barklm (2022-2023)

Activist Experience:
GLSEN (3 years)
2003 GLSEN Student Leadership Award

Volunteer Experience:
Salvation Army
Food Pantry
Mentor Program
Organized a campus wide food drive.

Work Experience:
Tutor (1 year)
Legal Researcher (4 years)
Assistant Manager - Retail (1.5 years)

Educational Honors:
Dean's List
Honor Societies (3)
Academic Scholarship
University President's Advocate

I worked full time while taking a full time course load for the first three years of my undergrad. For my senior year I opted to just work as a tutor part time so that I would have more time to dedicate to the law school application process - including LSAT prep.

I did two years of undergrad at a private institution, took a three year hiatus for financial reasons, and transferred to a public institution.

**Scholarship information listed is the total for three years.

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2/2/2011: Received my first acceptance! Accepted into the University of Arizona via status checker. (The program I applied to is a JD/MA in American Indian Studies.) I'll update scholarship information, if applicable, when I receive the paper letter.

2/7/2011: My second acceptance arrived today by email! This one was for Northeastern. I'll be sure to update any scholarship information for this school too once the paper letter arrives.

2/9/2011: Received both formal acceptance letters today. Northeastern's contained my scholarship information. The University of Arizona, on the other hand, provided a lovely binder of information but nothing about scholarships. I called to inquire and was notified by their Assistant Dean for Admission and Financial Aid that scholarship letters would be going out in the next week or so. *fingers crossed*

Found out by status checker that I was accepted into Albany Law - will update scholarship information when available.

Today has been eventful! I just received a phone call from the University of Arizona about my application. All in all it was an extremely positive experience. I am now busily reading the admissions binder they sent!

2/10/2011: Found out via status checker that the University of New Mexico has made a decision but they don't post any further information online. Looks like I'll have to wait for the mail to come!

Received an acceptance by phone call and email from the University of Idaho. It came accompanied with a scholarship offer.

Also received a phone call from UC Hastings! I've been accepted and will receive further information in the mail - scholarship info to follow.

2/12/2011: Received my formal acceptance from Albany Law today! It came in a very nicely put together folder with other materials about the area which seem like they would be helpful to an out-of-towner. I have been offered a diversity scholarship. While I would really, really love to leave the area the amount warrants that I give this school further consideration.

2/14/2011: Received formal acceptance letters today from UC Hastings and the University of New Mexico. Both were one page letters of congratulations with some general information about the school but nothing else. I'm wondering at what point I'll find out about any potential scholarships for these schools? Maybe I'll have to call and inquire. (A little detective work revealed that I should receive an acceptance package from UC Hastings in about a week. The University of New Mexico, however, remains a mystery.)

2/15/2011: These days of no news are brutal! I've never been so disappointed that the mailman had nothing to bring me.

2/18/2011: I learned this evening that I am being offered a full ride to the University of Arizona! I received a phone call from the head of the department I applied to and had a wonderful conversation - just wish I hadn't been so stunned so I could have held up my end better! Very excited and feeling very blessed. (The scholarship amount is currently an estimate and will be updated once my official letter arrives by mail.)

2/22/2011: Received an acceptance packet from the University of Washington today via USPS! There appears to be a separate scholarship application I wasn't aware of though so it looks like I'm going to have to take care of that before learning if I'm eligible for anything.

2/24/2011: Just received an acceptance phone call from the University of Texas (Austin)! Very exciting to be accepted into such a well ranked school. Formal acceptance letter to follow via USPS.

2/25/2011: Received an acceptance packet from Lewis & Clark today in the mail! The downside is that they've already hit their scholarship cap so, in order to be considered for anything, I had to submit a letter of intent by email explaining my reasons for choosing Lewis & Clark and current financial status. After they receive their first set of seat deposits they will re-evaluate what funds they have available and allocate them to those applicants who submitted a letter of intent. As a result my deposit deadline has been extended so that I can take potential scholarship amount into consideration. Don't like this situation but what can I do?

2/27/2011: Received an acceptance phone call today, a Sunday, from the University of Oklahoma! I wonder if they often work weekends?

