Summer Starter Program

Frequently Asked Questions >>

How has the Summer Starter Program benefited your overall experience thus far?

"I cannot even begin to explain what an advantage the summer starter program is for students. By the time the rest of the class gets to campus, you already have confidence to speak up in class, you know what exams will be like, you have a relationship with professors, and you have made a ton of great friends who will support you through the rest of law school. It is also fantastic preparation for the time management that you need to succeed in law school."
—Jennifer Kinsely, 2L

"The faculty members at ONU are awesome. They have a genuine interest in helping students succeed in the Summer Starter Program, and they are always willing and available to provide out-of-class assistance. The weekly one-on-one exam reviews with my professors during the program were so helpful as they took time to address my personal needs."
—Oyesanmi Alonge, 2L

"The Summer Starter Program was an awesome experience. It taught me how to study and prepare for a law school exams which I think is critical to any law student. However, the relationships I made with my fellow classmates during the summer was the biggest benefit from the summer program because it was where I was able to establish relationships with fellow students who support my academic and personal growth."
—Zachary Brumfield, 2L

"If I could do it all over again I would not change a thing about my experience in the Summer Starter Program. Not only did I gain valuable insight on how to begin to study the law, but I also made close friends who have been able to help me wade through the rigors of law school."
—Ian Evans, 2L

"The faculty at ONU remind me very much of the faculty from my small undergrad college. They go above and beyond to help you succeed. I personally have had an experience with a faculty member that made me think, 'This is exactly why I chose ONU.'”
—Kayla Kieszek, 2L

Summer Starter classes begin May 29, 2013

Mandatory orientation on May 28, 2013

Finals end July 24, 2013

The Summer Starter Program is a unique opportunity for students whose outstanding undergraduate performance indicates probable academic success in graduate school despite disproportionate LSAT scores. This 8 week program, consisting of two first year courses (8 credit hours), provides our students with the one-on-one attention necessary to be successful in law school. From individual weekly meetings with your academic support advisor, to weekly group TA (teaching assistant) sessions, you will learn the needed study skills that will set you apart from those students entering through the fall. Many of our Summer Starter students end up in the top of the calss at the end of their first year. This, in addition to hard work, can be credited to the skills and confidence acquired from completing the Summer Starter Program. Once you have completed the program, you are automatically enrolled into the fall entering class. No reapplying required!

Small classes, individual attention and a greater chance for student participation and class interaction are hallmarks of the Summer Starter program. We believe that students selected for our Summer Starter Program reap the benefits of a “jump start” in their legal education and that their potential for success is unlimited. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.

Achieving Success

Summer Starter students hav more than met our epectations - they have far exceeded them. Academically, they are ranked among the top 10 of each class. The valedictorian of the classes of 2005 and 2008 were Summer Starters.

Summer Starters also serve in leadership roles as members of all three classes at the College of Law. Many are serving on the Editorial Board of Law Review, sitting on the Executive Board of Moot Court and holding executive positions with the Student Bar Association and other student organizations. Summer Starters are landing teaching assistant positions, receiving book awards, competing on national and international moot court teams, and acting as peer mentors. No facet of the law school has gone untouched by the Summer Starter Program.

How to Apply:

Candidates interested in the Summer Starter Program must submit:

1. A standard ONU Law application: Free 2013-14 Application (and all other required documents) - No separate application needed

2. An LSAC CAS report

3. An optional statement of interest

Candidates that qualify for the program based on their application are invited to interview for the program on campus. Applications are accepted until the summer class is filled.

Class preparation, test preparation, and study skills will be addressed in individual weekly sessions with the Director of Academic Support, Professor Nancy P. Sabol. Test results will also be reviewed and analyzed. A heavy emphasis will be placed on providing intensive writing experiences with frequent feedback.

For more information on the Summer Starter Program, contact:

Rachel L. Edwards
Assistant Director of Law Admissions
E-mail: r-edwards.2@onu.edu
Phone: (419) 772-2758