ArcusProtus (2022-2023)

Views: 5492 User Since: 10/01/07

Application Information

F - Fee Waiver A - Attending W - Withdrawn D - Deferred
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# Law School Status Type $$$ Sent Received Complete Interview Date Decision Updated
#1 Northwestern University F Accepted A Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 01/22/08 Inter: -- Dec: 04/30/08 Upd: 14 years
#1 Duke University F Waitlisted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 01/04/08 Inter: -- Dec: 01/09/08 Upd: 16 years
#2 Washington University in St Louis F Accepted W Type: RA $60,000 Sent: -- Rec: 01/02/08 Comp: -- Inter: -- Dec: 02/01/08 Upd: 16 years
#3 University of Colorado Boulder Waitlisted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 12/31/07 Inter: -- Dec: 02/25/08 Upd: 16 years
#3 Tulane University Accepted W Type: RA $75,000 Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/03/08 Inter: -- Dec: 01/28/08 Upd: 16 years
#4 Temple University F Accepted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 12/21/07 Inter: -- Dec: 01/23/08 Upd: 16 years
#4 University of Miami F Accepted W Type: RA $102,000 Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 12/28/07 Inter: -- Dec: 01/10/08 Upd: 16 years
#4 Santa Clara University F Accepted W Type: RA $30,000 Sent: -- Rec: 12/17/07 Comp: 01/09/08 Inter: -- Dec: 01/29/08 Upd: 16 years
#1 University of Southern California Rejected Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/08/08 Inter: -- Dec: 04/18/08 Upd: 16 years
#2 Wake Forest University Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/11/08 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#1 Vanderbilt University Waitlisted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 12/26/07 Inter: -- Dec: 01/23/08 Upd: 16 years
#4 University of Tennessee Knoxville Accepted W Type: RA $12,000 Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 12/21/07 Inter: -- Dec: 01/05/08 Upd: 16 years
#3 George Mason University Accepted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 12/21/07 Inter: -- Dec: 01/08/08 Upd: 16 years
#2 University of California Hastings Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/18/07 Comp: 01/04/08 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#2 University of Minnesota Twin Cities F Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/10/08 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#2 Emory University Rejected Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/03/08 Inter: -- Dec: 02/26/08 Upd: 16 years
#1 Columbia University F Rejected Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: -- Inter: -- Dec: 04/01/08 Upd: 16 years
#1 University of Virginia F Waitlisted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 12/20/07 Inter: -- Dec: 03/28/08 Upd: 16 years
#1 Georgetown University F Waitlisted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 01/04/08 Inter: -- Dec: 02/13/08 Upd: 16 years
#1 Boston University Rejected Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 02/01/08 Inter: -- Dec: 03/28/08 Upd: 16 years
#2 University of California Davis Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/10/08 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#2 University of Wisconsin Madison Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/18/07 Comp: 01/11/08 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#2 Fordham University Waitlisted W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/18/07 Comp: 01/07/08 Inter: -- Dec: 02/20/08 Upd: 16 years
#2 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign F Accepted W Type: RA $30,000 Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/02/08 Inter: -- Dec: 01/16/08 Upd: 16 years
#3 University of Georgia Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 01/10/08 Comp: -- Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#2 Ohio State University Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 01/02/08 Comp: 01/10/08 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#2 College of William and Mary F Pending W Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/07 Comp: 12/20/07 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 16 years
#1 University of California Los Angeles F Rejected Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/14/04 Comp: -- Inter: -- Dec: 03/28/08 Upd: 16 years
#1 University of Chicago F Rejected Type: RA Sent: -- Rec: 12/13/07 Comp: 01/02/08 Inter: -- Dec: 03/24/08 Upd: 16 years

Applicant Information

  • LSAT: 170
  • LSAT 2: -
  • LSAT 3: -
  • GRE : -
  • LSAC GPA: 2.9
  • Degree GPA: 3.75
  • School Type: Private University
  • Major: PoliSci

Demographic Information

  • City: -
  • State: Illinois
  • Race: White
  • Gender: Man
  • Non-Traditional Applicant: Yes
  • Years out of Undergrad: -

Extra Curricular Information

I applied to more than 20 schools. This is for two reasons: first, I am applying nearly everywhere I received a fee waiver -- this includes some SERIOUS reaches, but you never know until you try, right? Second, I am a classic splitter. Not knowing how my low GPA would affect my applications, I cast an extremely wide net. I hope it works.

