8-6-09: FINAL THOUGHTS: This entire process has been a tornado of stress and elation, victory and defeat. I started seriously prepping for the LSAT in February of 2008. In the summer of 08, I took 6 weeks off just to study for the test. My score was 10 points lower than I had practiced at, but it was one I was willing to settle for, until the following February when I took it again and scored even lower. Then I really settled. The application were not exactly easy either. 12 different personal statements, $1000 in application fees, and tracking down transcripts for a college class I took in high school were all highlights of that process. Then perhaps the most stressful thing, the waiting. Most of my apps went out on Mid-October, yet my decision wasn't final until yesterday. Its been a grueling soul crushing year. Not only does it wear on you mentally, but financially it has been crushing to pay for an LSAT Class, applications, LSAT fees, LSDAS fees, seat deposits, and housing deposits on my own with my meager part time salary. Many nights out with my friends had to be sacrificed to save up for it, and I'm headed to law school with $0, even after a full summer or work. But even with all that stress, I believe it was worth it. In the end, no matter what I did, it was in God's hands, and for whatever reason He saw fit to reward me with admission to one of the finest schools in the country. I'm so thankful that my dreams came true, even in the eleventh hour. I hope that this journal and my stats will help other students achieve their dreams too. Any hopefuls feel free to contact me at jaudette86@gmail.com. Good luck to everyone!
8-5-09: Exactly nine months from the day I was WL at Notre Dame, I have been accepted! My cycle is complete. Go Irish. I hope my notes and profile are of use to later law school hopefuls.
6-8-09:I decided to forgo the full ride at Loyola in favor of BC. My reasoning was that I spent the last year trying to get into the best school possible, and right now its BC. I realize that this will put me in about 65K more debt than Loyola would, but I just don't think the value of the Loyola education fits well with my long term goals. I hope the scholarship goes to someone who really needs it. In other news, 2nd round ND WL decisions will probably be this week, so I'll keep you updated.
6-3-09: So I sent in the final seat deposit on Monday to Boston College. Even bigger news however, is Loyola that called me back despite my withdrawal a month ago and offered me a full ride scholly. Wow. Didn't see that coming. I have to decide by Friday. I'll keep you updated with my decision.
5-12-09: Rejected from GWU before I got the chance to withdraw. It was a mutual break up, but we promised to still be firends.
4-30-09: I sent in an additional LOCI to Vanderbilt upon there request. I will be withdrawing from GWU whenever I get around to it. BC > GWU at this point, so no use waiting around.
4-16-09: I withdrew from Loyola this week (by default). I also took a trip to Notre Dame. Good god is it beautiful. I got to meet with the Adcomms there and talk a little bit about about the waitlist and my application. It wasn't supposed to be an interview, but I got the opportunity to talk about a few of the more recent highlights of my application. I'm praying that this puts me over the top. I'm waiting for your call ND! Also, the USNWR rankings were leaked this week. GWU took a big hit by the new PT rankings and fell 8 spots. I'm wondering how this will effect their WL decision making for the summer.
3-30-09: Rejected from Cornell via regular mail. I was originally part of the EA-Deferral group.
3-12-09: I received the letter from Loyola about my scholarship. $24,000 @ 3.0 GPA. Not only is this almost as much as Kent gave me, but its under more favorable terms as well. Plus, Loyola places much better in Chicago. (http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/composite.pdf) I also sent out another letter to Notre Dame the other day expressing my intent to enroll if I am taken from the WL.
3-2-09: I got my LSAT score back over the weekend. Fell 2 points. I was pretty astonished. I would like to chalk it up to a misbubble or something, but I can't say for certain since the test is undisclosed. Either way, it doesn't matter much. I think my status at the schools is pretty much going to the stay the same until final decision time. All I have now it prayers.
2-23-09: I sent out 5 more LOCI at the beginning of last week so they should be at all the schools by now. There were some significant updates, including a big environmental research project. I also received word from Kent that I will not be considered for the Honors Scholars program. That was slightly disappointing. Their original scholarship was generous, but frankly I believe there are too many conditions attached. Hopefully some of the WL notifications will start to roll in soon.
2-12-09: I called BC today and asked if they offered any financial assistance for students traveling to the open house, which they do not. It will be hard for me to get out there with it, but we'll see. I also called WUSTL, who told me my application was, "with the committee." I don't know what that means. As opposed to not with the committee, in which case, where is it? If you can't tell, I'm becoming increasingly disgruntled. Come save me ND or Cornell!
2-7-09: Retook the LSAT today. I was scoring average 172 on PTs going in, high/low was 176/169. I had trouble with one of the games, a matching/sequencing hybrid, but I think I recovered a few of the points in the last few minutes. I think I was able to see through a lot of the difficult questions on LR. I didn't find the Qs on RC hard, but time consuming research giving me only 6 or 7 minutes when I got to the last passage, probably got 2-3 wrong on the passage and I don't know about the rest (props to everyone who figured out the thermometer/thermostat question). Experimental was an EASY games section. I feel like its going to be 166-168, a few points improvement, however if the scale sucks I might be screwed. Ultimately this was a 0 risk test for me, and if it helps my standing at my WLs then great, if not then I'll be depositing at BC in April (unless LUC, Kent, and OSU offer some substantial $$$)
1-30-09: Waitlist, waitlist, waitlist. What more can I say? Waitlisted at GWU today.... sigh....
1-29-09: Got the WL notification at Vanderbilt. No Surprise. I expect to get WL sometime soon at GW as I wasn't able to log ion to the admitted students site. My PT are looking good for the Feb test, all in mid-170s. Right now I have high hopes for ND and Cornell, but overall I am not completely satisfied with my cycle. I applied early to avoid the summer worrying, but more and more it looks like I won't have a decision until at least March. Oh, and I didn't respond the the Colorado WL on time, so I guess that means I am withdrawn.
1-15-09: WL at Colorado via snail mail, small envelope. Maybe yield protect? Who knows.
1-12-09: Rejected at Michigan, however they did say they would reconsider my application if I get a higher score on the February administration.
1-5-09: SIgned up for the February LSAT. I thought I would be rusty, but on my first practice back I scored a 176. Hopefully this carries over to the test this time.
12-23-08: Send out LOCI and other documents to Cornell, Vandy, and U of M. I also applied to Kent's Honors Scholars Program. If I don't hear anything from Colorado or WUSTL in the next week I will probably send them an application update as well.
12-18-08: In at BC! Really excited. This is my first target school. This came to my permanent address via a large package.
12-18-08: In at Chicago-Kent via email. 3 for 3 for my safeties. I'm looking forward to seeing their scholarship offer.
12-15-08: Deferred at Cornell, but I put my status as WL anyway since deferred students at Cornell don't get a second look until after the regular applicant pool, similar to GULC's priority WL. I'll be submitting a LOCI soon. I am also considering taking the Feb LSAT. Yuck. This was a reach school, so I am happy I got this status.
12-10-08: In at Loyola via phonecall. Dean Bloomquist stated I was the first one to receive notification for this cycle... so I got that going for me.
12-05-08: Waitlisted at Notre Dame. I submitted a LOCI and the optional "Why ND?" essay that I didn't originally include in my application. Hope this pays off.
12-04-08: Rejected at Georgetown via small white envelope.
11-28-08: OSU written notification arrived. No mention of scholarships.
11-21-08: In at OSU via phonecall.
congrats on BC we've got similar background good luck! -cougarfan