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« on: January 22, 2012, 07:27:09 PM »
Hey so sorry to hear about the dismissal. JMLS is definitely a school that "weeds," I mean curves people out regardless of whether they have the ability to do so. I was at Cooley and got dismissed after 4 terms and 45 credits. I had 2 terms to bring it up. started Summer 2007, last semester was summer 2008, got my dismissal letter in October 2008) At the time I was in school I had severe insomnia, being abused/stalked by former boyfriend, he and the emotional problems I fully alienated me from any support network, and the school did not have anything they could do to help me and I do not know that they could have or were technically required to (and b/c of their recent lawsuit, I will decline to comment on the school's response to me seeking out their assistance) However, I did average my 1st trimester and this might have saved me in reapplications
So I swallowed my pride, moved in with my parents, worked full time + and spent all of my free time studying for the LSAT and getting my head on straight. Turns out I am Bipolar I (but in my essays I wrote I had generalized anxiety disorder - I was misdiagnosed but even still that is a much easier mood disorder to deal with). I went to therapy and we spent most of the time figuring out how I can get organized and do well in an academic setting. I was promoted from legal assistant, to legal secretary and file clerk to paralegal. I became very well-versed in legal software and grew connections in the legal community (but did not use a single one of them for my recommendation letters, jsut used the old ones from my 1st round).
Anyways, I studied on and off for 10 months. I quit my job in Novemember to get my essays in order, understand the reapplication process, call everyone on every admissions committe at any school with low attrition rates. All I wanted was readmission and to get on with my life, but I wanted to be healthy even more than that.
To make a long story short, re-took the LSAT in February 2010, got a 162. My original score was a 154. my UGPA was a 2.8 (prestigious school though, got over 1300 on 2002 SAT)
Anyways, I wrote addendum on how this shows how I have gotten myself together and this essay worked most of the time. Private schools were more receptive than public schools. I got 2 full rides to T3 schools. One school dean asked to make an appointment to meet face to face and that he would fly across the country (he was from a school in the Pacific time zone, I was eastern time zone) to talk to me about his school (I received a full-ride there).
the first school I got into was a private school in the midwest in the top 100. Thinking it was a fluke I called them to make sure they knew I was dismissed before. The person that answered the phone said she personally revieewed my applicatioin, that I was reviewed by the entire admissions committee twice, and that she was excited to meet me in the fall, or at least to see me at an open house. She also said she believes I definietely have the capacity to do well at the school and that the school will do anything they can to make sure I succeed. - so of course this is the school I went to.
I had a lot of people in my life frustrated with me. They thought this was a pipe dream, that I was wasting my time and that I needed to give up. F*ck them! Never let anyone tell you know, and keep asking how. Get creative, and make the most of what you have. And if you don't get in, there are a lot of other jobs out there that pay better and have fewer hours.
No matter what, I put everything into it and had the chance to get closure. Do not ever let another's view of you affect how you feel about yourself or what you believe your potential is.
I really hope you get back in. to anyone else that got dismissed, I hope that you get closure (but more than that hope you get into a better school.
everyday I walk into school I feel like Cinderella and I am so grateful for the people who believed in me, or least pretended to.
GOOD LUCK!!! hope this helps!!!
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