Written by Noah Leavitt
On March 17, more than 20 students and a few alumni took the opportunity to learn about the law school application process from a national expert: Senior Dean of Admission for University of Michigan Law School,
Sarah Zearfoss. Dean Zearfoss is the host of the popular and informative A2Z vlog which tackles nearly every question students have about the law school admission process. Dean Zearfoss also blogs frequently here.
Dean Zearfoss started by highlighting that being a Whitman student offers two notable advantages:
#1. Meaningful Recommendations: students are able to build important relationships with professors during their time at Whitman. If you can get to know faculty members, that’s going to be a huge benefit in them being able to notably write about your academic strengths and potential for applications.
#2: Writing workshopping: students receive frequent detailed feedback from their faculty members and have many opportunities to strengthen their writing skills. Since law is a writing-driven profession, students who take the steps to hone their writing skills during college will do better competitively and may receive more opportunities. Dean Zearfoss noted, “What makes me want to admit a student is their writing – the quality and what they’re writing about…”
Dean Zearfoss also spoke about the need for students to carefully consider whether they are likely to have access to the post-law school options that they would like—job type, job location, employer type— and to research which law schools will be able to make those options possible, regardless of the financial aid package the school offers. Her advice? “When you get admitted to a school you should REACH OUT and ask questions.” Talk with financial aid staff in detail about the school’s resources and also any restrictions on aid. Don’t make any assumptions!
During Question and Answer time, Dean Zearfoss shared:
– The biggest mistake she sees in applications? “The tone of the writing. Arrogance. Self-absorption.” Law is a service profession so an “other-focus” is vital.
– When asking a faculty member for a recommendation letter, “ask the professor what would be helpful to them for what they want to write about you.” Be prepared to highlight your areas of strength and talent and interest and create a list of work you have done for them for reference.
– When it comes to the personal statement, “there’s no one formula that works for everyone.” She said that a problem arises when it’s unclear what the applicant wants Dean Zearfoss to understand about them – be clear!
– Finally, Dean Zearfoss encouraged students to always take advantage of an opportunity to submit an additional statement or an addendum if it allows the students to explain something meaningful about their talents, background, extenuating circumstances that affect their transcript, or any other unique part of their life that the admission officer should be attentive to.
Pre-law advisers Professor Jackson and Noah Leavitt attended the event and are available for follow-up conversations if students would find that helpful.
Whitman does not have and does not recommend a formal prelaw major as preparation for law school, believing that no specific series of courses can be considered correct for every student who intends to enter the legal profession. For more information about Whitman’s resources to help students move toward law school and the legal profession, please visit this link.