GladiatorJC (2015-2016)

Excellent extra curricular including governor-appointed position on governmental agency board, full time work experience throughout undergrad for 4 years. Several other work experiences as well, excellent recommendations. Amazing softs, hoping that it'll set me apart from those with higher GPAs and higher LSAT score.

My applications are all over the board, I am hoping that my softs and interviews with different admissions deans with get me in.

My Predictions:

Weak Chance (0%-15%)
Yale
UVA
UCLA
USC

Possibility (20%-50%)
UCI
UC Davis
GW
W&M
UW
Fordham
Boston University
Boston College

Strong Possibility (50%-70%)
W&L
George Mason
IU Bloomington

Very Strong Possibility (70%-90%)
American
Seattle U
Gonzaga
Chapman
Pepperdine
Case Western
Santa Clara

Hispanic/LGBT applicant. Addendum submitted for GPA: put myself through college as a first-generation college student by working three jobs at once during all 4 years in undergrad.

FINAL UPDATE - Went and visited the U of Illinois campus and loved it. I met with the dean to negotiate my scholarship. I was lucky to get in the school in the first place, and was surprised they were giving me $15K originally. Anyways, I visited and a couple days later they bumped my scholarship from $15K to $50K. Needless to say, I am putting my deposit down.

MARCH 2016
At this point, it is boiling down between Illinois, GW, and waiting on William and Mary.

Seattle gave me a $6k scholly bump but is stilling coming under Indiana, so at this point it is Illinois > Indiana > Seattle [pending W&M]. I have written to Illinois requesting a scholly bump, so it is just a waiting game now.

FEBRUARY 2016
Accepted to U of Illinois. Very excited about that and will be visiting and negotiating for more scholarship money. One of my top choices to date.

Got into Indiana which was awesome, they are giving me a generous amount of scholly which is exciting.

JANUARY 2016
Hearing back from some schools. Rejected from UVA (as expected) and waiting on more.

Got a total of three full ride offers which is very exciting.

I emailed a few other law schools who have offered me admissions to ask about an increase in scholarship amounts, so we will see if that works.

DECEMBER 2015
Heard back from AU, got in! Was very quick. Finalized some additional apps, now it is just waiting game.

NOVEMBER 2015
Applications

Hearing back from a few schools!

OCTOBER 2015
Took LSAT, catching up on school work, working on applications including personal statement.

Applied to ALL schools that I wanted to apply to.

LSAT score was lower than expected, registered for December LSAT

SEPTEMBER 2015
Studying for the LSAT, 1 to 2 PT's a week. Focusing primarily on LR, scoring anywhere from 158-163. Hoping to refine skills in LR and score around 165.

Law Schools Visited: I visited William and Mary recently and met with one of the admissions deans. The law school was fairly small, but it's somewhere I think I can see myself attending. The interview went very well, and I am confident that I can get into the school.

UVA: Sent in request for fee waiver via email, granted same day.Decided to go ED with UVA, worth a shot.
W&M: Sent in request for fee waiver via email, granted same day.
Fordham: Fee waiver requested, they told me to fill out a form that asks for my salary. Unfortunately I know I make too much and they wouldn't grant it. I'll just fork over the $70.
IU Bloomington: Sent in resume and financial paperwork, they waived the application fee.
Boston U: Sent in a request, they reviewed merit and financial documents and granted waiver.

Sent in requests for LoRs: One from my boss who is a former representative in the VA House of Delegates, two from professors, one from gov't board who I served with, and one from an alumni to W&M who I currently work with.

JUNE 2015 - AUGUST 2015
Hired private tutor, getting majority of LG wrong up until around August. Started scoring around 158.

JANUARY 2015 - JUNE 2015
Took Kaplan LSAT Course, helped me understand the basic and jump started my studies. Cold diagnostic: 143 in Jan 2015.