Top Law Schools

Senior at Saint Louis University

Psychology Major with substantial coursework in Criminal Justice

GPA: 3.4
Multiple LSAT (Sept 06: 157), (December 06: 165)

Took Princeton Review LSAT prep course.



Schools Applying to:

T1:
Illinois, Emory, Alabama ($$$), Fordham, Wisconsin-Madison, WUSTL, American

T2:
Case Western, Pepperdine ($$), Baylor, Mizzou ($), South Carolina ($$), Temple ($$), SLU ($$) Loyola Chicago

T3: Hofstra ($$$), Quinnipiac ($$), Creighton ($$), Washburn ($$), Catholic, Arkansas-Little Rock

T4: Campbell, Ave Maria ($$$), FCSL ($$), St. Thomas-MN ($$$)

Green: Accepted
Orange: Waitlisted
Olive: Deferred
Red: Rejected
Blue: Pending
Dark Red: Withdrew before Decision

Having all of my information out there will help others going through this crazy law school admissions process. Information is a condensed version of my resume, and other random facts that may be useful.
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EC’s:

Sigma Kappa Sorority -Various Positions including Pan-Hellenic Council Executive Delegate, Suite House Manager, and Beta Theta Pi Liaison.

Pan-Hellenic Council Exec-Internal Vice President
-Oversaw Scholarship, Activities, Educational Programming, and Greek Week; Sat on the committee to choose the new sorority (Zeta Tau Alpha) for colonization on SLU’s campus; Planned Greek Week. Proceeds went to the American Cancer Society. The events included Battle of the Bands, SLUrban Golf, Wiffleball, Sand Volleyball, and Dodgeball Tournaments, Shaving Cream Tug of War, Barbeque, and Field Day; Co-organized a breast cancer awareness speaker from the Susan G Komen Foundation for all Greek women; Captain of Pan-Hellenic Council’s Race for the Cure team; Planned the educational new-member forum; Co-organized a school supply drive for KidSmart; Instituted a campus-wide collection of Yoplait lids for a gift to Zeta Tau Alpha’s Breast Cancer Philanthropy.

Residence Hall Association Exec-Financial Vice President.
-In charge of budget, care packages, and funding residential programming

Greek Council Exec-Vice President-RHA.
-Attempted to bridge the gap between the Greek community and Administration and Residence Life. Encouraged Greeks to participate in campus-wide activities. Organized and help put on several all-Greek activities such as barbeques, stress-relief nights, and city outings. Helped remodel the old cafeteria into a new Greek study lounge and game room.

SLU D1 Women’s Golf
-In addition to competing in collegiate tournaments, we decided to work with DreamWorks (like Make-A-Wish, locally) and provide free golf lessons to local terminally ill children and their families.

Honors Student Association Exec-Freshman Delegate.
-Organized a toy drive for 150 local children in hospitals during Christmas.
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Work Experience (Nothing special at all).

-Conference Assistant during the summers.
-Deskworker during the school year.
-Old Spaghetti Factory briefly.
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Grants:

Resident Advisor:
-Assisted 900 incoming freshmen in their transition to the college lifestyle. Personally responsible for thirty-two female residents. Planned and implemented community building, social action, staff development, and personal wellness programming. Enforced building and campus-wide policies; Implemented the “Inner City Trick or Treat” with the help of an Alderman from North Saint Louis. 100 families came to our building, and every resident bought a bag of candy to give to the children during the safe trick-or-treat.; Organized and executed an area-wide self-defense class for freshmen females with the help of two male Resident advisors.
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Honors:

-Dean's List (twice)
-Outstanding Panhellenic Involvment (Awarded to one sorority member of the entire campus)
-Graduated Cum Laude

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School Related Information:

