gwuwannabe (2022-2023)

Views: 9325 User Since: 07/13/06

Application Information

F - Fee Waiver A - Attending W - Withdrawn D - Deferred
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# Law School Status Type $$$ Sent Received Complete Interview Date Decision Updated
George Washington University PT Accepted A Type: RA Sent: 10/27/06 Rec: 10/30/06 Comp: 11/14/06 Inter: -- Dec: 02/13/07 Upd: 17 years
George Mason University F PT Accepted W Type: RA Sent: 10/27/06 Rec: 10/31/06 Comp: 11/20/06 Inter: -- Dec: 02/13/07 Upd: 17 years
American University PT Accepted W Type: RA Sent: 10/30/06 Rec: 11/01/06 Comp: 11/10/06 Inter: -- Dec: 11/24/06 Upd: 17 years
Georgetown University PT Rejected Type: Sent: 10/30/06 Rec: 11/01/06 Comp: 11/06/06 Inter: -- Dec: 12/08/06 Upd: 17 years

Applicant Information

  • LSAT: 163
  • LSAT 2: -
  • LSAT 3: -
  • GRE : -
  • LSAC GPA: 3.28
  • Degree GPA: 3.29
  • School Type: Private, 4-year
  • Major: Computer Science

Demographic Information

  • City: -
  • State: Virginia
  • Race: -
  • Gender: Man
  • Non-Traditional Applicant: Yes
  • Years out of Undergrad: -

Extra Curricular Information

Quick notes on admissions experience are below... full story is on the right :)

GW:
No automatic confirmation of being complete unless you fill out two postcards attached to the paper app (one will tell you "received", the other "complete"). I didn't know about the postcards until after I'd applied (online). Now the only reference to said postcards has disappeared from the website, so maybe they've discontinued that? Acceptance was via a very nice call to my work number.

American:
Email confirmation of being complete, and large, thick USPS notification of acceptance. Incredibly fast! Admit material included online access to American's portal and ability to put deposit down online. Don't fill out NeedAccess if you're a PT applicant... they don't allow PT people to apply for grants (seems bizarre to me!)

George Mason:
Complete notification via email along with "don't expect to hear before..." estimation (nice!). Only school where applying electronically was free, though also the only school that required mailing in a signature confirmation. Very nice phone call acceptance to my work number.

Georgetown EA:
Has a status checker, though it was pretty unreliable, and doesn't tell you what the decision is -- just that one's been made. Noticed them accept a lot of non-EA candidates before they touched my app which I thought was disrespectful. Small white envelope rejection. Put it into the shredder, which was essentially what I knew I was doing with my application fee when I sent it off... and probably what they did with my app when they got it. Friends don't let friends go to Georgetown :)

Additional info & updates

7/13/2006 -- Have been waiting to get ready for the LSAT for what feels like forever (3 years, about, since I decided I wanted to start). Just started TestMasters yesterday. Diagnostic a year ago was 158 and this time was 156. Really need to get it up to at least 165 and am hoping for even better. I'd heard about this site but avoided it because I'm neurotic enough already about this process... but here I am anyway!

7/25 -- LSAC acknowledged receipt of my transcript today. Unfortunately, their conversion brought down my GPA. My school does +/- at .3 and .7 whereas LSAC does .33 and .66. With my one class in the fall, I was hoping to hit 3.3; but that won't be possible, at least not on the LSDAS system. Bummer. Still hoping I can sell my technical major as one that causes a lower GPA; though considering it's my freshman year (when I wasn't a tech major) that's bringing me down, I think that might come across as disingenuous. Ah well, the grade trend should speak for itself.

8/12 -- Took a diagnostic LSAT with Testmasters on Saturday - TOTALLY sucked. The entire time I couldn't focus or concentrate, I was nervous, I kept getting distracted by people writing or turning pages... all in all, pretty much a panic attack. It was no big surprise when I ended up with a 150. I know that when I'm not stressed and know nothing, I am at least as good as a 158. If I can return to "not stressed" (Xanax??? j/k) now having learned something, then I'll be alright I think. I definitely realized I need to be studying more than I am right now. Ordered paper apps today from the above schools... I'll apply online to be sure, but why not get my name on their lists. It's fun to look through the books, too. Gotta track down my old con law prof for a recommendation... it's been about 2 years since I first asked him and we're getting close to deadline, heh.

