I have to say-it's been dream come true after dream come true this cycle. I would've gone to many of these schools at sticker and to find myself choosing between my dream school and a full ride at my very close second choice is an amazing problem to have. If you want to know what I did to get here, I can't tell you-I don't know the answer myself. I did get feedback from both schools and know that my great LORs and leadership definitely helped. It has been the most exciting and ridiculous cycle and better than I ever dreamed. I can, however, offer lots of advice and facts about applying for future 0Ls-I was very meticulous about the process (if you can't tell by below). Good luck to the applicants for the c/o of 2016 and beyond!
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FEE WAIVERS:
I didn't solicit any fee waivers. All fee waivers were offered as merit-based. Additional waivers I received but elected to not pursue were: Duke (Priority Track) (9/2011), University of Virginia(9/2011), Vanderbilt (10/2011), and University of Minnesota (11/2009).
Note: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was free for all applicants this season.
OTHER CAMPUS VISITS:
Boston College - Self-Guided 10/10
Boston University - Self-Guided and Class 10/11
Harvard - only UG campus 10/9
NYU - Self-Guided 10/13
Stanford - Visit/Spoke with Admissions Staff 9/2
EA/ED: I only applied RD to all schools.
SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS/ADDENDA:
Tailored all Personal Statements to school in lieu of submitting "Why X." All PS were 2 pages or shorter.
Exception: submitted a "Why Illinois" in addition to tailoring essay. Included Programmatic Contribution to UCLA in regard to internship experience with Family Law.
I submitted addenda for my LSAT score jump and GPA.
---------------------------------------ACCEPTANCES------------------------------------
UIllinois
12/6 - Status Check "File Complete, In Review."
1/6 - Accepted via e-mail with quarter scholarship.
1/13 - Received admissions packet in mail. Includes notice of "Illinois Guarantee," where your tuition will not rise for your three years of law school. (therefore, your scholarship will remain the same %wise). Packet is in shiny blue envelope. Includes flash drive.
2/23 - Withdrew offer today and received confirmation from Interim director.
Georgetown
10/22 - Received acceptance letter via snail mail. Letter comes in a small envelope with gold writing and a personal note from the Dean of Admissions. (Status Check still "complete")
11/4 - Dean of Admissions sends e-mail on acceptance.
12/9 - E-mail regarding Early Admitted students weekend and that ASWebsite will be open 12/12
2/29 - Submit financial aid forms. Am notified a month later that a form isn't completed as liked, and resubmit when the information is given to me by my parents in April.
4/27 - Received Financial Package $7,750/semester Dean's grant
4/30 - Withdrew from Georgetown via e-mail.
U Michigan
10/19 - "Complete" on my status check, according to their site, means under review.
11/12 - I can access the Admitted Students Website.
11/13 - ASW notes: "Offer Package" mailed.
11/14 - Status Check now on "Decision."
11/15 - Packet received in mail. Packet includes short letter of acceptance along with handwritten note from Dean of Admissions, conditions of offer, yellow portfolio and flash drive.
11/22 - Follow up e-mail sent going over what to expect in coming months. FYI, scholarships get mailed in January.
11/24 - ASW notes: "Dean's Scholarship Award Letter" mailed.
12/2 - Financial Aid (on ASW and by mail): $15k (per year)
12/27 - Housing information received by mail
2/29 - Submit financial aid forms. Am not given notice of financial package. I follow this up in April, when my other packages come in and realize my mother unknowingly submitted my financial aid forms to MSU not U of M-thus explaining the lack of notification.
4/30 - Withdrew from Michigan via e-mail.
Northwestern
Self-guided tour 10/18.
10/25 - According to LSAC, they didn't send my LORs to Northwestern. I contacted Northwestern to fix this. Also had my interview with an admissions officer at Northwestern today.
11/2 - Status Check reads "Your application is now complete and is being reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Please allow 6-8 weeks (from December 1) for a decision."
12/29 - Accepted via e-mail. E-mail for address confirmation.
1/3 - E-mail regarding scholarship. FYI,all are a combination of merit and need based on submitted FAFSA. You may (provides instructions) submit any scholarships offered by a school with a "very strong reputation" for consideration, but in most cases there is no matching program.
1/20 or 21 - Received admit packet in mail-informational packets including info on clinics, CD all tucked into nice leather folder.
2/29 - Submitted financial aid forms
4/3 - Received Scholarship non-offer of about $80k loans.
4/5 - Submitted appeal with consideration to Michigan scholarship
4/13 and 14 - attended ASW. I WISH i attended ALL ASWs for free foods/drinks!
4/20 - Received updated scholarship offer of $90k or $30k/year!
4/27 - Paid deposit.
8/20 - Withdrew via e-mail. Actually felt a pang when it sent. Can't say enough about how helpful and awesome their staff is. Will be calling during office hours to ask about what else needs to be done.
ETA: Received counter-offer of 150k. Am literally shaking. WHAT IS GOING ON?!
8/22 Withdrew via e-mail. Difficult decision.
U Chicago
11/11 - Status "Under Review."
12/14 - Updated "Under Review" date
1/9 - Updated "Under Review" date
1/13 - Waitlisted via e-mail. No action necessary to stay on the waitlist.
4/27 - Receive e-mail to complete form to stay on waitlist. Form submitted 4/30. This is the only real school that I would've considered attending at sticker over NU. Yes, that includes HYS if I had applied.
6/12 - Call from Dean of Admissions. Stated that she wanted to put my file in the next group to be considered for admission off the waitlist. EXCITED even to be considered!
6/14 - Self-guided tour. Picked up packets and took notes.
6/15 - Submitted my only LOCI of the cycle.
8/17 - Another call that I was to be considered for admission. Received my acceptance e-mail and my scholarship offer of $75,000! IN SHOCK.
8/20 - Accepted offer. ETA: New e-mail describing NU offer and that I need the extra day to talk about it. Un freaking real.
8/22 - Counteroffer of 105k. I'm I dreaming?! Accepted offer.
-------------------------------------WAITLISTS-------------------------------------------
Columbia
Took Self-Guided Tour 10/14.
10/27 - Status check is "Complete."
11/4 - Sends an e-mail asking me to apply and visit...I already did both...?
2/3 - Received "Reserve" e-mail and can be re-reviewed in May.
3/5 - Did not submit reserve form and effectively withdrew.
UPenn
Took Self-Guided Tour 10/17 and 10/18.
10/5 - "Complete" in status check.
11/28 - "Under Committee Review" in Status Check.
1/3 - Updated Review date in Status Check.
1/13 - Waitlisted via e-mail.
2/3 - Did not realize this was the last date to reply to stay on the waitlist-so I've effectively taken myself off the waitlist.
UCLA
8/31-Took Guided Tour and sat in class
3/16-Waitlisted
3/30-Effectively withdrawn since I did not reply to e-mail.
--------------------------------------------REJECTS-------------------------------------
Berkeley
Visited Campus and spoke with Admissions Officer 9/1.
10/19 - Application "Under Review," via status check.
1/9 - Rejected via e-mail. Note to self: get better grades in law school to avoid this feeling in the future.
I am beginning my LSAT preparation, and I was wondering how much your LSAT score improved, from first diagnostic to actual test?