barond (2022-2023)

Views: 10960 User Since: 10/25/07

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F - Fee Waiver A - Attending W - Withdrawn D - Deferred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 University of Detroit Mercy WL, Accepted A Type: RA Sent: 03/06/09 Rec: 06/22/09 Comp: 05/15/09 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 15 years
Thomas M Cooley Law School Accepted Type: RA Sent: 03/09/09 Rec: -- Comp: 05/21/09 Inter: -- Dec: -- Upd: 15 years
Wayne State University Rejected Type: RA Sent: 03/06/09 Rec: 03/09/09 Comp: 03/18/09 Inter: -- Dec: 04/10/09 Upd: 15 years

Applicant Information

  • LSAT: 150
  • LSAT 2: -
  • LSAT 3: -
  • GRE : -
  • LSAC GPA: 2.7
  • Degree GPA: -
  • School Type: -
  • Major: Finance

Demographic Information

  • City: Detroit
  • State: Michigan
  • Race: Cauc
  • Gender: Man
  • Non-Traditional Applicant: Yes
  • Years out of Undergrad: 1-2 Years

Extra Curricular Information

-

Additional info & updates

I am applying to these 3 schools and see what my options are. Any folks here want to speculate my chances or share there own personal experiences with these schools feel free to post something.

I improved my lsat about 7 points since last year. I guess going by the admissions formula- Cooley will take me and give me 35% scholarship. How about UDM/Wayne? I did Undergrad at Wayne but it seems my numbers aren't up to what they want. good luck to everybody

04/20/2009-- Just got off the phone with Cooley. I called and asked how long does it take to hear something... guy says 4-6 weeks. I reply-' its already been over 6 weeks.' After 5 minutes he comes back to the phone and he says its probably a 'fitness and character' issue. I said I got my license suspended 5 years ago thats the only question I responded yes to- he replies 'its probably that'. I will fax them my driving record, but I must say my blood was boiling at this point. I guess if something can be screwed up- admissions will do it.

4/22/2009-- Its unreal. It must be too much work to send an email confirming an application is complete. Here I have waited 7 weeks and neither Cooley nor UDM seem to know. I completely understand that thousands of applications are out there, but is it really that hard to not lose stuff and not ask for other documents. I have no problem waiting in line- just tell me if I am complete, so I don't gotta worry about screwups! Blowing off some steam-- I really despise all admissions departments. LOL

5/1/2009--- Wow. Well my worse fear was confirmed today. I did receive a large information packet in the mail detailing the school and it was nice, but I check my email this evening and receive a message from UDM that says 'application problem'. (This is my #1 choice.) UDM wants to see a transcript that shows the date my degree was granted. I had sent my transcripts back in late 2007 and apparently the degree granted date is not there. Degree was granted Dec. 07. After 2 months and numerous calls/emails asking if everything was ok I get this. Whats even weirder is that I had applied last year (got rejected) and they didn't care about this. Well maybe its a positive thing. If anyone is reading this please comment. Never heard of this before.

5/15/2009 Interesting news from Cooley. Received a 'confidential' tidbit of information in a letter sent to me. Cooley is planning on opening a 4th campus in Ann Arbor taking over the old Ava Maria campus. AM moved to Florida this year. It economically makes sense to me and ABA will make a decision in a month or 2. I found it humorous that Cooley called this news 'confidential'. Maybe its a way to spread the word even faster by saying that. They send me this information, but won't give me a decision after 10 weeks!

Also finally got word from UDM that I am complete as of 5-15. Crossing my fingers on them. Anyone hearing stuff from UDM feel free to post please!

6/8/2009 Well, I check my email this evening and UDM has decided to waitlist me. Didn't think they would do this soo late in the cycle, but it is what it is. I guess the waiting game continues (grrrrr). I'll go to their open house next week and report back, but I am fairly certain that UDM is my #1 choice if they let me in. Otherwise, I'll go to Cooley.

6/17/2009 I attended UDM's open house. Overall, I was impressed! The location is just fine for me. Some people unfamiliar with Detroit might not like it, but I have no problem with it. The outside of the building is pretty shabby, but inside everything looked pretty good to me. Clean restrooms, clean classrooms/hallways, etc. There was a 90 minute presentation by the Dean and Asst. Deans. Talked to a few professors and asked a few students some questions. The students look at this as a full time job and spend 10 hours a day studying. Kind of ruins the fun when they tell you that..lol There is a curve with the bottom 5% in jeopardy supposedly. Seemed pretty reasonable. Everyone seemed very friendly/nice and it seemed genuine. We'll see- I am so sick of writhing on the vine for 3 1/2 months. Hopefully soon I get an answer!

