Thursday, April 13, 2006
I just withdrew from the University of Wisconsin.
I may not have ever done something so difficult in my life ever. I mean, I really really did not want to do it, but I just can't get around the possibility that turning over Penn or NYU or Michigan for Wisconsin would just be detrimental to my future. Doors that I might never even want to open would be completely locked to me.
Unless I was at the top of my class. But, what kind of contingency is that? A little too high-risk for my blood.
I never even got to visit, as I missed my plane last week. And no, I definitely did not miss my plane as an unconscious desire not to go. Athough I do think that not going was probably a good thing, as it would have made this decision, that I think I knew I would make all along, even more gut-wrenching.
But Mike (the Dean) was extremely nice and understanding and, as always, flattering. He did indicate that I "did this right," as there are applicants who Wisconsin was equally generous with who've said nothing to him/them this whole time. He expressed his disappointment at the general lack of consideration shown on the part of admitted students. I chose not to comment on the general lack of consideration shown by admissions offices.
We ended on a good, if not slightly awkward note.
Still, hard as it was, I suspect it may be the best break up that I will ever go through.
promulgated by SWS2.1 at 13:03.
1 comments
1 Comments:
It sounds as if you did something right for yourself and that you did it in a mature manner.
I especially like that you didn't say anything to the dean about your bad experiences with other admissions officers.
As someone who was an administrator in a law school, I saw that some students treated people who work in the schools -- from the associate deans to the people in the various offices -- really shabbily. It was quite shocking to me, and I'm not easily shocked. Most of these students also were not so nice to their fellow students, either.
There was not a correlation, as far as I could tell, between anyone's grades or class rank and how they would treat other people, but I do think that people's law school reputations may last a long time after they've graduated and are practicing.
Yes, I'm sure at every law school there are people working who are not nice to the students, either. Still, I've seen students yell and curse and email threats to staff and other students. It's a high-pressure situation, but being a lawyer can be too, and I'm sure the dean at Wisconsin, like the administrators at whatever law school is lucky enough to have you as a student, greatly appreciated your graceful withdrawal.
By 
, at
10:12 PM
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