3/1/2011: I've been bracing myself for my first ding and it finally came today - from UC Berkeley. Definitely disappointed but I knew it was going to happen at some point! The hardest part of it is wondering what the rationale was. It could have been any number of things really but I can't help but speculate. Oh well ... I'm getting a special "First Ding" dinner tonight so hopefully that'll help! ^_^

Ding x2 today! The second one was for Hawaii. It's too bad because I was actually very interested in their indigenous law program. I'm rationalizing this one by telling myself it was yield protection since my scores were above their 75th percentile ... but who knows?

3/4/2011: Thankfully today has started out with good news! Received scholarship info for UC Hastings by email.

3/7/2011: Received my acceptance letter from Loyola (LA) today in the mail along with a scholarship offer - it is dated 3/2.

3/8/2011: Received a scholarship letter in the mail today from the University of Oklahoma. I would have to maintain a "B" average and, if I understand it correctly, it would terminate should I obtain OK residency.

3/9/2011: Received an acceptance from Santa Clara via status checker. (I actually found out via the status check program that was built by shatra on TLS!) I'm assuming formal letter and scholarship information, if applicable, will follow via USPS.

3/12/2011: Received my scholarship letter from Santa Clara! That may be the fastest I've received mail from the west coast so far.

3/18/2011: It's been no news for awhile! I'm at the point where I really need to start making decisions so I've reserved this weekend for that purpose. I'll be going over each of my offers and taking, another, good hard look at each school. I hope to narrow things down and start sending out withdrawals. (Still anxious to see what happens with the schools I haven't heard from yet though!)

3/19/2011: Very happy! Nice to have some news. :)
Accepted into ASU via email. Looks like I should be expecting an official package in the mail in a week or so.

3/25/2011: I'm getting this withdrawal process going! I think I have my options narrowed down to four schools but I'm going to make doubly sure before I send out the rest of my withdrawal letters. (It's presently 5am - hope to "be sure" by the end of the day.)

Received an acceptance letter into Colorado Law in the mail today. (Scholarship information will follow, if applicable.) Also received my official acceptance packet from ASU with scholarship letter enclosed.

3/26/2011: That was fast! Received my scholarship letter from Colorado today in the mail.

3/29/2011: Excited! Got an email today that I received a grant from UC Hastings that essentially doubled the amount of aid I was receiving from them. :)

3/30/2011: Received my first waitlist notification! Came by email from Boston University.

4/1/2011: Found out by status checker that I'm in at UC Davis! I like that they let you read your letter online. Hopefully some scholarship information will follow with the official letter that comes in the mail.

4/8/2011: Waitlisted at USC via status checker. Rejected at Yale via email.

4/12/2011: Waitlisted at UCLA today. This one hurt; I would have called them my #1 choice because of their CRT program. Penning a LOCI as we speak!

4/14/2011: Waitlisted at Stanford today. Happy to have not been outright rejected - really hoping I can get off the list!

4/25/2011: Waitlisted at Indiana University.

I also just arrived back from traveling across country. I visited UT, UA, and UCD. After these visits it was pretty clear to me that UT was the school that most fit what I was looking for. So, that's where I'll be attending unless I get off of the waitlists for UCLA or Stanford!

5/3/2011: Just spoke with Columbia and found out that they sent me a decision letter on 3/28 that I never received. I confirmed my contact information and am now waiting for a response. (And, hopefully, a copy of my decision letter.) I'm expecting a rejection considering I have received no other correspondence from them since the decision date.

5/4/2011: Columbia just emailed me a copy of my decision letter. I have to say, as soon as they knew there was a problem they were quick to correct it. (Oh, and it's not a rejection!)

5/12/2011: My last decision is finally in! It looks like a waitlist for Cornell. Given my other options I think I will likely withdraw at this point. Looks like UT for me unless Stanford comes through! (A girl can dream, right?) ^_^

As an aside, UT did come through with a need-based package for me which made it even more palatable.

5/19/2011: Just received an email informing me that I have been accepted off of the waitlist to IU. My first impression is that this acceptance isn't enough to sway me but I am going to sit down and give it some careful thought and consideration.

6/1/2011: My first impression may not be right after all! The more I learn about IUB, the more I like it but I'm still not 100%. I have 24 hours to come to a decision.

Just received notification that IUB is tripling my scholarship! I will be visiting the campus immediately.

6/19/2011: Withdrew from UT - probably surprised myself more than anyone else. I visited Bloomington and got a good feel from both the town and the school. This, plus the scholarship they offered, pushed them over the edge for me. Looks like I'll be in Indiana this time next month!