Accepted Students' Day Recap
Last Saturday was Accepted Student's Day at Drexel Law.
It wasn't quite what I expected. Most of it was geared toward students who'd been accepted, but hadn't decided to attend. Since I only applied to Drexel, and I'd sent in my Intent To Enroll form and deposit the previous Wednesday, I felt a little superfluous. Still, I love free food, and I did get some interesting information that made me feel good about the choice.
There was some confusion among the event staff while we were checking in, and it seemed to linger throughout most of the day. It was pretty obvious that they'd never done this before. I heard folks involved with running things use the phrase "I'm not sure" more times than I cared to count. Still, most of it came together fairly well, and I'm confident that they'll iron out some of the kinks the next time they do this. Next weekend.
It started off with the Inaugural Scholar's brunch, which (based on the name) I was expecting to be reserved for people who'd been awarded the Inaugural Scholarship. Judging from the size of the crowd, I'd say that it either wasn't so exclusive, or the scholarship requirements weren't terribly stringent.
The food was mostly tasty; the eggs were good, the bacon was great, and the fresh fruit was yummy, despite my guilt about off-season produce. The hash browns/home fries concoction was an insult to the noble potato. The single-serving, foil-topped fruit juice cups were a potential disaster, but I managed to open two of them without any spillage. Maybe I am smart enough for law school.
I got to meet a "real lawyer," and chat with Drexel's Lead Counsel, who's been a driving force behind getting the school of the ground.
The Chairman of Drexel's Board Of Trustees talked in circles for approximately a year and a half. I'm fairly certain that the point of his speech was "look how many words I know!"
A former head of the American Bar Association talked about the history and future of the practice of law, and ended with a joke about cutting his movie producer son out of the will. It made me slightly uncomfortable, because he looked like a will might be an issue for his family in the not-too-distant future. After his speech, he gave me a pamphlet on Francis Scott Key, which I have yet to read. Maybe on the train one of these mornings.
A judge from the U.S. District Court in Delaware (Hi... I'm in... Delaware) looked at me skeptically when I said I didn't want to get rich as a lawyer.
I met a guy named David, who was kind of somber and intense, but nice, so I wound up hanging out with him for most of the day. He works for the University, and he wants to go into Higher Education Law. I was nearly hypnotized by his long, full, luxurious beard.
David and I got to have a nice talk with Assistant Dean of Academic Services. She told us a great story about getting singled out by a professor on her first day of law classes because she was wearing a Sex Pistols t-shirt and had a pink streak in her hair. From there, she and David went off on a tangent about music, which gave me flashbacks of my old apartment in Glassboro.
After the brunch, we were herded across the courtyard to the business building, where we had to check in again for the rest of the event. We got a little goody bag containing a desk clock, planner, pen, bumper sticker and some tourist brochures aimed at prospective students who weren't from the area.
Also, inexplicably, there were two fortune cookies in the bag. I haven't opened them yet, but I'm betting they say something pithy yet insightful about higher education. "Confucius say, 'student who go to Drexel Law learn to stop making vaguely racist jokes about long-dead philosophers.'"
After checking in again, we were directed to a table of snacks. They included soft pretzels and Tastykakes, in a blatant ploy to appeal to the inner tourist in all of us. "Look, salt and sugar that are regionally identifiable!" Unfortunately, I am a sucker for soft pretzels (with mustard *drool*) and Butterscotch Krimpets. Still, I was aware that I was being exploited, and that's almost the same as resisting, right?
Next up, we skipped merrily to the next building over for a Q&A session with the members of the inaugural faculty. They all seem really interesting and competent, and dedicated to the project. It was really insightful to listen to them talk about giving up tenured positions at other schools to be a part of this new venture. I'm doing something similar, leaving a secure job to strike out on a big, scary jaunt, so it was good to hear them address that anxiety. It adds a layer of empathy and camaraderie betwixt professor and student that wouldn't be possible in a more established school.
After that, we had an information session about Financial Aid, and another called How To Succeed In Law School, which was run by the Dean Of The Pink Hair. Somehow, the guy who works for the school didn't realize we were supposed to go back to the other building for these, but when the start time passed and no one else was there, I checked the agenda and discovered our mistake. Luckily, we made it in time.
, Next, we went back downstairs for a sample class. A member of the inaugural faculty, who could be flyinglobster's older brother, taught for 45 minutes on Statutory Analysis. It sounds like learning statistics with an underage girl, but it actually means interpreting the language of a law, and it was pretty interesting. If my actual classes are half as engaging as that one, paying attention will be a breeze.
, meet
drcttotheleft joined me for the next event, which was, without doubt, the lowlight of the day. We took a bus tour, first of the campus, then of some of the city. Our tour guide quite obviously didn't know what she was doing, and didn't care to do it. Her most fascinating insight by far was that, if we went to the stores on Chestnut street, it would be possible to buy things. She pointed out a 7-11, but failed to mention the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall.
The up side of the tour was that the bus dropped us off at the National Liberty Museum, which hosted the reception that wrapped up the day. There was a lot of good munchie food, free beer, some interesting displays, free beer, a chance to talk to most of the faculty, free beer, and free beer. Governor Rendell gave a speech, during which the song "Ramblin' Man" would not leave my head. Afterward, drcttotheleft got her picture taken with him. I think I was in it too. Then there was a speech by Judge Ida Chen of the Court Of Common Pleas. Calling her "intense" would be like describing Antarctica as "nippy."
It was interesting, and there was free beer, and I really enjoyed talking to the faculty. We stopped at Cosi for hot drinks and a pizza on the way to the train, and then went home. We got to our apartment around 9:30 pm.
Like I said, a long day, but it made me feel really confident about my decision. Plus I got a Drexel Law sweatshirt that is both comfortable and stylish. I'm really looking forward to August.
