plus10 (2022-2023)

Order of Omega Honors Society
Chair of Student Conduct Committee
Employed at a law firm in Pasadena for two years
volunteered as a tutor for ESL students
volunteered as a judge for high school debate tournaments
Delta Gamma fraternity

I am a full-time parent and have been through the last two years of college; I managed to graduate within four years. During my first year in college, my GPA was not very high. During my last two years, however, I improved my GPA receiving Dean's and Chancellor's Honors. I have taken the LSAT three times because of my heavy schedule. The most recent score is my highest. It was extremely hard for me to do well under my circumstances, so I'm hoping the admissions committees will focus more on my personal statements and GPA from the last two years.

I'm basically here to give some insight for my fellow applicants on the admissions cycle.

11/09/09
I recently received a package for a 25% merit honors scholarship from Thomas Cooley. I also received a call from the admissions adviser at Western State telling me I was accepted. I also just called Thomas Jefferson because I had not heard from them in a while, and they said I would receive something in the mail by next week. I hope it's good news. I'm not quite sure what to expect. I'm also supposed to hear from Cal Western some time this week. I applied to a few Spring 2009 schools, but I'm not sure if I should wait or not for the Fall 2010 applications, considering my numbers.

12/09/09
So, quite a few weeks ago, I visited Cal Western. The school is small and very convenient. The library is quite lovely, especially on the third floor where you can see the ocean. Talked to my admissions adviser. I'm hoping I gave off a good impression. I really wanted to sit in on a class, but I didn't have enough time. Still, I think it went well. I really like the school. I'm hoping I hear back from them soon. On another note, I was offered admissions with scholarships into Phoenix School of Law (AZ) and Florida Coastal School of Law (I never applied to either of these schools). I'm considering Florida Coastal. As for Thomas Jefferson, no decision has been made, and I've been deferred... I'm not sure what to expect or what I should do. Tried calling them for advice on how this process would work. Deferral to Fall 2010 is free, but they don't answer their phones or e-mails. As a result, I'm not even sure how to put my application for Fall instead. For Seton Hall, I got a letter that my application is now in review, meaning I should hear back in 6 weeks. I may just decide to go to school in January. Seton Hall is a reach school, and I'm not even sure if I stand a chance. Oh well. Anyway, I withdrew from Western State University because they're not ranked, never offered scholarship, and I've researched their bad reputation. I heard that even people who were the top of their class at Western State University cannot find jobs. I'm guessing Cooley and Florida Coastal would be much better options. As of now, I'm impatiently waiting to hear from Cal Western, not sure if it's a good sign or a bad sign. At the very least, they haven't out right rejected me. Anyway, still playing the waiting game.

So... about an hour after I wrote the above entry, I got a call from Cal Western. Accepted, and of course, I want to stay in California. I'll be attending because it's a good school, and of course, it's in a really nice city. :)

12/14/09
In case other people were wondering why I chose CWSL, these are my reasons: 1) I have commitments to my family and it would be so hard to re-locate, especially with my husband still in school. 2) I like the small communal feeling. 3) It has had a decent bar passage rate over the past couple years. 4) It offers a specialty interest program in Healthcare Law (which I have been interested in for the last 3 years). 5) I also feel time is constraining, where the sooner I get law school over, the sooner I can start supporting my family and beginning my career.

I would wait for a few other schools, but I feel the location is probably the biggest thing keeping me with CW. It's about a 2 hour drive from my home, which is important so that I can see my daughter more often than if I was anywhere else in the U.S. On another note, I loved the faculty and staff. Everyone there is extremely pleasant. I also love the smaller class sizes. Registration is on the 22nd!