UCONN Law

Law school can be the beginning of something incredibly enlightening. The prospect of attending signifies the attainment of a goal that I set for myself many years ago. Since then, I have seemingly designed my career decisions based on this assumption that I will ultimately end up in law school. The significance of this achievement is perhaps why I am so reluctant on making a hasty decision with regard to where I want to go – there just seems to be so many unanswered questions, as well as questions that may not have crossed my mind yet.

Nevertheless, I visited the University of Connecticut School of Law two weeks prior to their scheduled open house for accepted students this past weekend. In a sense, I wanted to see for myself what the campus felt like on a typical week where the administration has not taken the liberty to beautify the school in an attempt to entice prospective students. Thank goodness my friend was available to show the group around. Otherwise, we may have been left with only the shell of an impression because all the doors to the buildings were locked.

There are so many positive attributes that I can think of in attending the UCONN. For one thing, the school provides a great education at an extremely affordable price. UCONN also yields a solid reputation in the legal community, and it would provide me with equal access to both Boston and New York City after graduation. The campus is almost everything that I desired in a school: gothic architecture, tradition, and a sense of community solidified by a beautiful campus in a wonderful location in West Harford.

Granted, the campus is but a stone’s throw to the ghetto. But the dichotomy between the rich and the poor will serve as an ever lasting reminder of the socio-economic differences – unlike Skidmore, where anything outside of upper middle class was not visible. Most significant of all, though, is that Hartford will be able to provide me with a home away from home. There are so many factors that seemingly guide me away from the prospect of staying in Boston. Quite frankly, staying at home for my three years of law school – a time of self-reflection and the ground works of a fledging career – simply does not warrant the kind of self-growth and reflection that I seek in my current life.

On the other hand, though, I am reluctant to face the social prospect of attending a school away from a major metropolitan area. The diversity of the student body will certainly play an extremely significant role in influencing my decision. What the last two years have taught me - which essentially reaffirmed my previous beliefs – is that I connect much better with minorities – and in particular Asians.

The thought of having to deal with another social bubble during my three years of law school would serve as a huge impediment to my success, as I have come to strongly believe that success in life is determined largely by the people that you meet, and the environment in which you are presented. Therefore, the operative question should be: Should I focus solely on my education in an attempt to further my career afterwards? Or should I take my time in law school as a chance to develop intellectually and socially, where I would look to make life long friends and colleagues after graduation? Which do I value more, and will it be possible for me to obtain these factors in another law school?