joelogs (2022-2023)

Why I'm different / EC's / Soft factors:
Physics major.
Lived overseas for 11 years.
Volunteer tutor.
Some time spent as a translator.
Served as a missionary for two years in the Philippines after first semester of school.
Captain of two Ultimate teams.
Received "Outstanding Student Presentation" award at APS Regional meeting.
Worked at an internal communications research firm every summer since I was 17.
TA'd for 4 semesters.
Working studying thin film crystallization in physics lab.
Worked 20 hrs/wk during undergrad.
Three-time "Rock, Paper, Scissors" state champion.

Pennsylvania resident.

01-05-07: Got my acceptance packet from William & Mary. Offered in-state tuition (equivalent to 10.2k scholarship), graduate fellowship (4k stipend for working 10 hours/wk), 5k scholarship. It's good to be in somewhere! When are the others coming?

01-12-07: Received acceptance email from BYU, indicating formal letter with scholarship offer is on its way.

01-13-07: Small cream envelope from UVA indicating acceptance and consideration for Dean's scholarship. Notified that a decision was made by online status check on 01-09-07.

01-17-07: Small envelope from Temple. Accepted with a Beasley scholarship (full tuition). Rock.

01-20-07: Chubby small envelope from Arizona. Accepted with Dean's Scholarship (15k renewable, which goes down if I get any need-based scholarships). I'll probably withdraw and free up the money for someone that's going to use it.

01-20-07: Also received formal acceptance letter from BYU. Nice letter that referenced my personal statement, apologizing in advance for any unintended flashbacks to kindergarten my 1L year may trigger (you'd have to read my PS for that to make sense...) and offered a full tuition scholarship. So, my safeties are turning out well.

01-23-07: Received email notification from Duke that a decision is being mailed today. Should get it before the week is over!

01-29-07: No official letter from Duke yet, but I got an email saying "Congratulations on your acceptance; we're sending you these emails now." I guess they assumed I'd already received the letter.

02-03-07: Finally received Duke acceptance packet. I need to send in an updated scholarship application, because now I'm planning on getting married in May! They say once they receive that they can make me a scholarship offer.

02-08-07: Email from Dean Zearfoss at Michigan saying, "We know! We know you're waiting! Thanks for being patient!" We'll see how things fly. They're definitely one of my top choices, but I need to start making plans NOW for summer and fall.

02-24-07: Letter from Duke offering 60k scholarship. I sent my updated scholarship app about ten days prior.

03-08-07: No news for a while. I wish Michigan and Penn would offer some signs of life. Especially Michigan.

03-19-07: Oh, Michigan. Giver of that cold and bitter waitlist. I probably won't stay on, since my fiancee and I would like to know where we're going by early April.
I probably should have written the "Why Michigan?" essay.

03-27-07: Penn deferral. Not worth staying on, in my opinion, if they can't come to some sort of decision in 15 weeks.

03-30-07: UVA ASW. Totally awesome. Loved the school, the town, and everyone I met. Started apartment hunting. Cornered Jason Trujillo and found out what my scholarship $$ was going to be. Very pleased. 98% sure that I will be at UVA in the fall.

05-??-07: Penn waitlist, after I had already decided to go to UVA. Told them no thanks.