Post
by alleycat13 » Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:51 am
Holy Cow.
Where was I when the memo on UCI came out???
So the app deadline is March 1? I assume this means that my file should be complete by then or no - just submitted?
I am already half way done with law school @ a SoCal Tier 4, but after reading UCI's website, I am ready to start all over.
And yes, I know that sounds nuts.
(I'm currently a part time non trad student, it would not postpone my graduation date)
My absolute biggest frustration in law school thus far is the complete disconnect between NECESSARY interdisciplinary studies and the LAW. The relationships between criminal law and psychology, between Biotech/Food & Drug Law and nutrition, between mental health and the legal profession itself (ethics), between TRUE ethics and ALL areas of the law - not to mention the influence of culture/religion on any ONE of the things mentioned above (just to name a few) are sadly overlooked, and devalued as part of legal education as we know it. Among other things. At least that has been my experience thus far.
My mindset - which is "tell me the rules so I know how to break them" does not seem to fit very well @ a tier 4, where creativity, advocacy, passion and no B.S. seem to take a back seat to the conforming of minds (as opposed to the expansion).
Administration at my school, (and others) remain painfully disconnected from students, and students (most) don't even know who administrators are, much less view them as allies invested in their lives or the quality of their education. You are getting phone calls from Deans? Let me assure you, this is NOT a regular/normal/standard occurrence - unless of course you are in leadership.
UCI sounds like a breath of fresh air that has the potential to bridge the gaps between the "standard" law school education and an "ideal" law school experience - and quite possibly (gasp) ACTUALLY inject a group highly competent, MORE than adequately trained, unusually empathetic, well-rounded, bright and creative graduates into a field that is SORELY in need of it.
THAT'S some trail-blazin' folks.
To me - as idealistic as it sounds - that makes UCI WORTH the risk. (Which I HIGHLY doubt there is much of, since it looks like the ABA is happily contributing marketing efforts to shine a nicely illuminated spotlight on UCI)
I will be calling them first thing in the morning, on my way to my evidence class with a prayer and a pipe dream that it just may NOT be too late for an app and that I stand more than a snowball's chance in hell of gaining admission.
*** and for you "ne'er do wellers" that will inevitably question my gumption or audacity at even remotely entertaining an application to UCI whilst I attend only a 'mere' tier 4 school - our school has had some of the top bar passage rates in the STATE, so you can bet your butt that we are vigorously prepared for bar passage. I started with about 800 classmates. I am ranked with a little over 300 due to attrition rates and transfers. And, once UCI gets the desired number of numbers people offered and admitted, there could, quite possibly be the spots for other 'people that will change the world but didn't do so well on that one little test' - like me.