But what I really wanted to be...

Yes, I'm going to law school. But what I really wanted to be was:

A romance novelist! (I love me some trashy historical romance novels!)

Scholarship Negotiation

One thing that I will be trying for the first time in the upcoming weeks will be the nerve-wracking, diplomacy-laced waiting game known as "Scholarship Negotiation."

While there is this notion that all scholarship offers are the final, best offers a school can give you, this is simply not true. In many cases, there is a little "wiggle room" for potential students to try and get some more money out of a school, given that they have something to bargain with.

Well, it's not called a "Scholarship Handover."

I have received a decent scholarship at Santa Clara, renewable as long as I stay in the top 25%, and Santa Clara has long been my top choice for a law school. It places really well in my hometown and I feel like I would get a very good education there, not to mention being in a great area for three years.

But given that I've gotten more money from higher ranked schools in areas with lower costs of living, I've decided that it might be prudent for me to ask Santa Clara to reconsider my offer, and see if they can increase it at all. The worst they can do is say no, right?

So I'm going to send them a nice email (directed to the person who signed my original scholarship letter), and then wait. The problem is, I want the email to sound resolute without being agressive, and nice without being pandering, and polite without being passive. It's a tricky situation! (Definitely Goldie-Hawn-in-Protocol worthy).

Once I've got the final draft of the email done, I'll post it here as a format guide, but I still want to have a few more people look at it -- my dad and another potential law student. But keep your fingers crossed for me!

Dear Gmail - Inbox (1): go die in a fire.

This is an email I sent to a dear friend of mine that really accurately captures my hatred of this waiting game I've been playing. I sent it two months ago, but the sentiments are the same.

Hello, my lovely!

I’m just sitting at work, bored and completely unproductive, because a law school should be issuing its decision to me ANY MINUTE NOW, and I can’t stop myself from obsessively checking either my gmail account or my status checker. It’s not like I want to even go to this particular school (DePaul, in Chicago). I mean, Chicago is cold, and it’s far away from California, and DePaul isn’t even that highly ranked. I’ve gotten in to better schools already! It’s just that I have a completely addictive/compulsive personality, and can’t help myself. Plus, patience has never been my strong suit.

So anyway, I’m just distracting myself by writing you a fun little email, but every now and then a little icon (1) pops up next to my Inbox, and I freak out thinking it’s the decision, only to find out that Sephora is having a sale, eBay wants to remind me about a watched item, and facebook wants me to know someone likes the stuff I write. Grrrrr. My body is freaking out because my heart rate keeps spiking and then slowing, every time I see a little (1).

My life is so sad.

But the thing is, I think law schools totally get off on the agony and anxiousness of potential law students. Really, they must. Why else would they issue a “Decision Rendered” status update on your status checker, and then just LEAVE it there for four or five hours before actually telling you what the decision is? [NOTE: IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN! UGH]. It’s like, they HAVE to know what the decision is if they know that the decision has been made. So if they’re going to go to all that trouble of updating it to say that we have “a” decision, why not just tell us which decision it is!?

Can you tell that this whole cycle of applications is literally driving me nuts?

All right, well, I j… IT HAPPENED AGAIN!

Anyway, I’m going to go now, because I’m getting neurotic, and really all I wanted to do was say hi and I miss you, and I hope you’re doing well, and I need to go get some lunch. Not that me leaving will distract me from compulsively checking, because my email gets delivered to my phone.

I just typed that SO fast because I wanted to get through a thought without another email making me paranoid.

xoxoxoxoxoxo love you!

Take TLS with a grain of salt

Earlier in my blog I recommended that potential law students check out the website Top Law Schools (otherwise known on this blog as TLS). TLS is an invaluable source for information on most ABA-accredited law schools, and the forums and boards help you connect with other people in your exact same position -- which goes a long way in cutting down the stress and neurosis during the process!

However, as GREAT as I think TLS is, I think people who are going to be using it as a resource or reference during their application cycle NEED to take it with a grain of salt.

