Maryland 2010 Forum

[onetimeonly95]

^to the above poster, did you apply PT or FT?

[moe]

PT

[elaw86]

rejection letter from maryland came today... wahhh! oh well.

seems like its a mixed batch... good luck to the rest of you!

Rejection here too (went decision mailed on 2/17, letter came 2/19)
160, 3.55, strong softs, and LOR's. Two years work experience in legal field.
No love shown for being instate, or legacy. (my dad went to UMD Law) Felt like I had a decent chance of at least a wait-list. Want to work in DC, so will most likely attend Catholic or American, leaning towards Catholic, because of generous faculty merit scholarship. But that in-state tuition at UMD would have been nice. Good luck to everyone still waiting.

[jrobby6]

anyone in the 2/17 batch get accepted thus far? LSN seems to indicated each batch is either all rejections and waitlists or all acceptances and waitlists. Looks like this batch is going to be the former.

[redraiderette]

Does anyone know when the Accepted Student's Day/Weekend is? Congrats to all those accepted!

[1sixtytwo]

Interesting admission statement. Sounds like they would scan the resume first, followed by PS, then DS, then LORs, then LSAT, then transcripts:

Admissions Policy
The University of Maryland School of Law's admissions policy focuses on the academic potential of applicants coupled with a flexible assessment of applicants' talents, experiences and potential to contribute to the learning of those around them. Each applicant is evaluated on the basis of all the information available in their file, including a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and resume.

We expect applicants to have different backgrounds and experiences, and to have many reasons for wanting to study law. We engage in a highly individualized, holistic review of each applicant's file, giving consideration to all the ways an applicant might contribute to a diverse educational environment. The qualities of students we seek may be reflected in their background characteristics such as geographic origin, cultural and language backgrounds; racial, social, disability and economic barriers overcome; interpersonal skills, demonstrated by extracurricular pursuits, work or service experience, and leadership activities; potential for intellectual and social growth, demonstrated by personal talents and skills, maturity and compassion; and other special circumstances and characteristics that, when combined with academic skills necessary for sound legal education, promise to make a special contribution to the community.

Our admissions policy aspires to achieve that diversity that has the potential to enrich everyone's education. When students have the greatest possible variety of background, classroom discussion is livelier, more spirited, and simply more enlightened and interesting. Student body diversity better prepares all students to assume leadership roles in an increasing diverse society. Along with other diversity goals, we seek to enroll meaningful numbers of students from groups that have been historically discriminated against to ensure their ability to make unique contributions to the character of the School's educational and social environment.

In considering the academic record of any applicant, the School of Law may consider the nature and level of challenge of the applicant's academic work, including college grading practices, quality of college student body and course selection patterns; trend of college grades; graduate study; outside work or extensive extracurricular activities while in college; time interval and activities between college graduation and application to law school; and physical, social or economic hardships.

[1sixtytwo]

Application deadline has been extended to April 1 from March 15.
Hoping it is good for me who has low LSAT but good softs.
Being if they come in with higher LSAT, I might be picked up on someone's coattail.
On the other hand, if they come in with good softs as well, then I am screwed.

[bluelilyleif]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but what are "softs"?

[amclane]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but what are "softs"?

Anything on your application that is not your GPA or LSAT.

[arundodonax]

Maryland saw a nice bump this year with their NLJ numbers, even when most other schools saw a decrease:

http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNL ... hbxlogin=1

14% in 2009, versus 8% in 2008.

Looking more tempting every day.

[smartblonde87]

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but what are "softs"?

things that add to your application outside of the statistics, like internships, foreign language, study abroad, awesome community service, you saved someone's life, etc...

[astro1819]

Has anyone heard anything about scholarships yet?

[jrobby6]

waitlisted here...got the letter today.

[lawlife2010]

I've been in review at U.Maryland since the 16th! Do they ever send out their decision before changing the status to DR?

[bluelilyleif]

Okay...thanks for the answers about softs. I got my acceptance letter Friday (2/19). The online thing said "decision letter mailed" on 2/17.

Now my nerves are REALLY kicking in...

[Great Satchmo]

I had DR 2/17, in CA and thinking I may see the letter today?

I'll report back this afternoon.

[LSAT! Nooooooooo!]

waitlisted here...got the letter today.

waitlisted also. With my numbers I'm dancing on the ceiling. I'm thrilled to still be alive in this cycle. PT program BTW.

[pjl35]

Okay...thanks for the answers about softs. I got my acceptance letter Friday (2/19). The online thing said "decision letter mailed" on 2/17.

Now my nerves are REALLY kicking in...

wait why are your nerves kicking in if you got an acceptance letter?

i got my letter today...waitlist. trying to decide what to do at this point...withdraw or get on the list.

[LSAT! Nooooooooo!]

Okay...thanks for the answers about softs. I got my acceptance letter Friday (2/19). The online thing said "decision letter mailed" on 2/17.

Now my nerves are REALLY kicking in...

wait why are your nerves kicking in if you got an acceptance letter?

i got my letter today...waitlist. trying to decide what to do at this point...withdraw or get on the list.

If I were you I'd just attend Penn State. Hopefully they'll give you some money to attend and hopefully you'll get a decision soon. I've heard their campus is BADDASS.

[bluelilyleif]

Okay...thanks for the answers about softs. I got my acceptance letter Friday (2/19). The online thing said "decision letter mailed" on 2/17.

Now my nerves are REALLY kicking in...

wait why are your nerves kicking in if you got an acceptance letter?

i got my letter today...waitlist. trying to decide what to do at this point...withdraw or get on the list.

Because now it is for REAL, not some abstract idea floating around hopefully in my head. I just want to do well.

[pjl35]

ahh. i get it yeah it's kind of weird to have the option to actually attend law school somewhere. i'm still trying to get used to that.

[LSAT! Nooooooooo!]

ahh. i get it yeah it's kind of weird to have the option to actually attend law school somewhere. i'm still trying to get used to that.

good call

[get it to x]

Just out of curiosity does the status checker change for those of you who were lucky enough to get admitted? Requirements section fill in or anything else (e-mails, etc)?

[Great Satchmo]

160/3.62, DR 2/17 - waitlist.

[1sixtytwo]

waitlisted here...got the letter today.

waitlisted also. With my numbers I'm dancing on the ceiling. I'm thrilled to still be alive in this cycle. PT program BTW.

Congrats and GL!
Strong softs I guess.
Can you share?