civildsobdce (2022-2023)

-2 years WE as high school teacher/music journalist.

-Nice PS/DS. (I'd like to think at least =)

-Great LOR's:
1. Former high school English teacher/advisor turned supervisor/building principal when I taught.
2. History professor/UG advisor/former UST President.
3. History professor/Irish Center Director/lawyer.

-Applied very early in cycle to up my chances as much as possible, especially considering my LSAT score =(.

-Attended UC Berkeley on several scholarships. Transferred back home to Houston to attend small, Catholic UG when mother diagnosed with breast cancer. Helped care for mother during UG.

-Magna Cum Laude, Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Sigma Tau, and multiple UST scholarships.

-EC's: PASS Intern, Children's Defense Fund Intern, UST Social Justice Committee Student Representative, Social Action Intern at local high school, Houston Indy Media Volunteer Coordinator/Radio Contributor, Birthright Volunteer Counselor, church 7th grade catechist.

-Some PT work during UG, including job as Political Science Dept. Aide.

-Lots of community service.

Fee Waivers: Baylor, Univ. of Oklahoma, Florida Coastal, Quinnipiac, Western New England College, Univ. Tulsa, Phoenix, Univ. Colorado, Univ. Utah, Univ. Dayton, Thomas Jefferson, Loyola - Chicago, Univ. South Carolina, Vermont, Univ. Akron, North Kentucky, Ave Maria, Wayne State, Drexel College, Hamline, Case Western Reserve, Univ. Arkansas, Saint Louis, Capital, Oklahoma City Univ., Univ. St. Thomas, Pacific McGeorge, Marquette, Gonzaga, Temple, Washington & Lee, Texas Wesleyan, Hofstra, Villanova, Chapman, Valparaiso, Regent, DePaul, Loyola - New Orleans.
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10-23-07, onwards
Receiving application fee waivers via email/snail mail. Got a surprise FW from Baylor upon application payment. But only applying to schools I'd potentially attend. Sorry, Ave Maria.
-Receiving invitations to visit law school tables at 11-3-07 LSAC Forum. Getting a few invitations from schools that are nowhere in my range numbers-wise, including Vanderbilt and Michigan. Weird.
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10-24-07
Mail Emory & Texas Tech certification letters.
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10-26-07
Emory receives certification letter. So ready to hear decisions already!
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11-3-07
Attended Houston LSAC Forum. Gathered lots of useful information from the sessions and had an opportunity to speak with many law school representatives and collect brochures.
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11-05-07
Went complete at UH, one of my very top choices. So exciting!
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11-08-07
Berkeley application under review. It'd be a miracle among miracles, but miracles sometimes happen.

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11-19-07
Good Lord! UT put my file on hold "for consideration as Regular Decision." I really expected a flat out rejection!

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11-23-07
Applied for Baylor Summer 2008 quarter.
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11-27-07
Baylor Summer 2008 application complete.
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11-28-07
Corresponded with a Texas Tech admissions officer today. My file should be going to committee late this week or early next week.
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12-10-07
UH file is in review according to the online status checker!! I'd give any organ I have two of... *passes out*
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12-11-07
-Baylor email indicating that their applicant pool is huge this round and that I will be hearing a decision soon. Here's hoping!
-Kiddos are getting deferral emails from Berkeley today, which means that I should be expecting my rejection letter soon. Absolutely no surprises here! lol
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12-12-07
Checked LSAC & South Texas FINALLY requested my report. Complete everywhere.
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12-17-07
*crickets* STILL no decisions. Why does it seem like everyone on the law boards has heard at least something? =`(. And I do know that compulsively checking my email/snail mail boxes doesn't speed up the process. Schools, decisions please!

