Admissions Ambassador Sumitra Dhakal '27

Hometown: Lancaster, PA

Location: Carlisle

Email: spd6007@psu.edu

Schedule a meeting with Sumitra!

Undergraduate Study (school name and major(s)):
Skidmore College – B.A. in International Affairs

Campus and Community Involvement:

• Middle Eastern and South Asian Law Student Association, Vice-President
• Moving Party, Vice-President

Life before Penn State Dickinson Law:
After undergraduate and before law school, I worked as a refugee resettlement case aid at Church World Service – Lancaster.

A Penn State Dickinson Law Favorite:
The Commons – I love hanging out in the commons between classes because everyone is extremely friendly and it is a great way to see people you might not share classes with

Why Penn State Dickinson Law?
I came to Penn State Dickinson Law because it would allow me to stay close to my family in Lancaster, PA. Additionally, when I visited, I really liked how friendly everyone was. Further, since I have an interest in public-interest law, I really like that Penn State Dickinson Law promotes public-interest law and community engagement.

Externship Experience:
The summer of 2024, I worked at the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP). It was a great learning opportunity about a field of law that I did not know about before working for PULP.

Favorite Course:
Constitutional Law!

Advice for Prospective Law Students:
Have a schedule and stick to it! As a 1l you will have a lot on your plate so learning to manage your time and prioritize tasks will be extremely important.

Something you Love about Carlisle or University Park:
How walkable the town is!

On Choosing a Law School:
Visit in person and sit-in on a class if possible!