The Final Rejection: A Happy Post
Today I got my last rejection letter! My last Ding! Yippee! A month ago, I thought this would be a crushing moment, but I am finally filled with peace. My law school admissions cycle was a mixed bag. I got rejected from a few places right away. Obviously (given that I'm writing this two and a half weeks into 1L), I accepted an offer and enrolled at a school that I am happy with, but I also kept my name on the wait lists at two very prestigious schools, because why not? Today, those schools' incoming classes finally filled up, and that door closed for me. It's a strange feeling because I'm not sad or wistful at all. Instead, I'm so thankful that I ended up where I am. Today, like many other days here, I met classmates who are warm and welcoming, I grappled with challenging course material, and I felt proud of my community. And I got a free lunch! Always a plus. I'm writing this because I think my 1L year so far is a testimony to trusting the admissions process, despite all of the fear and uncertainty.For the SEVEN months that I spent applying to law schools last year, I was paralyzed by the stress and competition. Would I even survive as a 21 year old K-JD? Would attending a school ranking outside of the top 5 ruin my chances of certain jobs? Would I make any friends? Would I get swallowed up by homesickness if I left the cities I'm familiar with? I took a chance and committed to a school in a state I had never set foot in before admitted students weekend. But I committed because everyone I spoke to when I visited campus was honest and earnest with me. I got private time with actual students rather than a pre-prepared speech from a dean of admissions (though, I got that too). My gut instinct was to join the community that seemed like it wasn't bullshitting me, so that's what I did. Still, I'll admit even after submitting my deposits and buying a parking pass, I was unsure if this was the right place for me. In fact, I spent a shameful amount of time looking up details about the transfer process even before I had even started the year here!Now, I've been here for a few weeks, and (at least for this year) going to another school is no longer an option, but I feel happily at home. Just today after class, I started talking to a few upperclassmen I had seen at a student org meeting earlier in the day. Within an hour, we debated carceral policy, talked about managing stress, and joked about each other's awkward blunders with professors. When another 3L sat down with us, the two guys I had been talking to introduced her by enthusiastically bragging about all of her recent accomplishments, her amazing personality, and just generally hyping her up. It was so endearing how genuinely happy these three students were for each other's victories. There was no bitterness between them and no hesitation to draw me into their circle. Now, in hindsight, I realize I've had so many moments like this already at this school. Moments when I just felt like it clicked, when I really fit in with my peers, when I felt an abundance of love. I can't imagine surviving law school without that feeling.My boyfriend came and visited me for Labor Day weekend, and I was telling him that there's a weird sense of confidence I've developed in the past month, which I think stems from the super supportive community I found here. It's bittersweet because I know that 2017 me would have scoffed at such 'soft' merits of a law school. I was so focused on rankings and ROI reports, whereas I now realize that community is vital to a productive law school experience.If you're worried about rankings, or if you're like me and you're worried that going from a top 10 undergrad to a law school outside of the T14 is a mark of "settling" or lowering your standards, I want you to remember that the lived experience of law school is far more multifaceted than anything that US World News rankings can summarize. Those lists don't tell you what your favorite late night snack spot during exams will be. They won't tell you about the future bridesmaid you're going to meet in a con law class. They will try, but they can't even tell you about the wonderful research opportunities you didn't even know existed until you met your favorite professor. When it comes to the admission cycle, follow your gut, and pursue the institutions that make you feel welcome and valuable. Don't get too hung up on the rejections, because it's a natural way to weed out the spots that aren't going to recognize your individual worth. After all, being an attorney is a client-focused, PEOPLE-focused profession. So you might as well start off surrounded by people who make you feel your best, and at an institution that sees you more as a person than a statistic. (Featured image by Jay Mantri via Pexels.com)