6/22/2009 Well- UDM send me an email to call them. I called and she let me know I'm in! All my decisions are now all in and I have a decision to make. 1) Cooley 2) UDM 3) No law school. "An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit".. I feel this is certainly true of law school admissions. Its a bit scary, but I didn't come this far for nothing. Obviously, you can't make any rash decisions. But I feel UDM is for me for some reason! I'll await their admissions package anxiously. The evening program is what I want and I believe Cooley is a day program, so really I have an easy decision! Again, anyone who has something to share about UDM/Cooley in this late hour feel free to post!

6/24/2009 The culmination happened today. After a couple hours of thinking over my options and talking to the financial aid people, I decided to go with UDM. Gritted my teeth and dropped off the nonrefundable committment deposit to UDM in the mailbox. As they say talk is cheap, but when you put hard money down then its serious biz. I feel I made a good decision for myself and can't wait to get started at Detroit Mercy. Feel free to leave comments/email addy especially if you are attending UDM!

Visitor Comments

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Wednesday, October 24 2007 at 08:00 PM

Attended a Cooley Open House today. I enjoyed it for the most part. Learned a few things. Was impressed with some things and not soo impressed with other things. Attended a mock Tort class with an instructor who graduated from Michigan. She was good. Talked to a few students. Cooley doesn't hide the fact they kick out people for academics- which of course is unsettling because almost all schools (especially highly rated ones) never do this. If anyone is reading this please say something LOL

UDM
Wednesday, March 11 2009 at 08:00 PM

I applied to UDM on November 30 and received an acceptance letter on January 14. I was informed of the scholarship offer in an additional letter sent with the January 14 acceptance package. I know many UDM students and they all enjoy it. UDM seems to have a growing reputation. The students are being hired by good law firms and in numbers that rival Wayne St. However, their Dean, who may be most responsible for the improved reputation and employment figures, recently left to serve as president of a private college. Yes, I am down to Toledo and MSU. I'm on the wait list at MSU, but if offered a spot, I'll be going there. Otherwise, I'm off to Toledo. Good luck to you! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

wayne
Wednesday, March 11 2009 at 08:00 PM

I applied there, but lost interest. They do not offer the type of law I'm interested in.

Wayne State ding
Wednesday, October 24 2007 at 08:00 PM

Well, my heart sunk a little bit today (4-10-09) when I got my mail. Opened up a thin envelope and as expected- enclosed was a Wayne State rejection. On the positive, they at least gave me a decision fairly quickly. Exactly 5 weeks after I had applied and they emailed me when my application was 'complete'.

Cooley
Tuesday, April 14 2009 at 08:00 PM

Just wondering if you are thinking you will go to Cooley or if you are holding out for U of D. I applied to Wayne the same time as you (application complete 3/16) and haven't heard anything yet...

Tuesday, March 31 2009 at 08:00 PM

ist for the JD / LLB program with Windsor. Its about 1000* more competitive than just the JD because its a backdoor to Canadian Law School, which is a joke how competitive that is.

waitlist
Tuesday, February 19 2008 at 07:00 PM

i just got an email, it said they would not tell me till late summer

WSU
Tuesday, April 14 2009 at 08:00 PM

I think it could go either way -- the woman I talked to yesterday said they weren't going to rank the wait list, but rather re-review all of the wait list applications. What's up with your UDM application? Do you re-send your transcripts to UDM?

Univ of Detroit Mercy
Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

oh dear I am having the same problems as well, first they tell me that I need to update my graduate transcript, then they tell me that I need a letter of rec that's less than a year old and told me it's policy, but it doesn't say anywhere in their application or site about this policy. It's stressing me out b/c it's one of my top choices and all this mess is putting me at a disadvantage.

UDM
Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

No problem! I actually like UDM a lot from what read and heard about it, it sounds like everything I would want to get out of law school, especially with the hands-on approach they take in the program. I am applying to the part-time day program and I checked the numbers from LSAC school data and I have a good chance my LSAT is right at the 25 percentile and my GPA is way the 75 percentile, so I think I got a decent shot considering when I brought up my paperwork problems with admissions they said that there were still plenty of spots open, so who knows, but I am very optimistic. Although not excited about Detroit, I would probably live outside of Detroit if I get in and commit to UDM. Good luck to you as well, hopefully the second time's the charm for you :)

UDM
Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

Yay you went complete, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, I am sending off my missing stuff this week, so hopefully we hear some good news soon enough!

udm waitlist
Tuesday, February 19 2008 at 07:00 PM

i actually called udm today to find out where they were at, they told me they had not started pulling from the waitlist. right now im leaning to jones because it is the only school i have been accepted to. I am mostly waiting for mississippi college and texas weslyan. I have to weigh the options for udm if i was accepted. I am starting to lose hopw on them. Are you heading to cooley. I met a guy on spring break that was an alumnus and he recommended it.