-IRB certified
-Senior Research Project: “The Effect of Relationship Status on One’s Self-Confidence and Overall Life-Satisfaction”
-Substantial Papers Written: “Better than Common Sense but Far from Perfect: A Critical Evaluation of Strano et al. (2004) on Binge Drinking” (Research Methods, 45 pages).
-Law Related Coursework: Criminal Law and Procedure, Law Enforcement, and Psychology and Law.
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Other Random Information:

-Actively involved in spreading awareness of Mountain Top Removal since I came back from a SLUCAP Mission Trip to West Virginia.
-Reading knowledge of Italian and Spanish.
-Enjoy scrapbooking, oil painting, and charcoal drawing.
-Avid golfer and softball pitcher.
-Passionate interest in attending National Education Association Conventions. Have attended the conventions in Dallas, New Orleans, and Orlando with my mother.
-Actively involved in fundraising for Relay for Life in honor of my mother.
-Participated in Saint Louis University’s Make a Difference Day and Showers of Service every year since entering college.
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Family Information:

-Father died when I was four, Mother currently battling cancer.
-Mother is a third grade teacher.
-Mother recently remarried to a man who physically and emotionally abuses her, sexually harasses me in front of her, does not work, an alcoholic, sells drugs, threatened to kill both of us, and is only four years older than me.
-Had to finance my education alone for undergrad, and will have to again for law school.
-PS was about my life story and how I’ve grown because of it.
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Application information:
Included an addendum regarding a few things:
1) LSAT: about my 8 pt. increase
2) Grades: Freshman year, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I took pre-med classes. Big mistake. Once I switched majors, upward trend. Close friend died at the beginning of Sophomore year and also found out my mother had cancer, and had been beaten by her now-husband. (Side note: I am only graduating with my Psychology major because I can’t financially afford to spend another semester finishing up my second major).

Character and Fitness:
-Got in trouble at school because I had a puppy in my apartment, which clearly isn’t allowed.
-Some financial difficulty because I am not supported by anyone.
-Someone at home, either mother or her now-husband opened accounts in my name with my SSN.
-speeding ticket when I was 16 for going 45 in a 35.
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Why Law School?

I'm pursuing a career in Child and Family Law. Reasons behind this are personal experience with domestic abuse and neglect and witnessing problems within public school system.
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Hope this helps. Good luck everyone with your applications!!

Also, I have no preference where I end up attending law school. I don’t care if the law school is ranked #1 or #1,000. Wherever is the best fit for me personally and financially is where I will end up.
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Estimated Chances of Getting in (via LSAC using Fall 06 Data) & Outcomes
American 55% *DEFERRED
Arkansas LR 75% *WITHDREW BEFORE DECISION
Ave Maria 99% *ACCEPTED (Full Tuition)
Baylor 99% *ACCEPTED (No money)
Campbell 80% *WITHDREW BEFORE DECISION
Case Western 68% *ACCEPTED (No money)
Catholic ?? *WAITLISTED
Creighton 99% *ACCEPTED ($18K/year)
Emory 65% *ACCEPTED ($18K/year)
Florida Coastal 99% *ACCEPTED ($12K/year)
Fordham 45% *WAITLISTED
Hofstra 99% *ACCEPTED (Full Tuition)
Loyola Chicago 80% *WAITLISTED
Pepperdine 95% *ACCEPTED ($23K/year)
Quinnipac 99% *ACCEPTED ($25K/year)
SLU 95% *ACCEPTED ($20K/year)
Temple 84% *ACCEPTED ($12K/year)
U Alabama 80% *ACCEPTED (Full Tuition) ***attending***
U Illinois 39% *WITHDREW BEFORE DECISION
Mizzou 99% *ACCEPTED ($8K/year)
U South Carolina 95% *ACCEPTED (27K/year)
U St. Thomas-MN 99% *ACCEPTED (Full Tuition)
U Wisconsin-Madison 50% *WAITLISTED
Washburn 99% *ACCEPTED (13K/year+summer stipend)
Wash U 52% *WAITLISTED

LSN BLOG:

Fee Waivers: Ave Maria, Campbell, Case Western, thomas cooley, Loyola Chicago, U Wisconsin-Madison, Hofstra, Temple, Quinnipiac, Baylor, SLU, St. Thomas-Minnesota.


