IMadeMyOwnT-14 '22–'23 app cycle Class of 2026 class year

CONCLUDED 4/27/2023. BEST WISHES TO ALL WHO COME AFTER.

Gonna do this by first giving some opening info, then making a list by date of admissions decision, and finish by giving a summary and final remarks. Read it all, skip to the end for my folk wisdom, or just look at my app chart; it’s all up to you.

Intro

I decided I wanted to be a lawyer on 01/10/2022 as a junior in undergrad just before the start of the Spring semester. I had just finished a course in Constitutional Law with a former Michigan Supreme Court Justice in the fall semester, and it made me rethink my whole career path. Up to that point, I had wanted to be a clinical psychologist and had been planning to pursue a PhD in that field for over 3 years. My decision to pursue law, instead, came after about two months of brooding and soul searching.

Luckily, almost every piece of the puzzle was already in place for me despite this somewhat late-in-the-game decision. I have a 3.98 GPA (boosted to a 4.0 by the LSAC) and I have been engaged in several activities that amount to T3 softs in undergrad. All I had to do was score well on the LSAT. Ultimately, I did, but let me just say; little compares to the sustained anxiety of studying for a test as difficult to “perfect” as the LSAT for roughly 6 months. Godspeed to all those who come after me.

All of my apps were submitted between November 3rd and November 8th, following my score on the October LSAT.

12/16/2022
Vanderbilt - ADMITTED (Total COA, principal + 3-years interest, = ~$145k)
This was my first admissions decision, 42 days after I sent my application, and one day after my 22nd birthday. It was also, I believe, Vandy’s first RD wave of the cycle. I had been thinking WashU would be my first admissions decision, so Vandy came as a surprise. I was shaking as I opened my status update and read the first paragraph of my acceptance letter. Nothing will beat the relief of a first admit. Cherish it. Scholarship info came in 3 days later- - $52.5k/year, which should be about 75% tuition.

1/9/2023
UT-Austin - ADMITTED (Total COA, principal + 3-years interest, = ~$120k)
Second admissions decision, 62 days after I sent my application. I received my KIRA interview invite in early December, and honestly felt I bombed the first question and then performed quite mediocrely for the next two. Nevertheless, while at track & field practice on a Monday, Dean Le left me a voicemail letting me know I had been admitted. This came on the heels of a lot of worry while waiting for another A after Vandy, so UT certainly brightened my mood. Scholarship info came in 30 days later- - $25k/year with a Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (NRTE), making my package about 80% tuition.

1/11/2023
Harvard - REJECTED
Third admissions decision, 68 days- after I sent my application. This first R felt very different from my first A. If I was excited and relieved for my first A, my first R left me feeling hollow and disappointed. While I can’t say I’m horribly surprised I didn’t get into Harvard, it did crush a dream, as HLS was my #1. It also left me feeling quite unoptomistic for Yale and Stanford, because admissions stats for them are even steeper than for HLS. The only solace I took in my HLS R was knowing that hundreds of fellow applicants were rejected on the same day, and plenty were stellar applicants as well. Maybe that’s misery liking company, but I’d say its probably just cope to make me feel less like I personally failed.

1/12/2023
Notre Dame - ADMITTED (Total COA, principal + 3-years interest, = ~$115k)
Fourth admissions decision, 65 days after I sent my application. This was my safest safety, but also a school I visited. Great campus, culture, and faculty. Have felt they are always gypped rankings-wise, should be in the T-20 or just outside. Good to have another A / choice under my belt after the Harvard R. Scholarship info came in 5 days later- - $55k/year, which should be a little over 80% tuition.

1/18/2023
Georgetown - ADMITTED (Total COA, principal + 3-years interest, = ~$170k)
Fifth admissions decision, 72 days after I sent my application. As my first T-14 acceptance, this felt incredibly good. I had been anticipating an acceptance since the previous Friday (my date disappeared on the status checker Thursday, and I wasn’t waitlisted on Friday), so it wasn’t a total shock, but it was still a great way to finish my day of classes. Dean Andy left me a 17 second video message congratulating me by name. I know he does that for everyone he admits, but its a nice touch :) Scholarship info came in 49 days later- - $40k/year, which should be about 55% tuition. Received a negotiated increase to $50k/year using Texas and Vanderbilt offers, or about 65% tuition. Renegotiated another increase to $55k/year using the Northwestern offer, or about 70% tuition.

