11/4 - I've been out of school now going on three years and have been spending that time as a volunteer teacher in an urban area school. I've recently received my LSAT results and am ready to start putting applications out. Looking for a fee waiver from every school I apply to to defray costs because having been a volunteer for so long, the financial burden is substantial. Still looking to finalize my school list but pretty focused on the New York and Philadelphia market.
11/5 - Asked for fee waivers from my big reaches and got shot down from Columbia and NYU. Got a fee waiver from Cardozo without asking which is nice.
11/7 - UPenn redirected me to their application FAQ website (as if I didn't understand their policy on granting fee waivers) which seems like a no-go on that front. My question was asking if I qualified for a fee waiver despite not being in TFA (my volunteer work was with Catholic schools). Has anyone had better success calling and asking for a fee waiver when in this kind of situation? I am awaiting response from Temple and Fordham on my fee waiver solicitations. For my own peace of mind I am updating Brooklyn Law and NYLS to having been given a waiver because those schools are free to apply. St.John's gave me a fee waiver, which is nice.
1/2 - It took a long long long time to finally get some applications out. Mostly my own fault, but finally ready to take the plunge, send my personal statement and charge my card. I sent out five applications today and hope to get the last four our before the weekend. I need to write a couple of optional essays for those. Also took out Temple and put in Hofstra. The only way I stay in Philly is if I get into UPenn (fat chance but worth a shot). Feeling pretty sick but K Pop is getting me through the illness. Hopefully will have another update in a few days.
1/7 - Really need to finish up the Penn Law application today (or else I'll miss out on ED). For some reason NYLS is showing that my application is incomplete and missing my Resume but I checked my application and it was attached so I'm not understanding o_0. I guess I can call them after work/any suggestions? Done with St. John's, so I'm going to submit it tonight with Penn. I don't know if I'm going to bother with Brooklyn's optional essay. I'm hardly motivated enough to do Penn. I just don't know what to write. Anybody else struggling to get them all out? Just me? I'm also sure I hate the application status checker websites already.
1/8 - Somehow managed to get the Penn Law ED application out last night. I mean I paid for it and sent it before the midnight, however it wasn't received until today. Unsure about how this will affect my standing for ED2. Sent in St. John's too which I finished up a couple of days ago. I'm debating whether to send Brooklyn Law an optional essay. Really excited to get most things out the door but little ambition to do any more. Going to give NYLS another day or two before I ask why they still have my application as incomplete.
1/9 - In at Hofstra via email. Hoping to hear something about a scholarship.
1/11 - Lost any interest in writing an essay for BrookLaw, so I just sent it in. Good now is better than perfect later. Still waiting to hear from Hofstra because I don't know what this cycle holds, but if I knew I could go somewhere in NY for free that would be really relieving.
1/14 - Got Hofstra acceptance in the mail but did not include any scholarship information--just a Welcome Class of 2016 booklet. Lame mail makes for a lame update.
1/18 - Got an email and a phone call from Hofstra alerting me that I've been awarded a scholarship. Amount is for three years. Whattttt I love you Ticket Oak.
1/22 - Call from Cardozo says that I am in with a Dean's Merit Scholarship! Amazing. Dozo is my 2nd choice behind Fordham (excluding the three that will, in all likelihood, ding me). I hate being at work and not being able to actually answer these calls but they are the best voicemails ever. Sidebar--some people close to me are telling me the idea of going to a school without any money is a terrible decision even if it is one of my top three choices. I'd like to hear more discussion on this so if you have input please feel free to. This is all probably for naught because I'm not getting into the T14. Anyway, I'm feeling blessed right now.
1/24 - In at St. John's via Status Checker with Full Annual Tuition! I really didn't expect these schools to be so generous and it will definitely complicate my decision when everything is said and done.
1/28 - In at NYLS as of last week via status checker. Hasn't been on my radar as of late, so that's why I haven't checked up on it. It says there is an offer of a scholarship forthcoming. Really surprising I didn't get an email/call/mail package about this if my status changed a week ago. I've still have yet to receive any physical scholarship offers but for Cardozo's. The big update is that I went UCR2 at Penn today. So either I'll get a call from Dean Post soon or...yeah. Although I've ranked it third up top, I really am starting to think Penn is my 1. I've built the school up so much in my mind. This is going to hurt :/
1/29 - It hurts. It hurts indeed. Can't say this is surprising given my numbers. Back home to New York it shall be!
1/31 - Got something in the mail from NYLS (finally) and I am a Global Law Fellow! It's a pretty sweet deal and definitely flattering. It's frustrating being in Philadelphia and not having a chance to visit these schools because of work. Poop. Also, all of this happened in January which is amazing but makes me feel like January is the longest month ever.
2/19 - Got into BrookLaw via email today! There is no word in the email or status checker of a scholarship offer (which is something I'm expecting). Wow, February has been a quiet month but at this point I'm self-assured I know what kind of decisions are coming my way for each school. I have no chance at the NYC T14 schools. I think there is a strong chance I'm in at Fordham and I'm expecting an acceptance. Right now it all comes down to money which is very unnerving. I need to visit these schools too. I'll update when I do.
2/21 - Email from BrookLaw telling me to log on to blsconnect to see my merit award amounts! I had been planning a move to Brooklyn if I were to attend anywhere outside of Long Island anyway, so this will make Brooklyn an increasingly appealing option.
2/23 - Mail came from Broooklyn, Cardozo and Columbia. Two big envelopes and one small. Guess which one was small? It was worth a shot. NYU my only (long)shot at t14 at this point.
3/26 - Well, in the time since I last updated everybody watching my account there's really just been radio silence. Since then the world has managed to get a new Pope but Fordham only just managed to get back to me about their decision. In the meantime I've been visiting schools (NYLS, STJ, Dozo and BLS if you were interested or would like to ask me about them) and trying to whittle down my list. Pretty much disregarding Hofstra and I'm going to do the same to STJ, it seems. Glad to be in at Fordham, it is an accomplishment that past-me would've gone nuts about but present-me has zero fucks to give if they have zero bucks to give and future-me will probably never even visit. Still nice to know I'm in! I'm very grateful for all my acceptances and thankful that my cycle has been successful.
3/27 - Got a financial award letter from Fordham. A merit scholarship to the tune of 5k a year. That isn't worth considering...
3/29 - NYU kept me around for a while but we all knew how this was going to end. Cycle over. Decision time!
5/28- Sorry for not updating in two months! I can't believe how time has flied. I have had quite the bit of uncertainty about where to attend. I have received increased scholarship offers from Cardozo and Brooklyn. I will be making my final decision in the coming days.
Thanks for all the detailed updates. I hope you hear back soon! Is there any particular reason why you chose to apply largely to schools in New York?