gfinley (2022-2023)

Varsity baseball (DII) - All Conference Academic
Staff writer and columnist for school paper
Named top English major at commencement
13 years of high school teaching experience at private high school
State champion soccer coach
M.A.

To answer the comment below, yes my undergrad was extremely difficult in terms of grading. They really prided themselves on avoiding grade inflation. I appreciated it at the time but was worried that it would hurt me in this application process. Luckily, the adcomms seem to have looked past it. Though I wonder if my financial aid awards may have been a little higher with say a 3.7 or 3.8.

3/13 - Heard back from Cornell today and am pretty pleased with their offer. Also found out I will not be receiving any $ from Michigan. Should be getting some sort of an award from Duke in the next day or two, which could make it essentially a 2 horse race. I will be informing most schools on Monday so that they can accept some people off their waiting list.

3/24 - Wrote letters to both Duke and Cornell requesting higher financial aid awards. Cornell came through with an additional $12,000 within 5 minutes of receiving my email. Right now, Cornell would cost me about $10,000 a year less than Duke and nearly $25,000 a year less than Michigan. With someone as cost-conscious as I must be at this point in my life, Cornell is making my choice pretty easy. Will wait to hear back from Duke, but unless they come through big, Ithaca here I come!

Late March - No additional $ from Duke. They are either very confident they are my best choice or they just don't want me that badly. Either way, I will not be attending. Though I really liked the school, It is just not worth the extra $ to me.

3/31 - Cornell it is! Sending in my seat deposit and withdrawing from all other schools. Very happy with my decision!

4/8 - Just thought the following may be helpful for future applicants: Did not receive any $ from Michigan. They did encourage me to send in proof of my scholarship offer from Cornell. They said, though they would be unlikely to match it, they could probably give me some money. I decided not to pursue as Michigan was third on my list at the time. I know that many people have their hearts set on Michigan. If so, try to get some good $ somewhere else and parlay it into some $ at Michigan.

6/8 - My final post. One note: was eventually rejected from VA, but I had decided not to pursue their WL, so I didn't think I would get a formal rejection. I am very pleased with my results. I was accepted at many schools I could not have dreamed of for undergrad. I studied the LSAT by meself for about 5 months 30 minutes to an hour per day. But it was probably the most cost effective time I have ever spent. I am ready for my big adventure in Ithaca. Good luck to everyone!