UppityShrew (2022-2023)

Weak-to-average soft factors:

-Internships in government and media during college.
-Positions with the campus newspaper and the campus radio station.
-Spring semester study abroad at University College London.
-A smattering of non-noteworthy academic awards, prizes, and/or scholarships.

Applying one year after graduation; any WE will be irrelevant.

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New ranking system...

1. Very, very likely.
2. Thinking about it.
3. Withdrawing any day now.
4. Bite me. (Reserved for WLs and rejections.)

Just your average, everyday, sane/psycho supergoddess...

That, and I don't know what else to do with an English/poly sci B.A. that doesn't involve a soul-destroying lifestyle of cubicles and middle management.

LSAT = average of 155 (February 2005) and 160 (October 2005). My first score was a comprehensive, unmitigated disaster. Did a course, studied at home, scored consistently in the low to mid 160s on practice tests. Hell, I got a 159 on my diagnostic, and at that time, I knew *nothing* about the LSAT. Why 155? I'll never know. (Not that 160 is stellar, but at least I didn't cry when I found out about it.)

2 average-to-strong LORs. Both English professors: my advisor at my alma mater and my tutor at UCL.

PS: I know it's well-written. Beyond that? I don't know. A standard "Why law? Why (insert name of school here)?" approach.

Despite the fact that I'm neither Caucasian nor possessed of a penis, I don't quite know if I'm a URM. I wrote a diversity statement, nonetheless.

I'm interested in the following: constitutional law; dispute resolution; intellectual property law (with a focus on arts, entertainment, and media); and international law.

I'm not good at gauging safety/target/reach, but I do wonder whether I'm low-balling. Four years of confidence crushing and grade deflation will do that to you.

I thought I'd open a LSN account partly to track my own progress and partly because I know LSN (and LSD) has been a help to me, and if I can do that for another applicant, no matter how marginally, why not?

Best of luck to all the applicants in the 05/06 cycle and beyond!

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12/19 - Fee waivers to Miami and Tulane. Why not?

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1/11 - Hofstra and McGeorge are free on-line, and Marquette and Penn State gave me fee waivers. Might as well cast a wider net if I can...

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1/17 - WLed at Loyola Chicago. Letter-sized envelope. Talk about things that make your heart stop. (Besides Colin Firth and shoes on sale.) At least my first wasn't an outright ding. Which I half-expected, so, hurrah! Sort of. Anyway, one down, fifteen to go. Will submit my name for continued consideration, but barring a miracle, I'm headed elsewhere come August.

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1/19 - In at Catholic! E-mail notification. Thank GOD (ha ha...figuratively *and* literally).

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1/20 - Bienvenidos a Miami! Acceptance letter and financial aid information in separate envelopes.

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1/25 - In at NYLS. Letter-sized envelope. Dean's Scholarship, $12,500/year, renewal contingent upon maintenance of a 3.2 GPA. They like me, they really like me...

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2/6 - Double the pleasure, double the fun. (All I need is a stick of Doublemint...) Acceptances from DePaul and Marquette. The former in a big envelope printed with the words "Welcome to DePaul." $5,000/year scholarship, contingent upon maintenance of a 2.3 GPA. The latter in a letter-sized envelope with a handwritten note - "Hope to see you in Milwaukee for law school!" Cool.

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2/15 - Just received an e-mail from Villanova in response to a status check e-mail I'd sent a month ago. At the end: "Congratulations -- you should be receiving an acceptance letter from us shortly!" Eee!

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2/16 - In at McGeorge, big envelope. Honors at Entrance distinction, free first-year books, reimbursed visit for Legal Scholar Day, possible scholarship. Conflicted - neither a top choice nor an auto-WD, but all of that is v. v. tempting.

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2/27 - Random updates. $13,000 from Marquette. $30,000 from McGeorge. I'm sure both are contigent upon maintenance of a certain GPA, but I'm too lazy to look at my letters right now. Ha ha.