8/26 -- TM instructor told us to take an unlimited length diagnostic so we could get a handle on what's taking us too long. I got a 171 (!!!) which definitely was a thrill, but unfortunately my times weren't. On logic games, I took THREE TIMES LONGER than we're allowed (101 minutes).

I feel decent because I know the three questions where I got caught in a total timesink and all of them were dumb things because I didn't read carefully. Also, in a timed test, I think I'd just skip the timesink question and move on, rather than sit there until I could answer every last one. So... hopefully I can cut that time a lot, but I gotta bite the bullet that I've always been a slow test taker and it's gonna hurt me.

On the upside, I was over by only 9 minutes in the first LR section, under by 8 minutes in the second LR section, and over by 8 minutes in RC, so those aren't bad times and won't take too much work to fix. Gonna start with the timed testing next Saturday morning, bright and early.

9/02 -- Took another diag on my own, this time with actual 35 minute sections vs. untimed. I finished all the sections but logic games with time to spare, which was fantastic... and got a 164 which also made me feel fantastic. Only was able to do 2 of the 4 logic games; they just take me forever. I'm going to keep practicing them almost exclusively... one more game and I could claw my way up to 168... assuming I don't panic on test day and blow the whole thing.

9/09 -- :sigh: today sucks. Took a diag with the Testmasters crew this morning and got a 159. I'm trying to look at the bright side - this is the highest score from a diag I took in a group setting (previous ones were 158, 156, 150) and was much better than my last score of that sort, but I was hoping for better; 159 isn't going to cut it. Only could get to 2 of the 4 logic games and my reading comp sucked. We had a RC for the experimental and I hit all the problems on that, but on the one that was counted I only got 3/4 readings. Fatigue? Maybe. It sucked. What's so frustrating is that of the problems I did in LG and RC, I got 100%. The implications for my score if I could get to all the problems is pretty clear... SPEED UP. Twenty days...

9/16 -- Took a diag on my own today and got a 163. Woohoo! That's my dream. It's odd too, because I felt like I didn't do well. I vascillate between getting 2 of the games or 3 of the games done in time and got myself convinced that if I didn't get 3, I was sub-160 for certain. That wasn't the case this time -- I still only got two games, but I got the 163.

In reality, at least on this test (Dec 01), you can get a 162 if you peg out all the other sections and don't do ANY games; 167 if you get one game, 171 if you get two games.

I've been concentrating so hard on speeding up my games and despite all my work, I'm really not seeing any improvements... so perhaps this shows that I should keep trying to improve my answers in LR and RC. I missed 8 LR between the two sections, and 3 on RC; the more I narrow that, the higher my score goes, all things being equal (i.e. logic games taking me a shitload of time).

Taking another one of these mothers tomorrow morning. Finished up two of my apps, revised my PS a bit, and wrote up the embarassing discipline section. September 30th is coming... two weeks, my friends.

9/17 - 161 today (Oct 05). Still good, but I really want >162. Reading comp section hurt... missed 5, couldn't get through 3. LR I was on fire though, 0 wrong in one section!

9/23 - 161 again today. I'm pretty happy about it too. I've never cracked the 160 line in a group setting and today was particularly bad... I was so cramped at L'Crap Plaza Hotel that I only had room for 1 piece of paper - the book folded in half on top of my answer sheet. If I can do that, I can do anything. If I crack 160 on test day, I think I'll probably stick with it and not retake.

I walked out of the test feeling like a million bucks... I knew I did well on RC (only missed 2) and was pleased that the faux experimental section was LR (I hate extra RCs & LGs). Hopefully I'll be that lucky on test day -- which is in one week :) I missed more than usual in LR, so I'm going to take a look at those in these last few days.

Scoped out the test site today and it looks decent; my LORs are done, and so are my applications. Going to make some changes to the personal statement, add a "diversity" statement, and we're pretty damn set for kicking ass 9/30 and mailing apps shortly thereafter.