My rankings:

1. Reaches and Favorites

2. More realistic options and schools at which I would be very happy.

3. Schools which have some merits, and which I am confident I will gain acceptance.

4. Safeties

Comments are welcome. Good luck to all!

EC's + soft factors:

- Fraternity president (and other postitions)
- Student rep to dormitory council
- Editorial board member on University journal
- Deans list
- Honor Society
- volunteer work (for both public interest and private non-profit)
- 2 years corporate work experience

Okay, now that my cycle is over I have posted my numbers and ECs, but I need also to include a small note about my academic career. I started my UG at a small elite lib arts school, but did not do well. Actually, I did HORRIBLY. I then took 2.5 years off, grew up, learned some work ethic, and transferred to an elite private university. I excelled there, which is why my DGPA is so much higher than my overall. I included a GPA addendum, which also served as my "hiatus" addendum, and it allowed me to explain that I am not the same person who made the stupid mistakes in my early UG career. I think this second essay was incredibly useful for me, and along with my LSAT, I was apparently able to convince the AdComs to (at least partially) ignore my overall GPA in favor of my DGPA.

Additional info & updates

Diary:

12/13/07 - All apps sent electronically. ECs and numbers down until end of cycle. Apps will become visible when decisions are received.

1/05/08 - Tennessee acceptance in mail. Small white envelope, one piece of paper inside; "Congratulations, details to follow..." I'm going to law school!

1/08/08 - In at GMU! Voice mail on cell phone; "Congrats, package in mail..." I screened the call because I didn't recognize the 703 area code -- oops! Guess I have to start answering calls from strange numbers. Anyway, in at a top 40 school in the DC area! Very pleased.

1/09/08 - Waitlisted at Duke. Email, with forms to follow in the mail. I know some people call a waitlist "the kiss of death," but I'm excited about this. I really only thought about Duke in my wildest fantasies, and the fact that I have even a chance to go there is a dream come true.

1/10/08 - In at Miami. Letter plus info in mail. I'm beginning to think I cast a wider net than was necessary, but I'm going to enjoy the ego boost while I can (which is until I get my first *ding*). (Update 1/31 - Scholarship info in the mail. Full Dean's Merit Scholarship, appx value: $102,000. Wow. That kind of money is hard to pass up. However, it really only constitutes a savings of about $32,000 over UIUC b/c of in state tuition. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I'm gonna pass on the offer from Miami.)

1/18/08 - In at UIUC! Awesome. Status-checker went to "decision" on wednesday (1/16); received email today (1/18), saying "I hope you already received a letter congratulating you, and if not, sorry for the informality of finding out via email..." I hadn't received the letter yet, and I do not care about the "informality" of an email acceptance. Top 25, in-state tuition, chicago job opportunities = I'm psyched! (Update 1/22/08: finally recieved acceptance + info via snail mail. $10K/year!! At this point, something REALLY special would have to happen for me to turn down Illinois.)

1/23/08 - In at Temple via snail mail. Withdrawing from here and a couple of other schools (WFU, W&M, SCU) this week.

1/23/08 - Status-checker changed to decision at Vandy. Apparently they send their acceptance boxes priority mail, and they arrive within a couple of days; they send their waitlist and rejection letters regular mail, and they take about a week. SO, if I don't have anything by Monday, I know not to expect good news. (Update 1/28/08 - WL + form came in mail on 1/26; small envelope. This was expected, but I was holding out for better news. Oh well, staying on waitlist, hoping for movement before May.)