TLS is geared towards people planning on attending the TOP law schools in the country -- the top 14 or 20 schools. This isn't to say that they shun people who maybe can't get in to those schools, or that there's nothing for you on the site if you're not Harvard- or Yale-bound. However, a lot of the students on that site have the grades and scores and softs to score full-rides at any school outside of the T14, and don't mind sharing their "words of wisdom" with students that might not have as many opportunities available to them.

For example, almost anyone considering attending a TTT or lower school will be lambasted on the boards for making dangerous assumptions about the profession and BAD financial decisions. Anyone with an LSAT score under a 165 will often be told to retake the test, because a score of 170 or over is the only legitimate score, and ANYONE can get that. And anyone considering going to a non-T14 school (even if it's still in the top tier) without at least a 3/4 scholarship is just foolish.

I'd like to take a moment to allay your fears. This is a website full of self-admitted gunners and overachievers, whose high test scores and GPAs give them the (often correct) sense that they are the sought-after pupils, and can take more than where they've actually been accepted into account when deciding which law school they'd like to grace with their presence.

If you have a 164, you are still in the top 90% of all students taking the LSAT. Seriously, don't stress out. You may not get into Harvard with that score, but barring a sub 2.0 GPA you'll get in SOMEWHERE.

If you have a sub 3.4 GPA, you are not doomed to a lifetime of burger flipping. You can still go to law school.

Sure, you do need to evaluate whether you have the mental faculty and discipline to attend law school. It will be a three-year long grueling commitment, a sort of pie eating contest where the prize, three years down the road, is more pie. Being a lawyer isn't for everyone, and if you're not sure this is what you want to do then you DEFINITELY should take some time off to evaluate what it is you're looking for in life. Law school is expensive, and odds are you'll have a mountain of debt to pay off when you're done, so you won't have the luxury of waiting for the perfect job.

But, just because you can't get in to Yale, or get a full ride from Duke, doesn't mean you shouldn't be a lawyer, and it doesn't mean you can't do well in law school.

So, by all means, use the boards for information. Connect with other 0Ls who are in your same boat. But don't get discouraged because there are a few people on those boards who scoff at your numbers, or seriously devalue the opportunities available to you. Take TLS with a grain of salt.

But what I really wanted to be...

Yes, I'm going to law school. But what I really wanted to be was:

A secret CIA field agent, a la Nicky Parsons (in the Bourne series).

A Rejection, a Withdrawal, and a Scholarship

So today I had decided to withdraw from two more schools - Dayton (after receiving my $11k/year scholarship offer) and Samford (they were taking FOREVER and I've gotten in to way better schools with money in more desirable locations). Samford, however, beat me to the punch.

I got an email this morning informing me that, despite careful consideration and an impressive application, they couldn't offer me a seat in their upcoming class. Ouch.

Honestly, I wouldn't have gone. I didn't want to be in Alabama and I don't want to go to an expensive TTT school. But I can't say it didn't sting a bit. It's like knowing that you want to dump someone and then they do it first. All you can do is sputter, "But...but...I was going to break up with YOU!" It just sounds pathetic. And no one ever believes it. They just say, "of course you were, sweetie. Need another drink?"

The only thing I can think of, even with my less than stellar GPA, is that they MUST have been yield protecting. Knowing that I wouldn't go, they preemptively rejected me so that their numbers would look better to the USNWR people.

Conceited, I know. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

And, because I just got burned preemptively, I decided to make a preemptive move of my own -- I withdrew from University of Iowa as well. It was a reach school that I only applied to because I got a fee waiver. It's unlikely that I would have gotten in, and even if I had there wouldn't have been enough money to get me to move to Iowa (hear my rationalizing? I'm a brilliant rationalizer). But it's one less status checker to obsess over. And that's good.

In other (better) news, I got my admit package from SMU Dedman today. It's really impressive! And the best part about it is that it included scholarship offer -- months ahead of last year's schedule! And I got $21,557/year contingent upon remaining in good standing!

Dedman is still expensive. Suuuper pricey, actually. But when you take in the COL, the total estimated COA is only about $1,000 more expensive than Santa Clara. And I got more money at SMU.

Maybe Santa Clara will work with me on the scholarship? At least now I have leverage to use!

Withdrawing from Law Schools

I always feel bad withdrawing from law schools. And I feel anxious.

