*SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS FOR 3 YEARS*
(except: American, 1 yr amt)
Identify as gay/lesbian, which seems to be a factor on some applications.
Strong personal statement regarding ability to overcome adversity, emphasizing work ethic and determination to reach academic and personal goals despite numerous challenges. (i.e. had to relocate and transfer to a new school during undergrad as I was forced to move out of my parents' home when I came out; loss of familial support system; partner struggled with mental illness, supported her financially/emotionally while in school full-time and working more than full-time)
Requested application fee waivers at all schools that didn't offer one to me- the only one that turned me down was Emory (which is why my app there has not yet been submitted!). With the exception of University of Minnesota, which required paperwork be completed and mailed, I received a coupon code with no additional documentation required.
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Requested application fee waiver from University of Minnesota, received via e-mail and returned via U.S. mail on Monday 1/28- updated on Thursday 1/31 that fee waiver app was received and approved, application is complete and awaiting review.
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Accepted to GSU on 1/30 via e-mail. Advised of eligibility for full tuition/fee scholarship, but advised to complete and submit an additional application for it (mainly financial info requested). Appears to be need-based and not definite. Still awaiting acceptance package in the mail to find out if any further funding is being offered.
Not my top choice- but with a scholarship I'd consider.
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Accepted to BLS on 1/31 via status checker. No email yet. No scholarship info yet, but from what I've read that is not typically sent until March-ish. That will be the deciding factor for me, as living in Brooklyn and going to law school without substantial scholarships is simply not an option for me. On the edge of my seat, this was my top realistic choice (not top ranked out of the schools I've applied to, but I am in love with their clinical offerings and externships!)
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Accepted to Northeastern via status checker on 2/1, followed by an email a few minutes later. Again, no scholarship info, but looks like that's normal at this point? Hoping acceptance packet has some details- this school is not a top choice for a number of reasons (no grades, regional, high cost of living in Boston), but keeping my options open till I get some financial details.
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Northeastern called within about 2 hrs of the status checker update to congratulate me and see if I had any questions- nice touch. But the more I research this school, with high tuition, expensive city, no grades, lower ranking, many complaints about employment prospects... unless I get big bucks in scholarships, I think this one is dead in the water. It's too bad, because I think their co-op program looks fantastic, location is great (opportunity-wise and proximity to family)...
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Letter received from Northeastern via U.S. mail with scholarship info- $30,000 total ($10,000/yr), only stipulation is I'd need to remain in "good standing". Not enough for me to seriously consider attending. Plan on withdrawing once I'm sure I get some better offers .
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Received my offer of admission from American on 2/8 via e-mail and status checker. Not hopeful in terms of scholarship money, as they don't seem to be terribly generous.
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Accepted to UB on 2/12, and to DePaul on 2/14. No scholarship info from either yet, but it should be coming in the mail within the next week or two. These two were safety schools, and I was pretty well above their medians, so I'm expecting something decent financially... We'll see!
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Brooklyn scholarship info in today- Glasser Scholarship, $20k per year, top 80% stipulation. Not as much as I was hoping for, might not even be possible given COL in NYC. But we'll see- I've heard they voluntarily increase scholarship amounts as time goes on and people begin to withdraw.
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Waitlisted at University of Minnesota. Hopeful still, as this was a reach school and I was almost expecting a rejection. Being that this is my top choice, I'm working on a LOCI tonight to send out early next week. Also hoping that being waitlisted doesn't mean that I don't have a shot at some scholarship money...
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2/19- Received an e-mail from American, one-time merit scholarship of $7,500. That alone isn't enough. Waiting to hear about any need-based grants. That info should be available sometime in March, apparently.
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2/20- So I called UB Law to confirm that they have the correct address since the acceptance packet hasn't arrived yet and I live 20 minutes away from the school. They informed me that I have been awarded $7,000/yr, renewable each yr provided I pass all of my classes. They are inexpensive to begin with, so that would bring tuition down to about $13,000/yr. I was hoping for more, but so far they are looking like the least expensive option.
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2/22- received my acceptance packed from DePaul today with a scholarship offer of $25k/yr, totaling $75k, with no stipulations. Not too shabby.
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2/22- Acceptance e-mail from Chicago-Kent today, along with a scholarship of $20k/yr, total of $60k, no stipulations.
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2/26- Accepted to Cardozzo via phone call. They left a message saying I've been awarded $18k/yr- didn't mention stipulations, but acceptance packet will have more details...
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3/15- Pittsburgh scholarship of $25k/yr, B/3.0 average stipulation. So excited! If I can get in-state tuition 2L & 3L, I'd be paying less than $3k/yr. And only about $10k my first year... graduating law school with only $16k in debt sounds like a pretty amazing offer.
Hey! We have really similar numbers and schools, both reach and safety schools. I was also wait-listed at Minnesota, and although it is frustrating, I'm still hopeful that something extraordinary could come of that, as that is where I'd really like to go. Have you visited Brooklyn yet?