Should Fee Waiver Email Include URM status? Forum

[hiphophead]

I'm planning to email a bunch of schools this week to request fee waivers. I will include my LSAT/GPA, but is it too presumptuous to include URM status (I'm a black female)? I know that it may have some factor in admissions, but I feel a little funny doing it. Any advice on how to work this in in such a way that it won't be perceived negatively by some? It's not clear to me whether there is a hesitance on the part of some schools to acknowledge that this might play a role in their decision. Thanks.

[amc987]

I wouldn't worry about it. I solicited a waiver at Duke and at GW and I mentioned my URM status in the email I sent. Just don't harp on it. Saying something like, "I am really interested in applying to School X and I was wondering whether I could be considered for a merit-based fee waiver. I am an AA female, my GPA is Y, my LSAT is Z. Please let me know if this is possible," should do the trick. Good luck!

[Dany]

Absolutely include it.