Last Minute Fee Waiver??? Their Motivation...? Forum

[mrwarre85]

Yes, hate to rain on everyone's parade, but I'm already on hold at Columbia with a 176/3.6, and lots of others with similar or better numbers are as well. Seems like it's probably just a ranking/selectivity game...

A rankings/selectivity game that deliberately fools USNWR and far worse wastes hours of time from each of the 1000 or so applicants that applied and never had a shot. I would love to know how many people got that waiver-- seems to me from this small sample that the number was significant.

Gross.

[flepper]

Looks anyone with a 165+ that listed they were interested in schools in the Northeast

I'm sure LSAC isn't complaining at $12 a pop.

[Cade McNown]

Someone should submit this to a law school journal. This is unethical.

Why?

[swampthang]

Looks anyone with a 165+ that listed they were interested in schools in the Northeast

I'm sure LSAC isn't complaining at $12 a pop.

I wish this were the case as my LSAC/CRS profile contains both and no FW. Bummer. Any use emailing and asking? It's not hidden either.

[flepper]

Looks anyone with a 165+ that listed they were interested in schools in the Northeast

I'm sure LSAC isn't complaining at $12 a pop.

I wish this were the case as my LSAC/CRS profile contains both and no FW. Bummer. Any use emailing and asking? It's not hidden either.

I'm no expert (LOL 0L) but why not? If you're ok with $12 you may be one of several special people they might take at this point, even if you're a pessimist.

[swampthang]

Looks anyone with a 165+ that listed they were interested in schools in the Northeast

I'm sure LSAC isn't complaining at $12 a pop.

I wish this were the case as my LSAC/CRS profile contains both and no FW. Bummer. Any use emailing and asking? It's not hidden either.

I'm no expert (LOL 0L) but why not? If you're ok with $12 you may be one of several special people they might take at this point, even if you're a pessimist.

I'm sorry, was this a response to my post? I'm all for the $12 gamble- risk/reward is totally worth it. But I'm just shocked and confused why I haven't gotten one and people with 165/2.9 profiles have. Whatever.

[flepper]

Yeah, I guess it wasn't too clear. I said it might be worth it to email/call for one and ask; might as well, if chumps like us are getting waivers.

[swampthang]

Yeah, I guess it wasn't too clear. I said it might be worth it to email/call for one and ask; might as well, if chumps like us are getting waivers.

Oh I agree it's worth a shot, I just hear Columbia is notoriously...unreasonable when fielding FW requests. Shame, they're trolling well below their ranges, why not toss some love to someone actually in their range? Hurtful.

[flepper]

My conspiracy theory is that, perhaps because you're well within their range, they'd expect you to apply anyway. If these last-minute waivers really are a way of increasing their selectivity rankings/acceptance rates, they might specifically be trolling unqualified applicants they can turn away in droves. They might not even want more qualified applicants that might lower their yield/increase their selectivity rankings, hence your lack of fee waiver.

Of course, they'd have to be truly shrewd and evil for this to be true, but... just saying.

[mrwarre85]

Someone should submit this to a law school journal. This is unethical.

Why?

I'm not saying schools don't game the rankings, but have we really gotten to the point where we do it this openly? The fee-waiver email they sent isn't misleading, its duplicitous. A openly duplicitous act perpetrated by a school on the backs of innocent 0Ls simply to stay ahead of NYU in the rankings (just a guess of course, but the majority is likely to agree at least that this was it was done with the rankings in mind)?

Perhaps we have different definitions of unethical and I can respect that. Just my lowly opinion here.

[geoduck]

Someone should submit this to a law school journal. This is unethical.

Why?

I'm not saying schools don't game the rankings, but have we really gotten to the point where we do it this openly? The fee-waiver email they sent isn't misleading, its duplicitous. A openly duplicitous act perpetrated by a school on the backs of innocent 0Ls simply to stay ahead of NYU in the rankings (just a guess of course, but the majority is likely to agree at least that this was it was done with the rankings in mind)?

Perhaps we have different definitions of unethical and I can respect that. Just my lowly opinion here.