1/28/08 - Status-checker at Tulane says "Congratulations!" I really like Tulane, and think the school's rep has been unfairly hurt by Katrina. Unfortunately, perception is reality, and the 2 years of shrunken application pools has dropped Tulane in the rankings and, therefore, in national reputation. I'm still going to give it some serious thought, but I don't think I can choose Tulane over UIUC in 2008 (whereas 3 years ago I may have). (Update 2/1/08 - Acceptance bag and packet via snail mail; $25K/year!; Tulane remains strongly in the mix)

1/28/08 - Withdrew from Santa Clara, William and Mary, Wake Forest, and Temple.

2/1/08 - In at WashU via e-mail!! This is so exciting! I really like WashU - good school, midwesterners, great International Law program. Will definitely attend ASD on 2/22; maybe I'll see some of you there... (Update 2/21 - email offering $20K/yr!! Really flattered by the offer, making WashU current #1 choice.)

2/2/08 - In at SCU via snail mail; $10K/year. My withdrawal must have passed the acceptance in the mail. Oops - I was afraid of that happening to one or two schools. Oh well. I appreciate the offer, but no thank you SCU.

2/11/08 - Withdrew from Tennessee, Miami, Colorado, and Georgia.

2/13/08 - GULC decision sent according to status-checker. I don't expect good news, but miracles do happen!! Come on come on come on come on.... (Update 2/16 - Preferred waitlist!; smaill white envelope.) I continue to have mixed feelings about these waitlists. On the one hand, I'm excited that I'm even up for consideration. on the other hand, I feel teased - what if there is no movement?!? P.S. Does anyone know how many preferred waitlisters there are compared to regular waitlisters?

2/20/08 - Waitlisted at Fordham; status-checker. I am the waitlist king!!

2/21/08 - Withdrew from George Mason, UC-Hastings, UC-Davis, Tulane, OSU, and Wisconsin.

2/24/08 - Back from ASD at WashU. Had a great time -- enjoyed the campus (AB Hall is sweet), nice talk from the dean, interesting lunch with prof Ellis, and of course happy hour was awesome (free beer from - who else? - Budweiser). Ran the table in Beirut with another prospective - take that 1&2Ls! Reasonable housing options, and Forest Park is leash-free. Def my #1 choice.

2/25/08 - Waitlisted at Colorado??? Another crossed-in-the-mail decision. Kinda confused about this one, but don't really care as I have already withdrawn my app. Seriously tho, another waitlist?!?!

***I think its time for a note about my apps. My being waitlisted at a number of places is NOT a surprise. My application is a bit all over the place, having started my academic career VERY poorly, then finishing it VERY strongly. I think some adcoms just don't know what to make of it, and I understand that hesitation. You sleep in the bed you make, I guess. Lesson to other splitters: THIS PROCESS IS UNPREDICTABLE!! Don't assume you're getting in/rejected from anywhere!

3/3/08 - Withdrew from Minnesota and Fordham.

3/8/08 - Returned home from ASD at UIUC (really nice time; the people made the trip -- administration, faculty, current and prospective students were all really great -- they will be the reason I choose IL if I do) to find Emory rejection in mail. First week of March and my first outright *ding*; it was a good run, and it had to end sometime.

3/17/08 - **twiddling my thumbs**

3/26/08 - Rejection from U of C; small envelope, snail mail. The real shock here is that it took so damn long!

3/28/08 - Status-checker at UVA says a decision has been reached. *GULP* I don't exactly have high hopes, but I've learned these past few months that anything can happen, and I would LOVE to go to Virginia. WOULD ... LOOOOVE ... TO GO TO VIRGINIA.

Later... rejection from UCLA; small plain envelope. Not a huge surprise, but kinda expected a WL. Doesn't bode well for UVA letter in the mail.

3/28/08 - After anxiously checking the mail for the UVa letter (nothing yet), I find a rejection from BU. Kinda surprised here, but I realize that BU is incredibly hard to get into, what with all the Harvard apps who apply to BU "just in case." Still, I expected a WL. Oh well, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have gone there anyway.

3/29/08 - PAID MY SEAT DEPOSIT AT WASHU (due 4/1 - so early!)!! It feels really good, too.

4/1/08 - Columbia rejection. Finally!