GOOD LUCK SEPTEMBER 30TH LSATTERS!!!

10/2 - Eesh. Wish I felt as good about this test as I had about the diag I took before. I have upsides and downsides and really no idea what kind of score to look for... reading comp hit me unbelievably hard... I didn't even get to the last passage... yet I did better than ever before on logic games, getting not just through the third set but to the first question of the fourth. It's hard to know what to feel like when you know your score can't possibly be great but surely can't be awful, either. As a part-timer with my GPA, I really need a 162 to be a solid applicant at GW... and even with doing as well as I did on LG, I can't help but think the RC doomed me. It's going to be a long few weeks of waiting.

10/20 - Today might literally be the best day of my life. After spending the last few days -- particularly today -- hitting reload on LSAC, assuming about a ~156, I got my score and it was a 163. I started screaming I was so happy -- my neighbors must think I am insane. I worked so hard for this. I was prepared to take it in December -- already registered, gotta cancel now -- but I would've been crushed. I feel incredibly lucky --- hope you all did well and do too!!!

10/27 - Sent in GW and GMU; Georgetown & AU accept a diversity statement which I'm having a bit of trouble fleshing out. Hopefully they'll be done by Sunday and I'll submit those apps as well.

10/30 - Georgetown and American are now out the door, so to speak. Diversity statement took awhile to knock out but I feel good about it. Here we go!

Good luck everybody :)

11/06 - Gtown status checker says I'm complete - it's EA, so decision'll come by 12/15/06.

11/10 - Email from American that I'm complete!

11/14 - I am such a nerd. I stopped by the GW Admissions office to ask if my application was complete (it is). After he told me that, I asked if there was a space for me to write that it's my top choice, and to please let me in! He laughed. I repeat, I am a total dork.

11/20 - Mason notified me that I'm complete, and to not expect a decision prior to 1/15/07.

11/27 - In at American!!! I'm so happy. I know I'm going to law school now!:) What a wonderful way to cap off a great Thanksgiving.

12/08 - Rejected from Georgetown today. To be perfectly honest? It doesn't bother me in the least. I didn't have the numbers, and didn't want to go. I don't like the institution, which was only reinforced after seeing GULC begin to send letters (accept, reject, WL) to regular-app candidates before they'd bothered with my early-action app. I think the only scenario in which I would've attended is if I got into GULC but not GW - really unlikely. If I got into both, I would've chosen GW.

Still hoping so much for a GW PT offer... please please please...

12/23 - Took two days off from all this LSN/LSD speculation craziness to travel and see the family, and then when I clicked back on GW to see if they started sending decisions... THEY DID! Sounds dramatic but I started to get all queasy. It begins! According to the LSDers (and stats here), Dean Richard seems to be calling very high-ranked people at this point. That means some time for me, I imagine -- my numbers certainly aren't auto-admit, but I hope they'll be enough. Major congratulations to all those who have gotten offers, and I hope to be as lucky!

12/26 - Final class's final grade got posted, so that nudges me up from 3.26 @ LSAC to 3.28. Not sure if it'll help anything, but I faxed in a transcript request form from LSAC to the University. As I understand it, that'll trigger updates to all my schools. Will they send it to Georgetown? That would be kind of awkward. Eh, whatever. Filled out the CSS PROFILE today. It asks for a ton of parental data, even though I'm independent (it says if you're under 30, you *have* to include your parents), and so it was easier to do while at home. If I get into GW, hey, maybe I'll get some money. American and GMU look like they take the NeedAccess form so I'll do those next.

12/31 - Feeling kind of wait-fatigued. The rush of studying for the LSAT and taking it gave way to scurrying to get apps in which in turn gave way to waiting. Waiting for the LSAT was unpleasant, but it had a fixed timeframe and there was much to do in the meantime. Now, with classes done and apps in - and winter vacation days - there's nothing to do but wait and it isn't a fixed time.

