STLCardinals (2022-2023)

Soft factors - MA in Political Science, some volunteer experience, competitive forensics. One year of work experience as an accountant.

PS/LORs decent, but likely nothing special. I wrote a very safe PS which probably didn't help or hurt my application. I'd generally rate all of the non-numerical aspects of my application as average.

I would also like to note that I was extremely skeptical about my chances at the beginning of the cycle. I had a rough time applying to PhD programs last year, so that really colored my view of the law school app process. This explains why I applied to some schools that are ridiculously safe with my numbers, and also why I saw places like Vandy and UCLA as my target/reaches. I thought I would be extremely lucky to be accepted at a single T14, and I was accepted at three and waitlisted at three others......

I had a great experience at both ASWs and would say that UCLA and Michigan both offer a strong quality of life. I would recommend that anyone admitted to either school strongly consider attending. Especially at UCLA, I feel that showing interest in the school helped me to get the best possible feel for the school and the best interaction with the admissions office, who I felt to be excellent folks who really work hard for students.

Scholarship amounts have been changed to three year totals, as this appears to be the convention. Amounts are approximate and include both need and merit based assistance.

11/28/07 - I've got a choice! I've got two really nice acceptances and I'm quite happy so far. Still have eyes for Michigan, UVA, Boalt, Chicago, and Columbia - but who doesn't? There are a couple of apps that I will probably now withdraw.

11/29/07 - Withdrew at Iowa. I just don't think I'm likely to attend there, particularly with the Duke acceptance. UMN seals the deal: I don't think I would choose IA over MN. Plus, Iowa is a great school and there are lots of folks who'd love a seat there......

12/04/07 - Accepted at W&M with a large scholarship. Nice school, nice town. Will probably ask for a good bit more money.

12/06/07 - Accepted at Vandy. I got the package, but not the official letter. It seems that this has been common this cycle. The Vandy packet was very impressive and they've been high on my list - with a good scholarship I'd be very excited about attending.

12/07/07 - Accepted at W&L. I'm really excited about this: while I did expect to be admitted, I can absolutely see myself going here. I would probably need a nice scholarship to go there: if I'm going to go $100,000 into debt, I need absolutely certain big law placement, which you can't really get outside of the T14. That said, if my financial needs are met, I'm looking for a prestigious school that fits my personality and needs. Everywhere I've applied fits that bill.

12/11/07 - Cornell acceptance! It's very expensive, but a terrific school and I would love to live in Ithaca. I've got a difficult choice already and I still haven't heard from tons of places......

12/11/07 continued - HOLY CRAP! UCLA! Got the call tonight and it is a great feeling! I had no idea that the cycle would go so well - I sort of doubted that I would get in anywhere this good. This is unbelievable......

12/12/07 - Held at Berkeley. So you're saying I've got a chance ;)

12/15/07 - In at WUSTL. Good to know. None of the other places to which I've been admitted are absolute showstoppers just yet......

12/18/07 - Got into BC yesterday. Not entirely unexpected, but BC has an interesting program and it is definitely a school I will consider. There isn't any school to which I've been accepted so far that I will not be seriously considering. I've updated with annual scholarship offers: WUSTL, Duke, W&L, Vandy, UCLA, and BC will all be making financial aid offers after the New Year.

12/26/07 - Got into USC and Washington today. I'm pretty sure the letters got to my place on the 23rd or 24th, but I was out of town, so just getting them today, I'm extremely pleased with these and especially with USC. I'm not quite sure what to think about UW, but I would absolutely consider attending with a large scholarship offer. A Gates public service scholarship would be very hard to turn down.

1/2/08 - Into Emory. The wait is now coming down the home stretch......

1/10/08 - Deferred at Michigan. Not shocking - I'm fully expecting a waitlist from them. I would very much like to go to Michigan, but it won't be the end of the world if it works out that way. We'll see how it works out - now there are just three schools from whom I've heard nothing. The cycle started out very well, but it's starting to slow down, which is frustrating. I'd like to be able to make a call by the end of March.

1/23/08 - Full tuition scholarship at WUSTL. Great news, and they've moved into serious contention. It will certainly depend how the rest of the cycle goes, but WUSTL is looking a whole lot more appealing, and it's a bit closer to home than many of my other options.

1/31/08 - Pretty much full tuition at W&L. Excellent news. I've added two applications that I forgot to add - dates are approximate. I'll probably be withdrawing from several schools now. UW, Emory, BC, Notre Dame, and Wake Forest are hitting the chopping block, and probably today. At the start of this process, I just did not have a good idea of what constituted a safety for me. I had a good picture of reaches, but targets/safeties really confused me. While I definitely like all of these schools, I just believe I have better options now for sure.

2/05/08 - In at Michigan! Well, damn. I was really wanting this one a while ago, then went a little cool, but now I'm ready to roll. Like Michigan a lot. Would like to go. We'll see what happens.

Deferred at Chicago - feared the thin envelope, but it was good news. STLCardinals escapes! Will write the essay.

$22,000 per year scholarship at USC - I think I'll probably just withdraw. The decision is shaping up as UCLA vs. Michigan vs. hopeful money at Duke/Cornell. Chicago, Columbia, and Boalt are obviously huge contenders if I can get a bite.

02/09/08 - Waitlisted at CLS. Well, it's not a WL, it's a "reserve", a "reconsider in May".....yeah, it's a waitlist. Get over it. I'm not disappointed - glad to have dodged the ding and I'll probably stay on the list and see what happens. This is my first actual bad news of the cycle, but I really don't care that much. I'd trade a Boalt acceptance for a CLS ding and a kick in the junk any day of the week.

02/25/08 - Rejected at Boalt. Well, this one hurts - a lot. Pretty much ends the cycle, though: it's a decision between Michigan and UCLA at this point. Duke or Cornell could still get in the game with a great scholarship offer, but it seems unlikely that they'll do that.

03/01/08 - 30K/year at Vandy. Good news that keeps them in the game for sure. I still think it's most likely that I'll go to UCLA or Michigan, but not at all certain. Vandy definitely gives me a good scholarship option if UCLA doesn't come through......

04/15/08 - WL at UVA. Don't care, as the lack of timeliness in receiving a decision made it impossible to consider them. Rejected at Chicago - no shock, especially since I didn't write the essay or send a LOCI. Decided that I just didn't want to go.

4/23/08 - And that's my cycle! I'll be attending UCLA in the fall and couldn't be happier about it. It was very difficult to choose UCLA over Michigan, but I got a great vibe from the ASW and feel like it's the right place for me. I liked Michigan as well, but a better financial aid package and my regional preferences left me preferring UCLA at the end of the day.