University of Baltimore School of Law

Transcription

1 University of Baltimore School of Law THE FANNIE ANGELOS PROGRAM FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE 2016 REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION The Baltimore Scholars and the LSAT Award Programs The Fannie Angelos Program for Academic Excellence is a highly selective program run by the University of Baltimore School of Law that helps find qualified students and alumni at Maryland s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and other select Maryland public colleges and universities (University of Baltimore, Towson University, Salisbury University and the Universities at Shady Grove) and prepares them for law school. The Program has two components, the Baltimore Scholars Program and the LSAT Award Program. HBCU students who meet the requirements may apply for either or both programs. University of Baltimore, Towson University, Salisbury University and the Universities at Shady Grove students who meet the requirements may apply for The LSAT Award Program only. Please read the requirements carefully

2 1 Baltimore Scholars Program- Open to HBCU students Only Baltimore Scholars who complete the program successfully, maintain a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.5 out of 4.0, attain a score of 152 or higher on the LSAT and otherwise qualify for admission to the law school receive a full three-year tuition scholarship to the University of Baltimore School of Law. The Baltimore Scholars Program is open only to Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State, and UMES juniors, seniors, and other students who will be graduating from those HBCUs by Spring Scholars who successfully complete the Program will earn three academic credits towards their undergraduate graduation. Because the requirement for the full tuition scholarship is a GPA of at least 3.5 and a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score of at least 152, applicants must either currently have at least a 3.5 GPA or explain why they expect to have a 3.5 GPA when they graduate. [Note that GPA is cumulative meaning that it is calculated based on grades at every college you have attended, including community colleges and other colleges from which you transferred.] Scholars must register for the June 2016 LSAT by the end of January, 2016 (see 3 below) and must commit to applying to law school for admission by August, The single most critical factor for succeeding in the Scholars Program is having sufficient time to do all that is required. You will need to be available for the entire time period from Sunday, January 10, 2016 through Thursday, January 21, There will be several additional mandatory meetings during the Spring. You also must be free to study full-time from the end of Spring final exams until the June LSAT. Most importantly, the time requirements for the LSAT review course are extremely rigorous. If you cannot put in the hours described in Section 3, please do not apply for this Program. Note: In early November, we will contact the Baltimore Scholar candidates who are finalists for an interview to help us make the final acceptance decision.

3 2 LSAT Award Program Those who qualify for the LSAT Award Program receive an award of $1,399, which will be used to pay almost all of the cost of the Princeton Review LSAT Ultimate course. [Retail price of this course is $1,499]. The award recipient must pay the remaining $100 program fee. The LSAT Award Program is open to Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State, UMES, University of Baltimore, Towson University, Salisbury University and the Universities at Shady Grove students and graduates. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA [Note that GPA is calculated based on grades at every college you have attended, including community colleges and other colleges from which you transferred.] Those with GPA s under 3.0 will be considered in exceptional circumstances. Award recipients must register for the June 2016 LSAT by the end of January 2016 and must commit to applying to law school for admission [with the admission date to be no later than August, 2017]. All participants MUST register for the June LSAT by the end of January, 2015 and send both their registration number and the test site for their exam to lgiles@ubalt.edu. No one will be permitted to attend the Princeton Review LSAT preparation class who has not provided a copy of their registration confirmation The single most important factor for succeeding in the Awards Program is having sufficient time to do all that is required. The time requirements for the LSAT review course are extremely rigorous. If you cannot put in the hours described in Section 3, please do not apply for this Program.

4 3 For both the Baltimore Scholars Program and the LSAT Award Program: Starting in February, you will need to attend EVERY LSAT review class. The classes meet two evenings a week, from 6:15 9:45 PM and take place on the HBCU campuses. For Bowie and Morgan, classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays; for Coppin and UMES, classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additionally, you must take simulated practice tests on six Saturdays during the semester, for 3 ½ hours. Moreover, students need to spend between 15 and 20 additional hours each week doing LSAT preparation on their own. Finally, during the period between the end of your final exams and the June LSAT, you will need to spend 4 to 6 hours each day, six days per week, on LSAT preparation. Class attendance is mandatory. If you miss two classes, or are late for three, you will be asked to leave the Program. Similarly, if you are disruptive in any way, the instructor will ask you to leave the class or the Program itself. Students must set up an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) in order to register for the LSAT and sign up for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). For information about registering for the LSAT, signing up for CAS, and for obtaining a fee waiver, contact LSAC at LSAC.org. The LSAT and the CAS each require a fee. The fee for the LSAT is $175. The CAS is $170. If you feel your financial situation requires a fee waiver, you may apply for one from LSAC.org. The waivers are based on your financial data. Apply for the waiver online. If you intend to apply for a waiver, do so immediately. Waiting for a decision on the waiver will NOT be considered a permissible excuse for not being registered for the LSAT by our deadlines.