Saw someone who applied to UC-Hastings and waited five months only to get a WL decision. That gave me hope - can't possibly imagine my schools taking that long. I just wish there was a way to get it out of my head until the decisions were made -- kind of like how when I was a kid, I could sleep through at least half of the 24 hour drive to spring vacations at my great-aunt's in Florida. I suppose in a sense that's true here too -- I *could* be waiting even *more* hours if I didn't have to sleep every night.

I've never been very patient in life nor have I ever been very good at unresolved situations. I like to resolve situations quickly and neatly: charge cards vs. checks, email vs. phone calls, a quick clip down the sidewalk vs. a stroll (slow-walkers should be condemned to walk in the street!). Pretty typical Type-A personality, right? I'm rambling. It's New Year's Eve. Let's see if I can put all this nonsense out of my head with some celebrations... and what's more, I resolve to stay off of these sites for at least the first two days of the New Year, where there shall be no mail, no admissions decisions, and no reason to stress about it all :)

1/10/2007 - Happy New Year all. Looks like today's the day that GW starts accepting non-auto-admit applicants? And rejecting them :( Ugh, that makes me queasy.

Got chinese food with the boyfriend tonight. Fortune: "All your hard work will soon pay off". Here's hoping... and I am hoping.

1/25 - Had what is probably the closest thing to a heart attack today. I got in touch with GW Law because I had some concerns about the PT program. I'd heard from many that there was pretty much a purge second and third semesters because there were so many who switched to FT. The person with whom I spoke made me feel a lot better -- I guess it's the case that some switch but not nearly as many as I'd worried about.

While I was there, I asked if we could check my application status and apparently something on the screen was marked incomplete (in error). It got fixed, but I started to panic for the next half-hour or so, worrying that my app hadn't been reviewed yet and I'd be treated like a late-January applicant, not hearing until March or so. I calmed myself down enough to get back in touch with the same person, who told me it totally wasn't the case -- all was well, my app was progressing normally, and there was nothing to worry about -- the "incomplete" word was just an artifact, not the actual status. PHEWWWWW. My boyfriend jokes when I get like this, he pictures me as a cat hanging upside-down from the ceiling with all its fur standing on end. Well, right now I am retracting the claws and coming down from the ceiling, heh :)

2/11 - Anyone else work in Excel? I do a lot. The formula "=INT(TODAY()-DATE(2006,10,27))" might as well have a macro for how often I type it. Today it says "107", as in days of waiting. I feel like sometimes I don't think about much else. Just... waiting. I take solace in that hardly any PT 3.0 index people have heard from GW, and many schools in general are waiting as a result of less applications plus the new retake policy bringing many December LSAT applications. And I am one of the highest LSAT scores in the PT 3.0 band, in a year where GW seems very bent on high LSAT... GPA be damned. It's just so hard to wait into my 16th week when I was thinking 8 weeks -- 12 tops. Ah well... maybe this one will be the week :)

2/13 - Just got a very sweet phone call from George Mason! It really caught me off guard. I am in! It's really great to have a choice now... Mason definitely has benefits, notably cost and commute.

2/13 - OH MY GOD IN AT GW VIA PHONE CALL, MY HEAD JUST EXPLODED!!!!!!!!

4/4 - Withdrew from American after receiving their financial aid offer (lack thereof!). I guess some part of me thought they might offer some money, despite the fact that they flatly deny PT applicants the opportunity to apply for need-based grants. Seems weird - I'd be willing to wager the average PT applicant has less resources upon which to draw than the average FT applicant. Oh well. Made this decision easy and hope the seat goes to someone who wants it bad! :)

4/5 - Withdrew from GMU today after receiving their financial aid letter. Like American, money here might have made a difference. In-state tuition was definitely appealing, but it wasn't enough to change my mind.

I will be at GW in the fall and couldn't be happier if I tried! It has been my goal through all of this and the years preceding it. Still doesn't feel quite real. :)

Visitor Comments

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Thanks!
Sunday, July 02 2006 at 08:00 PM

thanks for the endorsement and best of luck on the LSAT... make sure you do as many real LSATs as you can under times conditions. also i suggest the Powerscore LG bible and read voyager's post about RC on 4lawschool.com for an interesting RC strategy.

