Northwestern University School of Law
In October 2007, I was pleasantly surprised with an offer from Northwestern University’s School of Law. Their question: Omar, would you be interested in an airline ticket to visit our campus in Chicago? My answer: Duh!!!
My answer may come as a surprise to those who know that I have already been accepted to six law schools. A common question playfully asked of me by my friends is: “how many law schools can you attend at a time?” The truth is, Northwestern’s offer was more than an offer. It was an offer from a school which is ranked number twelve overall in the nation, and number one in terms of career prospects. Simply put, Northwestern graduates have an easier time getting a job than all Ivey League schools (according to US News & World Report). Hope that puts my “duh” into perspective.
I decided to fly to Chicago on February 3rd (08) for a February 4th interview. My flight was delayed for three hours, but that didn’t bother me: I’m used to flying Air Jamaica, which means my flight needs to be delayed for at least five hours for me to break a sweat. Sorry Ramesh (lol). When I arrived in Chicago, it was raining cats and dogs. It was actually raining rain, but I just felt like saying that. Well it was raining real hard, but you get the point (I hope).
In Chicago, I was placed in the care of a second year student by the name of Brian. He was a down to earth dude with similar interests, so we connected. After talking about sports and girls, I proceeded to get some alcohol induced sleep. I had no intention to drink, but I couldn’t resist the urge to answer a question which had bothered me since I looked in Brian’s refrigerator: Does a Heineken in Chicago taste similar to one from New York? I’m still not certain. What I do know is that six Heinekens will have the same effect in Albany, New Rochelle and Chicago.
Monday morning while walking to the elevator, Brian gave me some disturbing news: we would have to walk through the Playboy building to get to the law school from his apartment. I thought long and hard about this decision (get your minds out of the gutter people), but after five seconds of thinking, I boldly walked through. I was late and it was snowing. Well, it wasn’t really snowing, but snow was on the sidewalk. Not actually on the sidewalk, but there was snow there the night before, so in consideration of that I took the safer route.
At approximately 8:15AM (ok, I wasn’t late) I walked into NU Law’s admissions department. My first interview was with a beautiful third year law student from Brazil. We connected on many levels. Two beautiful people with a love for football (soccer) and an interest in law. We discussed her initial anxieties regarding her marketability as an international student, and she informed me that many firms saw her international status as an advantage. My next interview was with the school’s Dean of financial aid. We discussed my reasons for applying to law school, and he was very impressed with my political awareness. I was pleasantly informed that if Northwestern accepts me, they will give me a loan to cover the difference between scholarships, grants, and the actual cost of law school. My third interview was with the director of diversity management. A young lady of Jamaican parentage, she gave me general advice on what to look for when deciding which law school to attend.
After my interviews, I was a “guest of honor” in a student’s reception. This gave me an opportunity to mingle with NU students, and discuss the pros and cons of attending NU. By 5:00PM, I was reluctantly on my way to the airport, but wound up spending the night in Chicago because my flight was cancelled… Damn you United Airlines!
Thanks to Audra, Tameika, Brian Steven and all who made my experience a pleasant one.
The trip was overall a delightful experience; one which I will not soon forget!!!
Omar, you truly are an extraordinary young man. Tell me when you hear something from NU Law. -Juan
lol i laughed, i cried, i lost 15 pounds. it was a good article bro looking forward to more articles from you
This blog was too long….lol….it was great thou…..& i celebrate with you…
Omar you had me so emotional, your story is truely inspirational. Someday it’s gonna be a best seller, and i am gonna be first in line for your book signing..The sky’s the limit,continue to strive for nothing but the best, cause you deserve it all the best of everything!!!
Omar your blogs are truly an inspiration. Your journey to achieving your goals will not be easy but take comfort in knowing that you are never alone. I look at you and all I can see is greatness. I know you will be successful no question about that. Your success…your journey will inspire others …..I’m proud of your Omar
Jo-Ann Webster
let me say congrat first of all…we can always expect great things from you Omar…keep up the good work and I definitely know all your dreams and goals will be accomplished…u are turely a “man a amoung men”..Excellent article
yow cuz this is andrew from London, big upyourself for what you are doing in tha statetizzle. continue your persuit and make me proud. oyur a star but you know its a family thing.
yow omar how u article start like is a blind date hook up u go a north western fa so? bout “him down to earth, and unuh have similar interests so unuh ‘connected’” lol. is not a joking matter but me nah delve any deeper into dat(pun intended lol). anyway im glad u went and did ur thing and represented to the fullest.we all know they were ‘blown’ away.lol couldnt resist one last cheap shot.u shouldve known better,u walked right into that one blogging like a love struck teenager.:)
Congratulation Omar…you are a star and will be a famous lawyer one day. So proud of you and will miss you at school.
Congratulations*****
As I always say to you, I am very proud of you and while you may not know this I am one of your biggest fan to date. Continue with your reality because these are no longer dreams. Norda.
Omar –
Based on your description of your work at NHT, I was hoping to hear that you were interested in social justice and public interest law, nor in becoming a corporate lawyer/politician. Very disappointed. I am curious about what you expect to do differently from all those in govt and the private sector in Jamaica who currently have the same training and ambitions that you do?
NU has some great faculty. Among the best is Dorothy Roberts. If you decide to go to NU, take a class with her. Look up her work if you don’t know it.
A word of advice: Don’t be so starstruck and caught up with the name and status of the school. That’s a rather naive approach. Besides, names don’t get you jobs; your talent and demonstrated abilities do. NU gives you access to a network, but if you’re a dud, it will become known as well, and you’ll be hustling like everyone else for a clerkship.
Those “loans” the admissions officer will be substantial and a bitch to pay off. Corporate law, crass and boring as it is, will seem very attractive when you get the first set of loan receipts. Don’t fall for that sales pitch crap. Make decisions soundly based on information.
Humility will also serve you well.
Best of luck to you!