Voice!

Thinking back to when I was applying to college, I remember how hectic it was to get all my applications done, take all the necessary tests, get my letters of recommendation, write my personal statement, and still be a student. Going to a large high school, my guidance counselor was the least bit helpful in helping me navigate the college process. Needless to say, after I finally finished I didn’t want to think about having to do that all over again. However, it’s senior year now, and with the dream of going to law school, I’m right back at that point, only with a whole office of people by my side.

I just got back from taking a FREE practice LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) courtesy of Wesleyan’s Career Resource Center. The Career Resource Center(CRC) has been such an instrumental force in my time here at Wesleyan. From the moment you step foot onto this campus and well beyond graduating from Wesleyan, the CRC is there to help you look for possible internships, grants, and fellowships, as well as help you craft your resume and cover letters.

Coming to Wesleyan, I always knew that I wanted to be a lawyer but didn’t want to spend my undergraduate years taking classes specifically geared towards law or the legal system (I’ll have a full 3 yrs in law school to do that). However, I did want to be at a school that would still offer the support I needed to be on a law school tract and be there when it was time to start applying. Wesleyan has a pre-law advisor, Jim Kubat, who meets with students to help them precisely with that. (There is also a pre-med advisor at Wesleyan.) Through one-on-ones, as early as freshman year, Mr.Kubat will sit down with students to review what needs to be done at each stage of the process, as well as prep for the LSAT, the application process, letters of recommendation, personal statements, etc.

Because of my high school experience, with guidance, I paid close attention to the career centers at schools to which I was applying, and implore you to do the same. The CRC, is not only just about job placement after college, but also plays an important part in your undergraduate learning experience. For example, I know people who have applied for fellowships through the CRC to travel during their summer to do research or volunteer work. All of this can add to the richness of your learning experience at Wesleyan.

Just to give you one final example of how helpful the CRC can be, below is a list of a couple of the information sessions that the CRC has coordinated for the next two weeks:

• Fordham U & Roger Williams U, Monday 9/17
• Georgetown Law Center (video conference with dean of admissions), Tuesday 9/18
• Benjamin Cordozo, Northeastern U, Wednesday 9/20
• American U, Boston College, Wednesday 9/20
• Cornell, Duke, NYU, Stanford, Tuesday 9/26
• Yale Law, Thursday 9/28

Those are examples geared toward law, but I guarantee there is a long list of events geared toward other arenas. You’re welcome to check them out at the CRC website.

Good Luck with the college process!!

LaShawn Springer ‘08
Senior Interviewer