Fatbear747 '22–'23 app cycle Class of 2026 class year

”Fat Bear” as in the brown bears of Alaska’s Katmai National Park: if not friend, why friend-shaped?

https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1jsyd1Mq8RlyMVqli_BW9z1uxY2SzNtFK?sort=13&direction=a for a collection of personal statements, diversity statements, and resumes from previous cycle applicants.

End of cycle notes:
I know my goals (immigration BigLaw), and that I won’t have a problem achieving them with a degree from GSU. Spoke with multiple alums and with attorneys in my current immigration BigLaw firm who encouraged me to take the money and run. As a nontraditional student that plans on having kids right out of law school, I don’t want to bring children into the world while having “golden handcuff” levels of debt. No regrets, go Panthers.- The best thing you can do for yourself in the admissions process is to not be an asshole. Be kind. Be encouraging to your peers. Be known as that friendly, supportive internet random who cheered when folks got into their dream school. Your fellow applicants will turn into your classmates and future coworkers real quick. It costs $0 to support your peers, and buys you invaluable goodwill later.

Date change tea leaves and waitlist/hold notes:
Emory took the longest to get back to me. The “pay deposit” button in Opus appeared under the usual “admissions” tab.- GSU scholarship info: looks cheap, actually is my best offer so far. $2000 for 1L, but full tuition + $4000/year stipend for 2L and 3L as well as GA position. Received a few months post-A.
Fordham application went complete 10/12 with a date change and address going long in early November (results: “hold” received on 11/15 and status checker changed to Review Complete - Decision Forthcoming). Did why X. Sent LOCI in early February. Date change on 2/16. Accepted from hold on 02/23. Scholarship offer received roughly a week after.- UMN: takes forever to go UR. Day of acceptance had a date change + “in review” added as a substatus, before status checker A in the evening.
UNC: “Hold” received around 8:40 AM, 12/02. Sent LOCI mid-February, after talking with a professor and attending adcomm/current student Zoom drop in.UGA application listed as under committee review in October, then under committee review with a few date changes around 11/01 (results: HOLD received 02/08). Did why X pre-hold. Campus visit/LOCI sent after hold. Priority waitlist in early March, rejected 07/25.GW application listed as review in progress as of 10/4, school website status checker briefly listed 8-digit GWID/school tracking number late October before disappearing, date disappeared a week later on 11/10 and GWID reappeared (results: “decision made” and acceptance on 11/17, around 1:30 PM EST). Did NOT- do “why X.”

• CU Boulder: went to “Decision Rendered” on LSD status checker, “Seat Deposit 1” and “Seat Deposit 2” options showed up on school website status checker.
  UCLA: received “school tracking number” 11/23, waitlist mid-February. Emailed LOCI the following week.ND: went UR1, then UR2 (date change w/address going long), then UR3 a week-ish later in early December. Waitlisted. Sent LOCI in early February after talking with professor and affinity group members. Interview invite off waitlist in mid-May.Georgetown: interviewed October, date disappeared on a Wednesday just within the timeframe Dean Andy gave during group interview. Results: normal wait list, status checker changed to “decision rendered” before email at 5 PMish. Sent LOCI in early February. - Villanova, I successfully negotiated up $4k/year and they were quick to respond.

Iowa scholly interview notes: interviewed by a 3L (super chill). Asked why law, why Iowa, describe your communication style, describe your leadership style, give three words that your friends/family say would describe you, what motivates you, what are you proudest of, biggest life lesson. Got five minutes at end of interview to ask student questions. It sounds like the student pulls from an interview question bank so don’t take my word as gospel. Your interview reminder the day before will have the student’s name so do your homework and LinkedIn creep them.

Nontraditional applicant who started college fresh out of high school, encountered health problems, and slowly worked towards a bachelor’s degree while working full-time. nKJDs represent!

Diversity statement discussed identity as bisexual woman and practicing Catholic, and how I will use this perspective to help queer asylum seekers/same-sex couples seeking immigration assistance.

Personal statement used Romance languages as a thread to explain what eventually led me to immigration law (4+ years’ experience as a paralegal).

Reverse splitter with C&F issues, misdemeanor, >10 years ago.

Other softs: university assistantship, honors thesis, honors college peer mentor, honors college dean’s student advisory board, immigration-related volunteering.

ADMG; we’re all in this together. DM if you want me to add you to my novena!