Hang in there...
Monday, August 07 2006 at 08:00 PM

Im in the same situation....my LG sucks. If i can get 3 games on LG im in the 160's, if not, then i can almost guarentee you i get a 158 or a 159. GL with GWU....its a great school. Maybe you'll get a leg up since u went to UG there.

LG
Monday, August 07 2006 at 08:00 PM

Less is deff more for me as well. I only get to 3 or 2, but I i get most of them right.

Similar #
Tuesday, May 09 2006 at 08:00 PM

Good luck with the LG. I've just recently made a breakthrough myself in LG. For the first time last night I didn't miss any. It can be done! Good luck this cycle.

finally
Monday, August 07 2006 at 08:00 PM

lsats r over eh? Yea that RC was rough. I had to guess on last 2 questions on both the RC and LG. Hopefully the scale will be forgiving. Good luck....im sure you're being tortured as I am as we wait for these scores.

congrats!!
Monday, August 07 2006 at 08:00 PM

159 for me. Not dissapointed, but not excited over it either. Gluck with GWU.

Good Luck!
Sunday, November 05 2006 at 07:00 PM

Our numbers are almost exactly the same, good luck with everything! I am applying to George Mason as well, I think it's my top choice

waiting...
Sunday, July 02 2006 at 08:00 PM

i am so tired of waiting. nice job on LSAT.... maybe we will be classmates at GW... i am hoping we will get notified mid-december... this wait is killing me.

CONGRATS!!!
Monday, August 07 2006 at 08:00 PM

..on American! If GW doesnt work out, American is still a good school. GL.

CONGRATS!
Sunday, July 02 2006 at 08:00 PM

on american... now at least you know you are going to a good law school. we could be hearing from GW any day now.... possibly this week...

American U
Wednesday, October 25 2006 at 08:00 PM

Congrats on American! How did they notify you? E-mail or letter or both? And if letter, what did envelope look like? I want to know what to expect, hehe. Congrats again!

GULC
Wednesday, October 04 2006 at 08:00 PM

Yeah, i got the big rejection. But it's good in a way. Although I have just a slim chance of getting accepted to many of my other schools, I'd care far more if i didn't get in there. Frankly, I'll be glad to get out of DC.

Thanks!
Sunday, July 02 2006 at 08:00 PM

with your WE and #s, i really think you have a solid case for GW PT but as you probably realize, you might have to wait longer as the applicant pool shapes up. i dont see #s going any higher this year with test #s down, but who knows. i would like to think that WE counts for something when you apply PT>... anyway, ill be watching your profile and expect good news soon.

LSAT
Monday, September 18 2006 at 08:00 PM

i was just reading your little blog and it seems like we had a VERY similar experience with the LSAT. i thought that if i conquered the games i could boost my score to a 165 or 168 (i could only finish 2 of the games, usually). but on test day RC was soooo hard. i ended up only getting 2 wrong on logic games and doing my worst ever on RC, which is usually my strongest section!! it still bugs me. anyway, congrats on american, and good luck with your pending applications :)

bam
GW
Sunday, November 05 2006 at 07:00 PM

Good Luck with GW, lets hope we both get in... btw, Georgetown sucks anyway

i hear you...
Sunday, July 02 2006 at 08:00 PM

she is just really cool and if you hit it off with her it might be enough to push you in.. but waiting to see what happens first is probably the right approach.

RE: GW
Saturday, January 21 2006 at 07:00 PM

Thanks for the congrats. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you get good news soon!

Re: 7 of 9
Saturday, September 16 2006 at 08:00 PM

Thanks. It was a moment of inspiration. :P I hope you get your GW acceptance!!

Re: CONGRATS!
Saturday, April 29 2006 at 08:00 PM

Thanks. I am shocked. I was expecting some merit aid, but not of this magnitude. Good luck with your app.

Good luck with GW
Thursday, December 07 2006 at 07:00 PM

Good luck. If the stars happen to align and I'm accepted, maybe we'll see each other at GW!

hey
Monday, March 13 2006 at 07:00 PM

just wanted to wish you good luck... hope you get into GW. the opportunities for people with technical degrees once they get in here is absolutely amazing. you shouldnt have a problem with the part time with your scores either... they kinda dont make it that well known, but there is absolutely no work involved in moving to the fulltime program after either. anyway, any questions bout the school, hit up my emai.

