2.75 Cumulative GPA
-Placed on academic probation 2nd semester of college. (I was one of the bright ones who had to learn the hard way that you should, you know, actually go to class.)
-Didn't start getting GPAs above 3.0 until Junior Year. (I figured it out eventually)
-Graduated in 2007, working in psych/social work field for 3 years
-Started a Masters program to work toward becoming a therapist before changing my mind and applying to law schools
-Married w/a child
I applied to all the schools that gave me fee waivers regardless of location. (Why not?) But, realistically, I'm limited to schools within commuting distance of Tulsa.
----------------------------------------------------
1/7/11
I have calculated my odds of admission at each of these schools using LSAC's calculator and lawschoolpredictor.com. For those unfamiliar with them, LSAC gives you a percentile range of your odds of acceptance. LSP gives you a prediction of Admit, Strong Consider, Consider, Weak Consider or Deny. The two predictions don't always line up, as you can see on the predictions I have been given.
I'm really interested in the accuracy of these two predictors, so I have listed what each site predicts for my 2.75 GPA and 165 LSAT to the left under "Extracurricular Info".
------------------------------------
1/14/11
I know it has only been 2 weeks since I submitted my applications (and I'm still getting emails from schools saying my files are complete), but the anticipation is killing me. Apparently, compulsively checking email or the online status of applications doesn't make schools issue decisions any faster. Go figure.
------------------------------------
Later on 1/14/11
Accepted to Tulsa according to Status Checker. (Yay, compulsive checking!)
-----------------------------------
1/15/11
In at Fayetteville. Notified via mail. Letter dated 1/13/11. Non-merit scholarship of $8k for the first year to cover the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Non-renewable as students can claim in-state tuition after living there one year.
-------------------------------------
1/17/11
Got an E-mail from Little Rock calling my personal statement "well written" (do they mean it, or do they send this same email to everyone?) and asking me to submit an addendum explaining why I want to attend to their school. I'm undecided right now whether or not to do this since it is unlikely I'll attend even if admitted since I've already been accepted to 2 schools which are a much shorter commute.
------------------------------------
1/19/11
Submitted the requested addendum to Little Rock. Why not?
-------------------------------------
1/20/11
Got an email from Little Rock confirming they got my addendum and telling me they should make their decision in 7-10 days.
Got the acceptance letter from Tulsa in the mail today. They've offered me a $16,000 scholarship renewable each year if I maintain a 3.0 GPA.
--------------------------------------
1/24/11
In at St. Thomas via status checker
-------------------------------------
1/27/11
Got a call from Hamline at 10:02 am saying I've been admitted for the fall and granted a 75% tuition scholarship. When I find out exactly how much that is, I'll update the numbers up there ^
Got a call from Oklahoma at 10:34 am saying I've been admitted to the early admission program for Summer 2011. (Checked the status checker at 1:45 pm and it still reports my application is in review and no decision has been made.)
-------------------------------------
1/28/11
Via status checker, Chicago-Kent deferred me until I completed a survey on their website indicating whether or not I am still interested in their school. Status checker said "there is a strong chance that we will be able to offer you admission at a later date should you signify continuing interest." However, I decided to withdraw my application because I know I won't be moving there and I feel like a liar completing a survey saying that I am still interested.
I got my acceptance letter from St. Thomas in the mail today. They gave me a full ride scholarship for all 3 years (approximately $36,000 per year) if I maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
-------------------------------------
1/31/11
In at Quinnipiac via email.
Texas Tech status checker says decision rendered and letter mailed, but there is no seat deposit listed or any new requirements in the requirements list, so I'm guessing its my first rejection.
Got my acceptance letter from Hamline. It doesn't give an outright dollar amount for the scholarship. It just says its 75% of full-time tuition, which is expected to be $34,680. My mad math skills say that means the scholarship is for $26,010 per year. Renewable if I maintain a 2.9 GPA.
-----------------------------------
2/1/11
In at Little Rock via email sent at 10:51 PM
----------------------------------
2/4/11
I sent an email this morning to Phoenix because, other than my email from LSAC on 12/31 saying that my application to their school had been processed, I hadn't gotten anything. Phoenix has an online status checker and I never got log in information for it, or emails stating my application had been received or completed. Nothing. So I asked for an update on my application and for log in information to check online. They responded 36 minutes later reporting I have been accepted as of 1/31/11.
