SpartanAlum12 (2022-2023)

Double major in Electrical Engineering and Applied Engineering Sciences

Part time bartender throughout undergrad

EE Senior Design Award

Studying for the patent bar currently

Scholarship totals based on 3 years, assuming I renew them and don't get additional money.

Applied to a lot of reaches, hoping the engineering background and patent law aspirations give me a slight boost

1/15: First acceptance to Wayne State. I was impressed with how fast they responded, maybe a little $$ coming? Not planning to stay in Michigan but if I do I may consider WSU as it's the cheapest option for me.

1/17: Waitlisted at DePaul. I think I should get used to this as I'm on the borderline (at best) for many of the Tier 2 schools I applied to.

1/24: Accepted to MSU with 25% scholarship!! Renewable if I maintain a 2.5 GPA, chance to get more $$ if I do real well. Didn't think I would get any money out of them, maybe being an undergrad there actually helped? Now if I stay in Michigan, MSU seems like a good option as it's an improving law school with a good name.

2/1: Waitlisted at Chicago Kent. Looks like the Chicago schools are out for me.

2/2: Got back from vacation and received my Wayne State acceptance packet. First year scholarship of $10,000 non-renewable. Won't be enough to turn me away from MSU.

2/12: Accepted to Cal Western with 70% scholarship! They are pretty vague on what you have to do to renew that scholarship though. This is a Tier 4 but places decent in San Diego. California is a good state for patent law and living in SD would be great. I will consider this school with the money they're giving me.

2/23: Got much more info about the Cal Western scholarship, and it's great news. They have changed the stips which are much lower than they used to be. Have to maintain a 76 (C average) to renew the 70% scholarship. In the past it's been a 78 to 82 average, which was a much tougher requirement. Definitely might go here now.

2/25: Waitlisted at Denver Law.

3/1: Admitted to Santa Clara Law! I'm guessing no scholarship, but I'm pretty happy just to get in. Their IP program is considered to be one of the best in the nation. Very, very pricey at sticker though.

3/8: Received packet from Santa Clara. $9,300 scholarship first year. No info about renewing, I'm guessing it's either an extremely tough stip or not renewable at all. Pretty excited to be accepted here though, #3 IP school in the nation and located in the Silicon Valley. I will definitely visit and consider this school.

3/14: Waitlisted at USD law. Semi disappointed but not surprised.

3/19: Withdrew from Denver, Kent, Depaul, and Wayne. Deposited at MSU and SCU so far, will also likely deposit at Cal Western.

5/3: Scholarship to SCU increased to 10K a year and 3.0 to renew. Pretty sure I'm going here but I'm visiting later this month before I make my second deposit and commit.

5/31: After visiting SCU and CWSL along with doing a ton of research, I've decided to attend California Western and withdraw all my other acceptances and waitlists. The debt is simply too much for my other options, with not much better job prospects. Also, I liked the San Diego area much better than the San Jose/Silicon Valley area and would rather practice law there. San Diego has a decent patent job market, and CWSL gives me a decent shot at that with the EE degree hopefully. This is risky, but I'm going to go for it. Wish everyone the best of luck in making their decisions and in law school!