ArcusProtus (2022-2023)

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.

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!!!