Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.

Ok, so here's where I stand. My counselor and I took awhile bouncing the essay back and forth. So what that means is my UW application didn't get sent in until January 12. Woot. Which may have been a problem considering that I don't have two letters yet. Good thing that UW said that letters were optional. Now, would I have liked to have completed all the optional pieces, yes. But it came down to I had to turn it in, so there you go.

And about those letters. So I sent two requests to two professors at the end of November. The one professor never wrote me back because he's on sabbatical. Ok, that one I can let go. Not his fault.

The other one, is frustrating. The second professor got my request and just ignored it. I didn't know that, so I emailed him to see if he received it. I got back the most horrible response! Some select quotes

"A bit of advice: I know no professor at UW who prepares letters for student who haven't even asked for a letter...personally. Few professors write on behalf of students with whom
they have no meaningful relationship (what would they write about that student?) and none would simply write a letter having received a package with letter requests. It simply doesn't work that way."

Apparently there's rules about this. Too bad no one told me. And instead of him telling me this, he just ignored my letter. He 1. assumed I didn't come in personally out of choice (how does he know I didn't move to Florida?) and 2. assumed that I had the opportunity to have meaningful relationships with my professors, which I didn't.

"Without those things, all we can say about the student is "she earned a 3.5 in my class." That's not going to get you into a decent law school."

That's a big assumption. I'm pretty sure I can get into a "decent" law school with pretty crappy recommendations. He knows nothing about me! I may not have the most confidence in myself, but my LSAT score is more than "decent"!

Another choice quote:

"It's unfortunate that you didn't build deeper relationships with the faculty during your undergrad days. I'm always telling freshmen that they will need us someday soon so they need to get to know us and let us get to know them. All letters ask "how long and how well do you know this student?" Sadly, you never got the memo about this."

What memo?!?!?!?!? Had there been a memo, I could understand his hostility to me, but NO ONE TOLD ME!!!!! I did not get this memo!! I was busy working my way through school and trying to save money by not living on campus. It's not like I was out at keggers instead of getting to know my professors. I was working. RRRRRRrrrrrr!

I also enjoyed this line:

"Law school admissions are highly competitive and letters count a great deal."

Everyone I've spoken with has said they still count, but they matter less and less each year. They used to require three, now many require two, one, or none at all! I think much of his hostility to me comes from misplaced ego. He is totally convinced that his letter will make or break my application. I'm convinced that, based on the copious amounts of reading and research I've done on law school admissions as compared to the probably zero research he's done, my LSAT is more likely to make or break my application. And my LSAT rocks.

It has worked out all right. My boss agreed to write me a letter, and it's amazing. He let me read it. I don't know that my mom could write me a better letter, and she's my mom. I also got in contact with another professor whose class I enjoyed and she agreed to write one for me. So, bases covered without you, crotchety and inappropriately accusatory professor. I think the most disappointing part about all of this is he was one of my best professors. I picked him because I really enjoyed his class. And now this. How frustrating. I'll tell you what, I'm going to stop recommending his class. And stop regretting I didn't get to take the second class of his that I wanted to. Not taking it just means less memories that have been tainted by this email.

Lizamichatello Out.