lmcplatte (2022-2023)

3 years work experience at a major credit card company, working on call center software.
Phi Beta Kappa
No undergrad scholarships except a $500 departmental award
Involved with/leader of campus religious organization
Began college training to be a jazz drummer
1 year of graduate school in Computer Science, not terribly successful

About prepping for the law school admissions game:
I waited a year longer than I probably would have, just so my wife could finish her undergrad. So I had a lot of time to prepare everything.
I took practice LSATs on my own for 3 or 4 months before taking the test in December 2006.
I was able to personally meet with my recommenders and have all letters and transcripts ready prior to September 1st. This helped me get off the ground running. Added bonus: since I graduated, my professor from Indiana accepted a position at a top-5 university, which probably strengthened the letter.
I'd be happy to chat with anyone about prepping for admissions; I'm no expert but I must have read at least 10 books, many of them several times over. (I'm a bit obsessive.) I have a few favorite books I'd recommend.

3/26 - Withdrew from Harvard. I guess I dragged my feet because of that curiosity that I'm sure we all have, but there are too many people waiting who are dying to get in-- they don't need me clogging the process.
3/9 - Indiana it is! I loved Notre Dame too, but IU is in the middle of a much more familiar nowhere. Not an easy decision to make, to say the least, but I'm sure it's the right one for me. I wish everyone luck with your decisions as well!
3/8 - Scholarship from Chicago. I'm very grateful for a (now effectively complete) cycle far beyond what I hoped for.
3/6 - Withdrew from Michigan/coughed up a kidney.
3/2 - Ridiculously close to a decision. Calling management companies, setting up appointments to look at housing.
2/26 - Instead of looking simply at per-year cost, I computed cost over 3 years, at 5% cost hike per year. Wow. Very enlightening.
2/24 - Withdrew from Wash U. I'm now confident that I like a couple other offers better. Seemed like a pretty decent school, though.
2/16 - Full tuition scholarship offer from UCLA. Particularly interesting because I withdrew nearly a month and a half ago.
2/16 - Sent withdrawal to Duke. I'm not enjoying this at all!
2/14 - Withdrew from Illinois. One by one they go.
2/13 - Withdrew from Penn. Levy invitation forced my hand. I guess we all have to withdraw from every school but one, right?
2/12 - Invitation to apply for the Levy from Penn.
2/9 - Decided to post more detail about myself for the benefit of others. I don't think anonymity (if I ever had any to begin with) is necessary anymore.
2/6 - Wigmore scholarship award from Northwestern.
2/6 - Held at Harvard via email.
1/27 - Decided to withdraw from Minnesota. I'm sure it's a good school, but I didn't have plans to spend the $$ to visit, and I feel I have better options. I don't like making things final!
1/24 - Sweet heavens I'm in at Chicago.
1/23 - Dean's Scholarship award from Michigan.
1/23 - Scholar in Law award from Washington St. Louis.
1/12 - Acceptance and full scholarship offer from IU. Very pleased.
1/5 - Withdrew from UCLA. Very good school, but my wife and I can't imagine moving to L.A., and I wanted to free up the spot for others.
12/19 - Acceptance call from UCLA. Am enjoying daily news.
12/18 - Acceptance email from Northwestern.
12/17 - Acceptance call from Penn.
12/3 - Acceptance and full scholarship offer from Illinois.
12/1 - Acceptance and fellowship offer from Notre Dame.
11/30 - Acceptance letter from Washington St. Louis.
11/29 - Status checker email from Illinois. Status says "Decision, Letter Mailed."
11/15 - Acceptance letter from Michigan and scholarship offer from Minnesota.
11/13 - Roll out of bed to see "Decision" as my status at UMich.
11/9 - Acceptance call from Minnesota.

Good luck to everybody!