Penn Law c/o 2020 Applicants - Pending is better than a Penn ding Forum

[lsa16]

Someone who is applying for the Toll scholarship, please tell me you're just answering the video question like an interview and not doing some weird "creative" video. I feel bad because it specifically says to be creative and not just read a script, but I have NO idea how to make a creative 2 minute video that addresses such a specific question. Yes, I know it's due tomorrow so even if I could think of something creative, I don't have time to do it between now and then, but I have been thinking about this for weeks and nothing has come to me

Hello! I am also just doing the video like an interview, no worries....or, if there is something to be worried about, you are at least not alone!

Same. My video is SO awkward.

I figure that trying to do something creative with 0 experience and failing miserably is worse than just doing it like an interview, so I'm right there with y'all.

After submitting video, I'm now nervous I didn't put enough effort into it. What do you all think -- do Toll judges care more about what got you into Penn or about a stellar video/essay responses?

I don't know what they actually prioritize, but it wouldn't make a lot of sense to select future Public Interest Lawyers based on their artistic or film editing skills. That said, hopefully no one with amazing content also happens to be a pro with a camera

[Anon.y.mousse.]

Someone who is applying for the Toll scholarship, please tell me you're just answering the video question like an interview and not doing some weird "creative" video. I feel bad because it specifically says to be creative and not just read a script, but I have NO idea how to make a creative 2 minute video that addresses such a specific question. Yes, I know it's due tomorrow so even if I could think of something creative, I don't have time to do it between now and then, but I have been thinking about this for weeks and nothing has come to me

Hello! I am also just doing the video like an interview, no worries....or, if there is something to be worried about, you are at least not alone!

Same. My video is SO awkward.

I figure that trying to do something creative with 0 experience and failing miserably is worse than just doing it like an interview, so I'm right there with y'all.

After submitting video, I'm now nervous I didn't put enough effort into it. What do you all think -- do Toll judges care more about what got you into Penn or about a stellar video/essay responses?

I think they probably consider the Toll application package as a whole very strongly, otherwise they would just give out the Tolls based on our initial application package. That being said, I don't think having good Toll essays/video will necessarily outweigh having no prior work experience/demonstration of an interest in PI work, and I don't think that having average essays/video will necessarily take someone with a lot of prior experience and demonstrated commitment to PI out of the running. My opinion on the video is that it kind of weeds people out - if you really have no interest in PI work, having to make a two minute video as part of your application might dissuade you from applying more than just having to write some essays. The video requirement helps ensure that the committee is reviewing applicants that have more of a genuine interest in PI and aren't just looking for a full scholarship.

This is all biased probably because I don't think my video was super great but I did put a lot of effort into it. My hope for it is that it is, at worst, a neutral part of my application. I don't know if it will help at all, but I hope it doesn't hurt/take away from my written responses and the rest of my application.

[jonofalltrades]

Someone who is applying for the Toll scholarship, please tell me you're just answering the video question like an interview and not doing some weird "creative" video. I feel bad because it specifically says to be creative and not just read a script, but I have NO idea how to make a creative 2 minute video that addresses such a specific question. Yes, I know it's due tomorrow so even if I could think of something creative, I don't have time to do it between now and then, but I have been thinking about this for weeks and nothing has come to me

Hello! I am also just doing the video like an interview, no worries....or, if there is something to be worried about, you are at least not alone!

Same. My video is SO awkward.

I figure that trying to do something creative with 0 experience and failing miserably is worse than just doing it like an interview, so I'm right there with y'all.

After submitting video, I'm now nervous I didn't put enough effort into it. What do you all think -- do Toll judges care more about what got you into Penn or about a stellar video/essay responses?