UDM
Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

I saw that you got waitlisted at UDM, I'm so sorry to hear that :(. I never got to send off my letter of recommendation b/c my recommender is going through a lot of personal problems right now and such and I am dealing with family emergencies and such I am hoping to send it out by tomorrow b/c I was promised it would get done this week. UDM actually called me about the letter and asking where it was but since you went complete way earlier than I did and got waitlisted I don't have too much hope for my file right now. I didn't start my waitlist schools and those crazies from Cooley actually accepted me I totally forgot about them but I am really not into going that school at all I am not sold on them. I just don't believe this waiting business continues right into the summer :(

Summer waitlist
Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

oh ok as long as you're cool with it then it's all good, I'll keep my fingers crossed that it works out for UDM. I never applied to Golden Gate, I was actually advised by a lot of people not to even apply. Phoenix and New Orleans I haven't even started writing letters of continued interest and calls I was going to do that this weekend and send them off Monday, hopefully something good will come out of this *crosses fingers*

UDM questions
Wednesday, March 11 2009 at 08:00 PM

That sounds tricky. If you haven't done so yet, you should send an addendum to UDM explaining why you want go there (be specific - name certain programs, the location. I recently read an AP article in the Detroit Free Press discussing UDM's mobile law office. You could even discuss that article.). Additional LOR's wouldn't hurt either. Make sure UDM knows that if they offer you a spot, you will accept the offer. As for me, I will probably be attending Toledo, but I'm still holding out on Michigan State. Toledo is much cheaper and has high Bar passage and job placement rates, so I'm still happy. There is little chance I would choose West Virginia unless they offer an amazing scholarship package - not likely. Good luck!

UDM
Monday, December 29 2008 at 07:00 PM

Word holmes, just saw your note on my profile. I think of my safety schools (which were the only ones I got into outright), UDM was the best one. They have a high bar passage rate and a solid reputation within the Detroit legal community. Personally? I was wait listed at some better schools, but was limited to the Detroit area because my wife found a job there. So there's a point where UDM quickly turned into my only option, but I don't think it's a bad one. I try not to get too caught up in the whole "OH NO! IT'S A TIER 4 SCHOOL! I'LL BE POOR MY ENTIRE LIFE AND SUCK AS A LAWYER!" You want poor? I was a professional pilot for three years and never had a W2 break $20,000 a year, then my airline decided I cost too much to keep me around and laid me off. THAT is not being able to eat. I have friends from Emory, Cooley and Wayne and they've all done fine.

Congrats!
Wednesday, March 11 2009 at 08:00 PM

Congratulations on your UDM acceptance! If I were you, I'd choose UDM over Cooley in a minute. Good luck next year!

UDM
Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

Thank you!!!! and Congrats to you too, that's awesome!!! It's definitely one of my top choices at the moment, I am debating at this point b/w Phoenix and UDM I want to stay close to home so Phoenix is a good fit but UDM academic wise, is the better option, I am just waiting for my letter to come in :) I was amazed how quick they were, my file went complete tuesday, I got an email today! Did you get into the PT or FT program??? Again congrats!!! :)

Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

I got accepted to the PT day.... .and lols it's definitely hard to imagine, one of my best friends he's from Arizona and went to college California and is moving to Michigan for law school, it's just so *different*

jtrain609
Monday, December 29 2008 at 07:00 PM

Dunno what my schedule is, as I don't have it yet, but the deposit is all paid up. Looks like you'll be there, see you in class!

decison
Tuesday, February 19 2008 at 07:00 PM

im sending in my seat deposit to udm tommorow, still hoping to hear from from, texas wesleyan. mississippi is all but eliminated, and i have not considered dayton in all long time, i just want to know their decison before i withdrew.

Detroit
Saturday, July 01 2006 at 08:00 PM

I am actually really excited to start and move to Michigan (oddly enough), I am getting tired of California, I'll always love it but I need a break from it to truly appreciate it. Unfortunately, I am finishing up my master's degree the first week in August and my full time job ends a wk after so I really only have a few days to get to Michigan, basically driving. I am one of those people where I have to see places in person before I can make a decision. I have a friend who lives near Detroit and she offered to help out in anyway she could so thankfully I am not entirely alone. About Detroit, I lived in a really crappy part in Los Angeles for about 10 years so I think I won't too freaked but thanks for the heads up! :)

MGIB
Sunday, November 01 2009 at 07:00 PM

Hey barond, Congrats on getting into UDM. Sounds like a good school and one I will probably be applying to since Michigan is generous when it comes to GI Bill benefits as you already know. From what you told me it sounds like you served at least 6 months but less than 12 months after 9/11 in order to have 50% eligibility. You are correct, once your post 9/11 application goes through, VA will pay a max of $445 per credit hour that you are registered for each semester along with exactly half of all fees the university charged you. Although only partial coverage (excluding fees) that's still $13,350 a year assuming 30 credit hours! Don't forget about your $500 a year book stipend and monthly BAH payment of $654 (2010 rate). If you have any other questions feel free to post to my profile or send me a private message. Good luck your first year bro!