By Sharon Morioka
Michigan Law
There aren’t many places where a financial analyst, an aquatic biologist, and a circus school graduate would cross paths on a daily basis. But Michigan Law isn’t like other places. For these and 340 other members of the incoming JD Class of 2028, Michigan Law is their common denominator and their academic home for the next three years.
“The class is full of incredibly interesting people,” said Sarah Zearfoss, senior assistant dean for admissions. “It wasn’t until the whole admissions season wrapped up and classes started that I could step back to appreciate exactly how interesting they are, both individually and as a group.”
Speaking merely in numerical terms, the Class of 2028 is impressive, starting with 9,000 applications from aspiring students, a 33 percent increase from the previous year and the highest number in the school’s 166-year history.
Zearfoss told the Wall Street Journal in March that “the whole room gasped” when she shared application numbers with the faculty during a late fall meeting.
But beyond the numbers are the impressive backgrounds of class members. Paralegals make up the largest share of students, about one-fifth. Students also come from occupations outside the law, including a loan officer for the SBA, an administrator for a deep fake technology company, a FEMA supervisor, and a government affairs specialist at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (also voted class clown in college).
One class member won a gold medal for indoor skydiving while another was a parachutist for the US Navy and yet another was a professional soccer goalie. One lived with Francisco Franco’s granddaughter while on study abroad in Spain, and another plays six instruments and was the drum major for the UCLA Bruin Marching Band.
As these students start a new academic year, there’s no rest for Michigan Law’s admissions team. In the next few months, the cycle starts again.
“I’m feeling excited to start a new admissions season,” said Zearfoss, “and meet yet more amazing people who want to be lawyers.”
Michigan Law
There aren’t many places where a financial analyst, an aquatic biologist, and a circus school graduate would cross paths on a daily basis. But Michigan Law isn’t like other places. For these and 340 other members of the incoming JD Class of 2028, Michigan Law is their common denominator and their academic home for the next three years.
“The class is full of incredibly interesting people,” said Sarah Zearfoss, senior assistant dean for admissions. “It wasn’t until the whole admissions season wrapped up and classes started that I could step back to appreciate exactly how interesting they are, both individually and as a group.”
Speaking merely in numerical terms, the Class of 2028 is impressive, starting with 9,000 applications from aspiring students, a 33 percent increase from the previous year and the highest number in the school’s 166-year history.
Zearfoss told the Wall Street Journal in March that “the whole room gasped” when she shared application numbers with the faculty during a late fall meeting.
But beyond the numbers are the impressive backgrounds of class members. Paralegals make up the largest share of students, about one-fifth. Students also come from occupations outside the law, including a loan officer for the SBA, an administrator for a deep fake technology company, a FEMA supervisor, and a government affairs specialist at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (also voted class clown in college).
One class member won a gold medal for indoor skydiving while another was a parachutist for the US Navy and yet another was a professional soccer goalie. One lived with Francisco Franco’s granddaughter while on study abroad in Spain, and another plays six instruments and was the drum major for the UCLA Bruin Marching Band.
As these students start a new academic year, there’s no rest for Michigan Law’s admissions team. In the next few months, the cycle starts again.
“I’m feeling excited to start a new admissions season,” said Zearfoss, “and meet yet more amazing people who want to be lawyers.”
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