Yes, I'd like some cheese with my whine.
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12-18-07
Tulane application in review! Notified via email.
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1-06-08
The waiting game was painful, but I finally received my first acceptance...South Texas! Acceptance came via thin, standard white envelope with a one-page letter. What a load off my back to know that I'm really going to law school!
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1-09-08
In at Tulane via email! A definite reach for me, but I somehow managed to climb to T1! May the happy dance commence! Expecting an acceptance package in the mail. Today's a good day.
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1-11-08
Noticed that people have been receiving acceptances from UH. I'm definitely on pins and needles now.
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1-14-08
Dinged at Berkeley. Thin, standard white envelope dated 1-10. Not surprised but the first rejection of the cycle still stings.
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1-16-07
-No word yet from Houston. Checking your online status on the hour can't be healthy. *sigh* I'd really like some love from my top choice.
-Attending one of Tulane's Admitted Student Days in March or April. VERY excited. Will be my first visit to NOLA, and I'll get to meet with a 2L acquaintance there.
-Attending South Texas' Open House this Saturday (1-19). Not sure if it's for admitted students only, but I will email tomorrow to find out.
-Lastly, linked to a rather disturbing website today: jdunderground.com. Jaded law grads with few career prospects abooud. Very bleak and depressing. Just motivates me to separate myself from the pack and really excel as a 1L.
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1-25-08
OMG. Admitted to Baylor Summer 2008 class with a half-tuition scholarship, renewable each year. I'm literally shaking right now. After a disappointing LSAT score, I really started to question whether I was cut out for law school. My recent acceptances have been huge validations and proof that admissions committees do indeed look beyond numbers. To anyone reading this with numbers below your expectations, don't hesistate to apply to your reaches. Put together a HELL of an application package, apply early, and show those adcomms that there's more to you than meets the eye.
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1-30-08
Baylor package in the mail today. My acceptance letter has a handwritten note from Dean Toben: "X, we have a proven and distinctive program & I am very (underlined) hopeful that you will join us." Nice touch :) I'll be attending the 2/22 Open House.
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2-10-08
Still nothing from Houston. Arrgh! Starting to freak out as my Baylor deposit's due on the 22nd of this month!!! C'mon, Houston!!!
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2-23-08
After a 4 week dry spell, I received another surprise -- an American WL. I thought I'd be an auto-reject :)
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3-06-08
-Withdrew from American. Couldn't picture going there over schools I've been accepted to.
-Emailed UH yesterday asking when ED applicants could expect a decision. Dean Polk responded by saying that a decision had been made on my application and that I'd "receive a letter within the next week." I'm REALLY on pins and needles now.
-Looking forward to Baylor's ASD tomorrow.
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3-07-08
-*sigh* Waitlisted at UH, my #1. I've officially entered the unhappy realm of wait list purgatory. Time to start a LOCI of epic proportions.
-Dinged at Emory.
-Booking a hotel currently for my 3/28 Tulane ASW and 4/4 visit for good measure.
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3-17-08
-Dinged at UT. Nice to have closure.
-Scheduled tours/class visits at South Texas & UH for next week.
-Will be visiting potential living quarters in NOLA during my Tulane ASW's.
-Where's Texas Tech this cycle?
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3-18-08
$4500/year at South Texas =), provided I maintain a 3.25 GPA. But kind of a steep GPA to keep for a scholarship, no?
Edit: Found out that it's top 15%. Holy poo.
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3-20-08
Tulane Accepted Students Reception in River Oaks. 2-3 Tulane Law alumni visiting with 5 admitted Houstonians. Should be fun.
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3-26-08
-WL for Baylor's fall quarter. They said they're impressed with my credentials and that I would have been admitted had there not been an unexpectedly large applicant pool. They are also offering me Spring 2009 admission if I choose to reactivate my file and regardless of my Fall 2008 decision. Very pleasant surprise.
-In other news, currently packing for my last law school visit (Tulane) this weekend. My goal is to have a pretty good idea of where I'll be headed by Sunday. *crosses fingers*
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4-02-08
-Withdrew from Baylor. It's a great school, and the staff has been wonderful to me, but it isn't for me.
-I'm pretty certain that I won't be able to afford Tulane. NOLA is a charming city, and I loved the atmosphere at the Law School, though.
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4-10-08
Withdrew from Tulane and UH's WL. After number-crunching, Tulane was simply beyond my financial reach. And after visiting UH, I knew it wasn't the school for me. So it's official -- I'll be starting STCL this fall! Can't wait!
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4-11-08
In at Texas Tech. About damn time! No mention of $. Too little, too late. Will withdraw next week. It's been fun, kids, but that completes my cycle, and overall I'm EXTREMELY pleased with it. Best of luck to Class of 2011!
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4-14-08
Withdrew from Texas Tech.
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6-03-08
Accepted into the CLEO AIE pre-law seminar in Los Angeles!! VERY pumped! See you in California!