GW
Monday, July 17 2006 at 08:00 PM

Thanks so much ... I can't wait to say the same to you!

Have Hope!
Tuesday, December 05 2006 at 07:00 PM

I just got into the PT program at GW. I think yours and my scores are pretty similar, so keep the faith alive! AND - keep your cell phone on. I was notified via cell by the associate dean. :) You'll be fine - love the blog in your section. So glad to know I'm not the only cat with claws in the ceiling dying to know where I'm going in the fall!

GMU
Sunday, November 05 2006 at 07:00 PM

Congrats! Just got the call from George Mason as well.

GWU
Monday, December 18 2006 at 07:00 PM

I've been waiting for this to show up on the app updates!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! :) I'm super excited for you.

GW
Sunday, November 05 2006 at 07:00 PM

Oh wow congrats again!! I left the first congrats before you got the GW call. Great job, you must be so psyched!

GW
Thursday, December 07 2006 at 07:00 PM

Congrats on GW!!!!!! You deserve it. I'm glad, after all that wait, things came out in your favor. Hope to see you there.

congrats
Monday, June 12 2006 at 08:00 PM

congratulations on GW

GW
Monday, July 17 2006 at 08:00 PM

congrats on GW!

gw & GMU
Friday, June 30 2006 at 08:00 PM

w00t!! What a day for you! Congrats! Safe to assume you'll probably be attending GW in the fall?

Congrats!
Tuesday, January 09 2007 at 07:00 PM

I'm definitely jealous that you know about GMU-I'm also in VA, so I would love the tuition there!

Wannabe No More!
Monday, February 12 2007 at 07:00 PM

CONGRATS on GW !!! I regret not applying now at 167 & 2.9 I didn't think I had a chance. Well, maybe I didn't... you have grades and URM on me.

oops
Monday, February 12 2007 at 07:00 PM

re: my post right above... I clicked on you from a URM's profile. CONGRATS on GW!

Well, there you go!
Tuesday, December 05 2006 at 07:00 PM

A while back you were dying for responses from GW - now I'm dying for a response from GMU! :) How the tables have turned. Where will you be attending? Would kill to get into George Mason!!!! :) I really, really would like to know where I'm going like NOW - but sadly, not in the cards quite yet. AL

Had to go GW...
Monday, February 12 2007 at 07:00 PM

Had to apply to a tenth school seeing I had a chance at GW. Thanks for encouragement. In their view book they have a grid and it said my numbers put me at a 3% chance? That was grouping 165-169 and 2.75-3.0. I'm on the high ends of those groups, but applying late. Seems they are being kinder this year than they report for last year. anyways, congrats to your admit and $. Awesome school. I like the course offerings.

George Mason
Monday, February 12 2007 at 07:00 PM

My uninformed, superficial impression was that GMU was pretty liberal. I saw them host a forum discussing Good Shepherd and CIA lunacy and that crowd was liberal. Are professors conservative? Could you enlighten me? That was big in my reasoning to apply to GW also... I'd gotten real comfortable with idea of GMU, but its important for me to go somewhere with strong liberal community and professors at least in balance and preferrably in solid majority.

congratulations!
Wednesday, October 04 2006 at 08:00 PM

congratulations! A terrific end to your cycle!

congrats...
Sunday, July 02 2006 at 08:00 PM

i knew you would make it. now time to start prepping ;).. top 35% or bust

Congrats
Tuesday, July 04 2006 at 08:00 PM

I've been watching your profile and pulling for you. Congrats on GWU!

Thanks!
Sunday, October 29 2006 at 07:00 PM

I was just reading your profile and notes, and I have to say Thank you! Thank you for such a thorough and appropriate use of this space. It was both informative and helpful. Congrats on GW!

DC Schools
Thursday, November 23 2006 at 07:00 PM

Congrats on all the DC schools...I'm pretty sure I'm going to AU for their PT program! Any help on trying to find a place to live?

k32