Month: August 2013

Welcome Class of 2017 and Welcome Back Pre-Law Students!

Hello students!  Our first blog posting of the 2013-2014 school year features a quick overview of a few events happening on campus in the next week and a brief update on PLAS.  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!!

Upcoming Campus Events

The semester kicks off this weekend with Quad Day, Sunday, August 25, Noon-4pm.  Quad Day will introduce you to over 500 organizations! Go and learn more about how you can make the most of your time at the University of Illinois and join an organization! (Hint — law schools like to see applicants who are both good students and who are involved in their community). Following Quad Day, head over to the Taste of Nevada at 4:00 p.m. The event promises great food, entertainment, and tours of the Cultural Centers on Nevada Street.

National Center for Supercomputing Students Pushing Innovation (NCSA SPIN)Program Internships — Open House Tuesday, August 27

The University of Illinois’ National Center for Supercomputing (NCSA) is looking for highly motivated, creative Illinois undergraduate students to participate in hands-on research fellowships during the 2013-2014 academic year. The NCSA SPIN (Students Pushing Innovation) program offers paid internships to Illinois students who can contribute to challenging projects alongside the center’s expert staff, or who would like to pursue their own innovative projects with support from NCSA colleagues and mentors.

To learn more about SPIN and collaborative opportunities at NCSA, attend the SPIN Open House from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in the first floor atrium of the NCSA Building (1205 W. Clark St., Urbana). Then formulate a project or define an area of exploration and submit your proposal by Sept. 6.

For more information, go to http://spin.ncsa.illinois.edu/ or contact spin@ncsa.illinois.edu.

Luce Scholars Program — Information Sessions August 28, 29 and 30

The National and International Scholarships Program (NISP) is offering a three-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 28th, NISP will offer an informational overview session, followed on August 29th with an informal discussion with a previous Luce scholar, and ending on August 30th with a workshop designed to help students begin to craft their personal statements.   

The dates and times are as follows. All events will be held in 514 IUB.

August 28th 2:00-3:00-informational session

August 29th 3:30-5:00-Discussion with former Luce Scholar

August 30th 3:30-5:00-Workshop on how to craft a Personal Statement

More information about the Luce can be found here: http://www.topscholars.illinois.edu/prestigious/luce.html

Added 8/26/13  Illinois Trial Team — Informational Meetings August 28 and 29!

Thinking about law school and intrigued by the idea of being a trial attorney? Then this opportunity might be just what you are looking for! The Illinois Trial Team allows undergrads to prepare and perform real trials in real courtrooms in front of real judges and attorneys. This organization serves as a combination for those interested in going to law school, those interested in debate, those interested in theater, and those interested in speech team. No experience is necessary, and all majors are welcome. The Trial Team is holding its informational meetings on Wednesday August 28th and Thursday August 29th at 6:30 at the law school (504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue). Mark your calendars and plan to stop by to see if this is for you!  For more information, go to www.IllinoisTrialTeam.com; Facebook: “Illinois Trial Team”; Twitter:@ILTrialTeam.  Questions? Send your emails to Illinoistrialteam@gmail.com.

PLAS Updates for Fall 2013

1. What’s going on at PLAS? All of our events are listed in our Event Calendar here: http://illinois.edu/calendar/list/2508.  You may also look at the right side of this page for info on events coming up in the next few weeks. Note that some of our workshops have limited seating, like the Pre-Law Orientation sessions, 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 next week  for an overview of the semester’s events!

2. Attend an Orientation. If you are a new pre-law student you’ll definitely want to attend a Pre-Law Orientation, 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. These sessions are all listed in our Event Calendar and you can register there.

3. How do we keep in touch? Blog, Facebook group, email
The best way to keep up with pre-law news is to read this blog and join our Facebook group. We send occasional emails but we don’t want to clog your inbox…so instead, we update this blog and our Facebook page every week.

4. Making an appointment….is easy. Call 333-9669. 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.