CLEO 2009 Forum

[araiza99]

Has anyone applied??

[markakis]

what on earth is CLEO?

[araiza99]

what on earth is CLEO?

http://www.cleoscholars.com

Who is Eligible to Participate in the CLEO Program?

CLEO assists individuals who have a strong desire to join the legal profession. Many students with low LSAT scores and GPAs would not be admitted to law school without the benefit of CLEO. In order to qualify, applicants must be eligible to attend an ABA-approved law school at the completion of the summer program. While CLEO Summer Institute participants must meet predetermined academic requirements, CLEO recognizes and considers the numerous challenges many of our applicants have overcome in pursuit of their goals.

[ryr102]

I just printed off the application today and will be writing my PS this weekend for CLEO.

What's the difference between a Member School, Supporting Institution and Sustaining Institution?

[wraaaa]

i'll be applying soon. the deadline is 11/30 right?

[araiza99]

I just printed off the application today and will be writing my PS this weekend for CLEO.

What's the difference between a Member School, Supporting Institution and Sustaining Institution?

I think member schools have committed to taking CLEO students who complete the summer program. So Georgetown will take a CLEO student.

Supporting and Sustaining institutions also favor students who complete the CLEO summer program but are not committed.

[araiza99]

i'll be applying soon. the deadline is 11/30 right?

I think the deadline is 2/2/09.

[bonesinger]

im in !

[araiza99]

im in !

Meaning you applied or you got accepted?

[bonesinger]

oh i mean applied, sorry if that was misleading

[TammyG]

Hmmm, this sounds interesting. However, I'm also applying for Teach for America. If I get it, then this summer I'll be in a boot camp. If I'm going to defer, can I do CLEO after Teach for America the summer before I actually matriculate?

[araiza99]

Hmmm, this sounds interesting. However, I'm also applying for Teach for America. If I get it, then this summer I'll be in a boot camp. If I'm going to defer, can I do CLEO after Teach for America the summer before I actually matriculate?

No idea.

[ryr102]

Thanks araiza, that would make sense.

I've read from earlier CLEO posts that some of the schools actually recruit from this program. How does that work?

Do the schools just come to the program and you apply whilst they're there? I mean, it is the summer which would mean some of these schools have probably already filled their roster for the upcoming Fall term. Unless they specifically have reserved a seat (or two) per school for students that successfully complete CLEO.

[Supernova]

How exactly does this work? I looked at the website, but how is this supposed to help you get into a law school? Do the law schools keep seats open in the fall class for CLEO alums? And it says that they supposedly help place you into an ABA-accredited law school, but it just makes it seem like they might be helping you place into any T4 school for instance or are these actually good schools that they are helping you get placed into?

[wraaaa]

i'm not sure how they place their students into law school, but most of the people that do the program are already accepted. it's kind of just a 6 week prep course for law school almost, and it can be close to free if youre low income. a bunch of tls folks did it in 2008. i will be applying before the early deadline but i think ill wait until i find out where the program will be located before making a decision on attending or not.

havent found how u would get help getting into these schools, but this is the list of schools.
http://www.cleoscholars.com/_data/globa ... 9LSDAS.pdf

[araiza99]

i'm not sure how they place their students into law school, but most of the people that do the program are already accepted. it's kind of just a 6 week prep course for law school almost, and it can be close to free if youre low income. a bunch of tls folks did it in 2008. i will be applying before the early deadline but i think ill wait until i find out where the program will be located before making a decision on attending or not.

havent found how u would get help getting into these schools, but this is the list of schools.
http://www.cleoscholars.com/_data/globa ... 9LSDAS.pdf

I agree with most of the comments above. I would not think of this program as a "back-door" to good law schools. Most people are already accepted to the law school before being accepted to CLEO. This is really more for the student to prep for law school. It's a 6-week summer program for about $2,000 for most. In order to get the fee waived you have to be super-broke, like welfare broke.

I applied to this program regardless of what school I attend, simply to get an edge for 1L grades. I think in those 6-weeks, they simulate your first semester/year in law school. When you start law school, you will have already gone through a lot of the course work.

I don't think this program is designed to give you an edge for admissions, but is designed for an edge for 1L grades. If you think you will do fine because you have great LSAT and grades, then you can probably skip this program.

I work for a law firm and the attorney's emphasize how important 1L grades are, so I want to really kick-a*s and want all the prep I can get.

[bonesinger]

i feel the same way, I want to smash my 1L and get stellar grades. I then will try to xfer up from w/e school im in.

[Supernova]

So basically this is kind of like Law Preview, but six weeks instead of one?

[araiza99]

So basically this is kind of like Law Preview, but six weeks instead of one?

It's more than a preview. The program is designed to help URMs graduate law school. They provide the six-week summer program to get the student ready for IL. I think if you complete the program, they give you some scholarship money. They provide support throughout your 3 years to help you graduate. I think at the end they provide you some type of service to prepare you for the bar. Basically, it's some hand-holding before and during law school. The law schools cooperate with the program in ways to ensure the student graduates. I believe CLEO is sponsored by the ABA.

Check out --LinkRemoved--

[edmo247]

Why is it so expensive? I applied because I want the advantages that they offer. Does anybody know anything about the scholarship that fellows of this program receive, and if the scholarship is guaranteed to all students who finish the program? Anyone know?

[araiza99]

Why is it so expensive? I applied because I want the advantages that they offer. Does anybody know anything about the scholarship that fellows of this program receive, and if the scholarship is guaranteed to all students who finish the program? Anyone know?

I think $5k/year, so you get your money back. You pay $2k, lose a summer, and gain $13k. I think for people who finish the program it's a sure thing.

[silver11]

Why is it so expensive? I applied because I want the advantages that they offer. Does anybody know anything about the scholarship that fellows of this program receive, and if the scholarship is guaranteed to all students who finish the program? Anyone know?

I think $5k/year, so you get your money back. You pay $2k, lose a summer, and gain $13k. I think for people who finish the program it's a sure thing.

Do you have a lsn account?

[edmo247]

Si. I have the same name on LSN. I didn't know the scholarship was guaranteed. I'm definitely in!(Not accepted yet though)

[araiza99]

Si. I have the same name on LSN. I didn't know the scholarship was guaranteed. I'm definitely in!(Not accepted yet though)

I didn't say it was guaranteed, just heard some statements made by CLEO reps that completing the program makes you a "fellow" and fellows get scholarships.

[edmo247]

That's good enough for me.