Pacific Legal Scholars Part 3

Being a Legal Scholar has its perks. Professor Ostberg invites us to her home for dinner parties, we go out to eat, and we get to attend very exclusive law related events.


This is a get together we had in the winter of 2009 for pizza, salad, and soda at a restaurant in Stockton.


The man in the middle is California Supreme Court Justice Ming Chin. He came to speak at Pacific and we were invited to an exclusive reception before the event with the Justice, College of the Pacific Dean Krise, and Provost Gilberton. The lady on the front left is Professor Ostberg!

Pacific Legal Scholars Part 2: In the Scoop

So after you get accepted, you've got a huge decision ahead of you. What school? What state? What kind of people? All kinds of choices. I hope you are given ample opportunity and resources to make the best informed decision you can make for yourself. Let me help you by telling you what to expect as a Legal Scholar here at Pacific.

The program consists of 3 1-unit courses that you take through your tenure at Pacific. You take the first two courses in your first year in the program. It's really low maintenance: 2 hours a week, pass no pass, maybe 30 minutes to an hour of prep before each class. The best part is, Dr. Ostberg teaches the class. For me personally, I believe it is CRUCIAL that you have the opportunity to meet with your adviser regularly, especially in your first year. So I really appreciated the opportunity to have a shared scheduled weekly appointment. Throughout the year, she emphasizes the purpose for having the program requirements so light--FOCUS ON YOUR CORE CLASSES. So much about law school acceptance is based on GPA. We are CONSTANTLY reminded. the program really helps your prioritize your core classes in order to achieve that GPA.

Although the class requirement is low maintenance, being in the program is still a commitment. You must attend class every week. The classes are jam packed with important information that WILL influence your decision to apply for law school. There are also guest speakers, especially toward the end, who sometimes come unannounced. Missing these guest speakers will not only mean you miss out on solid, practical advice, but it also shows a lack of respect for the efforts that go into the program. In addition to class, there are various events that the Legal Scholars are encouraged to go to. We DO receive special treatment. Just this past Saturday, I was able to go to McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and see Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy deliver the Constitution Day Address. Which, by the way, was a sold out event. McGeorge kicked out some of their own law students so we could have seats. Now, passing up opportunities like those would be insulting to the program. These events, though exciting and high-press, do take up the entire day-especially when they're on the weekends.

All in all, though, it's to help you. I come out of every class, every event, every commitment being a Legal Scholar requires me to go to with so much of a better understanding of why I want to go to law school. It is a huge privilege to a part of a group that is so carefully cared for and looked after. They know we're worth it. We must be good investments.

To be invested in so I can invest back,
Joanne

Pacific Legal Scholars Part 1: Who can be a Legal Scholar?

Happy middle of the week!
After Wednesday the week just seems to sail right through to the weekend. But I hope you get the chance to make the most out the rest of the week. Hang on to the moments while they're still here!

I wanted to tell you about the pre-law program we have here at Pacific called Pacific Legal Scholars. In order to do so, I be blogging in series. There is just too much to tell you! I'm currently in this program, and am LOVING it. I was hesitant to pursue my BA degree with a commitment to a specific program, but the way Dr. Cynthia Ostberg has designed the program makes it so easy to manage.

Based on your qualifications, as a student applying for your first year at Pacific, you can be a part of the accelerated 3+3 program (3 years undergraduate studies, 3 years at McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento) or the more traditional 4+3 program. If you have higher than a freshman standing, you still qualify for the 4+3 program! (See http://web.pacific.edu/x14917.xml for admission requirements).

The application process is straight forward. Once you check Pacific Legal Scholars on your application to attend the University of the Pacific, your application will be forwarded to Dr. Ostberg and a committee for further consideration. They look for if you will be a good match for the program and the students in it. It's not just about numbers. So in order to further supplement your application, if called back, you will be called onto campus for an interview. Don't be scared! While it is a formal interview, we truly want you to just be yourself! Show us your best parts, and the parts you've learned from. More than being the "perfect student" the program is looking for real life students who have some real life experiences. After that, you wait.

