carlken (2022-2023)

Student Government President
Senior Editor of School Newspaper
6 Years Non-Profit Experience

LESSONS FROM THIS CYCLE:
Thought I'd start posting lessons/revelations that I have had from this cycle for future applicants in case they are helpful. I'll update this as I learn more.

1. LSP is not 100% accurate. It's definitely a good tool to gauge chances, but if you have work experience, life experience, a story to tell, etc. you should take those into consideration. Especially if you are a non-traditional applicant.

2. Ask for fee waivers. Since I was denied an LSAC fee waiver (likely because I am employed full time), I thought I'd try contacting the schools directly to get the fees waived. 75% of the schools I contacted waived the application fee. You'll notice that I only paid to apply for two schools.

3. I found these sites particularly helpful when completing applications, deciding where to apply, what to emphasize, etc.

http://www.deloggio.com/admproc/what.html
Info on what schools look for aside from #'s. Very outdated, but still somewhat useful.

http://www.hourumd.com/
This was a little more accurate in my case than LSP.

4. Apply early!

5. Write a good - no great - personal statement. I get really annoyed when I see applicants with lower GPA's and LSAT scores admit that their personal statements were "ok" or "average". The personal statement is one of the few qualitative factors that an admissions committee considers. And you have more than enough time to work on it. I also had a few friends read mine and give feedback.

6. Take the application process seriously. Being a member of this site is a good start.

7. Yes, soft factors do matter. Had I paid attention to the #'s and ranking queens on TLS and other social forums I would've decided against applying to law school because my #'s weren't good enough. In the end my #'s were fine and ad comms saw that my #'s weren't representative of my potential as a law student.

Scholarship $ are 3 year totals.

10/24/09 - Ok, so I completed my first round of applications- let's see what I get. I'm not too confident about most of them, but I'll keep my hopes up.

12/15/09 - Got into Hofstra and Loyola Chicago - two acceptances in one day. Hofstra sent an e-mail congratulating me. Loyola Chicago came in a large white envelope.

12/17/09 - OMG! I got into George Mason! This is in-friggin-sane. Just got a call from the Dean of Admissions. I really can't believe this.

12/18/09 - I GOT IN TO WASH U!!!!

1/6/10 - Accepted by Albany via online status checker :-). Also found out their offering $20K per year. Not bad.

1/12/10 - Received an e-mail from Brooklyn Law School indicating that I've been deferred pending an additional recommendation from one of my employers. At least this shows that they read my app (they named 2 of my former employers).

1/15/10 - Finally got the call from Drexel - I'm in!

1/27/10 - In @ NYLS via online status checker.

1/28/10 - In @ Cardozo via phone call! The admissions rep also said I've been selected as a Public Service Scholar. Don't know how much $ is associated with this program, but I'm still very happy. This is one of my top choices.

2/5/10 - In at Seton Hall via e-mail!

2/8/10 - Got my first rejection today. St. John's is a no go. I'd be upset if I wasnt already having the cycle of my dreams :-).

3/5/10 - Found out that I'd be receiving a need based grant from Cardozo for half of the tuition, in addition to the $5K Public Service Scholarship. This puts Cardozo at the top of my list...just awaiting Fordham and response on the Webster Scholarship at WUSTL.

3/31/10 - My cycle is officially over. Cardozo it is. Got the financial aid award package from Cardozo yesterday. They increased my scholarship offer. Cardozo was my top choice at the beginning of the cycle and I'm excited that I'll be starting there this fall.

4/9/10- Scratch that - my cycle isn't quite over yet. Just got a call from Hofstra offering a full tuition scholarship. Now I have 6 days to decide. What am I gonna do?!

4/20/10 - Finally heard from Fordham. Waitlisted. I'm gonna ride it out, but I'm not gonna get hopes up. FT $ from Cardozo just makes that offer too good to pass up.

So I guess this is it friends. The cycle is over.

Accepted: 12
Waitlisted: 2
Rejected: 1

4/26/10 - Just sent my LOCI and got an immediate response from Dean Brown. He mentioned that they will continue their practice of looking beyond the numbers and movement on the wait list will be happening from now into the late summer. His quick response gave me hope. Guess I haven't given up on Fordham after all.

5/20/10- Out at Fordham via status checker :-( now my cycle is really over.