5 2016 APPLICATION The Baltimore Scholars and the LSAT Award Programs Application deadline: Baltimore Scholars October 15, 2015 LSAT Award Program November 30, 2015 Please first complete the online information form at: law.ubalt.edu/admissions/diversity/baltimorescholars/applybc.cfm Submit all completed printed application and supplementary materials to: Lenora Giles Fannie Angelos Program for Academic Excellence University of Baltimore School of Law Office of Admissions 1401 N Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland Phone Fax

6 Please type or print Name: Current mailing address: Permanent mailing address: Cell number: Other phone number: Preferred Other Current College/University: Class Status / Graduation Year: / Undergraduate Major: Undergraduate GPA Please list all other colleges or universities you have attended. Include your final GPA for each. You will also need to provide an academic transcript for each institution.

7 Your application must include: 1) An official undergraduate transcript from every undergraduate institution you have attended. 2) A letter of recommendation from a faculty member or employer 3) Your resume 4) Your answers to the Essay Questions 5) Your Spring Schedule of Activities Essay Questions Please answer each of the following questions, paying particular attention to the word limits. Attach to your application. 1) What is your main interest or purpose in pursuing a law degree? (Limit: 100 words) 2) Achieving success on the LSAT, in law school, and in one s professional career, requires what educators call grit. Grit is defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Researchers have identified the following traits as essential components of grit : a. Having a clear goal. b. Having determination despite others doubts. c. Having self-confidence about figuring something out. d. Having humility about knowing a goal doesn t necessarily come easy. e. Having persistence despite fear. f. Having patience notwithstanding the small stuff that obscures the path. g. Having flexibility in the face of roadblocks. h. Having a capacity for human connection and collaboration. i. Recognizing that accepting help does not equate to weakness. j. Having focus and appreciation of each step in the journey. k. Having an appreciation of other people s grit. Please write an essay concerning a goal you have set or a project on which you have worked that demonstrates one or more of these traits. (Limit: 300 words) 3) Describe some challenges you might face while pursuing your personal goals during the next year and one or two SPECIFIC things that will help you overcome these challenges. (Limit: 100 words) 4) Starting in February, successful applicants will need to be able to attend EVERY LSAT review class. The classes meet two evenings per week, from 6:15 to 9:45PM, and on six Saturdays during the semester, for 3 ½ hours. Moreover, students need to spend between 15 and 20 additional hours each week doing LSAT preparation on their own. Finally, during the period between the end of final exams and the June LSAT, students must spend at least 4 to 6 hours per day, six days a week, on LSAT preparation. Are you prepared to commit to this many hours of pure, honest work? If so, how will you change your current schedule so that you are able to fulfill the time requirements? (Limit: 200 words)

8 Certification [Note: If you answer yes to any of the first three questions, please write a brief statement explaining the relevant circumstances.] Yes No Have you ever been convicted of a crime, other than a minor traffic violation, for which the charges have not been expunged or pardoned? Yes No Have you ever been academically dismissed from or declared ineligible to attend any previous institution, including the University of Baltimore? Yes No Has disciplinary action been initiated or taken against you at any of the institutions you previously attended, including the University of Baltimore? Yes No I affirm that the information on this application, and any additional information I submit related to the admissions process, is complete, accurate and true. Health Insurance Participants in the Program must have health insurance by the start of the Program. If you currently have health insurance, please provide the following information: Insurance Carrier: Insurance ID# or Member ID#: Insurance group #: If you do not have health insurance and you are eligible for Medicaid, you can apply immediately. Alternatively, everyone can apply for health insurance during open enrollment, which begins Nov. 15, For more information on enrollment, you can call the Maryland Consumer Support Center at You must inform us as soon as you get health insurance coverage. Remember, you cannot participate in the Program without health insurance.

9 Spring Schedule of Activities Please prepare a schedule listing EVERY activity or time commitment in which you will be or are likely to be participating. This schedule should include the courses you intend to take and/or work responsibilities, extracurricular activities [both school-related and non-school related], family and social responsibilities [ie: weddings, family obligations, trips, etc.], internships, and any other similar activity. Include both the time you will be in the LSAT Prep classes, and the 15 to 20 additional hours each week doing LSAT preparation on your own. [Remember that during the period between the end of your final exams and the June LSAT, you will need to spend 4 to 6 hours per day, six days per week, on LSAT preparation.] The purpose of this schedule is to ensure that you will have the time to complete the Program successfully [see 2016 Requirements for Applications]. Your schedule should cover the period from February to June, If you do not know your Spring class schedule, say how many credits you plan on taking, the courses you plan on taking, and estimate where your LSAT Prep study time will be. Omission of any significant activity will be considered an Honor Code violation and grounds for expulsion from the Program.