Still working on your personal statement or law school applications? Pre-Law Advising Services will offer appointments over winter break. We’re booked for next week, but we still have appointments available starting January 5. To schedule, call 217-333-9669. (Note that the office will close Dec. 24-Jan. 1.)
Happy holidays, and have a wonderful winter break!
The long wait for the 2014 Internship Newsletter is finally over! Please visit our Compass page to begin combing through the newsletter to find summer opportunities that interest you. If you are a pre-law student, simply log in with your credentials to access the page. If you are not pre-law but would like to access the newsletter, please follow the instructions here. Positions are available throughout Illinois and across the country. Many positions have due dates over break, so we encourage you to begin working on applications as soon as possible.
Remember that winter break is a wonderful time to rest and relax after finals, but it is also a time that you will have fewer obligations. So, use your break to begin planning for summer. By the time February rolls around, it may be too late to secure the summer position you want. Graduating seniors should begin looking for post-graduation jobs, and juniors, sophomores and freshmen should decide how they will spend their summer months.
For those of you who plan on applying to law school in Fall 2015, winter break is a great time to begin preparing for the LSAT. Take a practice LSAT to see where your strengths and weaknesses lie. We have uploaded a complete sample LSAT to Compass (source: LSAC.org) for your convenience, which can be found here. You can never start studying too early! Additionally, this will provide you with some perspective that will help you gauge which LSAT prep company is the best for you at the 2015 LSAT Prep Fair on Thursday, February 5, from 4:00-6:00 pm in Illini Union Room B.
For anyone who has not applied to their prospective schools yet and wishes to start in Fall 2015, FINISH YOUR APPLICATIONS! The time to submit is now!
Enjoy your break and Happy Holidays!
We made it! It’s the last week of the semester before finals. Here’s a roundup of opportunities for this week.
Attention December LSAT Test Takers — Personal Statement Appointment Times
For those of you taking the December LSAT, we wanted to remind you that once the test is over, you should continue working on your personal statement(s). If you want to discuss your personal statements or essays over Winter Break, we strongly recommend that you call the week of Dec. 8 to schedule your appointment. We will have appointments available until Dec. 23 before closing the office for the holidays. We will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2015, and will have limited appointments available until spring semester begins.
PLAS Annual Internship Newsletter — Coming FRIDAY, December 19!
Winter break is the perfect time for undergrads to look for internships. And if you are graduating in May and are still figuring out what to do next year, this is the time to rev up your job search. Our annual Internship Newsletter is a great resource to help you identify resources to find that coveted internship or job! We will announce its posting via the PLAS Blog, Facebook and Twitter, but it will only be accessible through Compass. Don’t forget to check it out!
Campus Events
Office of Undergraduate Research – Spring 2015 Conference Travel Grants
The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) at the University of Illinois is pleased to announce its Spring 2015 competition for conference travel grants to subsidize the presentation of undergraduate research at professional conferences. (Please note, this is for conference travel only; applications for a grant for research travel is a separate application and process.)
Proposals should be submitted at https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/7484726. The deadline for submission is December 11, 2014. In order to apply, students will need to have information on the conference dates and location, evidence that conference participation has been confirmed, estimated expenses, and possible support from mentors and departments.
Please note that Spring 2015 conference travel grants are designed for students to present their research during the Spring 2015 semester.
In addition, these conference travel grants are not designed to cover the entire cost of student participation (some departmental or college contribution is encouraged) nor can the grant be used to cover post conference participation. Questions should be directed to ugresearch@illinois.edu.
Career Center
The Career Center is sponsoring the following workshops. Check their website at www.careercenter.illinois.edu for more details.
Off Campus Scholarship Opportunity
Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative — Application DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015!
A lack of resources to attend costly LSAT preparation classes and to fund expensive admissions applications is a significant factor in hindering the entry of diverse, high-performing college students into law school. The Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative is designed to help address this threshold issue by meeting the specific needs of diverse students seeking to attend law school. Sidley Prelaw Scholars, chosen from college juniors and seniors who demonstrate academic promise and financial need, will receive up to $2,500 to cover tuition in a commercial LSAT preparation course, as well as application fees for as many as seven accredited law schools.
Other critical components of the program include:
• Coaching on how to create compelling law school application;
• Seminar instruction on the structure of the American legal system, as well as an introduction to the substance of the required common law first-year courses; and
• An additional $2,500 in scholarship assistance. Half of the scholarship will be paid after the Scholar has applied to at least five law schools. The other half will be paid after the Scholar attends the above mentioned seminar, commits to a specific law school and notifies Sidley of that law school’s name.
Requirements:
1. Complete and submit the entire application, including a personal statement.
2. Submit the following FOUR documents:
● Copy of most recent FAFSA Student Aid Report;
● Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended;
● Résumé (1 page maximum);
● Signed and completed recommendation form from ONE ACADEMIC reference in a sealed envelope.
***Applications that are not completed in their entirety will not be considered.***
All application materials are due by Friday, January 9, 2015!!
