We’ve scheduled our first two free LSAT workshops for the 2023-2024 school year.
Free LSAT Workshop
Tuesday, September 19 at 6:00-7:30pm, ET Registration: https://www.testmasters.net/workshop/5072
Free LSAT Logic Games Workshop
Thursday, November 16 at 6:00-7:30pm ET
Registration: https://www.testmasters.net/workshop/5079
LAW SCHOOL-BOUND STUDENTS READY FOR THEIR NEXT CHAPTER
Aug 16, 2023 | Alumni, Newsmakers, Profiles, Student Stories
David Checchi and Nicole Dos Santos are two of five CSI Class of 2023 graduates bound for New York Law School in the fall. Here are their amazing stories.
There is a reason why CSI’s graduation ceremonies are referred to as Commencement. The event marks the beginning of the next chapter for CSI’s graduates. That holds true for five dynamic CSI grads who are just days away from beginning their studies at New York Law School. David Checchi, Nicole Dos Santos, Rimshah Gul, Siham Hammoudi-Patout, and Andrew Tawadrous are all proud CSI graduates. All five have received either full or partial scholarships to attend NY Law. Their inspiring stories give all of us at the College of Staten Island hope for a brighter future.
As CSI’s Class of 2023 Valedictorian, some might think that Checchi’s path into law school was a natural fit, but the 26-year old Army veteran said nothing could be further from the truth. “I graduated high school with a 71 average, and I had no real intention of even going to college,” he said. “I ultimately developed the maturity, confidence, and most importantly the desire to pursue my education after enlisting and serving.” Checchi will attend New York Law School with a full tuition scholarship.
It took a global pandemic and a grave car accident for Dos Santos, now forty years old, to ultimately find her way to law. She attended CSI right after high school in 2002, but had to stop and start several times for personal reasons. She ultimately achieved her diploma in Audio Engineering from SAE Institute and from William Esper Studio for Acting. She was interested in law the entire time but always felt law school was out of reach financially. Life continuously got in the way.
“I never once thought to actually pursue law because I just didn’t think it was something I’d ever be able to afford and I had so much personal baggage going on that I wasn’t putting all my focus into my studies so I didn’t think I could achieve the grades needed either,” she said.
Dos Santos’s car accident gave her a change of heart. “It was a serious car wreck. It appeared very much to be my fault but it wasn’t and I had to work hard to prove that. The way I went about it made me realize how good of a lawyer I would’ve been. Several conversations with a friend or two pushed me to pursue this and I enrolled at CSI and chose classes that would help give me a taste of what it would be like to learn this kind of work.”
Dos Santos returned to the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and has since earned a scholarship from New York Law School that will cover almost 85% of her tuition. “It honestly doesn’t even seem real to me,” she said. “I have no lawyers in my circle of family or friends. I never imagined I’d get this opportunity. As for the scholarship, it would be impossible for me to attend without it so I’m incredibly grateful.”
Even after getting his head in the right space for higher education, Checchi still hadn’t discovered his passion for law until taking a PHL 101 course with Prof. Chalmers Clark during his freshman year. “That introductory class was one of my favorite classes that I took at CSI. Philosophy is the art of the argument, the emphasis is on asking questions rather than finding answers, and for someone who had not been in a classroom in several years, that change in focus helped to spark a passion for learning, a passion that only continued to flourish during my time here.”
And so both Checchi and Dos Santos intersected with students like Gul, Hammoudi-Patout, and Tawadrous, who made use of the CSI Legal Studies Institute and made the further pursuit of law a reality. They ultimately found their niches, with Checchi really appreciating classes like BioEthics with Prof. Rob Lovering and PHL 490 with Prof. Barbara Montero, which explored complexities of quantitative analysis as it relates to political science, economics, and philosophy. For Dos Santos, Prof. Adam Silberlight’s class on criminal defendant’s rights helped shine a brighter light on her passion for criminal law and civil litigation, a focus she plans to pursue at New York Law.
