IOWA 2011 Forum

[chrisbru]

Got the scholarship letter today. $67,622 over three years (full in-state tuition).

Congrats!!! I'm hoping this means I'll be receiving some $$ info in the next few days.

[iknownothing]

Got the scholarship letter today. $67,622 over three years (full in-state tuition).

Congrats!! No strings attached?

[chrisbru]

Got the scholarship letter today. $67,622 over three years (full in-state tuition).

Congrats!! No strings attached?

I think Iowa does top 1/3... But correct me if I'm wrong!

[iknownothing]

I think Iowa does top 1/3... But correct me if I'm wrong!

For all of their scholarships? Then can anyone comment on how hard it is to stay above 66% of the class?

[skirschner1]

Finally In Review after submitting in the middle of November. Hoping to hear good things because Iowa is one of my top choices.

[traehekat]

I think Iowa does top 1/3... But correct me if I'm wrong!

For all of their scholarships? Then can anyone comment on how hard it is to stay above 66% of the class?

For almost all of the scholarships last year there was a top third requirement, however I do know of one or two people who had no requirement.

As far as how hard it is to stay in the top third, well, it's hard to say. That is like asking how hard is it to do well in law school. The answer is that it is pretty difficult, and even if you work hard there is no guarantee. Almost everyone here works pretty hard, takes stuff seriously, and falls within some category between brilliant and fairly intelligent. That is kind of the big gamble of law school. It is only really worth it to go if you think you will do well, but you really can't guarantee you can do well.

I do estimate (without much evidence, mind you) that generally for almost any law school if you not only study hard, but study "the right way," and are not a complete idiot, you can probably count on being above median. It seems like almost anyone who takes the time to figure out how to actually take a law school exam, in addition to doing all the other obvious stuff, ends up alright.

[HopefullyLaw]

Anyone start a Facebook group for individuals who know they will be attending Iowa next year?

[DocHawkeye]

I've been "In Review" for a week now. Is this a hopeful sign (since Iowa is a stretch numbers-wise) or a sign of bad news to come? Any thoughts?

[SisyphusHappy]

There is a top third requirement.

[Kinderby]

Aiya! I just got an email from the school that I thought would be my status checker (yay, more things to check compulsively!) but it was just inviting me to apply. Hope I get the status email soon.

[chrisbru]

I've been "In Review" for a week now. Is this a hopeful sign (since Iowa is a stretch numbers-wise) or a sign of bad news to come? Any thoughts?

Neither, really. I think I was IR for 3 weeks before I got a decision. I wouldn't look into it yet!

[Manash]

I was accepted last week.

[JenDarby]

After that person received scholarship info on saturday, I've had my hopes really high.

[TommyK]

I've been "In Review" for a week now. Is this a hopeful sign (since Iowa is a stretch numbers-wise) or a sign of bad news to come? Any thoughts?

Eh, I wouldn't read too much being in review. While a week feels like eternity to the applicant, these files are reviewed by a handful of people and it takes time to render a final decision. That being said, good luck!

[typ3]

I'll just index and paste LSN profile's onto here so people can have all the scholarship info in one place.

Univ. Iowa Index Calculation:
(LSAT*.876) + (GPA*9.621) -.407 = Index
Maximum 195.77
GPA % 19.62

I'm guessing everyone Chica and above will receive or has received a full tuition merit scholarship.

I'll predict that elaman and chrissyc will both pick up full tuition scholarships given that they're the highest URM candidates on LSN for the cycle. I stopped including candidates after UNC as the rest had LSAT's of 166 and lower and thus their index numbers dropped below what has historically been the minimum in years past for full tuition scholarships. I included Jayman6 in the calculations since he asked earlier about his chances of financial aid.

However, the applicant class at Iowa seems to be very strong this year so I would suggest candidates take these predictions with a grain of salt, but it is a clear reversal of what occurred during last year's cycle where lots of scholarships were thrown out even to lower indexed applicants. This year there is a glut of qualified applicants well over the 75th percentile.

