Ask a Student Ambassador

• Pittsburg, CA
• UC Berkeley
• Social Welfare

Hello! My name is Valerie Nicklas and I am a 2L at Mizzou. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area and did my undergraduate studies at the University of California-Berkeley where I majored in social welfare and minored in music. I am on the Environmental Law and Policy Review and actively involved in the Mizzou Student Hurricane Network, our school's chapter of the nation-wide network of law students who perform volunteer legal work in New Orleans and other hurricane-affected regions of the gulf coast. I am interested in criminal defense and environmental law, currently trying to decide which of these paths I will pursue.

As I'm sure you are all finding out, choosing a law school is not easy. I remember spending countless hours analyzing statistics and learning about the programs that different schools offered, but in the end, my decision was less calculated and more instinctual. If you haven't already, you will quickly realize that many schools are very similar academically and Mizzou is right at the top of that list. Ultimately, what set Mizzou apart for me was the feeling I got when I visited the campus. Mizzou is a place where students work together instead of viciously competing against one another. That really is true! I have met some amazing students, professors and administrators here. The professors and administrators are extremely approachable and seem to truly enjoy talking with students. The entire MU system fosters a healthy and stimulating learning experience.

The town of Columbia, while much more laid back than what I am used to, has great energy, is quite diverse (complete with ethnic and natural food markets which I really like) and you can find just about everything. I could tell right away that this would be a wonderful place to gain a new perspective and meet the challenge of law school.

If you are from a big city or from far away and you are open to new adventures, I encourage you to think about coming to Mizzou for law school. I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised by what you gain from the experience.

Please come for a visit so you can really get a feel for what Mizzou and the city of Columbia have to offer. If you have any questions feel free to send me an email . Best wishes in the application process! Hope to see you here at Mizzou soon!