-----------------------------------
2/7/11
St. Thomas sent me an email wishing me a happy birthday. I was kind of surprised and impressed by this.
Mail hasn't run in a week due to a snow storm that hit. The suspense of not knowing whether there are acceptance or rejection letters or scholarship offers in the mail is rather annoying. If the mail doesn't come today, it probably won't run until next week since round 2 of snow storms is supposed to hit tonight.
---------------------------------
2/8/11
In @ Stetson via email
In @ Oklahoma City via status checker
The mail came for the first time since 1/31/11. I got:
-A hand written "congratulations" card from St. Thomas and a free St Thomas Law winter hat. They sure give admitted students a lot of attention.
-An acceptance letter to Texas Tech. This came as a total shock as I was positive I was either rejected or waitlisted. At the bottom of the generic acceptance letter is a hand written note that says "P.S. Your counseling experience will bring a valuable perspective to the classroom."
-The acceptance letter to Quinnipiac. They gave me a $25,000/year scholarship renewable if I stay in the top half of the class.
-The deferment letter from Chicago-Kent
-Acceptance letter from Little Rock. They gave me a non-merit scholarship to cover out-of-state tuition differences and a merit scholarship of $24,000 to be divided over 90 credit-hours (so $8000/yr) and requires my GPA rank in the top 60% of the class
-Acceptance letter to Phoenix with a $22,500/yr scholarship renewable with a 3.0
---------------------------------------------
2/9/11
Got an email from Phoenix telling me I can track the status of my application online and giving me my user name and password. LOL. Way to be on top of things, guys!
--------------------------------------------
2/12/11
Got my admissions letter from OCU. They have offered me a scholarship of $26,000 per year, renewable as long as I stay in the top 50% of the class.
------------------------------------------
2/15/11
Accepted at Dayton. Notified via phone call. I was told I am being considered for a scholarship, but the caller wasn't sure of the amount.
Got an email from OU saying my admissions packet is now in the mail and had been delayed by the back to back snow storms.
------------------------------------------
2/16/11
Dayton responded to my previous email inquiry about my application status confirming I've been admitted and that I've been awarded a President's scholarship in the amount of $16,000. Terms of renewal were not outlined in the email.
Samford finally changed my status to "Application complete".
------------------------------------------
2/22/11
These 4 slow-to-decide schools are going to drive me crazy.
----------------------------------------
3/2/11
I met with TU today and they have agreed to consider me for additional scholarship funds.
---------------------------------------
3/10/11
In at Mercer via email
--------------------------------------
3/11/11
I was cleaning off my table and found a couple letters.
One from KU dated 2/21 putting me on the waiting list.
One from Texas Tech dated 2/28 offering me a $1000 merit scholarship and a $8120 out-of-state tuition scholarship.
-------------------------------------
3/15/11
Waitlisted at William & Mary via email. Considering the 2-12% admission odds and the "deny" prediction I was given, I'm pretty happy being waitlisted.
-------------------------------------
3/23/11
TU upped their scholarship offer to $22,000. TU is the most practical choice for me since I'm already settled in the area, so this is a good thing.
------------------------------------
3/28/11
Paid my seat deposit at TU this afternoon. Sent a mass email withdrawing from all other school this evening. OCU called me within 2 minutes of sending out the email to offer me a full tuition scholarship. I told them I'd think about it, but TU is still the most practical choice for me I think.
-----------------------------------
3/30/11
I withdrew already, but for the sake of posting all the responses, the status checker says I was accepted to Samford. Took long enough to make a decision there, guys!
-----------------------------------
5/27/11
I just got a call from OU. They said they've just received additional funds and I was "at the top of their list". They are offering me a full tuition scholarship for all 3 years. (She told me what amount that came to but I was in so much shock that I don't remember.) I have to decide by Tuesday.
---------------------------------
5/28/11
Got the email from OU. The scholarship is $15,000/year which leaves me about $1,500 per semester in fees that are not covered by the scholarship. I asked about GPA requirement and she said she thinks it is a B average (8.0 on 12.0 scale) but wasn't sure and would have to check with the committee.
TU is on top of things. I have been very impressed so far.