Also, because a) seat deposits are due next month and b) I am far too stupidly impatient for my own good, I wrote status check e-mails to NE, 'Dozo, Hofstra, PSU, Tulane, USF,and Pepperdine.

So..."on hold" at Northeastern. Hofstra decided last Wednesday. Everywhere else, still under review. Hmm...

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3/3 - In at Hofstra, large envelope with a folder and a three-page cover letter. Honors Scholarship, $18,500, annually renewable upon maintenance of a 3.25 GPA. Nice.

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3/7 - In at Penn State via an e-mail invitation to an admitted students' reception. Works for me.

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3/9 - Received a big envelope from Penn State yesterday. Acceptance to the University Park Campus.

Today, a big envelope from USF. Chancellor's Scholarship, $16,000 for 1L. Aiya. A top choice up until a month or two ago, but seat deposits are due in early/mid April, and I've already booked travel (and taken off time from work) for March. Why must you tease me so?!

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3/20 - WLed at American and Cardozo. Bleh. The best part is that I found out via a call from my mother *right after* I'd attended a tour and an information session at American. Thanks for letting me know in advance.

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3/23 - Dooode...accepted at Northeastern, a thick letter-sized envelope. Dean's Scholarship, $8,500/year. No mention of a standard that I must maintain. I thought NE doesn't give out money. Man. So, so confused right now.

Since Nova's seat deposit is due April 1, I want to make up my mind by next Wednesday or so. My options: Catholic, DePaul, Northeastern, USF, and Villanova. Anybody have any thoughts? Input would be MUCH appreciated.

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3/24 - Tulane! E-mail acceptance. Very cool. Torn, because a very, very good school, but do I really want to be in NO for three years (now)? Decisions, decisions.

Ack. In other news, since this'll be one of my last updates (after news from Pepperdine, a wrap-up, and my choice), I'll be WDing from everywhere but Catholic, DePaul, Northeastern, Tulane, and Villanova. Will probably stay on American's waitlist, but I like set plans, and I REALLY don't like indecisiveness, so, I might WD eventually. Best of luck to those who might benefit as a result of all of this.

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3/31: Cardozo response to WD e-mail...

"OK, thank you!!"

Verbatim.

Um, yeah.

Pepperdine status update e-mail - complete with no decision (still).

Going to Boston to check out Northeastern next weekend. Yay. Would've gone to NO for Visit Tulane Day next Friday ($300 travel reimbursement!), but alas, I've already taken far too much time off from work.

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4/11: Pepperdine? For real? Whatever. I guess everybody's cycle has one WTF?! decision. Needless to say, I filled out my form with a big black X indicating that I've no desire to remain on their waitlist about five seconds after I read their letter. Good riddance.

On a brighter note, Northeastern was brilliant. Have more or less narrowed down my options to it and Catholic. Still holding onto to DePaul and Tulane for another day or two, though. (As well as American's waitlist...debating whether to wait a month or two before I pull myself off.)

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4/15: Northeastern it is, after reams of lists and soul-searching. My internal monologue is far too long (and probably uninteresting to those who aren't, well, me) to post here, but suffice to say, I think NE's a better fit in terms of a) career opportunities, b) learning environment, c) personal and professional goals and objectives, and d) day-to-day life - cool city, cool people, etc. Also, $8,500/year may be pocket change to those who've gotten partial/full rides, but anything that lightens my debt load is A-OK with me.

If any applicants from next year (and beyond)'s cycle read this, I just want to say, Catholic has been nothing but considerate and thoughtful to me. They get knocked around a lot because of their T2/T3 status in a city saturated by T1s, local and otherwise, but I think *very* highly of them, and I urge anybody who's 50/50 about applying, deciding, etc. to do likewise.

Anyway, I'll send my WD Monday. Will probably hold onto American for another week or two because I'm strange like that. Otherwise...

Members of Northeastern's Class of 2009, contact me. :) Also, best of luck and much thanks to everybody who's read or responded to this. You've been lovely.