What's up with CRS and receiving NEW/UPDATED fee waivers Forum

[Horchata]

I received about 70 fee waivers from law schools ranging form Columbia down to Cooley last admissions cycle or about eight months ago. I decided not to enroll this fall and but rather reapply. However when I updated my CRS profile a few months ago to indicate I will enroll in 2011, I haven't received any fee waivers. When I contact law schools most are saying that they give waivers through CRS and I should just hold tight. I only find this troubling because I want to send apps in early September. I explain to them my predicament and I really feel like they have absolutely no idea what the f^ they are talking about.

Does anyone know when they send fee waivers out? or if law schools re-scan past applicants for fee waivers? Has anyone gone through this? I received all of mine in the few weeks after I took the Dec. 2009 LSAT. I feel like this might be a common problem or issue for people who take the LSAT early, receive fee waivers, but decide to do the Peace Corps or just take some time off.

Thanks for replies.

[northphx]

I'm in the same boat. Took LSAT in 2008 and got dozens of fee waivers. Unfortunately I was not ready to apply. I changed my enrollment year to 2011 about a month ago but have not received any fee waiver. Completely bummed out.

[trudat15]

wondering the same thing....

[beachbum]

check the official fee waiver thread for this year. Apparently there's some forum trick (registering for the forum?) that's worked for a some people.

Edit: You might also check the fee waiver thread from last year for dates on when schools sent waivers.

[Horchata]

So, sorry to burst some people's bubbles, I contacted CRS and LSAC today and I spoke with the boss of the representative who handled my call. She told me that fee waivers are sent out only one time after the LSAT is taken.

I contacted law schools about this probably and most don't seem to know that this is the case. A lot of schools have been telling me I will probably be notified again when the schools re-scan applicants in CRS for fee waivers. I try to tell them that this is NOT the case and most just give me some generic answer about fee waivers - fucking dicks (yeah, I'm looking at you Columbia, Penn, and Notre Dame).

Thankfully, I have been contacting schools and the majority are pretty cool about it - they happily respond with another fee waiver code. I just reply to the email they sent me, notifying me that I received a fee waiver, so they know I'm not full of bs. For the others, I think I'm going to try and beg for one or apply for a need-based one or just hold a grudge the rest of my life.

HOpe this helps some people out there.

[trudat15]

So, sorry to burst some people's bubbles, I contacted CRS and LSAC today and I spoke with the boss of the representative who handled my call. She told me that fee waivers are sent out only one time after the LSAT is taken.

Do you happen to know if this holds true for retakers? I've gotten old fee waivers from awhile back for an old score, but took it in June, which put me in a whole new bracket of schools I want waivers for.

[WestOfTheRest]

I took the lsat in June 08 and have received fee waivers in the 08/09, 09/10, and this current cycle.

[cartercl]

I took the lsat in June 08 and have received fee waivers in the 08/09, 09/10, and this current cycle.

This.

I took it in December 09 and received fee waivers for 2009-2010 cycle, and for this cycle (though not nearly as many this cycle). Also, I got some late in the last cycle, told the school I wasn't prepared to start LS yet, and got the schools to extend them to this cycle.

[Horchata]

So, sorry to burst some people's bubbles, I contacted CRS and LSAC today and I spoke with the boss of the representative who handled my call. She told me that fee waivers are sent out only one time after the LSAT is taken.

Do you happen to know if this holds true for retakers? I've gotten old fee waivers from awhile back for an old score, but took it in June, which put me in a whole new bracket of schools I want waivers for.

Nah, it's different. The lady told me that after each LSAT the applicants status is re-scanned by the law schools for fee waivers.


And to the to the other posters. That is very interesting. I received about 70 last cycle (about eight months ago) and haven't received any for this one. Maybe I'm just OCD and should wait until schools actually allow people to apply. I'm sure others are like me too, just trying to be ahead of the curve. Good to know tho - thanks for the replies.

Does anyone know if you apply without a fee waiver, then receive one from a school after-the-face, will they refund you application?

[CreativityKing]

Does anyone know if you apply without a fee waiver, then receive one from a school after-the-face, will they refund you application?

I have been told that they will refund you after the fact.

I'm in the same boat here - tons of fee waivers last year...and the only one I've received again (unsolicited) this year was the Duke Priority Track one. Bummer.