“I was out of college for almost 15 years so I had to really get back in the swing of things to learn how to research, do reports, use the computer programs, etc.,” Dos Santos noted. “The classes I chose when I returned to CSI really taught me a lot about things like case briefing, research and analysis, politics, and logic. There were obstacles and challenges for sure, but I couldn’t be prouder of myself for not giving up. It makes me feel that there is nothing I can’t do.”
Although Checchi was less removed from studies, he agreed, noting that CSI did more than just offer a place for study, but a place where he could explore and discover his full potential, saying “CSI gave me the opportunity to develop myself both academically and professionally, all under the guidance and mentorship of many members of the esteemed faculty. I am extremely proud to have been admitted to law school, and I am extremely grateful for having been a student at CSI to help get me there.”
Although it took them some time to get to CSI, Checchi and Dos Santos are quick to note how fast the time at CSI went for them, and so they do have advice to leave to future CSI students, among them those who show an interest in law, as they prepare for their journeys.
“Getting good grades is very important to being admitted to law school and is essential for qualifying for scholarships, but what is more important is exploring a wide range of subjects and choosing a major that interests you,” said Checchi. “Pursuing your interests stimulates a passion for learning, and further motivates and inspires you to pursue academic excellence in whatever you decide to pursue.”
“My advice would be to really make a schedule for yourself and stick to it,” said Dos Santos. “There is so much to learn and it can be overwhelming. If you make a schedule, you’ll be able to tackle everything without burning out. Also, if you’re going to do it, you must put your all into it. Invest in and believe in yourself, and you’ll be proud of the results.”
The College of Staten Island could not be prouder of all of its recent graduates, and wishes our law school group the best of luck at New York Law.
Good Afternoon,
This internship presents an opportunity for both a unique learning experience and an inside look at the political process. Applicants must be hard-working, have strong writing and communication skills and have a demonstrated interest in public policy. While applicants from all backgrounds will be considered, students from New York are strongly encouraged to apply. This internship program is best suited for undergraduate students. Interns in the state offices assist staff with constituent service work, our scheduling team or our press team. Paid internships are available to interns who have been accepted into the internship program and are able to certify financial need and meet eligibility criteria.
https://oampublic.senate.gov/constituent/login/322aae7e-f2dc-443e-8d16-f5d077dea5e1/
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Cohen
Constituent Liaison | Intern Coordinator
CHARLES E. SCHUMER
United States Senate Majority Leader
212-486-4430
Dear Colleagues!
Good news – we added a virtual CLEO ASAP for those who have not been able to make the in-person sessions.
Listen to what a law school admission dean has to say about why students should attend Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP):
*This for college juniors, seniors and post grads who will apply for law school for 2024 or 2025
To Apply & for details click posting below or apply here: Virtual ASAP
————————– Application Opens today – apply now! ————————–
Respectfully,
Lynda Cevallos, Esq.
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Council on Legal Education Opportunity
P: (240) 582-8600
F: (240) 582-8605
Our Mission: To inspire, motivate, and prepare students from underrepresented communities to succeed in law school and beyond.
The CLEO Edge:
50+ Years of Championing
Education, Diversity and Greater Equality in the Legal Profession
Note: The CSI Legal Studies Institute is non-partisan and post information about internships and job opportunities without regard to party affiliation:
The Richmond County Democratic Committee is an official party organization that nominates people to run for elected positions for federal, state, municipal, judicial, and party positions. The Committee Affords those nominees ballot access through the petitioning process and assists their campaigns by providing visibility, interns, media and event planning support, and get out the vote operations. The Committee is searching for a new executive director.
The ideal candidate would be a highly motivated individual able to assist the party chair in her duties as the county leader and state Democratic Party officer and run the day-to-day operation of the office (located at 705 Forest Avenue, 2nd floor).
Experience in social media, fundraising, event planning and/or campaign work is a plus, as is bi- or multi- lingual ability.
This is a full-time position with a starting salary in the $40-45,000 range.
Alternative working arrangements such as flexible hours, part-time, and work-from-home arrangements must be worked out with the Chair. Please note there will be additional in-office and time commitments during the nominating convention (usually February) and petitioning (usually March/April).
