This is from someone in the advertising sales department who is privy to the upcoming issue and behind the scenes metrics.
I call Bullship.
He might be full of it, but then again, he might not.
a.) Mason's Acceptance Rate: 9.2% - That does seem pretty low for #38 considering Hastings, who they're tied with is at 20.4%. Plus, look at their admission metrics (GPA/LSAT) and outside opinions (lawyers/judges), the gpa/lsat stuff is equal or slightly worse than other schools around them, but the lawyer/judge opinion of the school is a lot worse. Other than their wacky acceptance rate, do they really look like they belong at #38? All I'm saying is that there is a grain of logic in his lie.
b.) "Maryland: 96 took; 73 passed (a rate of 76 percent). The overall first time pass rate for Maryland was 74 percent. This figure represents an 11 percent improvement over last year’s pass rate for this law school."
http://law.cua.edu/news/bar%20pass%20rates.cfmMagazines do pretty much run on advertising. I get Maxim and FHM for FREE, so they're not getting paid by me. And in my experience sales guys are pretty sleazy, so someone in that department "leaking" info wouldn't shock me.
50/50 that he's BS'ing in my book.