Finally, you get that letter! "I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to the University of the Pacific in the Pacific Legal Scholars program." Silly, my invitation to the welcome party at Dr. Ostberg's came before my acceptance letter. You can imagine, I was a wreck for 3 days until the actual acceptance letter came. "Am I in? am I not? Can I get my hopes up?" Hahaha.

Once you decide to come to Pacific as a Legal Scholar, you'll find that your course work isn't much different from other students in your major. YOUR MAJOR IS NOT PRE-LAW. That's what I love. Dr. Ostberg has designed the program so that you can do WELL in the courses you LOVE. So don't choose to be an English major or a Political Science major because that's what everyone who wants to go to law school does. Do what you love. And if you don't know what you love, I hope you find it here.

All in all, be true to yourself. Don't keep yourself from sharing with us those life experiences that have taught you what you believe in because you think it's not the "right answer." Any and all answers are wrong if it's not really from YOU. So share yourself. You're a beautiful creation with plenty to do so.

Keep living life and talking about it,
Joanne Min

Years of Memories

Hi Everyone!

My name is Jhermaine Mislang and I am currently a senior at the University of the Pacific. My major is International Business and I am minoring in Japanese. I just returned from studying abroad last semester in Japan. It was everything I thought it would be and more.

The Eberhardt School of Business here at Pacific is a great place to study business. Our building is small and comfortable, easy to navigate. The professors here are wonderful and actually get to know more about you than just your name. Professors here at Pacific want you to achieve any goals that you have set for yourself and will help you get to where you want to be. They are easily approachable and are open to any questions that you might have. The professors here at Pacific are what make it enjoyable to learn.

Overall, I believe that the business school here at Pacific is a good learning environment and a great place to make great friends. I know that you will make many friends here at Pacific if you come! I have made tons of wonderful memories while at Pacific and I know that I will make many more during my senior year. There are so many events on campus and tons of clubs to join, so it is not hard to find something that interests you. I am not originally from the Stockton-area so when I first came to Pacific I had no friends at first, but I found out that it is not such a hard thing to do here. I know that if you come to Pacific, you will have years of memories to look back on also.

Come and check out Eberhardt School of Business here at the University of the Pacific as one of your choices for studying business! The career center here at Pacific has many opportunities for internships and interviews with well known companies. One thing I find great about our school is the event called "Meet the Firms," where representatives from different companies, such as Clorox and State Departments, come to talk about potential job offerings within their company.

Come take advantage of all the opportunities and advantages that the University of the Pacific can offer you!

Hope to see you here soon,

Jhermaine Mislang

Home

It's been about two weeks since school has begun and I have moved into the residence halls at school, but I still cannot forget what I was greeted with upon my arrival: a box. The room was stark white, with nothing but a few pieces of furniture. Immediately, I wanted to drop my bags and go home. Airplane, train, car, even by foot--I would have taken any of those ways to go back.

But how fast that feeling goes away. My roommate comes screaming down the hall to tackle me with a hug. My friend comes with his car ready to take me to retrieve my stuff from storage. And slowly, with each box of stuff I opened and put away, I rebuilt my home.

I know that as a first year student at Pacific or a international student you may not have had the luxury of having a roommate as excited as mine to see you, or a friend as eager as mine to help you get settled in. But my hope for you is that you will find these people--that you will be able to return to where you were before arriving at Pacific and be able to say, "Hey, I left a little bit of me at Pacific. I miss it."

With that, welcome to Pacific. I wish for you dearly to accomplish all the goals and ambitions you came with. I encourage you to reflect deeply and write things down (even the things you'll be embarrassed to read 5, 10, 15 years down the line.) Then you will see your growth and development, and know that your time here was well spent--however long that time may be for you.

A room is just a room. A house is just a building. It's the people, the feelings, the things shared within that place that creates home.

Looking ahead to creating a new home,
Joanne Min