Interested candidates can send resumes to: [email protected].
Dear CSI Students and Grads. Consider this low-cost LSAT Prep option. CSI Legal Studies will reimburse the full costs of this. Contact Prof. Michael Paris, [email protected].
Subject: Low-Cost, High-Quality LSAT and GRE Prep
There will be another set of low-cost, high quality, GRE and LSAT prep courses this summer.
These courses will be offered live online again and are open to CUNY undergrads and alum.
You can apply for the LIVE courses (and see testimonials, etc.) at campusprep.org. It takes just 45 seconds to apply.
Fast Facts:
-Campus Prep has a reputation for helping students get great point gains for little cost. We have run the low-cost LSAT prep courses at UCLA, UW, and other schools for the past 10 years.
We are able to offer these courses for so much cheaper than any similar courses because of our partnerships with law schools, departments, and student groups. We do not need to pay for advertising, and so we can pass the savings to you.
LSAT Course
The live online course preps you for the summer and fall test dates. The comprehensive, 27-hour, live course includes 3 practice exams and costs $285 ($235 if you qualify for financial aid).
Payment plans are available.
The course is taught by a high-scoring, expert instructor. Students who complete the course often get 9-point gains on the LSAT.
LSAT PREP COURSE SCHEDULES:
Live Online LSAT
Tuesdays 7-10pm EST
6/27, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8
Proctored (practice) exams: Sat. 7/15 1-4pm, Sat. 7/22 1-4pm, Sat. 8/5 1-4pm
(make up classes and exams available)
—
Live Online LSAT
Wednesdays 9-midnight EST
7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9
Proctored (practice) exams: Sat. 7/15 1-4pm, Sat. 7/22 1-4pm, Sat. 8/5 1-4pm
(make up classes and exams available)–
Live Online LSATThursdays 8-11pm EST
7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31
Proctored (practice) exams: TBD
(make up classes and exams available)
“The same caliber as traditional prep courses, but it comes at a cheaper cost.”
-Kristine Jackson, Dean of Admissions at CU Boulder Law
You can try out the course by having until midnight on the day of the first class session to receive a full refund for any reason.
Apply ASAP for the LSAT course at campusprep.org/lsat, as there will likely be more applications than there are spaces available. Email questions to [email protected].
Program Director
Campus Prep
| campusprep.org 877-805-2521 |
Good afternoon,
NYPIRG is a statewide, non-partisan, nonprofit, research, public education and advocacy group. Past campaigns include the successful fights to establish the state toxic Superfund program, to pass Bottle Return Law, to ban hydrofracking and so much more. We’re interested in reaching activist and environmentally minded College of Staten Island students with a job opportunity for the summer on our Community Outreach Campaign.
NYPIRG seeks students wishing to build political action, community organizing and public speaking skills while working to impact New York State environmental and energy policy in the urgent fight against climate change.
Check out NYPIRG’s website for more information https://www.nypirg.org.
Details:
NYPIRG is Hiring!
Climate Activists for Community Outreach Campaign
The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), New York’s leading environmental organization, is hiring passionate, motivated climate activists to staff our statewide community outreach campaign. NYPIRG is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that advances important public interest issues through sophisticated grassroots organizing and advocacy, public education, and media exposure.
Scientists warn current emissions are pushing our climate towards dangerous tipping points as soon as 2040, but too many politicians take too little action, and fossil fuel companies continue to pollute! Our Community Outreach teams are building the grassroots movement to hold elected leaders accountable, end fossil fuel dependency, and bring climate polluters to justice!
NYPIRG Community Outreach Campaign Staff have mobilized hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to successfully:
APPLY TODAY: www.nypirg.org/outreach/
Inquiries Welcome at: (212) 349-7474
Thank you so much,–
Kyla “Rome” Romanelli
She/Her
New York Public Interest Research Group
| NYPIRG
Assistant Statewide Outreach Office Manager9 Murray Street Lower LevelNew York, NY 10007O
| (212) 349-6460 ext 1155C
| (845) 372-8637
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