29yoengteacher (2022-2023)

Worked for 5 years full time as a high school English teacher. Masters degree from top school (according to us news; Teachers College CU for education is always in top ten) Graduate work beyond the Masters.

Worked while in undergrad. Some Extracurriculars.
Solid personal essay.

It took me a while to finish BA. I should've graduated in 98', but i finished in dec of 99, the degree from the school (hunter, CUNY) says '00.

I didn't finish high school
got a GED instead the same year i would've graduated too.

3 reasons reasons for becoming a lawyer:

intellectual stimulation
more money
more meaning from my work

3-3-07
I'm attending Pace this fall.
Sent the deposit in March and observed a class
last week. I was wondering if I should prep for law school and, if so, how; until I observed the class and realized there's a reason it's called school: because they teach you.

Here's a summary of what really stands out to me now that it's all settled:

Pace and Hofstra really have given me the friendliest receptions of all the schools I applied to. Brooklyn took forever to reject me, whereas Fordham only took 2 weeks; I prefer the expediency.

I'm not sure how much you can tell by the admissions interaction with a school, but I believe it says a lot about the interaction one might have if attending. I got the impression from NYLS that they were some what out of touch. I went by to visit, according to the website, prospective students can visit. they wouldn't let me in without being toured around; some post 911 paranoia. And no one was able to tour me around. So I never got to see the school. I would have been more interested if it weren't for that and for that damn high tuition.

St. Johns still hasn't sent me a decision but they keep inviting me to chat online. I don't like chatting online. And I don't like their indecisiveness.

Touro's application was incomplete; I forgot to certify that I wasn't an ex con on the application. I never bothered to redo; by the time they informed me of it, I was already accepted to others.

Western New England?
They gave me a few waiver, so I figured why not? It's too far. I'm staying put.

Waitlisted at Cardozo and Rutgers was nice to know. I think that other factors in my application probably stood out above the LSAT and GPA. We can be so cut-throat realistic with ourselves during this app process that we don't realize how much self-evaluation we are performing. Realizing even mutable success is important.

I've read around a bit about people who are thinking of re-taking and waiting a yr to reapply and if you didn't get accepted anywhere at all, that's good advice. But, when I applied i told myself that I would go even if i got into my least favorite of my picks. I applied to places where I'd be willing to attend. I think that's the way to do it. There are people who make amazing LSAT leaps, but the process is so set up for a one shot deal, that I say put your all into the initial LSAT prep; if anything postpone taking it the 1st time. I know nerves didn't get me. I was doing in the mid to high 160's in practice. actually on the real test, the part that i was most nervous during was the part that I did the best on.

Anyway, if you want to kick yourself for not having done better, taking the LSAT is a good place to start

11-22-06 Fordham's rejection arrived in a regular-sized tan envelope with a form letter saying this was the most competitive year yet.

12-13-06 Columbia's rejection comes basically the same way as Fordham's. my MA is from Columbia, so I was hoping that would be my in, I know my #'s aren't right for it though. those are sour grapes anyway.

12-11-06 Happy happy, joy joy; acceptance #1. But no $. This is one of the most expensive law schools in the country. Only 15% of graduates report their income, that's why it's at 115,000 median. But it has a fantastic history. Envelope was regular sized, white, and really thick.

12-20-06 This is fantastic! I'm going to need a good reason to turn this down. Large white envelope. Notification of 9,500 a yr scholarship for maintaining a 3.0 each yr. I'll be 30,000 less in debt, plus it's a beautiful campus.

12-22-06 enormous envelope from Hofstra. It contained acceptance and a free t-shirt. I attended an open-house in nov. and really enjoyed it. What a lovely school, but the commute is just annoying. without a scholarship and any desire at all to live in long island i will probably pass this up.

1-2-07 still waiting...

1-5-07 Seton Hall's friendly rejection came in a regular white envelope.

1-6-07 email from St. Johns about prospective student open house

3-29-07 Sent in deposit to Pace 2 weeks ago