FloatsYourBoat (2022-2023)

I spent two years teaching and earning my Masters in Elementary Ecucation in Philadelphia. During those two years, I found it near impossible to commit earnest time to study for the LSAT in addition to coursework and a full-time teaching position. Upon completion of the program, I moved to DC to teach one more year. I was able to use the extra free time from no more classes to study for the LSAT.

While in Undergrad:
Econ Honors Society,
Peer Review Board,
Community Volunteer,
Coaching,

My thought process throughout the application season:

06/2012 -
Having completed my second year of teaching and graduate school, I moved back to DC thinking I would keep teaching as a career. I had a job lined up, but something was still eating at me...I needed to at least try out law school. It would mean a big change, so I took it one step at a time. Step 1: Do well on the LSAT. A 158 would be a nice number for some of the schools I was looking at.

09/2012
During my time off in the summer, I was able to put in about 4-5 hours minimum each day to study for the LSAT. The last test I took before school, I scored my best at 173 on a practice test. I was really excited because I wanted scholarship money, too.

10/2012
Once schools started, I found myself struggling to find time to study between planning, commuting and life. It didn't help that I had already reached a "goal" number. My hours slumped to about 5-6 per week of studying, and it showed. I was tired, and averaging a 167 on LSAT.

The week days leading up to the LSAT was a mandatory faculty retreat. That meant I had some weird sleeping hours. On top of that, colds were spreading in my classroom, and I was praying that I could avoid it. Well I didn't. With a headache and runny nose and really obnoxious cough, I took the test. Ugh. Test felt like a 159, but I pulled a 162. Good for now.

11/2012
With the LSAT (and a decent score) behind me, it was time for phase 2: Where to apply. The DC/MD bind already narrowed me down to 7 schools. Visiting Georgetown left a bad taste in my mouth, and I really didn't want to go to U of B. So that left me with a nice number of 5: UMD, GWU, GMU, CUA, and AU.
I rushed to get my CAS and LoR sent in. All was good on the last day of the month.

12/2012
After visiting/researching the schools, UMD quickly became my #1. I've always loved Baltimore, I'd get in-state tuition ($=priority #2) and the feel I got while visiting was wonderful. They also had some top ranked specialty programs, which I could get interested in. I rushed to complete this application, and left the others behind for now.

01/2013
Maryland has accepted me. Now I'm waiting on hearing about financial assistance. I have an interview lined up for the first week of February that will decide how much I get. FAFSA is in, and everything is set to go.

I've also finally applied to the other schools. Getting into MD was a big relief, and now the others are pretty much playing 2nd fiddle (although GMU's Econ concentration looks awesome and has intrigued me since undergrad.)

04/2013
I've officially accepted Maryland's offer, which includes a Leadership Program Scholarship. I've withdrawn my application to all other law schools.

Edits: Thanks to buiochas.