/career_fairs/10519/employer_preview
To learn more about resume and cover letter reviews, both online and in person, along with other helpful resources, check out the Career Center’s website here.
Humanities Expo – Thursday, August 29, 11am-1pm, Atrium, Foreign Languages Building, 707 S. Mathews Ave–1st floor and Lucy Ellis Lounge
Sponsored by: Humanities Professional Resource Center, College of LAS
The humanities at Illinois are vibrant. There are many ways to get involved, beyond completing requirements toward your degree. Come to the Humanities Expo and learn about opportunities to build on your academic work, prepare for your future, and grow. This mini-Quad Day for the humanities will take place Thursday, August 29, between 11am and 1pm in the first floor of the Foreign Languages Building.
Luce Scholars Program — Information Sessions August 29 and 30
The National and International Scholarships Program (NISP) is offering a two-day informational event about the Luce Scholars Program. The Luce is a one-year internship in East or Southeast-Asia, and designed specifically for students who do not have much prior experience in that region. Starting August 29th, NISP will offer an informational overview session, featuring an informal discussion with previous Luce Scholars. On August 30th, NISP will host a workshop designed to help students begin to craft their personal statement.
All events will be held in 514 IUB. The dates and times are as follows.
August 29th, 3:30-4:30pm – Informational session and discussion with a former Luce Scholar.
August 30th 3:00-4:00pm – Workshop on how to craft a Luce personal statement.
More information about the Luce can be found here: http://www.topscholars.illinois.edu/luce.
For more information about other NISP events and scholarship deadlines, go here: https://calendars.illinois.edu/list/1826
Illinois in Washington – Information Session – Tuesday, September 10, 5-6pm, Wohlers Hall 141
Illinois in Washington (IIW) is an academic internship program open to all U of I undergraduates. Participants live and intern in Washington, DC, while taking U of I classes. IIW offers an exceptional opportunity to gain rewarding work experience while enjoying the political, intellectual, and cultural experiences that only the nation’s capital can offer. Student internships have included positions with members of Congress, think tanks, social justice organizations, and government agencies. Join us for an unforgettable semester in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Learn more about IIW at our information session on September 10th, and apply to IIW by Oct. 1, 2019, at https://washington.illinois.edu/apply-now/.