kaf244 (2022-2023)

*Debate Team in HS and in College
*Volunteered at non-profit working with underserved inner-city debate teams all 3 years in College
*Worked at same non-profit 2 years post-college
*Highlights: Taught "Debate and Public Speaking" class for two semesters in one of the largest municipal prisons in the US, ran an after-school Debate Center for HS students for two years

LSAT: 171 (October, 2005)
163 (June, 2003)

I graduated a year early, so the first LSAT score is from when I had just finished my sophmore year in college. I wrote an addendum explaining the gap, hopefully the admissions officer understand.

I am from Kansas originally and now live in New York.

Fee Waivers I used: Vanderbilt, Michigan

I wrote the "Why Northwestern" Essay. Visited Chicago in mid-December to interview on-campus. Northwestern seemed like a fabulous school in such a great location! All of the strong candidates who were recently waitlisted have made me really nervous.

Waited on one of my reccomendations to be sent/processed. That held some apps up.

I've deleted most of the "application received" e-mails- but they came in a timely manner from most schools. No notice from NYU or GW- though they requested my report promptly.

Threw in the Stanford application at the last-minute because they sent me a package with brochures and information about their JD-PHD program in sociology over the holidays, and aside from the JD-PHD program, they have a clinic in educational law (which I am really interested in). So I sent in my $70 donation .

Two general LSDAS recs. One excellent from my college debate coach/current boss. One probably average from a distinguished professor that I got two As from who I doubt really remembers me but was kind enough to do it anyways.

--------
01-25-06: In at GW! E-mail sent at 10:50am. Short and brief, and no scholarship information.

--------

01-30-06: In at Georgetown! (this is the date the letter came in the mail; it took a week from the time my status changed to decision). Small envelope with seal on back and a personal note from the Dean. No scholarship information. As a side note- my status changed to decision on a Monday and on Friday morning I could log into the admitted students' site.

--------

02-01-06 : In at Northwestern! E-mail sent at 6:59pm telling me my application had been reviewed and to log in to the status check website. There I downloaded the pdf decision letter. I know they get some grief for their impersonal method of notification- but I would rather know a week sooner than have to wait for a personal letter in the mail!

--------

02-02-06: E-mail from Northwestern concerning financial aid including three attached letters (the aid award letter, instructions, and an acceptance/allocation form). I recieved the John Henry Wigmore Scholarship ($105k/3 years)! Words really cannot adequately express my excitement, so I will stop writing here.

--------

02-02-06: Small cream envelope from Columbia with rejection letter. After getting 105k from Northwestern earlier in the day, it didn't get me down very much.

--------

02-06-06: $10,000/ year merit scholarship to George Washington, named "Presidential Merit Scholar."

--------

02-08-06: In at Michigan! Letter dated 2/6, with a hand written note from Assistant Dean (though not really personalized). No scholarship information. The blue folder is literally empty; I thought there would be something in it, just not much. It is a nice folder though. This acceptance was pleasantly shocking since I didn't write the "Why Michigan" essay (though I did call my LSAT addendum one of their optional essays). From what I've noticed on LSN, I think Michigan might be kind to multiple-LSATers, even if it is not in their stated policy.

--------

02-10-06- In at Vanderbilt! Letter in small envelope dated 02-03-2006. No scholarship information, that comes later.

--------

03-04-06- In at UT Austin! Small white envelope with letter dated 03-01-06. No scholarship information in the letter.

--------

03-06-06- Small envelope in mail dated March 3rd informing me of "Honor Scholar" scholarship to Vanderbilt for $10,000/year.

-------

03-09-06- E-mail with PDF letter dated 3-06-06 titled deceptively "Award Notice" from Michigan. No scholarship- just the standard $18.5k in federal loan eligibility. While Michigan is an excellent school, I prefer the NU enviorment more and think the career opportunities are essentially equal. I won't try to negotiate any more aid because I think I would want NU even if Michgian matched NU's offer (which, of course, they couldn't).

FYI- Once I get the NU offer via some formal letter in the mail (announcement was through e-mail), I will start withdrawing from some schools!

-------

03-13-06- Letter dating 03/08/06 from UT-Austin informing me of Tom C. Clark Fellows Scholarship for $5k/year + in-state tuition.

-------

03-16-06- Letter of rejection from Stanford dated 03/10/06.

-------

03-24-06- E-mail at 10:02pm on 03-23-06 offering me a spot on the priority waitlist for out-of-state residents for UVA. Considering how late I applied, this was expected, and it felt good not to be flat out rejected. I'll not do the waitlist given NU's offer. Applied to UVA in late January after a haven't-heard-from-any-schools-yet-freak-out.

-------

04-03-06- Just got back from the Day at Northwestern Law. It was fabulous, and I am so excited to attend next fall! All of the current students and the NU administrators/professors were so accessible and friendly. The admitted students I talked to were all really cool as well, though I have definitely had my fill of hi-my-name-is-where-was-your-undergrad-my-major-was conversations for awhile! I was really impressed with the nice environment and how responsive the school is to the students' suggestions for improvement.

Withdrawing from all other schools that I have been admitted to/ waitlisted at. I hope this helps some people who are still waiting at those schools!

-------

04-12-06- Not that it matters to me, but for future people who use this site for their applications- I got back from being away for the weekend and got a Harvard rejection letter (forget the date).

-------

04-14-06- Large manilla envelope from NYU waitlisting me. Not being flat-out rejected gives me slightly more love for my alma mater. Will withdraw- no way I'd pay full price for NYU vs. NU scholarship if I got off the WL (I acutally think that the schools are pretty equal with the exception of maybe public interest, plus I prefer Chicago and a smaller school... NU actually does better with Supreme Court clerks when you account for class size, starting salary is the same, etc. No hate for NYU- it's my undergrad- I just think it's a bit overrated because of its location).