It wasn't quite what I expected. Most of it was geared toward students who'd been accepted, but hadn't decided to attend. Since I only applied to Drexel, and I'd sent in my Intent To Enroll form and deposit the previous Wednesday, I felt a little superfluous. Still, I love free food, and I did get some interesting information that made me feel good about the choice.
There was some confusion among the event staff while we were checking in, and it seemed to linger throughout most of the day. It was pretty obvious that they'd never done this before. I heard folks involved with running things use the phrase "I'm not sure" more times than I cared to count. Still, most of it came together fairly well, and I'm confident that they'll iron out some of the kinks the next time they do this. Next weekend.
It started off with the Inaugural Scholar's brunch, which (based on the name) I was expecting to be reserved for people who'd been awarded the Inaugural Scholarship. Judging from the size of the crowd, I'd say that it either wasn't so exclusive, or the scholarship requirements weren't terribly stringent.
The food was mostly tasty; the eggs were good, the bacon was great, and the fresh fruit was yummy, despite my guilt about off-season produce. The hash browns/home fries concoction was an insult to the noble potato. The single-serving, foil-topped fruit juice cups were a potential disaster, but I managed to open two of them without any spillage. Maybe I am smart enough for law school.
I got to meet a "real lawyer," and chat with Drexel's Lead Counsel, who's been a driving force behind getting the school of the ground.
The Chairman of Drexel's Board Of Trustees talked in circles for approximately a year and a half. I'm fairly certain that the point of his speech was "look how many words I know!"
A former head of the American Bar Association talked about the history and future of the practice of law, and ended with a joke about cutting his movie producer son out of the will. It made me slightly uncomfortable, because he looked like a will might be an issue for his family in the not-too-distant future. After his speech, he gave me a pamphlet on Francis Scott Key, which I have yet to read. Maybe on the train one of these mornings.
A judge from the U.S. District Court in Delaware (Hi... I'm in... Delaware) looked at me skeptically when I said I didn't want to get rich as a lawyer.
I met a guy named David, who was kind of somber and intense, but nice, so I wound up hanging out with him for most of the day. He works for the University, and he wants to go into Higher Education Law. I was nearly hypnotized by his long, full, luxurious beard.
David and I got to have a nice talk with Assistant Dean of Academic Services. She told us a great story about getting singled out by a professor on her first day of law classes because she was wearing a Sex Pistols t-shirt and had a pink streak in her hair. From there, she and David went off on a tangent about music, which gave me flashbacks of my old apartment in Glassboro.
After the brunch, we were herded across the courtyard to the business building, where we had to check in again for the rest of the event. We got a little goody bag containing a desk clock, planner, pen, bumper sticker and some tourist brochures aimed at prospective students who weren't from the area.
Also, inexplicably, there were two fortune cookies in the bag. I haven't opened them yet, but I'm betting they say something pithy yet insightful about higher education. "Confucius say, 'student who go to Drexel Law learn to stop making vaguely racist jokes about long-dead philosophers.'"
After checking in again, we were directed to a table of snacks. They included soft pretzels and Tastykakes, in a blatant ploy to appeal to the inner tourist in all of us. "Look, salt and sugar that are regionally identifiable!" Unfortunately, I am a sucker for soft pretzels (with mustard *drool*) and Butterscotch Krimpets. Still, I was aware that I was being exploited, and that's almost the same as resisting, right?
Next up, we skipped merrily to the next building over for a Q&A session with the members of the inaugural faculty. They all seem really interesting and competent, and dedicated to the project. It was really insightful to listen to them talk about giving up tenured positions at other schools to be a part of this new venture. I'm doing something similar, leaving a secure job to strike out on a big, scary jaunt, so it was good to hear them address that anxiety. It adds a layer of empathy and camaraderie betwixt professor and student that wouldn't be possible in a more established school.
After that, we had an information session about Financial Aid, and another called How To Succeed In Law School, which was run by the Dean Of The Pink Hair. Somehow, the guy who works for the school didn't realize we were supposed to go back to the other building for these, but when the start time passed and no one else was there, I checked the agenda and discovered our mistake. Luckily, we made it in time.
, Next, we went back downstairs for a sample class. A member of the inaugural faculty, who could be flyinglobster's older brother, taught for 45 minutes on Statutory Analysis. It sounds like learning statistics with an underage girl, but it actually means interpreting the language of a law, and it was pretty interesting. If my actual classes are half as engaging as that one, paying attention will be a breeze.
, meet
drcttotheleft joined me for the next event, which was, without doubt, the lowlight of the day. We took a bus tour, first of the campus, then of some of the city. Our tour guide quite obviously didn't know what she was doing, and didn't care to do it. Her most fascinating insight by far was that, if we went to the stores on Chestnut street, it would be possible to buy things. She pointed out a 7-11, but failed to mention the Liberty Bell or Independence Hall.
The up side of the tour was that the bus dropped us off at the National Liberty Museum, which hosted the reception that wrapped up the day. There was a lot of good munchie food, free beer, some interesting displays, free beer, a chance to talk to most of the faculty, free beer, and free beer. Governor Rendell gave a speech, during which the song "Ramblin' Man" would not leave my head. Afterward, drcttotheleft got her picture taken with him. I think I was in it too. Then there was a speech by Judge Ida Chen of the Court Of Common Pleas. Calling her "intense" would be like describing Antarctica as "nippy."
It was interesting, and there was free beer, and I really enjoyed talking to the faculty. We stopped at Cosi for hot drinks and a pizza on the way to the train, and then went home. We got to our apartment around 9:30 pm.
Like I said, a long day, but it made me feel really confident about my decision. Plus I got a Drexel Law sweatshirt that is both comfortable and stylish. I'm really looking forward to August.