Temple Law’s Admitted Student Open House is entirely unlike a standard visit, and is a must before making a decision about what law school to attend. Typically, visiting a law school includes a tour, an information session, and a classroom observation. An Admitted Student Open House gives you what a standard visit can’t – the chance to meet and interact with individuals who might end up being your future classmates, peers, and colleagues. To be honest, Temple’s Open House was my first and last visit to a law school as a prospective student. I woke up that morning unsure of where I wanted to go for law school, but I went to bed feeling 100% sure that Temple was the place for me. I sent in my deposit the next day.
“To say that Dean Epps’ speech moved me would be a massive understatement. I can’t remember exactly what she said that day, but I do remember the way her speech made me feel. She inspired me.”
I’m not sure I can point out a single moment from the day that sealed the deal for me. Rather, I think it was a combination of several factors. My tour guide was humble, down-to-earth, and knowledgeable about the school and its programs. He spoke about what it was like for him to balance work and school as a part-time student. A number of professors spoke to us as an entire group, and although I don’t remember the contents of their speeches, I remember thinking that I wanted to have them as my professors. They were so passionate about their respective fields, about teaching, and about Temple.
At lunch, admitted students were split into small groups and sat in rooms with panels of current students. The eight students in my room were honest, forthcoming, and real. Our group peppered them with questions about financial aid, career services, summer jobs, professors, and the student body. Their answers were helpful, but also candid, which was really refreshing. After lunch, we chose presentations based on areas of study. I chose the Trial Advocacy Session and the Public Interest Session, which were led by extremely knowledgeable faculty members who gave a great overview of the opportunities available to Temple Law students both in and out of the classroom.
The last part of the program was a presentation by Dean Epps, the Dean of the Law School. To say that Dean Epps’ speech moved me would be a massive understatement. I can’t remember exactly what she said that day, but I do remember the way her speech made me feel. She inspired me. I felt confident that I had chosen the right profession, and that I wasn’t crazy for giving up a steady job and paycheck as a high school history teacher to take this giant leap of faith by going back to school. I was relived when I noticed that I wasn’t the only one in the room with tears in their eyes. (Dean Epps continues to inspire. Please see her acceptance speech for the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession’s 2016 Spirit of Excellence Award. You will not be disappointed.)
“At lunch, admitted students were split into small groups and sat in rooms with panels of current students. Our group peppered them with questions about financial aid, career services, summer jobs, professors, and the student body. Their answers were helpful, but also candid, which was really refreshing.”
For me, a school that could make me think and feel like I had that day was where I wanted to be. The fact that I walked away feeling the way I did is less surprising now to me as a third-year student than it was then. Temple Law School has surpassed every expectation I ever had for what my law school education would entail. I enrolled hoping to get a great education and a job in the legal profession; I am leaving with those things in addition to relationships with peers and professors that are second to none.
Open Houses are a window into a law school, its culture, its professors, and its students. It is an opportunity to see what law school might entail for you, and an opportunity that any admitted student should take advantage of.
