chrishenjum (2022-2023)

Reporter and copy editor for campus newspaper, first press intern for Sen. Russ Feingold in Madison, WI office, Legislative Assistant for local TV news station, helped make a county probation agency into a state alternative sentencing program, member of Prelaw Society and Society of Professional Journalists, volunteered to help immigrant students with homework, volunteered to provide a "teen night" for children of UW graduate students, volunteer in UW's "contemporary issues" committee which hosted events discussing current events, only non-music major in University audition-only orchestra, part time manager of drug store, held various part time jobs during college

(newer updates at bottom)

The LSAT killed me last year ... a 156. I only got into William Mitchell. I waited a year and got a 162 on the December 2005 test. Some of these schools (like the U of MN) will ignore the lower score, thank God.

I have no hope at most of these (applied just in case I aced the LSAT)

Some other info if you're trying to figure your chances based on my info:
-Dean's List a bunch of times
-Graduated a semester early with distinction
-Letters of recommendations rocked. One old prof who also teaches at Harvard said I was the best student he's ever had in his 30+ year career (yea, he's senile), a news reporter wrote 4 pages about my commitment to public service and the community.

that's all. i got okay soft factors, not okay lsat/gpa.
i guess we'll see ...

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1/23/06
Loyola waitlist. I'm scheduling an interview for sometime next week and writing them a letter updating my resume with a new job and a volunteer position helping people in the community find legal resources.
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1/24/06
Accepted at the safety school, William Mitchell. It's got a great rep for overachieving at job placement (at the top firms) in the Twin Cities. Anywhere else, you're screwed. I'm not too sure about denying the offer just yet though -- they will pay 75% of the tuition because of my recent LSAT score. It'll be tough to turn down a $3000/semester law school education...
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1/28/06
a deferral! at the u of mn! can't say i wasn't expecting it, but with my meeting with admissions people 15ish times over the past 2 years, it still sorta hurts. if only collins byrd hadn't left for iowa... :-/
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2/10/06
a no-go at u of wa. i wasn't too enthused about the school anyway, so that's ... good?
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2/12/06
on hold at u of il. i think i'd go there over loyola if accepted, but the town is pretty bad. a choice between loyola, il and wm would be a tough one.
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3/6/06
lots of updates today ...
had a great interview @ the u of mn last week so hopefully they'll pull through.
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4/6/06
got into northeastern! still haven't gotten the financial aid info yet ... i'd still go to the u of mn over any fin aid package from northeastern. one more week to go before a decision from minnesota...
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4/29/06
got into davis! a huge envelope came today, even though my profile was never updated on their status checker. i haven't gotten the financial aid info from them either yet... i've heard california schools blow for fin aid, so i have no idea whether i'd even go there. northeastern screwed me on financial aid too, so that's out i'm thinking. still waiting on the u of mn...

here's this year's ls rankings, just cause i can't ever find the link:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/law/brief/lawrank_brief.php
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5/9/06
no fordham. hopefully they'll be more this week (decisions, not rejections) ... to those wondering why i don't withdraw from some schools, it's because they haven't given me a financial aid package. i sorted my remaining schools, not taking into account $$.
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5/11/06
no illinois. i visited the area recently and really, really did not like it. no big loss i guess. loyola said i have to wait another 2 weeks ...
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6/1/06
mn deferral now a mn waitlisting. not sure if i should start looking @ a place to live in both davis AND the twin cities ... right now the choices are:
- planning on wm while waiting on the u of mn. i'll try to transfer if i don't get in this time around,
- or davis, and then trying to transfer to mn.
yea, i'm never giving up haha
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7/7/06
still waiting ill be waiting until the end of july for a decision from mn, wisc or loyola. i'm still holding on to loyola, even though there's no spots left as of a couple days ago ... someone could withdraw last minute, i guess. it's going to be loads of fun finding housing, buying a laptop thru my school, moving all my crap and buying books all the week before school starts. add to that some assignments that william mitchell wants me to do ... sweet.
the three options right now:
1. wait until july 21st. hear nothing from any school. visit davis, love it, swallow the 90,000 debt i'll be in until i'm 95.
2. wait until july 21st. hear nothing from any school. visit davis, hate it, decide waiting on mn until their first day and planning on going to william mitchell is a better idea. try to transfer from william mitchell later on.
3. wisconsin/loyola unexpectedly come through, screwing everything up. i have no idea what i'll do then ... id choose loyola over davis and william mitchell, but not wisconsin or minnesota. if mn would just accept me, id be able to live in mn which is what i want anyway.

can this be over now?

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7/23/06
IT'S OVER! Got the call from the U of MN today! I'll be there in two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!