HopefulApplicant (2022-2023)

Nothing special, but I was fairly active during my college years. I have a good mix of awards, community service, and extracurricular activities.

A definition of terms:

"Sent"=Date I sent the application electronically via the LSAC online application

"Received"=Date that the law school requested my law school report

"Complete"=Date that the law school sent me an email, postcard, letter, etc. that I am complete

"Decision"=Date of the email, letter, etc. that I received (keep in mind that it often takes a few days via snail mail to be received! I therefore use the date that the letter was dated)

I have decided to disclose my information much earlier than I had decided, for various reasons. I have nothing to hide, really. I would love to attend any of these schools, and the posts I make online are all helpful and friendly.

To give a background about myself: I am a second-time applicant who was very disappointed with my results last time. I scored ia 154 my first time, and a 163 my second time, after a lot of studying. Perseverance pays off, for sure...

Because of my multiple LSATs, and the unsure nature of the application process, I decided to apply to many schools this cycle. I chose schools where I would genuinely consider attending, and I think it is a good list of fine law schools. I would honestly be happy to attend any of them.

My GPA is a 3.99. My school is basically unknown. My major is considered "weak," unfortunately.

I'll try to update as I feel more comfortable doing so.

Good luck to everyone applying this cycle!

University of Florida-I received an email from them 11/7/07, telling me that applicants need to go to this link and fill out additional information, and pay the application fee.

University of Miami-my first acceptance!

It was dated 10/31/07, but I received it the 11/5/07. It was a normal-sized envelope with many papers for a seat deposit, etc. It stated that most scholarships are awarded in late December.

This hopefully is a good sign. Miami is higher-ranked than ANY school to which I was accepted the last time I applied! :0)

Georgetown-I'm complete here. Keep in mind, however, that I may have been complete earlier; today was the first time I used their status checker.

University of Pittsburgh-My second acceptance! It came in a regular-sized envelope, thickly packed, with some general information. Scholarship info is supposed to come approximately three weeks after the acceptance letter.

University of Florida-My third acceptance! It came in a large, 8.5 by 11 (I think) tan envelope. It states the merit-based scholarships are awarded from January to March. The letter arrived 11/23; it was dated 11/20/07.

11/30-I received a scholarship letter in the mail! $15,000/year, contingent on maintaining a "B" average. This made my night!

University of Maryland-I received an acceptance in a regular-sized envelope! It stated that additional correspondence will follow.

University of Penn State Dickinson-I received an acceptance in a regular-sized envelope, along with a scholarship offer of $20,000 per year! It is contingent upon remaining in good standing and remaining in the top half of the class.

University of Villanova-I received an acceptance via a regular-sized envelope!

University of San Diego-I received an acceptance via a very large envelope! It contained financial aid info; only then do they give you an offer of assistance. I'll have to see what they means in regards to scholarship opportunities.

Fordham-I checked the status checker online 12/13/07, and it stated that I'm at the second evaluation stage. At the very least they're taking another good look at my application! I'm counting this as a "deferral."

Temple-I was accepted to Temple, via a very large envelope. I received a "First Year Scholars" award of $5,000, nonrenewable.

Boston College-My application is placed on hold, via a regular-sized envelope. :0/ They said they will mail decisions for hold candidates by Feb. 29, 2008. I was hoping for something different from them...

Boston University-I finally received a complete from them 12/17/07. It took approximately seven weeks for me to go complete!

Widener University-I was accepted for their Harrisburg campus via a very large envelope. It was also awarded full tuition, contingent on maintaining a 3.0 average.

Cornell-My first rejection of this cycle came in a thin, regular-sized envelope. I received it on Christmas Eve. :0(
They were very nice in their rejection letter, though.

Georgetown-My second rejection in a row. Another thin, regular-sized envelope.

Notre Dame-My first official waitlist. It's called a "Provisional List;" the letter states that they normally accept 25-50 students off this list in late April to May. They do not rank their waitlist.

It's better than an outright rejection, so I'm kind of happy. However, I feel as if I already hit the zenith of my good news, and that the rest of the news will just be bad...

Northwestern-They sent me an email, where they told me to check my decision letter online (they do NOT mail decisions) by using my applicant ID numbers. I was rejected. I really, really liked NW, so this one really stung...

George Mason-I received a rejection in a thin envelope. I was slightly surprised about this one, as my numbers are competitive there, but they get sooo many applications from people wanting to be near D.C...oh well...