4/3/08 - Where is my Virginia rejection?!?!? Maybe they mailed me a big envelope (!!), which is why its taking so long. Yeah, right. More likely scenario: my goofy mailman has delivered it to somebody else. To my neighbor: I'm very sorry to hear that you didn't get into Virginia Law School; it is incredibly competitive and the nbumber of applicants far surpassed blah blah blah...

Later that day... letter arrives; general out-of-state WL. Sounds pretty unlikely that I'll be coming off this list. That's cool, tho- I'm quite flattered to have been not rejected from such a great school. Thanks for the consideration!

And now I'm down to my last two decisions... OF COURSE my number one choice (realistic choice, that is) is still pending...

4/15/08 - Withdrew from UIUC.

4/21/08 - USC rejection, snail mail, small whit envelope. I've gotten so used to WLs that I thought I'd catch one here as well. Oh well, not too dissappointed actually - I don't think I'd have gone there.

Sending LOCIs to a couple of schools, but moving forward as if I'm gonna be in STL next year, which makes me more and more happy every day. The more people I "meet" (thank you facebook) who will be there in the fall, the more I feel like I will really fit in there.

Now just one more decision...

4/30/08 - In at Northwestern!!!! Holy $#!%!! Email from dean, saying congrats, and a PDF of my acceptance letter will be posted to the status checker. I cannot beleive it!!! (please note: I did an on-campus interview in december, and received a "hold" in late march, but did not post either item in the diary)

Withdrawing waitlist and WashU apps today.

SO EXCITED!!!

Visitor Comments

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Good Luck!
Wednesday, May 10 2006 at 08:00 PM

Good luck to you! I'm sure you'll get into somewhere great.

Duke
Friday, March 09 2007 at 07:00 PM

I know this is freakishly soon after you posted it... but were you Priority Track at Duke?

RE:Duke
Friday, March 09 2007 at 07:00 PM

thanks for the message :) sadly I am but a poor non-priority track applicant....but it seems like there haven't been very of those decisions made....I'm getting anxious based on the fact there have been no rejections thus far though :/ but good luck to us both indeed!!

Congrats
Monday, October 08 2007 at 08:00 PM

Congrats on the acceptances. What Lodge are you from?

CONGRATS!
Monday, September 17 2007 at 08:00 PM

AWESOME CYCLE FOR YOU! I HOPE MINE GOES EVEN HALF AS WELL! Are you set on UIUC or are you going to wait for the waitlist at DUKE to possibly materialize for you?

Completely Understand
Monday, September 17 2007 at 08:00 PM

...hey man, I completely understand how you feel! I sway between different #1s every day that is why if you really do some research on my posts - which I wouldn't expect you to do, I have probably listed like 10 different #1 schools. Hence why I have applied to so many places! I think it will come down to seeing where I get in and literally making a pro/con list and just going from there. UCONN sounds great b/c it is in-state and veterans go for free to any level of education so you can't beat that one! So that is how I feel right now...though I haven't gotten in there yet! I am pretty happy so far and hope to have more acceptances roll in soon! I hate the waiting game! Again, congrats and I totally understand the swaying back and forth on the decision making process! It is completely understandable as this will set the stage for your entire future! NO PRESSURE! BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND, WHO KNOWS, PERHAPS I'LL BE SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR!!

UCONN/UW
Monday, September 17 2007 at 08:00 PM

Hey there, Yea I have heard great things about UCONN and since it is free for my JD/MBA due to my veterans status you really can't beat it. Not having heard from UCONN yet if I had to pick today I guess I would go with Wisconsin - I LOVE the cold so the winters wouldn't bother me! GOOD LUCK and KEEP IN TOUCH!

Welcome to baseball heaven!
Sunday, November 25 2007 at 07:00 PM

Cardinal fans are so nice we'll even accept congrats from a Cub fan. Nice cycle so far - best of luck on those WLs!

Thanks
Monday, October 08 2007 at 08:00 PM

Thanks for withdrawing from Wisconsin, brother. I'm on the waitlist. I assume you're holding out for the Dukies?

YO
Thursday, February 08 2007 at 07:00 PM

Good meeting you this weekend. Hopefully I'll see you this fall. Good luck on the rest of your cycle.