A
new
app,
which
simplifies
the
complex
and
stress-inducing
law
school
application
process,
has
a
classic
entrepreneurial
origin
story,
and
it
all
played
out
at
Baldwin
Wallace
University.
Problem
in
search
of
solution
In
the
spring
of
2019,
Dr.
Barbara
Palmer,
a
BW
political
science
professor
and
pre-law
advisor,
took
some
of
her
BW
students
out
for
pulled
pork,
and
they
talked
about
the
law
school
application
process.
"Some
of
the
students
were
applying
to
top
20
law
schools
all
across
the
country,
while
others
were
excited
to
gain
entry
into
law
schools
in
their
hometowns,"
Palmer
recalls
of
the
dinner
dialogue.
"They
all
had
different
goals,
but
they
agreed
on
one
thing:
applying
to
law
school
took
a
tremendous
amount
of
time
and
money.
And
the
process
was
an
emotional
roller
coaster."
The
conversation
inspired
Palmer
to
find
a
way
to
relieve
that
stress,
and
was
born.
Applause
for
Applawz
Applawz
features
detailed
to-do
lists,
a
customizable
calendar
to
help
with
LSAT
prep
and
a
spreadsheet
function
to
keep
track
of
all
the
law
schools
students
are
interested
in
applying
to.
Palmer,
who
has
worked
with
hundreds
of
students
interested
in
going
to
law
school,
set
out
to
create
a
tool
to
manage
the
application
process.
But
she
recognized
there
was
an
important
added
ingredient.
"Students
needed
a
little
encouragement
along
the
way,"
Palmer
explains.
"They
needed
applause."
That's
why,
when
major
tasks
are
completed
in
Applawz,
students
get
pop-up
animation
cheering
them
on.
Student
Enhanced,
Tested
and
Approved
In
addition
to
their
inspiration,
BW
students
were
critical
in
the
development
of
Applawz.
Through
BW's
,
students
Arianna
Smedley
'22
and
Nick
Tekavic
'21,
mentored
by
BW
faculty-member
Sara
Wichtendahl,
designed
the
Applawz
webpage.
Wichtendahl
and
Palmer
also
recruited
two
dozen
students
to
conduct
the
initial
testing
of
the
app,
gleaning
valuable
feedback
that
contributed
to
the
look
and
functionality.
Chris
Chang
'23
noted,
"Preparing
for
law
school
is
a
scary
and
long
process.
Applawz
tracks
my
progress
and
organizes
what
I
need
to
do.
It
makes
the
job
much
easier."
Palmer
provides
the
app
for
free
to
all
BW
students
interested
in
applying
to
law
school.
The
app
is
also
available
for
purchase
by
anyone
for
$4.99
at
.
