Commentaries

The travel season is coming to a close here at Columbia, but I got to end it on a high note by visiting three great schools in North Carolina: UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, and Davidson.

On Tuesday, November 3, I caught a flight out of JFK bound for Raleigh. As is usually the case at JFK, a long line of planes queued on the runway, but I was much surprised to see us taxi past them and take-off immediately. The pilot announced later that the wife of the tower controller was on our flight, and therefore we had been bumped to the front of the line. While pleased at my luck, I was a little surprised to know that that could have an effect on take-off order.

My first fair was not until Wednesday at the University of North Carolina, so I had some time to spend exploring the area. As I am a bit of a history buff, and since I was staying in Greensboro, I drove out to the site of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, in which 1,900 British troops under Lord Cornwallis suffered a Pyrrhic victory against 4,400 Americans under General Nathanael Greene in the Revolutionary War. This battle was the first in the campaign that led to the eventual British surrender at Yorktown. If that had not happened, Columbia would probably still be called King’s College, and the lawyers we graduate would be called barristers!

I spent three hours at UNC on Wednesday, November 4, and met with many students. All asked great questions about our programs, and many had a mix of excitement and trepidation about the possibility of moving to New York City. I also talked with many underclassmen just beginning the process, and noticed great interest in our international law and social justice programs.

I spent Wednesday night back in Greensboro, watching the Yankees win the World Series. I am not a die hard Yankees fan, having grown up in Maryland during the Cal Ripken era, but I was happy to see them win (although I would have loved a seven game series). My only regret was that I could not be in New York to see it happen. I was in the city when the Giants beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and the whole town came out. We really know how to celebrate when one of our teams wins.

Thursday, November 5, was spent at Wake Forest in the morning and Davidson College in the afternoon. Both schools have lovely campuses, especially on a crisp, clear autumn day like the one on which I visited. Many of the students were interested in Intellectual Property law. Columbia’s stellar Intellectual Property program, with professors like Tim Wu, Scott Hemphill, Clarisa Long, and Jane Ginsburg leading the charge, is constantly on the cutting edge of an exciting area of the law.

A number of students at Davidson wondered if there are barriers to practicing law in their home states after earning a J.D. in New York. The answer is that our students enjoy innumerable opportunities as our private and public career offices leverage an exhaustive network of organizations and alumni to support students pursuing careers throughout the United States and abroad.

Early Friday morning I flew back to New York out of Charlotte. I was happy to return home, but, as the fall foliage of the North Carolina piedmont spread out below me, I found myself already wondering what interesting places I would see and people I would meet when I return to the road next year.

—Nicholas Everdell, Associate Director of Admissions

Proper Texas Guacamole

Working in the Office of Admissions has its perks—we travel to different parts of the country representing Columbia Law School while meeting interesting people who often become our students in the future.  We also have the opportunity to visit new cities we’ve never been to before, and sometimes get to return home.  In my case, home is Texas.

Monday, October 26—University of Texas, Austin:

As a proud Texas Longhorn, I was more than excited to visit my alma mater and see the sights and sounds of Austin.  I flew in on Sunday afternoon and was able to walk around the South Congress area of Austin, which is an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, and people.  It was good to be back.  Monday, the day of the law fair, was rainy and windy, so I was glad I knew the campus and headed to the “Texas Union” where the law schools were setting up.

The students I met at UT were engaging and all had different backgrounds and interests.  Many students were looking to study business and the law, and were interested in learning more about Columbia’s study abroad and dual degree opportunities.  I also talked to students who were interested in human rights and public interest law as well as a group of students who had a strong interest in environmental studies.  Those students were excited to learn about Columbia’s new Center for Climate Change Law and happy to know we have a clinic that focuses on environmental law.  After such a busy day, some old friends and I went to Amy’s Ice Cream, which is a “must” when in Austin.  I had the Pumpkin Ice Cream with graham crackers and chocolate chips—a perfect end to the day.

Tuesday, October 27—Texas A&M, College Station:

Bright and early on Tuesday morning, I took a two-hour scenic drive to College Station, home of Texas A&M and “the Aggies” as they are known.  This was my first time in College Station and I wasn’t sure what to expect—the Longhorns and the Aggies have a long history as “friendly rivals,” so it had never occurred to me to visit while I was in college.  After some trouble finding the parking garage, I managed to find my way to my destination, thanks to the friendly students on campus who pointed me in the right direction.  Many of the students I met were excited about the prospect of moving to a different part of the country for a few years.  I informed them that approximately 20% of students in our new class are from the South.  I also had students who were freshman and sophomores who were getting a head start on the admissions process.  My first experience at A&M was definitely a success.