I think they probably consider the Toll application package as a whole very strongly, otherwise they would just give out the Tolls based on our initial application package. That being said, I don't think having good Toll essays/video will necessarily outweigh having no prior work experience/demonstration of an interest in PI work, and I don't think that having average essays/video will necessarily take someone with a lot of prior experience and demonstrated commitment to PI out of the running. My opinion on the video is that it kind of weeds people out - if you really have no interest in PI work, having to make a two minute video as part of your application might dissuade you from applying more than just having to write some essays. The video requirement helps ensure that the committee is reviewing applicants that have more of a genuine interest in PI and aren't just looking for a full scholarship.

This is all biased probably because I don't think my video was super great but I did put a lot of effort into it. My hope for it is that it is, at worst, a neutral part of my application. I don't know if it will help at all, but I hope it doesn't hurt/take away from my written responses and the rest of my application.

I think that's a reasonable explanation, about weeding people out. Anyone could write a few essay paragraphs, but a video does take some extra effort people don't want to put in.

I'm gonna take this explanation and feel better about myself.

[airwrecka]

Someone who is applying for the Toll scholarship, please tell me you're just answering the video question like an interview and not doing some weird "creative" video. I feel bad because it specifically says to be creative and not just read a script, but I have NO idea how to make a creative 2 minute video that addresses such a specific question. Yes, I know it's due tomorrow so even if I could think of something creative, I don't have time to do it between now and then, but I have been thinking about this for weeks and nothing has come to me

Hello! I am also just doing the video like an interview, no worries....or, if there is something to be worried about, you are at least not alone!

Same. My video is SO awkward.

I figure that trying to do something creative with 0 experience and failing miserably is worse than just doing it like an interview, so I'm right there with y'all.

After submitting video, I'm now nervous I didn't put enough effort into it. What do you all think -- do Toll judges care more about what got you into Penn or about a stellar video/essay responses?

I think they probably consider the Toll application package as a whole very strongly, otherwise they would just give out the Tolls based on our initial application package. That being said, I don't think having good Toll essays/video will necessarily outweigh having no prior work experience/demonstration of an interest in PI work, and I don't think that having average essays/video will necessarily take someone with a lot of prior experience and demonstrated commitment to PI out of the running. My opinion on the video is that it kind of weeds people out - if you really have no interest in PI work, having to make a two minute video as part of your application might dissuade you from applying more than just having to write some essays. The video requirement helps ensure that the committee is reviewing applicants that have more of a genuine interest in PI and aren't just looking for a full scholarship.

This is all biased probably because I don't think my video was super great but I did put a lot of effort into it. My hope for it is that it is, at worst, a neutral part of my application. I don't know if it will help at all, but I hope it doesn't hurt/take away from my written responses and the rest of my application.

I think that's a reasonable explanation, about weeding people out. Anyone could write a few essay paragraphs, but a video does take some extra effort people don't want to put in.

I'm gonna take this explanation and feel better about myself.

+1

[lawlawland16]

Someone who is applying for the Toll scholarship, please tell me you're just answering the video question like an interview and not doing some weird "creative" video. I feel bad because it specifically says to be creative and not just read a script, but I have NO idea how to make a creative 2 minute video that addresses such a specific question. Yes, I know it's due tomorrow so even if I could think of something creative, I don't have time to do it between now and then, but I have been thinking about this for weeks and nothing has come to me

Hello! I am also just doing the video like an interview, no worries....or, if there is something to be worried about, you are at least not alone!

Same. My video is SO awkward.

I figure that trying to do something creative with 0 experience and failing miserably is worse than just doing it like an interview, so I'm right there with y'all.

After submitting video, I'm now nervous I didn't put enough effort into it. What do you all think -- do Toll judges care more about what got you into Penn or about a stellar video/essay responses?

I think they probably consider the Toll application package as a whole very strongly, otherwise they would just give out the Tolls based on our initial application package. That being said, I don't think having good Toll essays/video will necessarily outweigh having no prior work experience/demonstration of an interest in PI work, and I don't think that having average essays/video will necessarily take someone with a lot of prior experience and demonstrated commitment to PI out of the running. My opinion on the video is that it kind of weeds people out - if you really have no interest in PI work, having to make a two minute video as part of your application might dissuade you from applying more than just having to write some essays. The video requirement helps ensure that the committee is reviewing applicants that have more of a genuine interest in PI and aren't just looking for a full scholarship.