[trudat15]

So, sorry to burst some people's bubbles, I contacted CRS and LSAC today and I spoke with the boss of the representative who handled my call. She told me that fee waivers are sent out only one time after the LSAT is taken.

Do you happen to know if this holds true for retakers? I've gotten old fee waivers from awhile back for an old score, but took it in June, which put me in a whole new bracket of schools I want waivers for.

Nah, it's different. The lady told me that after each LSAT the applicants status is re-scanned by the law schools for fee waivers.


And to the to the other posters. That is very interesting. I received about 70 last cycle (about eight months ago) and haven't received any for this one. Maybe I'm just OCD and should wait until schools actually allow people to apply. I'm sure others are like me too, just trying to be ahead of the curve. Good to know tho - thanks for the replies.

Does anyone know if you apply without a fee waiver, then receive one from a school after-the-face, will they refund you application?

Thanks for the info.
I do know some schools will refund you after the fact if you receive a waiver. In particular, I've been told this by Penn and Duke, and imagine most other schools would as well (havent asked them).

[Rob Crow]

Can someone remind me where to update my intended enrollment date within LSAC?

Much appreciated,

[trudat15]

Can someone remind me where to update my intended enrollment date within LSAC?

Much appreciated,

My Account - Right hand side will say CRS (Credential Referral Service). Click on it and it'll take you to a page where you can edit whatever you want.

[Rob Crow]

Really appreciate it trudat.

[Horchata]

So, sorry to burst some people's bubbles, I contacted CRS and LSAC today and I spoke with the boss of the representative who handled my call. She told me that fee waivers are sent out only one time after the LSAT is taken.

Do you happen to know if this holds true for retakers? I've gotten old fee waivers from awhile back for an old score, but took it in June, which put me in a whole new bracket of schools I want waivers for.

Nah, it's different. The lady told me that after each LSAT the applicants status is re-scanned by the law schools for fee waivers.


And to the to the other posters. That is very interesting. I received about 70 last cycle (about eight months ago) and haven't received any for this one. Maybe I'm just OCD and should wait until schools actually allow people to apply. I'm sure others are like me too, just trying to be ahead of the curve. Good to know tho - thanks for the replies.

Does anyone know if you apply without a fee waiver, then receive one from a school after-the-face, will they refund you application?

Thanks for the info.
I do know some schools will refund you after the fact if you receive a waiver. In particular, I've been told this by Penn and Duke, and imagine most other schools would as well (havent asked them).

Btw, for any future readers, if you use your fee waivers, then try to use it again (by asking for another one), Columbia and Penn will not give you another one. On the other hand, Michigan, Virginia, BU have been very accommodating.

[fragged]

Several schools that I have contacted said they don't start sending waivers out until September, so I wouldn't be too bummed yet. Maybe a lot of it has to do with admissions staff just getting back from summer vacation?

[Horchata]

Does anyone know if say you send in an application (w/o a fee waiver), then the schools sends you one, can you get your $$ back?

[ArchRoark]

Does anyone know if say you send in an application (w/o a fee waiver), then the schools sends you one, can you get your $$ back?

Depends on the school ITT Duke/UVA/Penn I have heard will do this... while Houston specifically say in their fee waiver application that they cant/will not refund a payment.

[AMERICA]

I received about 70 fee waivers from law schools ranging form Columbia down to Cooley last admissions cycle or about eight months ago. I decided not to enroll this fall and but rather reapply. However when I updated my CRS profile a few months ago to indicate I will enroll in 2011, I haven't received any fee waivers. When I contact law schools most are saying that they give waivers through CRS and I should just hold tight. I only find this troubling because I want to send apps in early September. I explain to them my predicament and I really feel like they have absolutely no idea what the f^ they are talking about.

Does anyone know when they send fee waivers out? or if law schools re-scan past applicants for fee waivers? Has anyone gone through this? I received all of mine in the few weeks after I took the Dec. 2009 LSAT. I feel like this might be a common problem or issue for people who take the LSAT early, receive fee waivers, but decide to do the Peace Corps or just take some time off.

Thanks for replies.

I'm in the same boat. Had a call with LSAC where they admitted that the CRS system doesn't accommodate people in our situation. Also got a pretty solid feeling that it didn't bother them. I Emailed every school on my list, and got nothing but confusion and canned answers in return. All fee waivers came in August for me last year, so I'm not buying that schools are waiting for Sept 1st. I'll be making calls to these same schools after the apps go live, but I'm not happy about waiting to apply.

