I went to a state school in Oregon, where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Linguistics and Political Science, a minor in German, and a Second Language Acquisition and Teaching certificate for English. I also studied in Prague, CZ for a semester. I did some minor work with a couple of clubs, but nothing that counted as anything special or worthy of mention. Finally, in high school I participated in the government sponsored CBYX program in Germany for a year.

After graduation I worked for a year teaching English at a language institute associated with a prestigious university in Seoul, Korea.

PS: How I found linguistics. Sounds boring, but I jazzed it up with a little personal drama. It also let me highlight my international experience, as well as my thinking process, and what I think my skills have to offer to a law student. (Personally, I think I'm a relatively boring person so it seemed like the best I could do).

DS: About dealing with AS, what is generally considered a psychological disorder. More info available on request.

The weird thing with Duke had to do with them being suspicious about a Student Conduct Code violation I disclosed. I think it was just a slight miscommunication, but my advice for future applicants is to get the applications the day they're available and find out where you need to supply this info. I was late, and it may have cost me admission to duke, one of the schools I was really very interested in.

6/9/2009 - I got my financial aid letter from chicago this morning, and after a few sleepless nights, and a LOT of thinking, I decided to stick with cornell. Anyone wondering about my reasoning can message me, and I'll respond.

6/03/2009 - So the whole "the committee will meet on friday" thing was bunk. But I got a call from Dean Perry today... :)

6/03/2009 - Under review again at Chicago, extra 10k/yr at Cornell in merit aid. 3.0GPA on a 3.3 curve.

4/29/2009 - Waitlisted at NYU, that's the last one, I guess I'm done? Also got the weird email from columbia...

4/25/2009 - Officially waitlisted at Chicago... thanks?

4/15/2009 - I withdrew from everyone I know I'm not attending, except Columbia where I can't figure out how to withdraw my application. I need to go find their letter again. ETA: Never mind, withdrew from Columbia by email.

4/13/2009 - OK, I'm more or less decided. I'm mailing in my deposit to Cornell. I'll wait out Chicago, and maybe Penn. I'll be withdrawing the rest of my applications later this week.

4/13/2009 - Got my financial aid package from Cornell, they matched USC, so at least that decision is done!

4/13/2009 - "On reserve" at Columbia. I give up.

3/30/2009 - Waitlisted at Duke. I'll explain when my cycle's over, but this is not normal.

3/27/2009 - Duke needs clarification.

3/24/2009 - Finally got an email from Duke... to let me know my application was STILL incomplete. Called my undergrad and got that taken care of.

3/23/2009 - Rejection from Harvard by email. I'm shocked .

3/18/2009 - Update: scholarship offer from WUSTL by email, followed by grant email from UCLA.

3/9/20009 - Waitlisted at University of Virginia. I've withdrawn.

3/4/2009 - Scholarship letter from USC: $20k/year!! They just jumped back into the game.

2/25/2009 - Waitlisted at Michigan. by email. :/ Best soft let down I've read yet.

2/24/2009 - Out at Boalt, by status checker. :(

2/14/2009 - Large packet from USC. In with unspecified scholly!!

2/10/2009 - Working on essays for Chicago and Penn. Decided to withdraw from WUSTL. It was a decent safety, but not right for me. I just wish it didn't feel so PERMANENT!

2/04/2009 - Accepted by phone at UCLA. My first phone acceptance and I missed it! Dean Schwartz's messaged was a little banal, "This is Rob Schwartz, Admissions Dean at UCLA. Call me back." ... Whatever. I knew what it was!

1/29/2009 - "hold" at Penn too. WTF? I don't get it, why can't anyone just make a decision. I mean, I want in at Penn, it's basically my second choice after chicago, but I just need to get a decision from SOMEONE.

1/27/2009 - "Hold" letter at Northwestern, meh.

1/20/2009 - "Hold" letter from Chicago, I'm treating it like a deferred, but I'm a little ticked off about it. Don't tell me you're making a decision when you're not.

1/15/2009 - EDIT: Non-Decision at Chicago, by mail. I won't know for a while.

1/14/2009 - Under review at Penn.

1/8/2009 - Decision Pending at Chicago :/

12/26/2008 - In at Cornell!! By email.

11/21/2008 - complete at Northwestern one day after my interview.

11/17/2008 - conduct certification letters went out today, so I ought to be getting lot's of complete emails soon!

11/15/2008 - Cornell took my emailed DS, it just took them some time to get back to me. Bad news though, USC's fee waiver has to be sent with the LSAC certification, they won't give retroactive fee waivers! Also, I found out that Duke is still waiting for my conduct certification letter (initual review is complete!), and Cornell is waiting for my dean's certificate! Agh!

11/13/2008 - I've heard back from just about everyone except Chicago and Cornell. Harvard only takes additional materials by mail, but everyone else was happy to take my email attachment. Michigan took it even though it exceeds their 1 page limit for optional essays (I think it covers several of their questions though, so... whatever)

11/10/2008 - Sent my DS to all the T14 schools except Northwestern since it exceeds their 1-2 paragraph limit.

11/02/2008 - OK, now that I've sent my applications in, I feel stupid for not sending my DS. I have to rewrite it almost completely, but without it my applications are more than a little plain vanilla. Hopefully I'll be able to add it to my applications when I get it finished. If not, it'll be good material for getting off the wait-list.

10/31/2008 - I sent in my applications at the end of October without my DS. I just needed to get them in. I decided not to use my DS, since I feel like it prejudices my applications (read: it makes me seem retarded)
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Fee Waivers
July: Pace, Tulsa, Case, Cincinnati, Minnesota

August: Duke (priority track), Ohio Northern

September: WUSTL, Oklahoma City, Cordozo, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Columbia, Roger Williams, Alabama ( $20 iTunes), Georgia, Northeastern, Quinnipac, Arizona, Notre Dame, Miami, St. Thomas, Temple, Michigan, UCLA

October: Pepperdine, Houston, Texas, Northwestern, Virginia, Cincinnati, Cornell, USC

November: Chicago
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I originally took the LSAT without studying in 2006, so I'm retaking in June 2008, assuming I can ever figure out where the building is.

07/04/2008: LSAT Score back! 173!