***DISCLAIMER***
My cycle is a bit skewed because I applied with a 161 (taken June 2012) and then retook and got a 166 (June 2013).
Average softs, wrote a decent personal statement about being LGBTQ identified. Taking a year off after graduating from Michigan to volunteer with a local nonprofit, take Spanish classes, and work a crappy part-time job... hope that doesn't look too bad.
I want to go out of state, though I am applying to MSU as a safety. Don't really have a top pick, just eager to see what happens.
Law School Predictor/Calculator
WUSTL = Consider/21.21% = WL
Emory = Consider/8.51% = WL
Arizona State = Consider/100% = ACCEPTED
CU - Boulder = Consider/39.13% = WL
University of Florida = Consider/60% = ACCEPTED
Denver = Strong Consider/100% = ACCEPTED
Miami = Admit/96.97% = ACCEPTED
MSU = Strong Consider/100% = ACCEPTED
1/4/13: In at Miami via e-mail/status checker! Definitely not surprising, but the first acceptance feels good anyway. Would have to get some serious $$$ for this to be a real consideration though--I'm really hoping to get into a T50.
1/16/13: In at MSU via phone call. Also got a 75% tuition renewable trustee scholarship (~$80k over three years, 2.5 GPA stipulation). Tempting offer, but I have to wait to see what else comes in and get a better idea of what my financial situation will be. I really don't see myself in East Lansing for law school. Don't get me wrong though--it's a great college town and I loved visiting my friends there in undergrad, but I want to move on to something new. Preferably in a milder climate. I am thinking UF is my top choice based on the research I've done and the fact that I have a lot of family in Florida, but I never have been to the campus. My application there has been reviewed with no decision reached since 12/19. #purgatory
1/17/13: In at Denver via e-mail with an annual $26,000 Provost's Scholarship (3.0 GPA stipulation). At least DU is up front about scholarship retention rates. While this isn't exactly my first choice, I definitely could see myself there. My brother lives in Denver now and I stopped by DU last time I was visiting. Very nice facility and got a good vibe from the student tour and the people I met. Not expecting to hear anything else for a while now... but I guess I should enjoy being three for three while I still can!
1/26/13: Came back from a trip to find Denver and MSU acceptance packets in the mail. There was a handwritten note on my DU letter, a little something about my personal statement, and it made me feel good. Like they really care about me. Probably just a gimmick though.
1/28/13: Got a letter in the mail stating that I got a $25,000/year Dean's Merit Scholarship to Miami, provided I get above a 3.2 GPA. This is good news, but I've heard a lot about section stacking at Miami and would not want to be in the position of having to pay sticker price after 1L. I also applied for the Miami Scholars Program, but I have yet to hear anything about that.
2/8/13: I received a phone call about the Miami Scholars Program basically just to tell me that I'm still being considered for it. I talked a bit about my activities and interest in public service and asked a few questions about the program. If I were to get into it and commit to it before a certain date (TBD), the scholarship would increase to $28k/year as opposed to $26k. Plus, the stipulation is a bit looser than my Dean's Merit Scholarship, requiring a 3.0 GPA or roughly the top half of the class. It also includes a $5000 stipend for one summer of public interest work, a mentorship program, and some other perks like monthly luncheons with guest speakers. I don't think I'm the strongest candidate for it, but it certainly would be tempting if it's offered. Unfortunately Miami does not allow scholarship stacking. Figures.
2/11/13: Woke up to a call from Miami about scheduling my Miami Scholars interview. Good news, I suppose! Also, I just checked my UF application status and it says FINAL DECISION REACHED, NOTICE ISSUED. I am freaking out right now. I don't want to assume anything, but last year all of the rejections came by e-mail. I definitely will be stalking the mail lady this week.
2/15/13: Had my Miami Scholars Skype interview this morning. Dean Lennon choked on her coffee during it, so there was that. It went okay, nothing amazing but nothing disastrous. Then I got a letter in the mail saying that my Dean's Merit Scholarship would go up by $2000 if I were to pay my seat deposit by April 1. Hoping to get something in the mail from UF tomorrow or Monday.
2/19/13: Amazing day! Woke up to a call from Dean Lennon to let me know I got into the Miami Scholars Program! They are flying me down there next week for a long weekend! Very excited about this. Then I got my UF acceptance letter in the mail! Even if I don't get into any other schools at this point, I'll be pretty happy. I already feel like I have some tough choices to make!
3/1/13: I'm in Miami for the scholarship conference weekend, and they just told us that the Miami Scholars award has been raised to $30k/year or $32k if we commit by April 1. I really like it here so far and think I would benefit from the additional support offered by the scholarship program.
3/13/13: Got an e-mail stating that I was waitlisted at CU. I'm just happy that it wasn't a rejection--I'm kind of thinking that it would be my first choice if I were to get in. I liked Miami well enough, but have decided to rule it out due to the distance from family and its recent drop in ranking. UF was alright, but Gainesville was a bit of a buzzkill. Unfortunately I was there over their spring break, so it was pretty much a ghost town. It's still in the running, but I'm thinking I might prefer to end up in Colorado, so Denver or CU would be the obvious choices. I'm going to the admitted student day at DU this Friday. I'll see how I feel about that.
3/18/13: Found out I got a $12k/year merit scholarship from UF. Definitely wasn't expecting this, but it makes that option a lot more appealing. I just visited CU and absolutely loved it, so I'm pretty conflicted right now.
3/22/13: Withdrew from MSU today. Kind of made me sad to know that I'll really be leaving Michigan, but that's something that I need to do. I also made the decision to withdraw from Miami. It seemed too much like a "diploma mill," although I did like the Miami Scholars program. I was also concerned about the (lack of) portability of the degree and the fact that I have no family/connections in South Florida.
3/27/13: Waitlisted at Emory via e-mail this evening. I've never been to Atlanta, but it looks like a nice city. I decided to sign up for the PowerScore LSAT prep class and retake in June. If it goes well, I may reapply next cycle, or at least try to use the new score as leverage. But if I don't do better, I'll have to pick a place to go this fall.
4/1/13: Waitlisted at WUSTL via e-mail today! Seriously surprised by this. That was definitely one of my "reach" schools. Will probably withdraw from Emory's waitlist soon due to what I've been reading about its placement and reputation, plus I have no ties to ATL.
4/15/13: Withdrew from UF today. I was going to deposit there as my backup school, but I decided Denver would be the better choice for that. Really hoping I get into WUSTL (visited there and loved it, plus family ties in MO) or CU though. I never responded to Emory's waitlist e-mail, so I assume I've withdrawn from there. My LSAT class starts tomorrow! This is definitely not how I imagined this cycle playing out when I first started applying.
5/2/13: Accepted to ASU via e-mail. Kind of forgot I had applied there. I'll probably withdraw soon. My LSAT studying is in full swing and I'm about to send a second LOCI to both CU and WUSTL.
7/1/13: I already have put down both deposits at Denver (somewhat reluctantly), but I just got my new LSAT score back and I improved by five points! I called WUSTL and they let me in on the spot--plus they will be making me a scholarship offer later this week. Retaking was easily one of the better decisions I've made in my life.
7/5/13: Admitted to Emory via personal e-mail from the dean of admissions today with the promise of a scholarship to come. Also found out I got full tuition at WUSTL, so I'm taking that hands-down.
I'm surprised you didn't apply to more schools, you could have tried some at cornell or maybe two other T14's..not sure if it's too late but it wouldn't hurt to try