[Horchata]

I received about 70 fee waivers from law schools ranging form Columbia down to Cooley last admissions cycle or about eight months ago. I decided not to enroll this fall and but rather reapply. However when I updated my CRS profile a few months ago to indicate I will enroll in 2011, I haven't received any fee waivers. When I contact law schools most are saying that they give waivers through CRS and I should just hold tight. I only find this troubling because I want to send apps in early September. I explain to them my predicament and I really feel like they have absolutely no idea what the f^ they are talking about.

Does anyone know when they send fee waivers out? or if law schools re-scan past applicants for fee waivers? Has anyone gone through this? I received all of mine in the few weeks after I took the Dec. 2009 LSAT. I feel like this might be a common problem or issue for people who take the LSAT early, receive fee waivers, but decide to do the Peace Corps or just take some time off.

Thanks for replies.

I'm in the same boat. Had a call with LSAC where they admitted that the CRS system doesn't accommodate people in our situation. Also got a pretty solid feeling that it didn't bother them. I Emailed every school on my list, and got nothing but confusion and canned answers in return. All fee waivers came in August for me last year, so I'm not buying that schools are waiting for Sept 1st. I'll be making calls to these same schools after the apps go live, but I'm not happy about waiting to apply.

That's exactly the same experience I am having with "canned" emails like you said that basically don't even address what I'm asking. I'm really pissed because I originally wanted to apply this cycle, but my dad pressured me into applying last January (he's a law schools admissions counselor....NOT). I also figured my URM status might help in this process, but to my avail, still very little accommodation. I'm saving every penny I got to send some apps to some reaches, hope you (AMERICA) are too, if your not already broke in this economy!

And just to make a running list (I like lists) of whose helping and who are not:

Gave fee waivers second time:
UVA
Michigan
Boston U.
U. Illinois
USD
ASU

Aren't
Columbia
Penn
Duke (maybe, still waiting to hear)
UNC (maybe, still waiting to hear)
Notre Dame (maybe, still waiting to hear)

[094320]

..

[kazu]

And just to make a running list (I like lists) of whose helping and who are not:

Gave fee waivers second time:
UVA
Michigan
Boston U.
U. Illinois
USD
ASU

Aren't
Columbia
Penn
Duke (maybe, still waiting to hear)
UNC (maybe, still waiting to hear)
Notre Dame (maybe, still waiting to hear)

Can I stick this list over in the 2011 Cycle FAQ thread? Did Columbia and Penn explicitly say no in an e-mail?[/quote]

Wait.. when did Michigan, Columbia and Penn hand out fee waivers? I didn't see them on the thread yet

[Horchata]

And just to make a running list (I like lists) of whose helping and who are not:

Gave fee waivers second time:
UVA
Michigan
Boston U.
U. Illinois
USD
ASU

Aren't
Columbia
Penn
Duke (maybe, still waiting to hear)
UNC (maybe, still waiting to hear)
Notre Dame (maybe, still waiting to hear)

Can I stick this list over in the 2011 Cycle FAQ thread? Did Columbia and Penn explicitly say no in an e-mail?

Wait.. when did Michigan, Columbia and Penn hand out fee waivers? I didn't see them on the thread yet [/quote]

Yeah, go ahead and send it over. There is some good information that has been accumulated over the last few posts, as well. I can combine it if you want me to.

Let me be clear: this list is of schools that when asked for a fee waiver for a second time after already granting one in a past admissions cycle said "yes" or "no" when asked for another fee waiver for this admissions cycle. A lot of people, including myself, were granted fee waivers in past cycles and want to apply again with another one. We have to ask for them again because the waivers expire after one cycle.

[kazu]

Let me be clear: this list is of schools that when asked for a fee waiver for a second time after already granting one in a past admissions cycle said "yes" or "no" when asked for another fee waiver for this admissions cycle. A lot of people, including myself, were granted fee waivers in past cycles and want to apply again with another one. We have to ask for them again because the waivers expire after one cycle.

Oh, okay. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Horchata]

Can I stick this list over in the 2011 Cycle FAQ thread? Did Columbia and Penn explicitly say no in an e-mail?

They explicitly said because I used the fee waiver I cannot get another one.