All applications are full-time fall, except Baylor (Full-Time Summer Start)


12/27 First half of my apps went out today, finally.

12/28: emails from Emory & Mizzou letting me know they received my app.

12/29: emails from Loyola Chicago, American, and Campbell letting me know they received my app.

1/1 Sent out the rest of my applications. Now it's the waiting game.
Side Note: I realized after submitting my application to Ave Maria that I didn't double space the personal statement. Oops.

1/2: emails from South Carolina, Baylor, Pepperdine, Hofstra letting me know they received my application.

1/3 Got fee waivers from Wisconsin and Temple, so I may as well apply there, too. Went complete at Baylor. Email with fee waiver from Ave Maria after I applied. Called the admissions office, and they are returning my check. Got a fee waiver from Liberty-never heard of them.

1/4: LSDAS Reports requested & processed from American, Campbell, Case Western, Creighton, Emory, Hofstra, Loyola Chicago, Pepperdine, Quinnipiac, Mizzou, South Carolina, Illinois, St. Thomas-MN, Washburn, and Baylor. Haven’t heard anything at all from Ave Maria, Fordham, SLU, Temple, Catholic, Cooley, Wisconsin, and Wash U. I’m sure that it is normal—I’m just antsy. Got a fee waiver from Florida Coastal.

1/5 : LSDAS reports requested from Wash U, Cooley, Fordham, Temple and Catholic. Fee waiver from Alabama, so I guess I have nothing to lose by sending in that app, too. Strange email from Arkansas-LR with fee waiver.

1/8: LSDAS reports requested from Alabama and Ave Maria. I called SLU last Friday to see if they had received my application, and they told me they would call me back and have not yet...strange. It's been 12 days since I submitted it. Complete at Mizzou.

1/9: LSDAS reports requested from SLU and Wisconsin. Everything has been processed for all schools except SLU, Wisconsin, and Florida Coastal. Complete at Loyola Chicago & should receive a decision by Feb 15 since I met the deadline for early notification. Good to know b/c it's one of my top choices.

1/10: called U of I and St. Thomas-Complete at both.

1/11: called Quinnipiac because I wanted to see if I would be considered for their Dean's Fellows Scholarship...found out I was complete, too. Decided to withdraw my application from Cooley.

1/12: email from Catholic-complete. First acceptance arrived today in thin regular white envelope from Washburn dated 1/9. Scholarship info to arrive soon.

1/15: email from Creighton-needed additional info, but otherwise complete. email from Ave Maria to refund application fee b/c of fee waiver & because I forgot to check a box on the application. Should be complete tomorrow when Nicole receives the email.

1/16: Email-In at Baylor for Summer 2007. Seat deposit due by 2/15. I'm not sure what to do?? Complete at South Carolina & Ave Maria. Emailed Director of Admissions at Baylor to see if my application could be deferred for consideration for the fall 2007 class--hopefully she'll say yes. Just received an email back from the Director of Admissions at Baylor. She said that they don't defer admissions offers, but I could reactivate my application for the fall quarter. I changed my Baylor status from "accepted" back to "pending." Email from Emory-Complete. Regular white envelope from Mizzou, letter dated 1/10-accepted. Scholarship recipients will be notified by Mid-Feb.

1/17: email from American-complete. My Med Ethics professor finally sent in his LOR, so some schools are being sent the additional LOR...hopefully it will make a difference.

1/18: letter from Washburn: named a Washburn University School of Law Child and Family Law Center Fellow. $36,000 over 3 years with a $3,000 summer externship stipend. Must keep a 2.75 cumulative GPA. Fordham finally updated the status checker...complete. Letter from Wash U-says file is complete minus the LSDAS report...they've already requested it, so I'm just marking that one complete.

