January 3, 2012
Hello future law school students. I am currently about to begin my second semester of law school at the University of Iowa. I feel I have gained a wealth of advice when it comes to the admissions process and what to expect in your first year. Email or message me some time and Good Luck!!
So this will be my third and final cycle. The first was hard because I was writing my graduate dissertation in chemical engineering while studying for the LSAT. The second time I only applied to Duquesne since I was in Pittsburgh while my wife worked on her Masters. Both cycles I was selected somewhere; 1st cycle Akron (with a 147 LSAT!) and 2nd cycle Duquesne. I held off for this cycle because one, I feel I am better prepared for law school, and now with my wife finishing her graduate degree I am open to schools nationwide.
I am focused on studying intellectual property law, specifically patent law. My school choices are geared towards that and the midwest from which my wife is from. Hopefully I will have good luck this cycle and for anyone who is visiting my profile I wish you the best of luck as well. Thanks
NEW POSTS:
June 7, 2011
So it looks like I will be a hawkeye (again) after all! I have officially accepted my admission to Iowa law school and have to say what a ride. I honestly believe I have become somewhat of an expert in law school admissions, and if you have any questions feel free to message or post me. I will be checking this site off and on until I start this Fall. Good luck again!
April 18, 2011,
Wow so this cycle went alot better than I initially predicted it to be. 7 out of 9 acceptances is incredible. Folks I hope everyone is having as good if not better of a cycle, but if I have any advice to give it is take your time and not rush to go into a school just to get in. The economy is not good and racking up $120,000 in debt for a school that you are not sure you will have a job 9 months after graduating is tough. Also schools appreciate seeing somebody who had a low LSAT, take time off to raise their score. It shows the detemination, hardworking, and resiliency we all describe in our personal statements. Good Luck and God Bless!!!
April 17, 2011,
Just got back from the admitted students weekend at OSU. I loved it .
April 14, 2011
Received my acceptance letter from Santa Clara plus a $4500 scholarship. Very nice but a little too late.
April 13, 2011
So I am waiting to see the official letter but I just received an email from Santa Clara for eCampus. When I logged on it provided information on paying my seat deposit or declining admission. I take this as a pretty good assumption that I was accepted. Santa Clara I have heard is a great area and the law school is well known for IP. Cost and job opportunities for my wife are going to be the only deterrents.
I am heading to Columbus for the admitted students visit... should be fun!
March 24, 2011
Iowa vs Ohio state?
I would like to get a conversation thread going for those that are looking at my profile and posts. Give me pro and cons for either school or let me know what you think of the areas. Would be most helpful thanks!
March 24, 2011
So my current status on the Santa Clara law status checker shows that I am still "in committee" but my status date has been updated from 10/26/2010 to 3/23/2011. Could this mean they are getting ready to render a decision?
February 27, 2011
Has been quite a blog since I started this in October. My old posts are below. I have decided that unless Santa Clara admits me and provides a full scholarship (won't happen), then I will be attending law school at either Iowa or Ohio State. I am truly blessed and I never thought I would be in this scenario. I am sending out letters this week withdrawing my applications to Richmond, Chicago-Kent, Depaul, and New Hampshire.
My preference as I said before is Iowa, but it is going to depend on where my wife can find a job. She has a better shot in Columbus so I may be a buckeye this Fall.
OLDER POSTS:
October 15, 2010
So as of today I have sent out 6 of my 10 applications. Writing these different personal statements is draining as many of you can attest to. Hopefully within the next couple of months I will start hearing about decisions..good or bad.
October 18, 2010
Finishing up my Ohio State and Depaul applications and that will leave me with just Wisconsin for now. I decided to take Houston off my list because although they have a great IP Law program. my wife and I just cannot see ourselves living there.
October 20, 2010
Finished my applications and everything is sent out! Not sure if I want to apply anywhere else but my top choices are taken care of. Now I wait. For those that are new to the process do not expect to hear anything back until December-January at the earliest if you send your apps out now. That is unless you have a stellar LSAT AND GPA which I do not.
October 26, 2010
To anonymous: I agree Houston is a great city and the program is wonderful. Where I go is also predicated on the best locale that my wife can find a job in her field so with no direspect to the City of Houston it just would not work for us. Thanks for the comment and good luck in your cycle.
November 12, 2010
Got an email from Depaul today.....waitlisted. A little disappointed as this was a school I figured I had a better shot at. Not the best way to start my cycle but things are off and rolling.
December 3, 2010
In at Franklin Pierce Law verified by status checker and later email! Great feeling to know that I was accepted somewhere. Anybody know anything about Concord, NH and what it is like?
December 9, 2010
ACCEPTED AT CHICAGO-KENT!!! Notified by email from the dean and my jaw is still on the floor. Is definitely one of my top choices, and shows that schools DO look at other factors than just LSAT.
December 24, 2010
Just got a call from Dean Rahman...IN AT RICHMOND!! Unbelievable and what a great Christmas gift. Happy holidays to everyone.
December 28, 2010
Email from George Washington confirms I will not be going to Washington DC. This was my longshot for sure but still disappointing. Four more to go!
January 4, 2011
Unbelievable, just looked at my status checker and I have been accepted to Iowa!! Wow!
January 19, 2011
Waitlisted by Wisconsin. Not upset I refuse to go to a school whose football team can't beat a MWC team! All kidding aside, I am disappointed as it is a great school. Two left and then it is decision time!
January 28, 2011
Still waiting on hearing back from Ohio State and Santa Clara. I am assuming that they are waiting on their initial decommitments to see if they should "settle" on mine. I do not mean to be so cynical but it is what it is. Did hear back from Depaul and I have been accepted to their part-time program. I have not heard many good things about Depaul lately, seems like alot of turmoil going on as they switched deans. Has anybody else heard anything on the state of Depaul Law?
February 23, 2011
Just when I figured they were not interested, I receive a congratulations email for being accepted to Ohio State law!!
I am really excited and this is going to be a difficult decision for me. Where I go is going to be predicated with where my wife can find a job in public policy. Iowa, which is my top choice, is in the midst of cutting a majority of state positions so this definitely makes things tough.
Hey, I was just looking over your goals and was wondering if you have considered patent examining. I examined for a while. With your PhD you'd likely start at GS-9 or GS-11 and would put you in the 70k salary to start. The office is starting to see more new applications but a lot of patent attorneys were laid off in the past two years. I'd rather be on the prosecution or preferably the litigation side of patents myself.