Wednesday, October 28—Rice University, Houston:

I drove straight to Houston after the Texas A&M Fair on Tuesday, so I could spend some time with my family.  I grew up in Houston and was glad to get the chance to “be home,” if only for a day.  After making it through Houston traffic, I arrived “home” to my mother’s house in southwest Houston.  Dinner that night would be barbecue ribs from Schultz, a local BBQ joint in Rosenberg, Texas where my stepfather works.

The next day, Wednesday, was the Professional Fair at Rice University, which is conveniently located about 20 minutes from my mom’s house. It was a beautiful day, and we had a good turnout of students who all seem to be deep in the process of applying and had questions about fine-tuning their applications.  Some students were contemplating taking some time off before entering law school and wanted to know how we viewed time off as opposed to coming straight from undergrad.  I let them know that at Columbia we stress that people should go to law school whenever they feel ready; whether that happens to be right after college or sometime thereafter is up to the individual.  Typically, about two-thirds of our entering class has some work experience and/or has completed some graduate work.

After the fair, I turned down an opportunity for last-minute Tex-Mex and drove to the airport only to find out that my flight was delayed about three hours.  The upside was the time spent reflecting on my quick trip back to Texas.  All in all, wonderful students in three great cities.

—Jill Nussbaum, Assistant Director of Admissions

As you have no doubt read or heard elsewhere, the personal statement is essential in conveying the qualities you embody that make you an ideal candidate for law school.  This is especially true since, with the volume of applications we receive, it is not logistically possible to provide interviews.

We recognize that different programs may look for different qualities in such a statement, but at Columbia the content is entirely up to you; anything that you believe will express a sense of your background and aptitude for a legal career is fair game.

There is really no formula, and what works for one candidate may not work for another.  Some candidates write about an event that shaped the way they look at life, career, scholarship, etc.  Some discuss what they have learned from major projects undertaken or their enthusiasm for music, science, history, and so on.  Others may have very specific ideas of what they want out of law school and write about those goals.  Based on the variety of statements we receive, it is probable that you will have an entirely different approach from any of these, and if so, we welcome and encourage it.

A good way for some people to start the process is to write down everything that comes to mind as though you were writing for nobody but yourself.  Jot down ideas about moments of great impact to you, accomplishments that fill you with pride, and broad ideas about what drives you to progress in whatever lies ahead.  Once that is done, take a break—for a few minutes, an hour, or even a day.  Then look back over your notes, zero in on the items that still grab you, and use those to organize your piece.

What you can rely on is the fact that how you express yourself will be noticed.  Keep in mind that “personal” does not mean “informal”.  Misspellings, grammatical errors, slang, and lack of discernable structure will make our jobs more difficult—especially in cases of otherwise exceptional applications (remember that good lawyers are detail-oriented).  Do not simply rely on spell-check; proofread, re-read, and edit your work.

While the notion that admissions is a very human process should not surprise you, the fact that real people are carefully reading your statements can easily be forgotten by applicants in the midst of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed.  The individuals on the Selection Committee can relate to your personal statement if you share information honestly and in your own voice.  Try not to agonize over “what the Selection Committee wants to read”; there is no secret checklist of topics.  Write what feels significant to you and your character will come through.

As we begin a new admissions season, we want to announce our newest addition: Commentaries: The Official Admissions Blog of Columbia Law School.  We hope this blog offers you a platform for interaction with the Columbia Law School Admissions team.  What we write about here is meant to shed light on the admissions process, spark conversations, guide you to appropriate resources, and help you to think about your application to law schools over the coming months.

As you explore your options, we invite and encourage you to explore our website. Recently we launched an interactive Curriculum Guide, where you can search and compare our complete roster of classes. Columbia Law School Magazine is online and loaded with stories about our notable students and alumni. The Careers website is a great way to learn about the kinds of support and opportunities available in both public interest and the private sector.

Most importantly, we want to hear from you.  Sign up for a “My Columbia” Law School account and tell us a little about yourselves.  That will help us to keep you informed about upcoming events in your area, as well as updates to areas of study of interest to you. If you have questions, we are here to help; email admissions@law.columbia.edu or call us at 212-854-2670.

Again, this blog is for you, and we encourage an ongoing dialogue.  Check back regularly or subscribe to us via RSS to read about our recruiting experiences and to help demystify the admissions process.

We wish you the best of luck during your law school application process, and very much look forward to hearing from you.

Warmly,

Nkonye Iwerebon
Dean of Admissions