1/20/2023
Chicago - WAITLISTED
Sixth admissions decision, 78 days- after I sent my application. I was not surprised at all to be waitlisted at Chicago - I was mostly just relieved I had not been outright rejected. I was already aware before being waitlisted that I was overdue for an II at Chicago if I was going to get in, so I imagined that a WL/R was likely if I was going to be in their first RD wave. So it was. I plan to ride out the waitlist, but it seems like many, many people were placed on the waitlist, so I’m sure it will not be easy at all to get admitted from it.
11:00pm - Odd Note
I don’t know if I might delete this later, but I thought it might be nice to share a very human moment for anyone who has scrolled down this far. My personal life has not been going wonderfully for the past few weeks, which has blunted my ability to feel truly grateful for my acceptances thus far. Late at night, I opened up my Vandy admissions packet and started reading through the thick Orbiter Dictum. I saw something that made me laugh, and then I started to cry. The fact that my hard work over the years truly has paid off hit me like a sack of bricks. No matter how the rest of the cycle goes, I need to carry myself knowing I’ve succeeded and that I have reason to be proud of myself. Law school admissions aren’t the measure of ones worth, but they are a discrete achievement to take pride in. Wherever you go in life, make sure to take a moment and count your blessings, even if you are striving for something more.
1/27/2023
UPenn - WAITLISTED
Seventh admissions decision (half way!), 85 days- after I sent my application. This one didn’t feel good; I had been expecting a waitlist from UPenn for a while but in the days leading up to this waitlist I convinced myself that maybe an admittance was more likely. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. It is highly unlikely that I’ll get through the WL, and I’m not really jazzed enough about UPenn anyway to ride it out if I get into a place like Duke, UMich, UVA, etc. So, for me, this is more of a soft rejection. Just how it goes.

2/3/2023
UMich - WAITLISTED
Eighth admissions decision, 87 days- after I sent my application. Probably the most painful decision I’ll get all cycle. In a lot of ways, I felt I tailored my app to what Michigan likes to see, and I have a few real connections to the school that I thought would make me stand out. Apparently not enough. I’ll be riding out the waitlist for sure, but this one hit me hard and makes me very unhopeful for my remaining decisions. On the bright side, I’m starting the get myself truly excited about the idea of Georgetown, as my likely top-choice.

2/9/2023
Northwestern - ADMITTED (Total COA, principal + 3-years interest, = ~150k)
Ninth admissions decision, 98 days after I sent my application. This decision has, by far, given me the most relief since I was admitted by Vanderbilt. For three weeks leading up to this decision, I had heard radio silence, except for a slow march of waitlist offers every Friday. By my UMich waitlist, I was incredibly discouraged, and certain I would not get into another school. I received the call from Northwestern while I was deep in my undergraduate library, so I didn’t pick up, but once I listened to the voicemail I had a wave of relief and excitement. Northwestern represents my second T-14 A, so Georgetown has some real competition now! Scholarship info came in 47 days later - - $60k/year, which should be about 80% of tuition. This is a big scholarship, but I am very set on Duke. At the same time, the money is hard to turn down. Northwestern has further complicated my decision.

3/6/2023
Duke** - ADMITTED (Total COA, principal + 3-years interest, = ~$190k)
Tenth admissions decision, 123 days after I sent my application. This may be the biggest victory of my cycle, as at the time of writing this (see above date), it feels to me that Duke is where I will attend law school next year. The outcomes for Duke are incredible, and unlike most people who seem to want a big city, I would definitely feel more at home in a smaller city like Durham, as compared to Chicago or D.C. While Yale, Stanford, and UVA are still, conceivably, on the horizon, I am not hopeful for them anymore. Highly likely I’m gonna be a Blue Devil, and it feels good! Just have to make sure everything works out financially… Scholarship info came in 14 days later**- - $44k/year, which should be about 60% of tuition! With Duke’s lower cost of living than most schools, this is an extremely good offer, especially at a T-14 school. I’m beginning to feel like a Blue Devil… Due to the Northwestern scholarship that came shortly after, I attempted to renegotiate with Duke. They denied my request on 4/13, after I sent them my UT-Austin, GULC, and NU offers. Will sit with this for a bit until I make a final decision.

