crossnmyfingers (2022-2023)

Note: I'm applying straight from undergrad. Oh, and my permanent residence is in Massachusetts; I go to school out-of-state.

ECs: athlete, internships/jobs/clubs, 25-40 hrs/wk in non-academic activities

My PS/DS were well-written but really uninteresting.

I'm an over-represented minority (think: asians/jews). I'm told this may have hurt me at some schools like UMich and UCLA.

Like my username says, I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping some schools will accept me!

CRS Fee Waivers: UMich, UCLA, Notre Dame*

*Notre Dame gave me a fee waiver AFTER I applied. They promptly issued me a refund.

Application Components:
- The Dean's Certifications for Columbia, Cornell and Duke were all mailed at the end of October.
- LoRs were processed in early December (I have 4 LoRs - 2 from professors, 1 from an attorney/employer, and 1 from another employer from a place where i got employee of the year)
- I wrote all optional essays and submitted an addendum even if not asked. (I was very hesitant to submit extra materials when not asked -- we'll see how this turns out. [crosses fingers])

Reasons why I waited so long to send in my applications:
- I planned on retaking the Dec. LSAT (even paid for it - ughhh). I got sick that week and decided I did not want to risk taking it again, so I cancelled before the test date.
- Because I planned on retaking the LSAT, I told my recommenders that I would not need a LoR until Dec. I figured there would be no point to rush my apps unless at least one LoR was processed.
- I knew my fall semester grades would be strong and that it would give a slight boost to my GPA.
- I knew my numbers are borderline for most of the schools anyway. I would much rather receive a definitive decision rather than a deferral, which would probably have happened if I applied earlier.
(If I could do it over, I would have applied in late November or early (not mid) December.)

EDIT: After receiving most of my decisions, maybe waiting to send my apps was NOT the way to go. Now that I think about it, I would have sent them in early November.

My Prefs:
1 - Penn
2 - Columbia, Duke, NYU, Chicago
3 - Cornell
4 - Georgetown, Nwestern, Mich
5 - UCLA
6 - Notre Dame
7 - Boston College
8 - Fordham

** Denotes a decision day

12/13/06 - Sigh of relief - most of my apps are OUT!

12/22/06 - Complete at Georgetown (online status check)

12/28/06 - Complete at Cornell (e-mail)

01/02/07 - Complete at Penn (e-mail)

UCLA, you're kiiiiiillllling me! why aren't u requesting my report? all you have to do is say "dear lsac, send me cross's report. thanks." :(
[edit]: UCLA requested on 01/05/07 :)

01/08/07 - Complete at UMich (e-mail - in it was my ID for UMich's online status checker). Also, note that UMich sends out complete letters via snail-mail in a thin, white envelope.

01/09/07 - Complete at Columbia (e-mail). They also have an online status check - though I've heard that it is frequently delayed.

01/11/07 - Complete at Duke (e-mail)

** 01/18/07 - Accepted to CORNELL! (e-mail, followed by a big, white packet 4 days later)
Note: The Cornell online status checker was delayed. The status did not turn to "Decision" until more than a day after I received the e-mail.

01/22/07 - Complete at Northwestern (online status check) AND Complete at Boston College (e-mail)

01/25/07 - Complete at UChicago (e-mail)

** 01/29/07 - Deferred ("On Hold") at Northwestern (e-mail telling me to check the online status checker). I plan to continue this application.

01/30/07 - Complete at NYU (e-mail)

02/09/07 - The online status checker for UMich says "Decision." I should be receiving a written decision in 10-14 days.

** 02/15/07 - Waitlisted at Duke (e-mail). I'm really sad b/c I did every additional statement (and more!). Still waiting on Mich, but not getting my hopes up.

02/16/07 - Complete at Fordham

02/19/07 - Let the super-freaking out begin! :P According to past cycles on LSN, acceptances (not wl/accept or def/accept) at the top law schools are pretty rare after February (for those who applied before the end of December). Dear law schools, please, please send some love my way!

** 02/21/07 - It's been 12 days since I saw the "Decision" notice on the Michigan online status checker, so I called the admissions office and was told that I am denied. The convo was SO awkward. The lady I talked to was so uncomfortable and apologetic. I was just like "it's fine, it's fine!" b/c I had prepared for it. Oh well!

Oh look!! First 4 decisions: one of each! Hmm, I guess it's not that funny considering I only care about getting 1 decision in particular. :)

Yeah, so I hit a realllllly bad wave of rejections. I'll just do a summary rather than list each one out (too painful).

Columbia, Georgetown, NYU: all rejections via thin, regular-sized envelopes. I never checked Columbia's status checker, but Gtown's online status checker did inform me that they had reached a decision on 2/23.

Penn: i was notified that i have been put on the waitlist via an e-mail. i immediately accepted.

** 03/02/07 - Rejected from Notre Dame. wtf?! i did NOT expect that one. i wonder what made them hate me? (thin, white envelope)

** 03/12/07 - Accepted to Fordham via. I got a fat scholarship, so I will most likely be headed there!

** 03/16/07 - Rejected from Chicago (thin reg-sized envelope)

** 03/19/07 - Priority Waitlist at BC (thin envelope). WTF. I am now convinced that I must have accidentally said I kick puppies or something like that in my applications. :( I really don't know what happened. I had a million proofreaders comb through my app essays. Oh well. Plan to withdraw.

04/08/07 - still waiting for UCLA. most of the ppl on lsn w/ my scores have been waitlisted, so i'm not really optimistic. if i do happen to get in, i would seriously, seriously consider it.

04/17/07 - stiiiiilll waiting for UCLA. i've pretty much ruled it out now since i'm getting scholarships elsewhere

** 4/25/07 - Waitlisted at UCLA via snail mail; will withdraw

I think I need to retake the LSAT and try again next year..