Non-traditional 38 year old student.
Initially I was only going to apply to 2 or 3 schools thinking that I had a strong enough PS, experience and activities to get into my top choice. Then the reality to have backup schools in case I didn't get in hit me and I decided to go ahead and apply to other schools in the region. (Better safe, than not get in at all.)
I ranked my schools on a scale from 1 to 3. 1's are awarded to the highest preferred group , and 3 the lower preferred group. I am really hoping to attend the University of Utah, but if it is not to be, the other schools all have have their positive criteria that match my needs and future goals.
I chose a range of schools based first on geographic region, then on LSAT/GPA ranges that I determined were close (stretching some) to my numbers.
I got dinged by the way LSAC calculated my GPA due to repeated courses from my freshman/sophomore years. (Calcultated by LSAC as a 3.11)My junior and senior years (credit hours) have shown a 3.9 GPA average across those credit hours taken. (Yes, coming back to school after many years away does help in maturity, study habits and drive to succeed.) The end result will be a 3.5+ from the degree granting institution.
Email confirmations from BYU, Denver and ASU this past week confirming application receipt and/or file complete. (02/06/06)
Snail mail postcard from Idaho indicating application/file complete.
Letter from St. Mary's indicating application received.(02/06/06)
Email from Oklahoma City University asking from more information. (02/07/06)
Snail mail from Tulsa. Very nice letter inviting to call for any reason. (02/09/06). *getting excited about receiving the accepts/rejects in the next few weeks.
No email or snail mail received from LS this weekend... :(
Email from Colorado confirming application complete. (02/13/06)
The email was not the friendliest:
Dear Applicant:
...
Due to the great number of applications, we request that you refrain from calling the Admissions Office to check on the status of your file.
Email from University of New Mexico confirming application received. (02/14/06). Another email this afternoon to comfirm application complete. (02/14/06).
Email from ASU confirming application complete and link to ASU website and login. (02/16/06). Not sure why they want applicants to already have an ASU login to the school services, unless (wishful thinking), I'm on the fasttrack to acceptance. :) Actually, you have to have an ID to update your information directly on their site - I guess it is easier to update it for them here, rather than to call, or send snail mail addendums to update any information.
Snail mail from University of Wyoming stating application received and complete. They admit about 80. (02/16/06)
1st reject letter. University of Tulsa. I thought I was well within their range. They were very nice though in previous letters. (02/21/06)
Received 'file complete' email from University of Arizona (02/24/06).
Received ACCEPTANCE letter from St. Mary's. Yahooooo! I'm in! (02/27/06).
Letter from UofU. I've been waitlisted. This is good news (of course I would have rather preferred to have been accpeted). I'll submit a letter over spring break to show my continued interest - hopefully I'm at the top of the waitlist! :)
Letters of rejection from University of Colorado Boulder and University of New Mexico. (received 03/11/06 by mail.)
I walked around the UofU School of Law today and met informally with Associate Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid at UofU. I was waitlisted at the UofU, and thought I'd try to put a face to my application. It is difficult to know how much 'face time' or 'campaign mode effort' is too much, or not enough, when you've been waitlisted. (3/17/06)
Received rejection letter from University of Arizona by snail mail. (3/17/06)
Received rejection letter from University of Denver by snail mail.(3/20/06)
Received acceptance letter from Indiana University Law School Indianapolis for their Part-time Evening Program. This is great as I grew up in Indianapolis and have family and friends there. I do wish though that I had been accepted into their full-time day program though.(3/27/06)
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Decision time is getting closer. Utah, Indianapolis and St. Mary's are my obvious decision influencers right now. I have family in Utah, Indianapolis and San Antonio which each of these three very attractive.
I'm still waitlisted at Utah and the earliest I hope to hear from the U will be early to mid May. I went to undergrad school here, so it would be an easier transition to law school as I would not have to change travel habits or living arrangements. (Also, it is a top 50 school, and I have an offer to clerk for a local firm in the summers, so this is very appealing.)
San Antonio has great weather, a great booming city, and St. Mary's has been very prompt and helpful throughout the process. I like the campus, administration support, and the overall feel there. (Concerns have included the previously low bar passage rate.)
IU at Indianpolis is a top 100 rated school and I grew up there. Indianapolis is a great midwest city with access to many cultural and sporting events. IUPUI is a strong school offering quality education from Indiana University or Purdue University. (Although the school of law is Indiana University.) A part time program may not be bad... if I can find employment that supports my going to night classes every night. I'm not sure I look forward to a 4 year law school stint, but I could always transfer to the full time day schedule after my 1L year.
I haven't received any financial aid yet from any school, so that will also play an important part in the decision making process. I'm still waiting to hear from ASU, BYU, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming and Oklahoma City. I doubt that I would go to OK City though. If I had to choose today based on what I know today and current acceptances where would I go? That's a tough one I'm still working on. Suggestions or things to consider???
Anybody on the accept list to Univeristy of Utah that does not intend to attend this fall, please withdraw. :) I'm still hopefull.