1/19: Email from Baylor giving me access to my BearID...I guess that means I'm still accepted for the summer, but also being considered for the fall?? Changing my status back to accepted because I just want to keep track for myself. Letter from Washburn-invited to apply for their most prestigous scholarships (full tuition-3 years + living stipends). Already have a scholarship there, but full tuition would be nice.

1/22: Email from Hofstra-Complete. Postcard from Quinnipiac-complete (but I already knew that from calling). Large 8 1/2 x 11 white envelope from Creighton-Accepted. $14,000/year renewable Dean's Academic Scholarship all three years. Nice letter speaking about my LSAT and leadership experience from Dean Borchers.

1/23: Large 8 1/2 x 11 envelope from Baylor with official acceptance letter for summer 07 which I won't be attending anyway because of the reasons stated above...but sad news is that there was no money along with it

1/24: Email from Pepperdine-complete. Email from Temple-Complete. Thinking about withdrawing from Baylor...with no $$ attached, it doesn't seem a likely option. Decided to contact schools who didn't explicitly state they'd let me know when my applicaion was complete to see if my application is actually complete. Emailed Campbell-waiting for response. Called Case-complete. Called Alabama-they can't find my application...uh oh.

1/25: Call from Alabama, she can't find the paper copy (probably because a faculty member is reading it she said), but I am in the system. Weird email from FCSL about a tour and congratulated me on my acceptance...but I didn't know I was accepted. I guess I'll get a letter in the mail soon. Large 8 1/2 x 11 white envelope with magazine about the Twin Cities from St. Thomas-MN. Accepted with President's Scholarship (full tuition all three years, contigent on keeping above a 2.0 gpa). Nice handwritten note from Dean Organ at the bottom.

1/27: Sent Loyola Chicago an email expressing my continued interest, and to let them know I was in the process of applying for the ChildLaw Fellowship. Hopefully they won't waitlist me. Also asked about their deferral policy for Teach for America, and they allow for admitted students 2 years to finish their committment. I've been thinking a lot about applying for TFA, but I'm just nervous about giving up law school right now. Any thoughts???

1/29: Large 8 1/2 x 11 white envelope from Emory-accepted!!!! Letter dated 1/19. My Baylor application was finally reactivated for the fall...but I still don't know about it if no scholarship $$ is offered. We'll see in a few weeks. Just booked my flight and hotel for Creighton's ASW Feb 22-25. Visiting St. Thomas MN Feb 9-11 when my bf & I go to Minneapolis to celebrate our anniversary. Will be visiting U South Carolina & Emory over Spring Break during my roadtrip.

1/30: Big Mail Day!! Quinnipiac Acceptance came in standard size off-white envelope with news of a $25,000/yr scholarship renewable with a top 1/3 standing. Note on the bottom said Dean's Fellows Scholarship finalists would be notified prior to March 1. Hofstra Acceptance came in large white priority mail package with news of a full tuition scholarship contingent on a 3.25 GPA & a free tshirt! Large white package from St. Thomas with a free tshirt and a cute little card. Large square colorful envelope from FCSL with official acceptance and named Governors Scholar with a $12,000/yr scholarship renewable with a 3.0. Email from SLU-complete and nominated for the 1843 Scholars Program (full tuition)...strange that they'd nominate me but I haven't been accepted yet?? Relocation guide arrived in large white envelope from Washburn. Nice letter from Mayor of Columbia (MU Class of '61)...they think really highly of themselves over at MU. Other news...a book I ordered from Amazon two months ago arrived today. Yay! Overall good mail day.
***Now I'm starting to freak out. I don't want to withdraw from any schools because I really might end up attending any one of them. This decision is going to be REALLY hard!!

