MAHamlin (2022-2023)

Recap following all decisions rendered. I had a TON of wait list offers. I suspect a lot of this had to do with my not providing Why? essays to many of the schools. If I had to do it over again I would also have made sure my letters of recommendation were ready as soon as I got my October LSAT score back. I suspect the combination of somewhat late applications (~12/8) and lack of specific interest shown is the primary reason for the number of wait lists. My advice to future applicants (for what it's worth) is to apply early and spend the time to make school specific applications. Either customize your personal statement, send Why? essays, get school-specific letters of recommendation or all three.

I should note, however, that at the end of all this I am not at all disappointed. $150k from Northwestern and an acceptance from Harvard is a pretty great outcome.

I am an older applicant at 30 years of age and have ten years of work experience, half in nonsense jobs post high school and the other half working for the city and state.

Softs are fairly average as I was unable to participate in many extracurricular activities while in college due to working through the first half of college and having a wife and children who deserve some of my attention.

Received unrequested fee waivers from all top 14 schools except HYS and Berkeley.

2/7/13 - Held by Harvard.

2/9/13 - Offered $21k/year at IU-Indy as an Indiana resident.

2/13/13 - Decided I couldn't live with the "What if?" that would come with not applying to Yale. Sent application.

2/20/13 - LSAC processed my updated transcript adding Fall grades. GPA increased from 4.04 to 4.06.

2/26/13 - Waitlisted by UVA. Didn't submit a Why UVA? essay. Is this a yield protection or does my app just suck? Getting nervous.

3/1/13 - UR1 at U of Chicago.

3/15/13 - Placed on Priority Reserve at Duke. Another YP? I did send a LOCI in February and an app update in early March... scratching my head on this one.

3/20/13 - $150,000 from Northwestern!!! I'm hugely excited! I would be shocked if I wasn't in Streeterville Chicago this fall!

3/21-22/13 - Withdrew my applications from IU-Indy, Duke, and UVA. Given Northwestern's offer there isn't much these schools can do now to convince me to attend.

3/29/13 - Waitlisted at the University of Chicago. Withdrew.

4/2/13 - Rejected from Yale. No surprise there.

4/5/13 - Offered a spot on Harvard's WL from the hold list. Accepted the WL offer.

4/12/13 - Another wait list; this time from Michigan. Intend to withdraw. I'm a little irritated that out of ten applications I have only received three actual decisions.

4/12/13 - On a lighter note, I received a JS1 offer from Harvard.

4/22/13 - Waitlisted at Stanford. Withdrew. My wife and I decided that only an offer from Harvard would challenge Northwestern's offer.

5/22/13 - Follow-up call from Harvard to gauge continued interest in Harvard.

5/24/13 - Accepted to Harvard!!! I'm completely overwhelmed!