This is all biased probably because I don't think my video was super great but I did put a lot of effort into it. My hope for it is that it is, at worst, a neutral part of my application. I don't know if it will help at all, but I hope it doesn't hurt/take away from my written responses and the rest of my application.

I think that's a reasonable explanation, about weeding people out. Anyone could write a few essay paragraphs, but a video does take some extra effort people don't want to put in.

I'm gonna take this explanation and feel better about myself.

amen.

[Anon.y.mousse.]

Anybody else want to wildly speculate when Toll interview invites will come out? March 11 looks like the first notification of interviews the past two years, so I'm thinking maybe March 13 for us?

[dbalkaran]

So for those of you that have been accepted already how long were you UR for? It seems like it was about a month from what I read...I've been complete since 2/1, UR since 2/7 so I'm wondering if they're close to rendering a decision.

[hbdash]

.

[dyebri]

Decision day - good luck everyone!

How do you know

[hbdash]

Decision day - good luck everyone!

How do you know

.

[ohgosh]

Decision day - good luck everyone!

Do status checkers change before you get the phone call sometimes?

[BrittanyJeream]

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

[jonofalltrades]

Anybody else want to wildly speculate when Toll interview invites will come out? March 11 looks like the first notification of interviews the past two years, so I'm thinking maybe March 13 for us?

I have it on my calendar for 3/15 but I don't know how I arrived at that determination! I'm visiting on 3/14 so if I'm lucky I will know the status when I visit...

[hbdash]

Decision day - good luck everyone!

Do status checkers change before you get the phone call sometimes?

.

[musiclover123]

in via voicemail. i can't breathe- this is a dream come true

[hbdash]

in via voicemail. i can't breathe- this is a dream come true

.

[ColombiaConfused]

in via voicemail. i can't breathe- this is a dream come true

Congratulations!!!

[musiclover123]

in via voicemail. i can't breathe- this is a dream come true

Congrats!! What were your UR dates?

1/19 [not positive about this one, it was around this time] and 2/24

[kaptainkeepa]

Waitlisted....meh.

[SybillAnnDorsett]

Penn accepted like 6 people this year so I ain't even mad about my WL anymore.

[exnyc]

164 3.88 Waitlisted 01/03/17 03/03/17 1 minute
167 4.05 Waitlisted 12/04/16 03/03/17 2 minutes
177 3.73 Waitlisted 01/02/17 01/10/17 03/03/17 3 minutes
164 4.05 Waitlisted 01/07/17 03/03/17 8 minutes
167 3.88 Waitlisted W 01/03/17 01/12/17 03/03/17 10 minutes
167 3.96 Waitlisted 01/03/17 01/12/17 03/03/17 12 minutes

looks like everyone is headed to the waitlist regardless of numbers

[Nightwing]

164 3.88 Waitlisted 01/03/17 03/03/17 1 minute
167 4.05 Waitlisted 12/04/16 03/03/17 2 minutes
177 3.73 Waitlisted 01/02/17 01/10/17 03/03/17 3 minutes
164 4.05 Waitlisted 01/07/17 03/03/17 8 minutes
167 3.88 Waitlisted W 01/03/17 01/12/17 03/03/17 10 minutes
167 3.96 Waitlisted 01/03/17 01/12/17 03/03/17 12 minutes

looks like everyone is headed to the waitlist regardless of numbers

this cycle in a nutshell

[ohgosh]

Anyone here waiting since 2016? Haven't heard anything through all these waves lol

[hbdash]

Waitlisted today, responded to the email with a short reply that I want to remain on the waitlist. Do I send a LOCI and the additional two page essay they suggest or only one?

[StopLawying]

Waitlisted today, responded to the email with a short reply that I want to remain on the waitlist. Do I send a LOCI and the additional two page essay they suggest or only one?

I think the 2 page essay refers to the LOCI.