1/31: CUA made my decision a little easier by sending me a white standard envelope notifying their decision to waitlist me. I am withdrawing tomorrow, but I would LOVE to include a letter expressing my disappointment and frustration with their admissions policies. Not all of us are concerned with prestige, but rather the fit of the school. Obviously CUA is not the school I will be attending, but for future reference, CUA adcoms should think more carefully before waitlisting stronger applicants simply because of Yield Protection. If the school is concerned with rankings, waitlisting or rejecting applicants who can increase the rankings is simply...well, stupid. Time to get off my soapbox for today.

2/1: sent in my emory scholarship application since my mom finally got her 1040 done. Withdrew from Baylor for both sessions and also withdrew from CUA. Email from UW-Madison, complete. No actual mail today.

2/2: email acceptance from Ave Maria. No mention of $$, but I hope that it will tell me in the official letter.

2/3: So I woke up this morning sweating because I realized I forgot to actually include my mom's 1040 with the Emory Scholarship application. I'm overnighting it first thing Monday Morning. CRAP. (Edit: Khary at Emory told me it was fine, and just to fax it in asap)

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Some SLU pictures for all of you who are applying there and won't have the opportunity to visit:

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Info from tonight's Emory's Admitted Student's Chat:

Students are not reimbursed for travel for ASW.

Emory’s placement: Atlanta, NYC, DC…also places well in Florida
Emory places well everywhere. Career Services does an excellent job of hooking you up with jobs in the area you want to be. Even in St. Louis (YAY!)

International law is pretty strong.

Housing is pretty cheap, especially for a big city.

Student body is definitely not competitive. Everyone is really friendly and willing to help each other out. Everyone is competing for top spots, but you don’t feel it. Nobody here is the kind to rip out pages of books and steal things for common assignments.

People definitely hang out. We have bar reviews every week and plenty of social events (this week we have a bowling event). Weekly keg, lots of weekend activities. Beer Pong Tournaments.

OPUS accounts will be set up AFTER you submit your first seat deposit.

Professors are really approachable and vested in your learning.

Weather is really nice. Few cold spots, but generally warm. Able to wear shorts well into November.

31% of Emory grads secure federal clerkships. Professors have clerked all over the country and maintain strong relationships with the judges.

It’s hard to get paid positions after your first year, but not hard at all to get an unpaid job. A lot of government opportunities for 1L

Students suggest having a car.

25 min from downtown Atlanta if traffic is rough.

Law school itself is a great building with brand new library with amazing resources. Rest of campus looks and feels like a country club. Very green.

If you get to school early there isn’t parking problems. 1L students are assigned on a first come first serve basis. There’s a shuttle for 1L parking. 2L and 3L parking is great, next to LS.

You learn very quickly how to handle your time more efficiently/effectively.

You’ll know about 90% of your class.
A third of the class makes it onto one of the 3 law reviews. Also a writing competition at the end of the year.

The grading curve is 3.16. curve for 2L & 3L not as strict.

Accept credits if you travel with any study abroad program by another ABA approved law school. If you study with programs affiliated with Emory (Hungary, Germany and Ireland) you pay Emory’s tuition. If you go through another school you’re paying double tuition. (this sounds strange??)

For on campus housing, guaranteed for 1L but not after. No one really lives in student housing. Cheaper to live off campus. A lot of people live in Post.

Nice gym and pool.

Arrived 10 days before class started with no problems. A lot of people come earlier.

You don’t study all the time. Classes are fairly small at he upper level.

Wi-fi all over campus.

Class time – 6 hrs per day. Upper level either 1 or 2 days off class.

Most professors keep a set of old exams on reserve at the library.

People have Macs as well as PCs.

Most people spend 2-3 hours per day studying and take all of Saturday off. Most go out 3 nights a week, but 2nd half of semester it gets tougher. During finals, life is tough.

Socratic is used strictly in some classes, and very loosely if at all in others. (professors just want to make sure that you’re keeping up on the reading, but they are never rude about it).

Emory is Methodist. Not noticeable unless you participate in religious activities. Most professors lean left.

