walls0cedar (2022-2023)

Graduated in 2004. No honors, distinction, or anything like that. Strong upward GPA though; 3.9 my senior year.

boatloads of volunteer work and some grassroots lobbying.

no masters, no publications, no great internships, no awards/fellowships, and no connections. ahh well, still hoping.

fee waivers from Michigan, Northwestern, Duke, Cornell, and Columbia

wrote gpa addendum, sub-par ps in my opinion (i'm retardedly impulsive like that), and 2 fair-good letters of rec (1 prof and 1 volunteer work). i sent in an lsat addendum to every school i've yet to hear from on 1/10/06 in case it might help.

THE VERDICT:

(12/15) Cornell decision came via email. It said I should recieve acceptance package in mail pretty soon.

(12/16) Phone call from Dean Meeker. I think I wrote a generic diversity essay, but not the Why Penn.

(12/17) Recieved letter dated 12/14 that I had been deferred

(12/19) Withdrew UCLA application

(12/21) Recieved email from Duke saying that I had been deferred to regular applicant pool.

(12/29) Accepted at Northwestern via email (status check). Pleasantly surprised because I didn't even do the interview.

(1/11) I can't believe it. Northwestern offered me a $90,000 scholarship over three years via email. It might be too nice of an offer to refuse at this point.

(1/17) Got an email that Michigan was putting me on hold. Then I got a letter that Harvard was putting me on hold. I guess it's time to supplement.

(1/20) Withdrew from Duke.

(2/6) Put on "hold" at Chicago. I'm going to supplement with one of the essay topics they suggested, an add'l LOR, and an updated resume. Chicago is one of my top choices so it's worth it.

(2/17) Rejected from Stanford. At least it has finality to it. My first rejection, and probably not my last, but at least I can say Stanford can eat my butt. HAHA.

(3/1) Recieved email from Boalt. I am under further review and should hear a decision by March 22nd.

(3/3) Email that I would be waitlisted by Michigan. I did not send in supplements that they requested. I will withdraw instead.

(3/23) So, I recieve an email acceptance from Boalt, but i thought i had withdrawn my application! hmmm...this is an interesting turn of events.

(3/28) I thought i had withdrawn from Duke, but I recieved an email acceptance this morning. Word of advice, never withdraw via email!

(3/29) Placed in reserve category at Columbia. They said they'd review my application again in June as spots open up, but things don't look to good. I will ask them to reserve a spot for me however.

(4/10) Received letter from Duke offering $42K over 3 years. How nice. I also W/D from Northwestern. It was a nice offer though; very tempting.

(4/22) Penn offered me $52K in grants (The Fin. Aid guy, Anthony Henry, was tremendously helpful and understanding with problems I had obtaining Financial Docs). I believe that is enough to win me over. I'm sending in my deposit on the 24th (Monday). I guess I'm settled unless Chicago or Columbia shoot me an opening.

(4/27) Chicago waitlisted me. I'm disappointed, but not as much as I thought I'd be. I guess my summer will be filled with just as much anxiety as my spring.

(4/28)Email from Chicago asking if I was still interested in matriculating. They said they'd review waitlisted apps the following week and make some offers. I hope this is a good sign.

(4/29) Waitlisted at NYU. They took forever, but I'm going to remain on the waitlist unless Chicago takes me.

(5/1) Rejection from Harvard. I expected it, but I could sure use some uplifting news from someone. (c'mon Chicago!)

(5/3) WD from Duke (actually, i just never sent in the deposit). Good luck to those on the waitlist.

(6/9) Double "Reserved" at Columbia. I'm still staying on.