Chances? 3.88 and 161

[Mia]

Hello! I just entered my fourth year so my cgpa is based on my first three years of study. I am hoping to apply to Osgoode and OttawaU law. Osgoode is my dream school.

In terms of ECs, I have worked at a community legal clinic for two summers full-time (gr. 11 and gr. 12 summers), CBSA for two summers, and just completed a summer term with Indigenous Services Canada supporting FNs with community infrastructure planning. During second year, I was Director of Student Refugee Program for a committee at my university that oversees the sponsorship and settlement of refugee students to campus annually. From third year to now, I have been serving as President. I am also on the executive team of a ethnic student association as VP Communications, and a mentor for students entering my academic program. I also have written socio-political pieces for an online platform through out my university years, each attaining a few thousand views.

I plan on discussing my community legal clinic experience extensively in my personal statement as it was a primary motivator. A majority of the lawyers were Osgoode alumni which prompted my interest in the school.

Any tips would be appreciated in addition to a chance assessment, thank you so much 🙂

[luckycharm]

3 hours ago, Mia said:

Hello! I just entered my fourth year so my cgpa is based on my first three years of study. I am hoping to apply to Osgoode and OttawaU law. Osgoode is my dream school.

In terms of ECs, I have worked at a community legal clinic for two summers full-time (gr. 11 and gr. 12 summers), CBSA for two summers, and just completed a summer term with Indigenous Services Canada supporting FNs with community infrastructure planning. During second year, I was Director of Student Refugee Program for a committee at my university that oversees the sponsorship and settlement of refugee students to campus annually. From third year to now, I have been serving as President. I am also on the executive team of a ethnic student association as VP Communications, and a mentor for students entering my academic program. I also have written socio-political pieces for an online platform through out my university years, each attaining a few thousand views.

I plan on discussing my community legal clinic experience extensively in my personal statement as it was a primary motivator. A majority of the lawyers were Osgoode alumni which prompted my interest in the school.

Any tips would be appreciated in addition to a chance assessment, thank you so much 🙂

is 3.88 per OLSAS converted

[Mia]

1 hour ago, luckycharm said:

is 3.88 per OLSAS converted

yes! 

[luckycharm]

Ottawa for sure

OZ looks good

[CheeseToast]

6 hours ago, Mia said:

I have worked at a community legal clinic for two summers full-time (gr. 11 and gr. 12 summers),

6 hours ago, Mia said:

I plan on discussing my community legal clinic experience extensively in my personal statement as it was a primary motivator.

Not sure I would recommend this. I know at least in the autobiographical sketch portion of the OLSAS application students are explicitly asked not to include anything pre-university. Others may want to weigh in. 
As an aside, your working at the CBSA while simultaneously heading some nebulous committee that assists with “settling refugees on campus” (??) strikes me as humorous and contradictory although I don’t know the capacity in which you worked at the CBSA. 
With that said, I think you’ll be fine for both schools - especially given your stellar GPA and social justice work which Oz looks for supposedly.

Edited September 13, 2021 by CheeseToast

[Mia]

6 minutes ago, CheeseToast said:

Not sure I would recommend this. I know at least in the autobiographical sketch portion of the OLSAS application students are explicitly asked not to include anything pre-university. Others may want to weigh in. 
As an aside, your working at the CBSA while simultaneously heading some nebulous committee that assists with “settling refugees on campus” (??) strikes me as humorous and contradictory although I don’t know the capacity in which you worked at the CBSA. 
With that said, I think you’ll be fine for both schools - especially given your stellar GPA and social justice work which Oz looks for supposedly.

Thank you for your comments! The committee is a local chapter of World University Service of Canada (WUSC). I believe most Canadian universities have a chapter. We use a student levy to privately sponsor refugee students annually to study at Carleton and fund all first year expenses. Essentially, through out their first year in Canada, from the moment the students arrive at the airport, we are responsible for ensuring all their basic needs and well-being is taken care of. 

I worked with CBSA as a student clerk in Postal Operations, so basically completed administrative work to support the seizure of prohibited items (weaponry, child pornography, drugs). I completely understand your point about the contradictory nature of being involved in refugee advocacy and working for CBSA. Especially as my parents are refugees themselves, I did feel uncomfortable. I took the position for the exposure it would provide (I had experience in the non-profit sector but none with government) but ultimately, I realized it definitely was not for me and reinforced my interest in law school lol 

[CheeseToast]

5 hours ago, Mia said:

Thank you for your comments! The committee is a local chapter of World University Service of Canada (WUSC). I believe most Canadian universities have a chapter. We use a student levy to privately sponsor refugee students annually to study at Carleton and fund all first year expenses. Essentially, through out their first year in Canada, from the moment the students arrive at the airport, we are responsible for ensuring all their basic needs and well-being is taken care of. 

I worked with CBSA as a student clerk in Postal Operations, so basically completed administrative work to support the seizure of prohibited items (weaponry, child pornography, drugs). I completely understand your point about the contradictory nature of being involved in refugee advocacy and working for CBSA. Especially as my parents are refugees themselves, I did feel uncomfortable. I took the position for the exposure it would provide (I had experience in the non-profit sector but none with government) but ultimately, I realized it definitely was not for me and reinforced my interest in law school lol 

That is a cool initiative. Your story re: the CBSA and involvement in the aforementioned student group is awesome, and exactly what I would talk about in my PS if I were you.