For more information about the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative and TO APPLY, go here: http://www.sidley.com/Eligibility-and-Application-Information/.
Welcome Back!
We hope you all had a relaxing break and enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. With less than two weeks until finals (gasp!), we wanted to give you a head’s up about end of semester events, opportunities (LSAT Prep Resource Contest, Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative) and deadlines.
PLAS Events and Opportunities
2014 LSAT Prep Resource Contest — DEADLINE NOON TOMORROW!!
Are you taking the LSAT in 2015? Here’s your chance to WIN LSAT Prep Resources! Pre-Law Advising Services is pleased to announce our 2014 LSAT Prep Resource Contest. This contest is designed to provide LSAT preparation resources for students demonstrating financial need. Illinois students are eligible to enter by submitting a 500 word essay online here by TOMORROW, Tuesday, December 2 at 12:00 NOON.
Prizes are as follows:
1. Grand Prize – One of two (2) scholarships to a Kaplan LSAT Prep Course*
2. Second Prize – A copy of Tomorrow’s Lawyer, by Richard Susskind, a copy of The Official LSAT SuperPrep, a copy of a Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible*, and a copy of a Powerscore LSAT Reading Comprehension Bible*
3. Third Prize – A copy of Tomorrow’s Lawyer, by Richard Susskind, a copy of The Official LSAT SuperPrep, a copy of a Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible*, and a copy of NextStep Test Prep’s Recent LSATs Explained*
4. Fourth Prize – A copy of The Official LSAT SuperPrep and a copy of a Powerscore LSAT Logic Games Bible*
*Thank you to Kaplan, PowerScore, and NextStep Test Prep for generously donating these resources. Pre-Law Advising Services is not affiliated with any test prep company and does not endorse any particular LSAT preparation method.
Attention December LSAT Test Takers — Personal Statement Appointment Times
For those of you taking the December LSAT, we wanted to remind you that once the test is over, you should continue working on your personal statement(s). If you want to discuss your personal statements or essays over Winter Break, please schedule your appointment by December 23, as our office will be closed from December 24-January 2. We will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2015, and will resume our regular schedule then.
PLAS Annual Internship Newsletter — Coming FRIDAY, December 19!
Winter break is the perfect time for undergrads to look for internships. And if you are graduating in May and are still figuring out what to do next year, this is the time to rev up your job search. Our annual Internship Newsletter is a great resource to help you identify resources to find that coveted internship or job! We will announce its posting via the PLAS Blog, Facebook and Twitter, but it will only be accessible through Compass. Don’t forget to check it out!
Campus Events
Office of Undergraduate Research – Spring 2015 Conference Travel Grants
The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) at the University of Illinois is pleased to announce its Spring 2015 competition for conference travel grants to subsidize the presentation of undergraduate research at professional conferences. (Please note, this is for conference travel only; applications for a grant for research travel is a separate application and process.)
Proposals should be submitted at https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/7484726. The deadline for submission is December 11, 2014. In order to apply, students will need to have information on the conference dates and location, evidence that conference participation has been confirmed, estimated expenses, and possible support from mentors and departments.
Please note that Spring 2015 conference travel grants are designed for students to present their research during the Spring 2015 semester.
In addition, these conference travel grants are not designed to cover the entire cost of student participation (some departmental or college contribution is encouraged) nor can the grant be used to cover post conference participation. Questions should be directed to ugresearch@illinois.edu.
Career Center
The Career Center is sponsoring the following workshops. Check their website at www.careercenter.illinois.edu for more details.
Off Campus Scholarship Opportunity
Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative — Application DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015!
A lack of resources to attend costly LSAT preparation classes and to fund expensive admissions applications is a significant factor in hindering the entry of diverse, high-performing college students into law school. The Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative is designed to help address this threshold issue by meeting the specific needs of diverse students seeking to attend law school. Sidley Prelaw Scholars, chosen from college juniors and seniors who demonstrate academic promise and financial need, will receive up to $2,500 to cover tuition in a commercial LSAT preparation course, as well as application fees for as many as seven accredited law schools.
Other critical components of the program include:
• Coaching on how to create compelling law school application;
• Seminar instruction on the structure of the American legal system, as well as an introduction to the substance of the required common law first-year courses; and
• An additional $2,500 in scholarship assistance. Half of the scholarship will be paid after the Scholar has applied to at least five law schools. The other half will be paid after the Scholar attends the above mentioned seminar, commits to a specific law school and notifies Sidley of that law school’s name.
Requirements:
1. Complete and submit the entire application, including a personal statement.
2. Submit the following FOUR documents:
● Copy of most recent FAFSA Student Aid Report;
● Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended;
● Résumé (1 page maximum);
● Signed and completed recommendation form from ONE ACADEMIC reference in a sealed envelope.
***Applications that are not completed in their entirety will not be considered.***
All application materials are due by Friday, January 9, 2015!!
For more information about the Sidley Prelaw Scholars Initiative and TO APPLY, go here: http://www.sidley.com/Eligibility-and-Application-Information/.