The Sidebar with Catherine
The Sidebar with Catherine
Podcast Description
I’m Catherine, a final-year law student at Penn. When I applied as a STEM student, I didn’t know anyone else taking the same path—but once I got here, I realized no one’s journey looks the same. From artists to engineers, I saw how many different backgrounds lead to law school.
In this season, I talk with classmates about what brought them to law school, what’s surprised them most, and what they wish they’d known. Whether you're applying, deciding, or just curious, this podcast is for you!
Music by Sergio Prosvirini, provided by Top Audio (topaudio.io)
Recording Studio Setup: Vince DeJesus
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on the various backgrounds that lead to law school, with episodes discussing personal stories, unexpected challenges, and valuable advice from students like Christopher Jones, who transitioned from transportation management to law, and Carson Turner, who shifted from political campaigning to legal studies.
I’m Catherine, a final-year law student at Penn. When I applied as a STEM student, I didn’t know anyone else taking the same path—but once I got here, I realized no one’s journey looks the same. From artists to engineers, I saw how many different backgrounds lead to law school.
In this season, I talk with classmates about what brought them to law school, what’s surprised them most, and what they wish they’d known. Whether you’re applying, deciding, or just curious, this podcast is for you!
Music by Sergio Prosvirini, provided by Top Audio (topaudio.io)
Recording Studio Setup: Vince DeJesus
This episode was recorded in April 2025. Any references to the last admissions cycle pertain to the 2023–2024 cycle.
Stephanie Thistle serves as Director of Recruitment for the Penn Carey Law JD Admissions Office. She received her BA in Journalism from New York University and her MSEd in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Following her graduation from NYU, Stephanie worked for several years in fashion marketing in New York before returning to Philadelphia to pursue a career in higher education. She joined the JD Admissions Office as an Assistant Director before ultimately becoming Director of Recruitment, working with applicants through all stages of the admissions cycle. During the post-acceptance process, she supports admitted students through individual outreach, connecting them with students and alumni, planning visit days, and serving as a key resource in decision-making.
For the past decade, she has been part of an Admissions team that has enrolled the most academically talented classes in Penn Carey Law’s history.
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