Columbia Fee Waiver - Median LSAT/GPA? Forum

[Lovely Ludwig Van]

Anyone have any idea what the median GPA and LSAT were from past years to receive a Columbia merit-waiver?

My numbers kinda put me on the fence, so I'm trying to figure out whether I should wait another week for a possible waiver, or just apply ASAP.

[trudat15]

Anyone have any idea what the median GPA and LSAT were from past years to receive a Columbia merit-waiver?

My numbers kinda put me on the fence, so I'm trying to figure out whether I should wait another week for a possible waiver, or just apply ASAP.

Columbia this year told us that we received waivers solely for LSAT scores. Dont know what the cut off was, but I got one at 174.

[lzyovrachievr]

3.7, 169
3.8, 173
4.0, 160
3.4, 170

Are some of the numbers I've seen of people who've gotten Columbia. But people with the same numbers also didn't receive them. There doesn't seem to be a 3.8+, 170+ filter for who gets a fee waiver. They give it to some people and don't to others.

My guess is they target people within a certain range- not too good, cause they'd apply to Columbia anyway, and not too bad, cause well obviously. And they seem to consider both GPA and LSAT considering results I've seen of people around the 3.7-3.9, 168-173 range.

I had a 3.77/170 before and didn't get one.

[lzyovrachievr]

Columbia this year told us that we received waivers solely for LSAT scores. Dont know what the cut off was, but I got one at 174.

This is either not true or they just pick some of the people above the cut-off point and randomly give them waivers.

[trudat15]

Columbia this year told us that we received waivers solely for LSAT scores. Dont know what the cut off was, but I got one at 174.

This is either not true or they just pick some of the people above the cut-off point and randomly give them waivers.

From Columbia's email to me on 9/14:

"We congratulate you and share your excitement that a major hurdle?the LSAT?in the law school application process has been completed. In that regard, your name was forwarded to us by the Candidate Referral Service of The Law School Data Assembly Service, in which you had earlier agreed to participate. On the basis of your performance on the LSAT only, you have been identified as a prospective law school applicant who, on that criterion alone, has demonstrated a capability to contribute to and benefit from a legal education of the first order."

[Lovely Ludwig Van]

Hmm, good to know. In that case I think I'll just apply, since I'm definitely not above their median scores, and I think that they think that I will be applying anyways, since I'm just on the border.


So assuming that people have already gotten waivers for this year? Or were the numbers you guys cited from last year?

[trudat15]

Hmm, good to know. In that case I think I'll just apply, since I'm definitely not above their median scores, and I think that they think that I will be applying anyways, since I'm just on the border.


So assuming that people have already gotten waivers for this year? Or were the numbers you guys cited from last year?

This year. Though, I took the June LSAT so had a score before Oct. If you took Oct, you might want to consult the Fee Waiver thread to see if they've sent out their post Oct fee waivers yet.

[Mike12188]

June LSAT 171. I got one with a 3.3. Didn't apply though lol

[lzyovrachievr]

From Columbia's email to me on 9/14:

"We congratulate you and share your excitement that a major hurdle?the LSAT?in the law school application process has been completed. In that regard, your name was forwarded to us by the Candidate Referral Service of the Law School Data Assembly Service, in which you had earlier agreed to participate. On the basis of your performance on the LSAT only, you have been identified as a prospective law school applicant who, on that criterion alone, has demonstrated a capability to contribute to and benefit from a legal education of the first order."

I didn't question that they told you this. I questioned whether it was true. It's not like it's the first time a law school has been dishonest.

"No, we don't give out merit based fee waivers."
-- "Well actually the 20 people on TLS who received them beg to differ."

[lzyovrachievr]

This year. Though, I took the June LSAT so had a score before Oct. If you took Oct, you might want to consult the Fee Waiver thread to see if they've sent out their post Oct fee waivers yet.

They have not. I've been stalking the thread for that waiver.

[trudat15]

From Columbia's email to me on 9/14:

"We congratulate you and share your excitement that a major hurdle?the LSAT?in the law school application process has been completed. In that regard, your name was forwarded to us by the Candidate Referral Service of the Law School Data Assembly Service, in which you had earlier agreed to participate. On the basis of your performance on the LSAT only, you have been identified as a prospective law school applicant who, on that criterion alone, has demonstrated a capability to contribute to and benefit from a legal education of the first order."

I didn't question that they told you this. I questioned whether it was true. It's not like it's the first time a law school has been dishonest.

"No, we don't give out merit based fee waivers."
-- "Well actually the 20 people on TLS who received them beg to differ."

Ahh. Gotcha. Yeah, they can say whatever they want, I guess.
My GPA is significantly under their 25th though, which made me think the LSAT got me the waiver. Though could be wrong.

[jtemp320]

3.86/174 has not netted me one yet - nor from NYU or Penn...

[ilovemulch]

.

[jtemp320]

171/3.67 - got one..took LSAT once..wonder if they are more likely to give them out if no retakes? I think Columbia is one of the schools that averages scores in admissions process.

I did take it twice and my score difference is 7 pts so that could explain something but before any myths get perpetuated here is Columbia's policy

Look at all scores - average unless a 6 or greater pt difference in which case they take the highest

[trudat15]

171/3.67 - got one..took LSAT once..wonder if they are more likely to give them out if no retakes? I think Columbia is one of the schools that averages scores in admissions process.

I did take it twice and my score difference is 7 pts so that could explain something but before any myths get perpetuated here is Columbia's policy

Look at all scores - average unless a 6 or greater pt difference in which case they take the highest

Took twice, 10 pt difference in mine, got one. Same score as jtemp second time, much lower gpa

[lzyovrachievr]

Yea, I think Columbia's fee waiver process is either kinda a black box or they don't know how to work CRS.

Received one:
3.7, 169
3.8, 173
4.0, 160
3.4, 170
<25th GPA, 174
3.67, 171

Didn't receive one:
3.77, 170
3.85, 173
3.4, 174
3.86, 174

It's not based solely on LSAT- unless they don't know how to work CRS.

[DieAntwoord]

Got a 170 the first time and got one. Same email as the guy above.
Then got a 178 and got another.

None of my gpa stuff was submitted when I had the 170 and received one.

[arism87]

Got a 170 the first time and got one. Same email as the guy above.
Then got a 178 and got another.

Stop hogging the waivers! Wanna give me one

[CapHillLove]

.

[lzyovrachievr]

This makes no sense.

Yep. This was the consensus.

[neonx]

This makes no sense.

Yep. This was the consensus.

Some schools also look at other things, too... not simply numbers.

[bdubs]

3.5 with a 164/172 retake in June. No fee waiver from Columbia, I just wound up paying the app fee.

[DieAntwoord]

Maybe they just play around with some kind of elaborate search function. When I had only a 170, I actually got 2 free waivers. They can't have a close eye on this thing.

Above poster: could be targeted, Im AA.

[bdubs]

This makes no sense.

Yep. This was the consensus.

Some schools also look at other things, too... not simply numbers.

The only things they have to look at are demographics and numbers, you haven't applied there yet if you are concerned with a fee waiver.

I would imagine they will dip lower into the numbers for URMs. Might even make sense for them not to give any fee waivers to people who list NYC as their location (neither of those would affect me though).

[starrydreamz3]

3.96/170 and I got one. But I don't recall getting an email about it. I was applying anyway and was pleasantly suprised when they didn't ask for a credit card.