<p>@lindyk8 - My mom wants me to be happy. Period. HOWEVER, if UCLA can be figured out it’s definitely her preference. She knows how hard I’ve worked to get to this point, and she wants me to go to a school that is reflective of that work. She also appreciates the benefits of starting my grad program 6-12 months sooner. </p>
<p>Also I think it’s worth noting that my job is a career, not just a job. It’s also with a fantastic non-profit that I want to grow with. My MPA emphasis will be on non-profit management, so there are benefits to staying. </p>
<p>I’ve ran a 5013c for over 10 years now, so I understand what it means to have a career in non-profit. With that said, it’s still not an excuse, in my humble opinion. Talk to your board, or president and find a solution to give yourself the time to graduate from the best possible school. Considering your end-game is to give back to the non-profit I can’t see a president or board not working with you to achieve your goal, considering it will benefit them in the end.</p>
<p>Just another thought.</p>
<p>Hey Annie, the reason I brought up Southwestern Law is because they happen to have a two year accelerated program in entertainment law. They of course are only a safety school on my list. My gpa will be 3.8+ by the end of my UG and my diagnostic LSAT’s are in the upper 160’s, so I’m not worried about landing a T-20 law school in the end. I was just using SW to illustrate a point.</p>
<p>This is one of the largest non- profits in the country, and is growing internationally, I can’t walk up to the president, and ask for favors.</p>
<p>My managers have been EXTREMELY flexible about my hours over the past couple of years, which is why I’ve been able to get this far. UCLA schedules force you to have to take classes at all times of day. My company is flexible, but damn- I have to respect the limits and not take advantage. </p>
<p>BTW, I don’t need excuses to justify my life choices. </p>
<p>@fullload - I think it’s also kinda funny that you assume that you’ll get accepted to UCLA. I’m not saying that you don’t have a great chance, but nothing’s guaranteed. What happens to your master plan if you didn’t get accepted? Would you just say screw it, and not finish at all, or would you make a new plan? </p>
<p>Sometimes things happen in life that alter your course. It sucks, but you got roll with the punches. People who aren’t flexible, break.</p>
<p>I’ll get into UCLA. I have zero doubts. I know it’s presumptuous, but my EC’s, personal statement details and gpa will all be exceptional. I know there are no guarantees, but my life story is exactly what UC’s look for, coming from nothing, making something and pursuing my education after years of overcoming hurdles and achieving success in the non-profit and literary world. I just think it’s a no-brainer, especially for my literary major. My major also averages 3.4 acceptance as well. I will come in at 3.9. The few counselors I’ve told my story too also think it’s a lock.</p>
<p>With that said, UCI is my safety school. </p>
<p>As for the largest non-profit reasoning, if it’s a genuine, caring non-profit, there will be an established open door policy and speaking to members of the board should be welcome and accessible for you. Yes, you can in fact just walk in there and make a case for them to help you achieve your goals so the company benefits in the end. It’s all up to you.</p>
<p>A big problem you have here @2016candles is you’re asking this on a UC thread. So you know, it’s kind of a given that you will get blowback. It seems to me you have made up your mind, which is fine - you know your life, you know your company, you know your future options. We don’t. </p>
<p>So this is turning into a fruitless enterprise. When you say BTW, I don’t need excuses to justify my life choices - then why ask at all? (And I mean this in a nice way, really…)</p>
<p>Oh, and yes, anything can happen as you say, but making things happen is how I’ve found success in life. If I don’t get into the school I want, I have a career I’m more than happy continuing. I have no worries whatsoever. But what I’ve gathered in this thread feels like compromise and settling for something because of fear of the unknown. Personally, I couldn’t live my life this way. </p>
<p>@lindyk8 the comment about justifying choices was directed at fullload because he said I used my job as an excuse. I was just saying that any choice I make, I own, so I don’t need excuses to justify them.</p>
<p>At any rate, I have come to a decision for now. I am going to keep both CSU and UCLA door open until the end of Aug when my current school starts. </p>
<p>I’ll take summer school at my current school, so I’m not wasting time. Then before my CSU starts, I’ll know what UCLA says about my transfer credits. At that point, I can make a decision based on more critical info, rather than assumptions and guesses.</p>
<p>@fullload I have taken many chances in life. I’ve moved across country with no job, and enough money to last until rent was due again. I made it work fabulously. I have started my own business, and it was mildly successful, but brought me great joy. I took a group of kids that no one thought could achieve anything, and made them a nationally ranked dance team. </p>
<p>I appreciate advice or helpful ideas, but please don’t presume to know me or my life.</p>
<p>Annie, I fully understand, and agree if you are a youngster looking to get into biglaw. However I’m a non-trad who will be doing public defender work for two years and then hanging my own shingle. For me, Southwestern would be a fine alternative if I was unsuccessful at landing my top law schools.</p>
<p>I’d like to point out that graduate schools aren’t looking for all their students to come from the same universities. So you could get in because you were that UCLA student they were looking for or you could get in because you were that CSULB student they were looking for. </p>
<p>@bomerr, meh. I think that’s true to a certain extent. It all depends on what graduate field we’re talking about. I can only speak for what I’ve researched about LS but it’s pretty clear that the top schools don’t care where you go. They could have already admitted 30 UCLA students and it’s down to 1 more UCLA applicant and the lone CSULB applicant. Well, whoever has the better scores is going to get in. They aren’t going to admit the CSULB student just to add UG diversity because this criteria isn’t factored into the rankings. That’s what it mainly boils down to. What helps the rankings…</p>
<p>@fullload, you’ll have a 3.9? Is this your cumulative UG GPA? If so, you just need to hit 170+ and keep that high GPA and you’re a lock at many T14’s with $. Idk if NW is still going to do it, but, they have given $150K scholarships to the ED (early decision) applicants that get admitted for the past few years. NW is notorious for taking on “older” students with work experience so I just figured I’d let you know in case you’re curious. </p>
<p>Zal, yes, that will be cumulative, but to be conservative when all is said and done I’m banking on 3.7+. Still have to get through 2 more years, so it could of course drop. Yeah, I’m nailing the lsat’s right now and I’m banking on 170 when I take next Fall. But I promised myself I would only go to a T-14 with at least 75% scholarship, which is going to be real hard for me. I just don’t need a T-14 with my plans, a T-50 is just fine for my needs and I can get into a T-50 with a full ride, I’m pretty sure of it. Thanks for the thoughts and advice.</p>
<p>@fullload, yeah, if you’re going into PI and want to hang your own shingle you’d be better off going to a t50 with a full scholarship which you should have no problem getting. You planing on practicing in CA? </p>
<p>Yeah, working here in Los Angeles most likely. I really do need a full ride, it’s the deal I made with my wife. She’s holding down expenses while I do my UG, but LS is all on me, so no debt is the only way to go. Especially considering I’ll be PI and hanging a shingle. We all know that’s not necessarily the route to financial success. ;)</p>
<p>You going to LS too? What’s your target school?</p>