Rant - Competitive PI Program
Perhaps this is a "first world problem" but its still grinding my gears. I'm committed to attending XYZ law school that has a special public interest scholars program that incoming students apply to. Only 10 students were selected and as you can surmise from the title, I wasn't one of em. The program is really cool and includes a small but not insignificant stipend and a lot of incredible mentorship opportunities.
Look, I know law school, the field of law, and life itself are all competitive. And I'm fully aware that when 1L starts its a whole new competition starting, and I'm ready for that. But does a public interest program really have to be competitive?? The stipend, sure. There's only so much money the school has to give. But mentorship and networking?? Thats only for the best of the best? I'm already going into roughly one billion dollars of debt for this overpriced school but now I have to fight to get access to the resources this school has to offer?
I also feel like its the rich getting richer (so to speak). I have no doubt that the 10 students selected over me had superior applications and qualifications. But now they get even another leg up over me! I'm quite sure that their superiority will already be reflected in the difference between their scholarships and mine. But now, when it comes to competitive internships that we'll be applying to after 1L, they'll have a built in advantage making it harder to level the playing field, and then they'll get the internship over me if all things else are equal! Giving them even more of an advantage!! Am I so crazy to want to not already be behind my peers before the first day has started?
What especially pisses me off is that the dean of the public interest program wrote a letter lamenting and whining about how they don't have enough funding. I'm with you there brother. But you don't need funding to mentor me and to let me sit in a classroom while some speaker comes in and meets everyone. I'll bring my own chair if thats the concern!! This is completely artificial scarcity and I would really benefit from this program even if they gave me zero $.
I know the answer to my questions. Life is competitive, law is competitive, suck it up and deal with it. And I will! I'll work my ass off 1L and I'm sure I'll do great. And moreover, this isn't zero sum. These 10 students getting this heightened experience does not deny me any further opportunities. But for the love of god, give me a break. A mentorship program for a school I am paying a small mortgage for does not need to be this competitive.