3/7/2023
10:30am - WITHDRAWAL from **UPenn**.
Withdrew my application from UPenn. They were always a bit of an amorphous school in my mind, and I had long preferred Duke. Didn’t seem right to take up a spot I knew I would never take, even if admitted.Yale - REJECTED
Eleventh admissions decision, 123 days- after I sent my application. Can’t say this came as a surprise, it’s Yale after all, but I was somewhat hoping for an unlikely admit after I missed their first two rejection waves. Wasn’t meant to be. Glad I had Duke the day before to keep this from stinging all that bad.
WashU - WAITLISTED & WITHDRAWAL
Twelfth admissions decision, 124 days- after I sent my application. Not gonna lie, this one was a surprise. For a school with so much less to offer than, quite honestly, anywhere else I applied, I truly do feel a bit vindictive toward WashU for this waitlist. I had been watching them admit only 173+ applicants, with GPAs as low as 2.9, for months after my interview with them (to which they invited me 5 days after I applied…). It’s hard to respect an institution that clearly cares so little about the applicant, and so much about balancing the numbers on a spreadsheet… that’s all I’ll say. I replied to my WL email four minutes after receiving it with a request to withdraw my application.
7:00pm - Note
Extremely active day. The cycle is almost over!
3/27/2023
Stanford - WAITLISTED
Thirteenth admissions decision, 143 days- after I sent my application. Yet another unexpected surprise in the cycle. To be sure, after my Harvard and Yale rejection I had no delusion of anything but a rejection from Stanford. Being waitlisted at Stanford, quite honestly, feels like an honor. I feel duty bound to ride it out as long as I can, I would never forgive myself if I simply withdrew from even the smallest chance at attending one of the big three. This puts me in a bit of a tizzy, because I thought I would deposit at Duke in early April in all likelihood, but it appears that may no longer be the case if Stanford is on the table.

3/28/2023
8:00pm - WITHDRAWAL from **Vanderbilt** & **Notre Dame**
Withdrew my applications from Vanderbilt & Notre Dame. Both wonderful schools, but both no longer places I’d truly attend, especially after receiving my scholarship offer from Northwestern today. Feels weird to withdraw applications from schools that admitted me. It’s a good thing though, I hope deserving people get admitted in my place.
3/31/2023 - 4/1/2023
2:30am - Attended Duke’s** **Admitted Student Weekend
Absolutely obsessed with the school, and the people I met, after this. Wonderful experience.
4/12/2023
UVA - WAITLISTED
Fourteenth (AND FINAL!!!) admissions decision, 155 days- after I sent my application. I saw this one coming, as they had not admitted anyone for about a month up to this date. UVA is, on paper, probably the best school I could have realistically hoped to get into. At least it wasn’t a rejection. More importantly, my decision cycle is over! Time to think…

4/13/2023
8:00pm - WITHDRAWAL from **UT-Austin & UMich**
Withdrew my application from UT-Austin, and from the waitlist at UMich. The deposit deadline for Texas is in two days and I wouldn’t take them other GULC, NU, or Duke, so they fell out (though I am very grateful for their great scholarship offer). Finally withdrew from the UMich waitlist with the knowledge that I would absolutely prefer to go to Duke over UMich. Important moment in my law school arc - the pain of the UMich waitlist from ~2.5 months ago no longer hurts because of Duke. Go Blue Devils- .

4/26/2023
1:00pm - WITHDRAWAL from **Georgetown** & Northwestern**, COMMITTED to **Duke**.
After attempting some negotiation with Duke, which failed, I ultimately decided to commit to Duke! While Northwestern and Georgetown would have both been cheaper, the higher clerkship numbers and location of Duke (I am not a city person) made their offer hard to refuse. I feel very lucky to have had the choices I had to choose from, and am pumped as hell to begin at Duke in the fall! While I’m maintaining waitlists at UVA, Chicago, and Stanford, I am not holding my breath. I am so ready to return to Durham soon!
RECAP & ADVICE

Law school admissions is a neurotic and painful process. Studying for the LSAT is a roller coaster, filled with the highs of good practice tests that will make you think you’ll go to HYS, and bad practice tests that will make you think you’ll never get in anywhere you want to go. Once you’re filling out applications, you’ll become a mess, trying to decipher what you should reveal about yourself to have the best odds of being accepted. If you’re like me, you’ll try to numb the anxiety by conversing with the people on LSD about their admissions cycles, and find it likely only increases that anxiety. You’ll get your hopes up for particular schools (e.g. UVA, UMich), only to be burned, and find surprises along the way (e.g. Duke A, Stanford WL). At the end of the day, the cycle you experience is yours and yours alone, and no one serves as a proper comparator to you.

Study hard. Try your best. Be authentic. Take time and consider your choices. Be kind. Stay true to yourself and your goals. Don’t let other people who don’t understand your choices, envy your situation, or condescend to you, get you down. You are an individual with worth and purpose. Respect that worth and pursue that purpose as best you can.

“The burning heart always looks to the highest peak.”

Warm regards,
Dylan

Epilogue

7/15/2023
5:00pm - WITHDRAWAL from **Chicago **& UVA*.
Just today filled out my paperwork for federal loans at **Duke*- . I’m essentially locked in, so, naturally, I withdrew from the waitlist at Chicago and UVA. Still staying on it at Stanford, I simply can’t bring myself to withdraw from my only HYS WL offer… Orientation begins in one month!

8/13/2023
5:00pm - WITHDRAWAL from **Stanford**.
Living in Durham now, and orientation begins at Duke in 2 days. So long Stanford, hello Duke- , wholeheartedly.