The "My Cycle Is Almost Over" Nostalgia/Hindsight Thread Forum

[GobiasIndustries]

I had a better thread title in mind but it was like three times as long as was allowed.

I'm realizing that my cycle is almost over and that things are completely different than how my young, innocent, naive applicant self viewed the world in 2009.

My accept/reject/waitlist/MIA ratio is 5:6:1:5. I'm really only interested in 1 acceptance and they have yet to mention $$. Rejects are all T20. Waitlist is way out of my league. MIAs are mostly T10 (probably rejects).

When I put my list together last fall, I thought I'd have some really hard choices to make come March, since 7 of the T10 fee waived me into applying, but turns out they were just being silly. Looks like my decision will be easy unless I get shocking news this month. I thought this was interesting. Unload away if you feel like it!

[anthonyc350]

pretty good cycle for me, 9 acceptances 1 w/l and 1 denial, will be w/d'ing everywhere tomorrow and am ready to start school!

[lawyering]

I never in my wildest dreams expected to do as well as I've done so far. Submitted 15 apps, so far into 11 and 4 MIA. If I had to do it over again, I would apply to FAR fewer schools...what a waste of money.

[JOThompson]

As a splitter armed with an LSAC fee waiver, I went overboard. I applied to about forty schools. I made it into a couple reaches with scholarships, so my cycle has been better than anyone predicted. In hindsight, I wish I'd had more faith in myself and applied to fewer programs.

[Padimud]

My accept/reject/WL/MIA ratio is 9:0:0:8 , with 2 MIA being deferrals to RD.

In hindsight I too wish I would applied to maybe 10 schools instead of 17. I now realize that there is no way I will attend 3 accepts and 4 MIA, so why did I apply. I haven't received anything mind blowing or too far off of expected, but why did I spend so much money and waste so much time to now want to turn my back on some schools.

[J-tow10]

3:1:2:6

In hindsight, I wish I would have wrote more "Why School X" essays (oh, and retaken the LSAT).

[LvingLegend]

3:2:2:5

I wish I had applied earlier and not wasted my ED at UCLA

[Roseland]

I am really glad I applied to the 18 schools that I did.
I was accepted where I didn't expect to be(T5) and waitlisted where I dreamed of attending(T10).
If I had reduced the number....I may have eliminated the only choices I now have....in fact I know I would have eliminated those choices. Hindsight is 20/20. I think the 18 schools were worth the money and time I spent. With Cornell article saying applications were up 52%, this cycle was all over the place for anyone who was not a "sure thing". I'm glad I covered my bases.

[09042014]

2.8/176 got into NU ED. No serious regrets since I couldn't have realistically done better.

I probably shouldn't have applied to Hastings, Davis, Fordham, or GW because I love Chicago.

I also should have applied to Penn and Michigan instead of dragging my ass.

I also shouldn't have applied to Harvard, because its impossible to unapply.

[Sean Bateman]

Maybe I was a little late in my applications (sent 8 right after i got my december score, right around new years and sent 5 more a couple weeks later)

So far In at 3, out at 1. Guess that still leaves 8 MIA.
Im thrilled with the 3 who have accepted me so far, and if I had to make a decision today i'd be fine.

My biggest regret is selling myself too short and not applying to some higher ranked schools. I passed on BC because I thought my numbers would never get me in (3.4/165). Last week my friend with a 2.9/166 got in at BC.

I also, like Padimud regret applying to so many schools. I knew I would be accepted at many many schools, and even though I liked them all, I know i can't attend them all. I should have been more selective before throwing away 1K+ on applications.

[Tangerine Gleam]

Not counting the several I withdrew from before hearing anything, I'm in at 9, rejected at 1, MIA at 5.

In hindsight, I would have applied to far fewer schools...perhaps 8 or 10 instead of the near-20 I applied to. And I wouldn't have applied to Harvard "for the hell of it".

I withdrew from a good 5+ safeties before even hearing back...hundreds of dollars down the toilet for no reason. I think the whole "this cylce will be so #%@&ing competitive" mania was a little overblown. Although apps are up and a few schools (ahem, Texas) are making some surprising rejections, chances don't seem that different from things last year.

[kittenmittons]

Should have applied to S

edit: also, 9/0/1/3

[sarlis]

great thread.

I am having a great cycle, with my top five all offering good schollys.

oh, and waitlisted at UVA... huge shocker! (in a good way)

[H. E. Pennypacker]

4:4:1:5

Definitely would have applied to fewer schools. Now that decision time is approaching, I realize that 1) applied to a few too many reaches and 2) there are only about 4 schools on that list I would actually consider paying the money to go to.

[Nicholasnickynic]

8-1-2-2.

Overall, very good cycle. Wish I hadn't spent so much money, but as a splitter, I really had no idea where I would get in.

I've gotten into schools in 80s,70s,60,50s,40s, and 30s.

Waitlisted at cinci and cardozo, rejected at boston.

I'm glad I applied to as many as I did. In the end, I got into wake on a nice scholarship. It was one of the best schools I applied to and is very affordable. The only thing I would do different is apply to less safeties...

I mean: richmond, saint johns, penn state, villanova and buffalo were all safeties. I should have kept like one. But overall, If you get into a good school that you want to go to at a good price, then no money waisted, eh?

Better Safe than sorry, IMO

[09042014]

4:4:1:5

Definitely would have applied to fewer schools. Now that decision time is approaching, I realize that 1) applied to a few too many reaches and 2) there are only about 4 schools on that list I would actually consider paying the money to go to.

Applying to too many reaches is not a bad thing, unless they are unreasonable reaches. In that case 1 is too many.

[NatSec]

2:4:2:5 wish I had written more "why x" essays, paid for a study course for the LSAT or had a serious study schedule, and wish I was a resident in various states for in-state tuition purposes

[Veritas]

14:3:2:15

I over applied like it was my job, thanks LSAC fee waiver.

[wjnahill]

I wish I could say mine was almost over. This is what I get for re-taking the Dec. LSAT.

Right now I'm 4:0:0:13, but I doubt I'll do any better than Columbia, my best accept so far. Still, H and S will probably string me along until March at least.

[nycparalegal]

2.8/176 got into NU ED. No serious regrets since I couldn't have realistically done better.

I probably shouldn't have applied to Hastings, Davis, Fordham, or GW because I love Chicago.

I also should have applied to Penn and Michigan instead of dragging my ass.

I also shouldn't have applied to Harvard, because its impossible to unapply.

What do you mean "...impossible to unapply."

[melaniec]

0:0:0:3

But then, I only sent in my apps about 3 weeks ago.

[badwithpseudonyms]

I'm realizing that my cycle is almost over and that things are completely different than how my young, innocent, naive applicant self viewed the world in 2009.

This. I look back and think, "WTF? I'm an idiot." ...And I'm not only talking about apps. I do this all the time about everything!

10:3:1:6.

I probably didn't need to apply to so many schools, but I had an LSAC fee waiver and didn't pay more than $12, so screw it. Seriously though, I would probably have visited some super reaches and ED'ed somewhere. I'm pretty debt averse though, and the grass always looks greener...

[wjnahill]

0:0:0:3

But then, I only sent in my apps about 3 weeks ago.

From a ratio standpoint I think that would be 0:0:0:1

[badwithpseudonyms]

14:3:2:15

I over applied like it was my job, thanks LSAC fee waiver.

Veritas, you always make me feel better about applying to 20 schools.

[Veritas]

14:3:2:15

I over applied like it was my job, thanks LSAC fee waiver.

Veritas, you always make me feel better about applying to 20 schools.