05-09-06 Graduated with a 3.59. Received a 4.0 for the last semester, and 3.9 for Junior and Senior years. (I guess I'll be on the Dean's list for my last semester.) I'm amazed that I'm done with undergrad; finally. I'm waiting for my grades to post to the registrar and then I'll send an updated transcript to the University of Utah with addendum discussing my continued interest. I don't know if it will help my chances, but at least I'll be able to say I did all I could to show my persistence and desire to attend the U for law school.
05-15-06 Hand delivered my transcript to UofU admissions office with letter of continued interest.
05-23-06 Time is getting short. IU at Indianapolis and St. Mary's both require second seat deposits by June 1. UofU - looks like they went to their waitlist last week, but unfortunately, I was not selected in the first round. I can only hope that they select another group this week that includes me. (Any suggestions for increasing chances at the UofU? I've been in campaign mode by contacting the admissions office about every 3 weeks to show continued interest. I've responded to the waitlist notification, sent in additional LOR, sent latest transcript with letter of continued interest.)
If there are any fence sitters out there holding their acceptance letters, maybe they'll make decisions this week and hopefully a few more will withdraw and open up a few seats for the waitlisted candidates.
05-23-06 Received letter from UofU with wailist update. The class of 2009 is now fully subscribed, but they would like to keep my application for further consideration. Waitlist, round 2, here we go! Yes, it is frustrating. Yes, there is hope. :)
05-24-06 Called to confirm my desire to remain on UofU waitlist and then personally delivered the response card indicating my desire to remain on the waitlist. (The admissions office has been very kind throughout the process. I only question if I've become a bother, or whether the office sees me as a persistent and determined applicant.) Seat deposits are due June 1 for both IU at Indianapolis and St. Mary's. What to do, what to do...
05-26-06 Sent second deposit.
06-01-06 Put my condo up for sale. Sent off official transcripts showing completion of degree. I stopped by the UofU admissions office to ask about the waitlist status. They are still waiting for orientation deposits that are due on Friday before they will know if they need to go to the waitlist. How tedious!
06-07-06 Called UofU admissions today. They told me that they had contacted the 'waitlist' candidates yesterday to fill open seats. Unfortunately, I was not one of the lucky ones that were called. They also told me they would go to the remaining waitlist if needed sporadically throughout the summer.
It is a long shot for the UofU anyway - but is nice to have been considered on the waitlist. It would be nice to be able to stay in Utah, but perhaps a change of scenery would do me well.
What is my analysis of my situation? My poor academic performance in my freshman and sophomore years, coupled with a lower LSAT probably hurt me most. I could not bring my GPA up as high as needed, but I did maintain a 3.9 throughout my junior and senior courses. I probably should have retaken the LSAT, prepared better for it , and taken many more practice exams. My LOR's were great. My personal statement is what it is. EC's were good. And I worked fulltime throughout my entire undergraduate career. Given these ingredients I am happy that I am in at IU at Indianapolis and St. Mary's.
Now that the door is closing ever more rapidly on the possibility of attending the UofU, I must flip a coin between IU Indy and St. Mary's. (Yes, I know IU Indy is a T2 and St. Mary's a T4, but I am in a different situation than most 20-something wannabe law students. I plan on working in a small firm that does civil law. I'm not going to law school primarily for the $$$, or to compare school rankings, but for the ability contribute back to society through my legal education. )
I really like the campus and people that I've spoken with at St. Mary's. They've been very responsive and committed to their students. IU at Indy is great as well. I would be in the part time night program and allow me to work while I study. Either school fits my longer term goals well and that's what counts most. The major drawback is tuition. St. Mary's is considerably more than IU Indy
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07-16-06 Arrived in San Antonio to search for housing near St. Mary's. While the campus is immaculate (no pun intended) the availability of decent housing near the campus is lacking. That can be good and bad. There are a number of new apartment areas within 10-15 miles of the campus, but the rents are not that inexpensive. Be prepared for $550 on up for one bedroom apts. that are generally older and further out. (That is a low, low price as well.) A decent area will be more in the line of $650 - $800. (Yes, there are always the bottom price sub $500 efficiency apts. But be prepared to get what you pay for.)
On-campus housing for law students is in 'Chaminade Hall'. You can select a 'single room' that shares a bathroom with another room. While this is attractive for travel convenience (plus utilities) it would be nice to have a private bath.
It is almost less expensive to buy a home in SA while it is in a housing boom. The mortgage payment would be somewhat near rent. Plus the added benefits of appreciation (if you buy smart) and interest write off. You could also rent a room or two to students - or not.
If anybody has suggestions on decent areas in SA (not too expensive, but that also does not have bars on the windows) let me know.
08/23/2006
Official... St. Mary's orientation tomorrow am. It has been a long process to get here, but well worth it. To all those applying in the 2006-2007 cycle - Good Luck-. This has been a great resource to track progress throughout the application process.
Well, all the apps are in and reports are on their way to the schools and adcoms. I'm hoping that alot of the people on here are the TOP of the crop as I feel my numbers are not as spectacular. As a non-trad student I am hoping my PS and LOR will carry a little more weight. I had EXCELLENT LOR's and a good PS topic. Any comments? Encouragement??