University of Miami-After emailing them politely about a possible scholarship, they offered me $23,000/yr., contingent on maintaining a 3.0! They've been really nice throughout the whole process, and it doesn't seem to be hard to keep. This is in response to a question on their discussion board:

"For last spring (2006) the 50% cut off for first year students was 2.953. Approximately 85-90% retain their scholarship after their first-year. Merit Scholarships are renewable for the second and third year of law school provided the student maintains a "B" average (3.000) or better.

The Curve: For first year classes only, faculty must give a combined total of A and B+ grades to at least 20% of the class and a combined total of B, B+, and A grades to at least 45% of the class. Faculty are free to give more A, B+, and B grades.

Faculty who teach first year classes are required to give C- or below grades to at least 5% of the class, which would just be 5 in a class of 100 or 3 in class of 50. The reason for the latter rule is to ensure that students who are in serious academic difficulty are forced to confront the problem early in their law school career, rather than squeak by in school and then find themselves unable to pass the bar and unprepared for practice."

It's good to have some good news after a lot of bad news! :0)

Boston University-Some more good news! I received a call today saying I was accepted, and info is to come in the mail. I can't believe I made it into a top 20 school!

UPenn-A rejection. The letter was dated "1/15/2008," although I didn't receive it until 1/26/2008. I was expecting a rejection, obviously, so I'm not too bummed. However, going to an Ivy League school AND being close to my family would've been nice.

University of San Diego-I received a $17,000/yr. scholarship; I need to remain in the top 33% of the day division, though.

George Washington-I'm on the waitlist, receiving a thin letter dated 1/31/2008. I was actually happy to see this, just like ND; I knew that both were reaches for me. I consider this a victory! :0)

Temple-They sent me an email in response to my request for a scholarship reconsideration.

Instead of only giving me $5,000 nonrenewable, it's now $5,000 renewable, contingent on remaining in the top half of the class. That's not a bad deal at all!

Berkeley-I received a rejection in thin envelope. It was the most humane rejection letter by far, in my humble opinion.

I was hoping I had a shot, since I was complete for approximately three months. Oh well, I can't complain; I am fortunate to have so many good options that many people do not. Still, it stings a little. :0/

Boston College-Another rejection via snail mail, in a thin envelope.

At least they were nice enough to send it out a little more than a week before their deadline, but I'm still a little bummed.

Boston University-I received a $15,000/yr. scholarship, provided I remain in "good academic standing" and my financial circumstances do not change significantly.

This is going to make my decision tougher, but I can't complain! :0)

Washington and Lee-I received a thin envelope stating that I'm deferred. The latest they said they would send me a decision (i.e., either an acceptance or a waitlist!) is 4/24 (postmarked).

The letter also stated that I would be considered for a merit scholarship if funds are still available.

Miami-I received a call from the Dean: I'm a Miami Scholar!

Their website describes their program well:

"Up to twenty-two entering law students, two from each of the eleven federal judicial circuits, are selected each year as Miami Scholars. Miami Scholars serve on the Public Interest Leadership Board through the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center and play a key role in advancing public interest programming and opportunities at the School of Law.

Each Miami Scholar is awarded an annual $25,000 law school tuition scholarship provided a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better is maintained. In addition, in the summer after their first year of law school, Miami Scholars are guaranteed a summer position or granted a partial tuition scholarship for one summer of enrollment in either one of our summer abroad programs or on-campus summer session following their first or second year of law school. Miami Scholars also receive a partial tuition scholarship if they are admitted to and enroll in one of our LL.M. programs upon graduation (or, in the case of the School's JD/LL.M. Programs in Taxation, International Law, Inter-American Law or Ocean & Coastal Law, before graduation). The School offers LL.M. programs in Comparative Law (for graduates of international law schools), Estate Planning, Inter-American Law, International Law, Ocean and Coastal Law, Real Property Development, and Taxation. Miami Scholarships are available for full-time students only."

W&M-I was waitlisted via snail mail. I really liked this school, and I expected it to be one of my top choices when I began researching schools. Oh well, it was not to be...

Boston-I received via snail mail that I did not make it into the Public Interest Scholars Program. I was expecting this, because it's such a good school, but it never hurts to apply!

Florida: I received an $8,000 nonrenewable "Levin College of Law Fellows Grant." They said that "[t]he grant is given to encourage students to pursue a career in law school education, law school administration, or a specialized area of the law."

I'm happy to see this! It's going to make it harder to choose, but I'm glad to have such a great "problem!" :0)

Florida-I decided on Florida! Feel free to ask me, and I'll give you my rationale for choosing it.

Fordham-I saw that I was waitlisted via the online status checker.

W&L-They accepted me! I was expecting a WL, so this was a pleasant surprise. It feels good to be wanted. :0)