For on campus interviews, everyone submits resumes and top firms will often cut off who they will accept from rank, but not all of them. People apply for jobs many other ways.

Professors have open door policy, and most have office hours 2 hours per week.

No dogs on campus. (looks like I’ll be living off campus)

New dean cut class size by 25 spots and increased financial aid

Books: easy to get from upperclassmen or on amazon.com ($100 books run less than $30).

School is pouring out cash to move up the ranking (in form of SCHOLARSHIPS!).

Scholarship decisions will be mailed out in late Feb./early march & have all out by 3/31.

The FinAid office will finance the total cost of attendance, including rent (EVEN IF YOU LIVE OFF CAMPUS), utilities, books, health insurance, etc. and cover as much as they can through scholarships, grants, and loans.

There are very limited opportunities for scholarships beyond the first year.

First seat deposit is due April 15.

The Loan Repayment program is limited to those students in public interest.

Woodruff Scholars will be notified by end of February if they are chosen to interview.

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SOOO.

I've been all disappointed all week because I haven't heard ANYTHING.

I was driving to get my nails done this afternoon, and I had my phone in my pocket. I pulled it out to call my bf, and saw I had a missed call. Looked and it was a number I didn't recognize. Voicemail. PLLEEEEEASSSEEE let this be a law school. It's the Asst. Director of Admissions from Alabama (maybe Asst. Dean I don't really remember--I was too shocked) and he said "I'd like to talk to you about your application." Crap. What did I do??? I haven't even gotten a complete notice. In fact, right now I'm still thinking they haven't found my application (it was lost, btw). So I call him back.

"I just wanted to talk to you about your application." - AD
"Okay (thinking oh crap, crap, crap). - me
"First of all, I just wanted to say Congratulations"
"Really?"
"That's not all."
"Okay..."
"You've also been named [inaudible]...full tuition scholarship"
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
etc.

I'm just shocked that I got a full ride at a T1 school.

I'm sure its not that big of a deal to most of you who read this...BUT TO ME IT'S AMAZING.

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I got accepted to South Carolina today, which is the school I've been dying to go to so that I can be close to my mom's side of the family.

They only gave me $13K/yr, so I decided that I was going to see if I could get some more money out of them. I really can't afford to go there over Bama, since Bama is ranked much higher and gave me a full-ride...even though I realllllllllly wanna live in SC.

So here's the email I sent to the Dean (don't tell me that it sucks...I know it does already).

Dean name,

My name is Ashley *******, and I recently was admitted to The University of South Carolina School of Law. I was ecstatic when I received my acceptance letter and notification of a tuition reduction merit scholarship. The majority of my extended family lives in Beaufort, South Carolina, and I would absolutely love to be able to spend more time with them. South Carolina is my favorite place in the world, and I would be thrilled if I could spend the next three years at University of South Carolina School of Law. In fact, after receiving my September LSAT score of 157, I called South Carolina’s admissions office to ask if my score was considered competitive. After hearing that I would at least need a 159, I signed up for the December LSAT. I retook the exam and earned a 165 so that I would have a better chance of admission.

Although South Carolina is my ideal law school, I simply cannot afford it with the current financial package that was offered. I am already close to $100,000 in debt from undergrad, and I will not have any assistance in paying the loans back after I finish law school. Because of my background, I am planning to focus my studies on Family and Child Law. I am aware that this field is not the most financially lucrative. I have received a very generous full-tuition scholarship offer from University of Alabama, and I was curious if there were any additional scholarships or grants that could be offered.

Unfortunately, if the package I was awarded is the best offer that can be made, I will not be able to matriculate at University of South Carolina. If the offer can be negotiated to be comparable to University of Alabama’s, I will gladly spend the next three years at The University of South Carolina School of Law. This university has been my top choice since I decided I would be going to law school one year ago, and I hope that I will be moving to Columbia this summer.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further information or have any questions.



Sincerely,

Ashley ******

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