Last Year 27 Full rides were recorded on LSN

Lowest Recorded Index For Full Tuition Merit In Years Past:
2005: 179.8168
2006: 178.83448
2007: 178.10524
2008: 179.8168
2009: 177.79639
2010:

rustyjack 174 3.97 190.21237 Likely Withdraw T-14
mcdonrb 177 3.68 190.05028 Withdrawn Full U. Texas
mapes 170 4 186.997 Likely Withdraw T-14
ugbager 171 3.8 185.9488 Withdraw Duke/Chicago T-14
timmeh 171 3.77 185.66017 Withdraw U. Michigan
brom8 171 3.72 185.17912
sentry 172 3.62 185.09302 Withdraw University of Chicago
soviet1 175 3.37 185.31577
patzan21 175 3.34 185.02714
SisyphusHappy 169 3.9 185.1589
vegenator 169 3.83 184.48543
Woodson1 - - - - 184.xxx
germx 167 3.96 183.98416
chica11 167 3.94 183.79174 Likely Automatic Full Scholarship Offers Index 183.7+
=====================================================================================
veritas09 169 3.75 183.71575 Withdraw GULC T-14
melelolo 174 3.25 183.28525 Withdraw GULC T-14
chrissyc 165 4.04 183.00184 URM
elamann 169 --- 182.391 URM
livefreeor 167 3.79 182.34859
stlislovers 167 3.7 181.4827
jendarby 168 3.58 181.20418
ajg212 168 3.54 180.81934
adammac17 169 3.44 180.73324
Rolling Full Scholarship Minimum Cut Off for 2011 (Index Score 180.5+) Will be adjusted as top candidates withdraw
========================================================
unc2011kd 167 3.45 179.07745
chrisbru 171 2.94 177.67474 <--- Splitter likely partial or full.
jayman6 162 3.72 177.29512
brokenwindows 167 3.1 175.7101[/list]

[JenDarby]

I sure hope I end up with a full scholarship. If I do, there is a 90+ % chance I will attend. I'm hoping my two week turnaround bodes well for me, and that I get that offer in the mail soon.

[chrisbru]

*Great Post*[/list]

Awesome. I like your analysis... Especially since it gives me hope for full in-state I would likely go to Iowa if I ended up with full in-state, unless Minnesota gave me at least a half-ride.

[stlisforlovers]

Awesome analysis. Especially since that way I'll get full tuition. Here's hoping!

[typ3]

*Great Post*[/list]

Awesome. I like your analysis... Especially since it gives me hope for full in-state I would likely go to Iowa if I ended up with full in-state, unless Minnesota gave me at least a half-ride.

It's hard to tell, I imagine of the top applicants they offered about 70% won't accept and will withdraw to attend higher ranked law schools. So those scholarships will move down.

If you aren't above the auto scholarship level, you will have to wait until around March to hear back from financial aid. Likely the scholarship committee will wait until Dec LSAT taker's get their apps in and are processed.

Historically, the next wave of scholarships will come out around the 20th of January, and the 20th of Feb, and the last wave in the end of March / early April.

It is not uncommon to receive money in May or June, but these are often on an individual basis and a wave of money given out at this point doesn't happen.

[typ3]

*Great Post*[/list]

Awesome. I like your analysis... Especially since it gives me hope for full in-state I would likely go to Iowa if I ended up with full in-state, unless Minnesota gave me at least a half-ride.

You have a much better chance of $ at Iowa than UofM. Your GPA sort of kills your chances at UoM since your index is no longer competitive at that school.

[chrisbru]

*Great Post*[/list]

Awesome. I like your analysis... Especially since it gives me hope for full in-state I would likely go to Iowa if I ended up with full in-state, unless Minnesota gave me at least a half-ride.

You have a much better chance of $ at Iowa than UofM. Your GPA sort of kills your chances at UoM since your index is no longer competitive at that school.

I know... That's why I'm not holding my breath. I'm mostly thinking I'll get waitlisted at UofM. But, you never know... My GPA addendum is pretty legitimate, but that doesn't help their stats any.

[purplebulldogs]

wow... how long did it take to make that list?

[typ3]

wow... how long did it take to make that list?

10 minutes? I was bored and couldn't sleep at 4 A.M.

I'll update it today with a larger list of applicants above the median but below the full merit cutoff.

I won't include applicants that are at the median or below as they have a minute chance of securing any merit aid.

[woodson21]

For those who have been accepted: Maybe I am overlooking something, but is there any timeline provided for scholarship decisions?

[typ3]

For those who have been accepted: Maybe I am overlooking something, but is there any timeline provided for scholarship decisions?

2 weeks. But this late in the cycle scholarships are likely to be held until those who took the Dec LSAT are all in. So there will likely be a wave around the 20 Jan - 1st of Feb and again around the 20 Feb - 1st of March.

Moreover, this year's applicant pool is the best recently according to LSN, so the school is less likely to distribute money until later in the cycle when adcoms have a better idea of who will be attending and who won't.

Unless you are above the auto offer line or an exceptional URM like chrissy and elamaa, you are likely not going to hear anything until after the application deadline for this year March 1, even then I wouldn't bet on hearing too much until top applicants withdraw or pay their seats in late March.

If you are below the auto offer line but above the projected cut off of 181 Index score, you will hear something between now and March 1 most likely with either a full or part merit.