I'd argue that if even one person gets in who wouldn't have normally applied for top 4 because of this FW push, then it's a good thing. That's one person getting a CLS education that wouldn't have. If I had to guess, this FW push is more related to the news in mid Jan that applications were way down and that the number of Dec LSAT takers were way down than it is to them just wanting to boost their selectivity. That just happens to be a very happy side effect.

[mrwarre85]

Someone should submit this to a law school journal. This is unethical.

Why?

I'm not saying schools don't game the rankings, but have we really gotten to the point where we do it this openly? The fee-waiver email they sent isn't misleading, its duplicitous. A openly duplicitous act perpetrated by a school on the backs of innocent 0Ls simply to stay ahead of NYU in the rankings (just a guess of course, but the majority is likely to agree at least that this was it was done with the rankings in mind)?

Perhaps we have different definitions of unethical and I can respect that. Just my lowly opinion here.

I'd argue that if even one person gets in who wouldn't have normally applied for top 4 because of this FW push, then it's a good thing. That's one person getting a CLS education that wouldn't have. If I had to guess, this FW push is more related to the news in mid Jan that applications were way down and that the number of Dec LSAT takers were way down than it is to them just wanting to boost their selectivity. That just happens to be a very happy side effect.

Haha maybe they will take one just to assuage their conscience. You make a good point. I doubt it will be someone who is under both their medians, though. They will probably take a 155/3.95 with a great personal statement if anything. Good for that person.

[fakemoney]

Dammit, I would have liked a fee waiver

[SherlockHolmes]

Well, thought that Columbia fee waiver was a joke (161 and 3.45), but I was put in the reserve group/waitlist. Small victory.

[Kabuo]

I wish I could hear back from them. They told me they wouldn't look at my Feb LSAT in their decision making, but I don't see why they wouldn't when they still haven't made the decision and it will be staring back at them when they finally get around to my files. I wrote them an interesting PS and Feb test puts me over 1 median, so come on Columbia! Assuage your conscience with some sympathy admits already!

[hous]

Allow me to divulge the secret. It's Columbia. I'm 3.2/172 and I just got one, so I'd guess I have somewhere between a 0-5% chance. Oh well, it's Columbia, and now it's only $12. I'll gladly be fodder for their selectivity rating on the off chance I get in.

Should my PS be about hoping to one day be David Stern and why I need to go to the same law school?

David Stern as in DJS Enterprises? The forclosure mill?

[Kabuo]

No, the Commish of the NBA. Incidentally, I've been killing time working at the Home Depot for the last 3 years while I was in school, and their CEO, Frank Blake, also went to Columbia Law. I don't actually know this, but I've always assumed the foreclosure king went to a TTT somewhere.

[hous]

No, the Commish of the NBA. Incidentally, I've been killing time working at the Home Depot for the last 3 years while I was in school, and their CEO, Frank Blake, also went to Columbia Law. I don't actually know this, but I've always assumed the foreclosure king went to a TTT somewhere.

He went to a 4th tier school in Texas. Is DJS of South Florida well known nationally? I work in the industry in South Florida and my firm receives alot of his transfer files.

[SchopenhauerFTW]

Felt like a trap. Applied anyway.

TRALALALALA

[neonx]

I wish I had a fee waiver from Columbia! =(

[Kabuo]

No, the Commish of the NBA. Incidentally, I've been killing time working at the Home Depot for the last 3 years while I was in school, and their CEO, Frank Blake, also went to Columbia Law. I don't actually know this, but I've always assumed the foreclosure king went to a TTT somewhere.

He went to a 4th tier school in Texas. Is DJS of South Florida well known nationally? I work in the industry in South Florida and my firm receives alot of his transfer files.

It's well known by anyone who reads ATL. That's the only reason I know of it.

[gothamm]

Is anyone else getting absolutely deluged by University of Detroit Mercy???

[alexonfyre]

Is anyone else getting absolutely deluged by University of Detroit Mercy???

Worse, Baylor has been up my ass for like 2 weeks.

[Kabuo]

Has anyone who got a fee waiver in this bunch heard anything from Columbia? I have no delusions, but it'd be nice if they could get it over with.

[SherlockHolmes]

Has anyone who got a fee waiver in this bunch heard anything from Columbia? I have no delusions, but it'd be nice if they could get it over with.

Yeah, I was placed on reserve a couple weeks ago.