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Submitted:
2 LORs + 1 targeted LOR for Tulane
Personal statement explaining LSAT scores
Statement of intent
250-word essay for Yale
Copy of SAT and ACT scores for Berkeley
Resume
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2/14/06: Rejected by UVA via small envelope. Not a surprise - they got the first draft of my personal statement.
2/24/06: Rejected by GMU via small envelope. Also not a surprise - the 500-word limit PS requirement pissed me off and I foolishly decided to submit my full-length essay to see if it "stuck." Notsomuch. Right now, W&M is my only chance to get in-state tuition.
2/27/06: Accepted to Villanova via slightly thicker envelope. This was a random surprise as there was no prior contact or application confirmation on their end.
2/28/06: As a result of getting into Villanova, I decided not to finish my Pepperdine application. Malibu is just too dang expensive.
3/1/06: Waitlisted at Miami via small envelope. Decided I'd rather go to Villanova than wait for Miami to get its head out of its arse.
3/7/06: Received email invite from Drexel to their accepted students day event. Does this mean I'm in?
3/9/06: Received two pieces of mail from Drexel. I happened to open the official invite to their accepted students day event (and inaugural scholars brunch) first. Didn't realize until I opened the second piece of mail (my acceptance letter) that the inaugural scholars brunch invite meant I got a full ride at Drexel. Ever since, I've been back-and-forth with the free money versus risk argument.
3/13/06: Called Pitt to see if my application was complete. I was told by a nice lady that the admissions committee was currently reviewing my application. Hooray! One step closer. GWU is now the only school left to confirm the completion of my application.
3/16/06: Accepted to Santa Clara via regular sized envelope and realized it offered admission to the full-time program. After confirming that I had selected the part-time division on my LSAC application, I called the admissions office and was asked to email a request to fix the discrepency.
3/18/06: Visited Villanova. The faculty and staff seem warm and personable, the law school facilities are in desperate need of a major face lift.
3/25/06: Visited Drexel. The campus is smack in the middle of downtown Philly, and it was a refreshing change to be in walking distance of everything. The excitement that the faculty and staff have is infectious and their commitment to getting the new law school off to a running start is heartwarming. This decision is going to be a difficult one.
3/27/06: Decided to withdraw from Villanova and keep my list lean and mean. My decision was based primarily on the bottom line. Almost every school on my list is either part-time, in-state, public, or provides a full-ride - Villanova just can't compete.
3/28/06: Rejected from Tulane via small envelope, which was a suprise because my targeted LOR was from a Tulane Law alumna. Also, waitlisted at W&M via slightly thicker envelope. I'll be keeping this school in my back pocket for a rainy day.
3/29/06: Pitt waitlisted me via email. My alma mater is playing hard to get! This may either be a sign that I applied to schools too late in the season or confirms the rumour that Pitt doesn't "take their own." Nonetheless, at least information is trickling in. I've been driving myself crazy checking the mailbox every day.
4/3/06: Decided to withdraw from Santa Clara. Received my finaid packet and didn't get anything above and beyond stafford loans. Again, it comes down to tuition and, in this case, the cost to move across the country. Also, online status went from "Complete" to "Decision" at Georgetown. Get ready, the big dogs are starting to roll in. Remember, opportunity is what you make of it.
4/5/06: Rejected by Georgetown via small envelope. Bummer, but not the end of the world. Next, people!
4/6/06: Rejected by Berkeley via small envelope. Damn! I have to say, though, Boalt Hall's rejection letter was the nicest (and longest) I've ever read.
4/8/06: Rejected by GW via small envelope. With all these rejections pouring in I now find myself reluctant to check the mail every day. It's funny how the expectation and excitement grows to beastly proportions over the span of a few months, then deflates in a matter of days. It's disorienting and exhausting.
4/10/06: Rejected by Yale via small envelope. Shocking, I tell you! Absolutely. Shocking.
4/17/06: A full week of checking the mail and not getting anything from the five schools still "pending" is driving me crazy. In other news, I got my Drexel inaugural class sweatshirt today! Bring it, Philly.
4/22/06: I seem to be part of a batch of people waitlisted by Arizona this week. Receiving the small envelope was bittersweet. I was happy to get news - any news - but I'm not sure I can maintain a holding pattern until August. The waitlisted process seems to benefit those who are still in school or living with parents, people who have little financial or familial responsibilities. There are very few working adults (or individuals with spouses and/or children) who can relocate to a new city with a half month notice.
4/24/06: Rejected by UNM via plain white envelope. The letter was the shortest I've seen yet - two whole sentences that announced, "You suck and we don't want you. Have a nice life!"
4/29/06: Rejected by UNC. Not sure what to say, but holy hell this admissions process has spun completely out of control! I seem to be at a crossroads now - caught between a free-ride at an unaccredited school and no-man's-land in waitlisted-ville. Oh well, the show must go on. Waiting is part of the hand I've dealt myself. The thing I have to remember is that I've brought this all upon my own head. There is no one else to blame. I was the idiot who took the LSAT three times and applied to too many out-of-state public schools. I should have set my sights lower (and private) from the start.
5/9/06: Emailed Arizona, Pitt, Loyola, and W&M an updated resume that reflects my new promotion and employee award. Hastings only takes snail mail updates, so I skipped them. To that end, what the heck is up with Loyola and Hastings? Chop-chop, people!
5/12/06: It's a cruel world. From Loyola's application status website: "A decision regarding your admissions application was made on May 11, 2006. A decision letter was sent through the U.S. Mail and should reach you within seven business days of the above date. Please Note: Decisions will not be provided over the telephone, or by email." Back to waiting, waiting, waiting.
5/13/06: Online status for Hastings yelled, "NO SOUP FOR YOU!"
5/15/06: Received a slighty thicker envelope for Loyola. I am the waitlist queen! On the waitlist confirmation form I checked the box for the part-time program. Hopefully this will increase my chances of getting accepted.
5/19/06: Finished a just-for-fun class at a local community college and sent LSAC my new grade.
6/2/06: Got an email from W&M announcing that their incoming class is full, based on deposits received. Nonetheless, they are keeping an active waitlist just in case someone breaks ranks and withdraws. I guess I'm on this "active waitlist" - the email was kind of ambiguous. So, does this mean that I'm semi-rejected?! WTF!
6/15/06: Got a call from Pitt. I'm off the waitlist! Wooohooo!
6/19/06: Received my Pitt acceptance letter. I have exactly one week to decide if I want to cough up a $500 (!) deposit.
6/22/06: I coughed it up.
7/3/06: Sent in a *second* confirmation of my intention to remain on Loyola's waitlist. Coming up on the eleventh hour here, people. It feels like a showdown at high noon is imminent.
7/20/06: Visited Pitt and put a deposit on an apartment. Unless Arizona or Loyola contact me in the next few weeks, Pitt is my final destination. Some things could have been handled differently this cycle, but c'est la vie. Time to focus on kicking butt at law school.
7/29/06: Rejected by Arizona. So sad, but not unexpected. I'm happy that I went forward with Pitt, though, prior to getting this rejection. I'd be seriously behind the curve if I had waited until now to lock in an apartment and get packed. Three more weeks of waiting until lift-off of the USS Kick Ass!
8/4/06: Well, hell's bells. I got offered a spot in Loyola's class. With their classes starting on 8/21, I feel that it's too late in the game to change all my plans and relocate to the west coast. I would have seriously considered attending, say, a month ago.
