Welcome to the latest installment of Law Admissions Q&A, a monthly feature that provides law school admissions advice to readers who send in questions and admissions profiles.
If you have a question, email us for a chance to be featured next month.
This week, I will discuss how to negotiate for scholarship funds after seat deposit deadlines as well as address degree requirements for applying to law school.
I was hoping to ask your opinion on how to proceed with accepting a spot while putting myself in the best position to get scholarship funding. I am thrilled to have acceptances at a few other programs and am still waiting for a decision from a T-14 school, but they seem to be taking their time in issuing a decision. My issue is this: The school where I want to enroll said that they are unable to offer me scholarship funds at this time, but they issue them on a rolling basis and I am still up for scholarship consideration. The response deadline is May 1. If I put down a seat deposit, would I still be in a position to negotiate for scholarships, or should I just trust that they will reallocate funds in my direction? –Show Me the Money
Dear Show Me the Money: With seat deposits looming and scholarship decisions far from finalized, I understand your predicament. When a school makes scholarship decisions on rolling basis, typically that means the admissions committee will reallocate funding awards as applicants decline enrollment offers.
While accepting your offer does limit your negotiating leverage, you can still take proactive steps to try to secure funding.
[Learn how to negotiate merit-based law school financial aid.]
First, contact the admissions committee and politely request an extension — including noting a specific time frame, such as two weeks — before you make your seat deposit. Explain that you are still awaiting decisions from other schools and haven’t yet received a decision from this school’s financial aid office.
Be sure to emphasize that you appreciate the acceptance and the school’s ongoing evaluation of your potential scholarship award. Note that programs may not be willing to grant extensions, particularly this late into the spring.
If you opt to place a seat deposit, you can still send a l etter of continued interest to reiterate your excitement to attend and the contributions you plan to make to school community. Present yourself as a valuable asset worthy of a scholarship investment.
[Understand the anatomy of a law school letter of continued interest.]
Admissions committees know seat deposit don’t guarantee enrollment, and they don’t want to lose strong applicants to other programs with later acceptances.
After establishing your value, explain that financing your education is important to your ability to enroll and articulate the amount of funding you hope to receive.
For example, if you will be financing your education without parental support, highlight your need for supplemental funding to minimize student loans. If you intend to pursue a career in public interest, make a case for why a scholarship will position you to achieve your career goals.
Finally, discuss your situation and enthusiasm for the school either in-person or over the phone with the financial aid office. This can help distinguish you from other candidates.
This will also allow you to explore funding options beyond merit-based scholarships. Many law schools offer loan forgiveness and repayment programs in lieu of or in addition to scholarship awards.
You can also ask whether you qualify for need-based aid and discuss steps for consideration, such as submitting financial records and a statement of need.
Just because you are ready to put down a seat deposit, don’t leave the negotiation table. Stay engaged and committed to finding ways to finance your legal education.
I am a recent graduate of a school of pharmacy, which offers an accelerated program. This program allows students to graduate directly with their doctor of pharmacy in six years. I graduated from this program in five years, received my degree in May 2016 with a GPA of 3.2, and I do not hold an undergraduate degree. I currently work in the pharmaceutical industry, and I am licensed as a pharmacist. I was wondering how my GPA will be viewed by law admissions staff. Is there is any advantage to achieving a doctorate degree at a young age? –Bachelorless
Dear Bachelorless:
The American Bar Association Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools Standard 502 sets the educational requirements for admission to a J.D. program and a bachelor’s degree or international educational equivalent is required. Students currently working toward their undergraduate degrees may also apply, as long as they earn the degree before enrolling.
Subsection 502(c) allows for extraordinary applicants who have not attended a bachelor’s program to enroll in a J.D. program “if the applicant’s experience, ability, and other qualifications clearly demonstrate an aptitude for the study of law.”
[Discover ways a low GPA might not derail a law school application.]
However, most law schools will require you to submit undergraduate transcripts, because they don’t like the uncertainty of determining whether an applicant meets the exception to the ABA rule.
Formulate a list of your top-choice schools and contact a few to see whether you can apply with your pharmacy degree. If these programs require undergraduate transcripts, then your doctorate degree may not be advantageous from a law school admissions standpoint unless you can also earn a bachelor’s degree.
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Negotiate Law School Scholarships After Seat Deposits originally appeared on usnews.com