On the one hand, I feel like I shouldn't withdraw, I should wait as late as possible to see if I can squeeze any more money out of them or something. On the other, I know that if I was waitlisted somewhere I would want people to withdraw earlier rather than later, so that I could move up the waitlist more quickly.

But, I always feel like calling or writing to a law school and telling them that you're not going to be attending is basically like saying, "You're SO not worth my time and money." They were nice enough to admit me, why do I have to be so mean?

I know that this is a completely neurotic way to feel...the school would rather know I'm NOT going than just be in limbo until the deadline for deposits passes.

Looking back on my cycle, I definitely applied to way too many schools. And sometimes I catch myself wanting to apply to a few more still! Applications are like an addiction for me. So I've gone cold turkey. AND I've decided I'm going to take it a step further. Every week I will withdraw from one school that I know I wouldn't want to attend in light of my other applications.

But this week counts for three weeks, since I withdrew from three schools, RIGHT?

(PS - I withdrew from Thomas Jefferson and Phoenix in addition to Penn State. I applied there when I thought I was literally not going to get in ANYWHERE.)

Calling Law Schools

Calling law schools is always kind of nerve wracking. I don't want them to think that I'm one of those nagging gunners, or get so annoyed with me that they just pitch my file in the trash without even looking at it, but I NEED information. I HATE being at "file complete" for 4 months (I'm looking at you, McGeorge).

Today I called a few schools just to get some information about scholarships and possibly getting a travel stipend...visiting these campuses is even MORE expensive than applying! But knowing what a difference a campus visit makes (my visit to my undergrad choices is what sold me on my eventual alma mater, and made me decide that the "best on paper" school I was gunning for was definitely NOT for me) I can't possibly make this important decision without visiting the different school I'm seriously considering.

Unfortunately, DePaul doesn't offer travel stipends, and neither does SMU, so it looks like I'm going to Chicago and Dallas on my own dime.

Eek. I don't have many dimes lying around these days. Stupid economy.

FINALLY under review!

So I'm FINALLY under review at Iowa. This is one of those schools where I really really really don't know how it's going to go. I don't specifically want to go to Iowa, but the option would be nice (but there's an 80% chance I'd turn it down).

Hmmm, we shall see!

But what I really wanted to be...

Yes, I'm going to law school, but what I really wanted to be was:

A Broadway STAR. :)

Withdrew from Penn State

Today I sent an email to Penn State Law (Dickinson) asking to have my application withdrawn from consideration. I decided that even if I did get in that I wouldn't want to move to Pennsylvania for school, and that I wasn't likely to get enough money to make that move worthwhile.

For me, withdrawing before hearing back was hard, but only because sometimes I live in a dream world where EVERY school might give me a full ride and stipend.

At this point in my cycle, I've gotten more acceptances than I thought I would, and I have to realistically think about where I would be interested in attending, and unfortunately Penn State just didn't make the cut.

I expect to be withdrawing from a few more schools this week (Thomas Jefferson, Phoenix, Marquette, etc.). Hopefully narrowing down my pool of possibilities will make my choice easier in the end!

My Original Mission

My original mission with this blog was, among other things, to keep track of when I heard back from which law schools and what that method of communication was. I think the handiest site to do that is on LSN, because there are fields for every date that you can fill out, and then everything looks nice and neat.

Unfortunately, there is only one field for any sort of narrative, and it's just not the best laid out format for my slightly OCD, symmetry-loving brain to enjoy. I'll continue to update on LSN for the people on that website -- a lot of people can use comparison dates from previous cycles to estimate when they might hear back from a particular school, etc. -- but I think I'll use this blog as more of a platform for remembering dates and methods.

So, without further ado, here is my timeline to date on hearing back from law school admissions offices:

11/3: Gearing up to get a majority of my applications out by Thanksgiving. Just made the 11/1 cut off for Santa Clara EA. I kind of feel like if I apply everywhere then at least I'll get in somewhere.

11/17: Almost all my applications are out. I sent fee waiver requests to almost everywhere I wanted to apply, and got almost all of them. Saved some $$.

11/23: Associate Dean at U Ark called to discuss my application today, wanted me to submit a supplemental "Why Arkansas" essay. Okay!

