If you grew up around grandparents who enjoyed reminiscing about the good old days when hard work paid off and five cents would buy a loaf of bread, you’ve probably heard this statement one hundred times. Regardless of whether you were born in the fifties, sixties, seventies, or even the eighties, the reality is that you were Born to Win. The American Heritage Dictionary offers several definitions for the verb, “win”. Let’s go back for a moment to your first course in English and you will recall that a verb is “that part of speech that expresses existence, action, or occurrence.” And definitions of the verb “win” include: 1) to achieve victory over others in a competition; 2) to achieve success in an effort or venture; 3) to struggle through to a desired place or condition; and 4) to finish first in a race. If we focus on the second definition, we can conclude that one meaning of the phrase “Born to Win” is that you possess the innate qualities that if properly put into action, will enable you to achieve success in a venture. In the early 1960s, only a few low-income, minority, and disadvantaged students were Born to Win at becoming a member of the legal profession. So in 1968, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity was formed to encourage and prepare minority students, principally African Americans, to attend law school. Although the number of minorities attending law school has increased substantially in the last 30 years, far too many low-income and minority students who were born to win, still fail to take the proper action necessary to gain admission. If you are one of the fortunate few, you have always known that you wanted to become a lawyer. You took the appropriate classes in undergraduate school, studied hard, got good grades, and were extremely well prepared for the law school admissions test (LSAT). But even if you are not so fortunate, mobilizing your innate qualities will ensure your success. Your ability to succeed in law school begins with your ability to successfully navigate the law school admissions process. Writing a great personal statement, preparing for the LSAT, and applying to the right schools are all important aspects of the process. The CLEO Edge is intended to not only familiarize you with the law school admissions process but also to help you design and implement a born to win action plan. Everyone applying to law school will not be admitted. And everyone who enters law school will not matriculate. “The greatest thing a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success, and there is no other.” –Orison Swett Marden Start early, be prepared, go the extra mile, give it your best, and remember—it took Mother Nature nine long months to prepare for your arrival. But after her nine month gestation period, you were without a doubt—Born to Win.