11/29: USC Status Checker updated to Decision Letter Sent.

12/1: Accepted at Akron via phone call. I'm counting my first decision as an acceptance, because I haven't gotten the USC letter yet! YAY!

12/2: DePaul Status Checker updated to Decision Rendered. Should hear from them in the next few hours. 12 HOURS LATER: In at DePaul via Status Checker!

12/3: Letter (small envelope) in the mail from South Carolina...I'm in!!

12/9: Decision Rendered and Letter Mailed at UK. It looks like (from TLS updates) I might be out. First rejection = harsh.

12/13: Decision rendered at Ole Miss, letter in the mail (according to an email I got this morning). LATER: I guess they sent it out last week, because I got the letter this afternoon. Dinged at Ole Miss and UK via snail mail.

12/14: AHHH!!! Still says "In Committee" on my SCU status checker, but I have a "Decision Letter Mailed" under my mailings. I'll be on pins and needles until it gets here!!!

12/16: My letter hasn't arrived yet, but...I'M IN AT SANTA CLARA! Yay, secret top choice!! (I didn't want to jinx it). Also, got an email today from Marquette saying that I should have received my acceptance by now. Well, that's good news. In at Marquette PT.

12/17: Sent my supplements to UArk, got an email from the dean saying my acceptance letter would be mailed out next week. In at UArk - Fayetteville. Also: got my letter and scholarship offer from SCU - $15,500!

12/20: Letter received from UArk. $4,000 per semester (weirdest way I've seen scholarships described).

12/23: Merry Christmas to me from Whittier! In via email today! Got a second email asking me to call them to discuss my interest in Whittier for consideration for a merit scholarship. Odd.

12/30: Didn't check any of my status checkers at all over the last week (how liberating). Checked today -- in at Phoenix as of 12/23.

12/31: Email from Whittier Financial Aid...$26k for the first year, with a weird tiered requirement for finaid for all following years (top 5% get full ride, top 10% get 3/4 etc.)

1/10: Haven't been checking status checkers at all in the last week. Dinged at Texas Tech (surprised) via small envelope, Case Western by email today.

1/16: Emailed just before midnight (PST) on a Sunday -- in at UALR.

1/20: Decision Rendered at Western State. Based on new "requirements" and "tuition deposit" sections, I'm pretty sure I'm in. LATER: IN at Western State via phone call.

1/21: In at Cal Western via small envelope. In at Dayton via phone call.

1/24: Waitlisted at Wake via email and status checker. "Hold for further Review" at Campbell, but they said specifically that it's not a WL, so I don't know how to qualify it. Scholarship offer(s) from UALR - In-State Tuition ($11.6k) PLUS an $18k merit scholarship...WOW!

1/31: In at SMU via status checker!!! According to TLS, people who called got news that admit packages will contain $$ info, and will come in next week.

2/4: Scholarship offer from Cal Western today via mail. $15k per year, contingent on keeping GPA above 80% (3.0). Scholarship offer from Thomas Jefferson, too...$20k per year, contingent on staying in top 30%.

2/6: Happy Super Bowl Sunday! Will probably withdraw from Marquette, Thomas Jefferson, Phoenix, Western State, and maybe one or two more in the upcoming week.

2/7: In at STCL via email.

I'll attempt to update more regularly on this site (with more information) every time I hear back from a particular school.

A Little Update

So, it's been a while. I know, my bad. I was definitely going to update more often, but my personal life has been in upheaval recently. Now that it's a little more "smooth sailing" (hopefully) rather than "don't rock the boat, baby" I should be updating more and more frequently.

Instead of an instructional or informational post, I just wanted to update with the fact that I got waitlisted at the top-ranked school I applied to (I was seriously expecting to be rejected) and in to the second-best ranked school I applied to. Yayyyy!!

It makes me feel better to know that I got in to these good/great schools in the face of the rejections I've gotten from far lower-ranked schools. Rejections always suck, whether they were schools you reeeeeally wanted to get in to or not.

So far I've been accepted at 15 schools, rejected from 4, and waitlisted at 1.

That's pretty good, right?

You can track my progress on my LSN profile, if you'd like!