Villanova 2015 Applicants Forum

[jcm4657]

As far as living near campus. Need to AVOID Radnor House. These condos are close and are rented by different landlords but managed by a management company that really blows. The management really doesn't like students of any kind and will make your living experience hell. Your only worry first year of law school should only be what the law school throws at you not what the apartment management creates. Look elsewhere. Lots of apartments along Lancaster Avenue, St. David's has apartments and condos (close to train), Wayne has lots of apartments that are also close to transit.

[beach_terror]

As far as living near campus. Need to AVOID Radnor House. These condos are close and are rented by different landlords but managed by a management company that really blows. The management really doesn't like students of any kind and will make your living experience hell. Your only worry first year of law school should only be what the law school throws at you not what the apartment management creates. Look elsewhere. Lots of apartments along Lancaster Avenue, St. David's has apartments and condos (close to train), Wayne has lots of apartments that are also close to transit.

Radnor House sucks, but their idiotic office never gave me much of a problem.

[zor]

Has anyone had any luck negotiating scholarship awards with them?

I sent an email a week or two ago just to the general admissions email address (probably a silly thing to do), and didn't hear back. I followed up yesterday with Alyssa someone (the admissions recruiter who had emailed me after being accepted), and she responded saying no additional funds are available at this time and to check back after the first seat deposit, April 15th. Please let me know if anyone has had any success!

I just wanted to update this to let folks know that I got a response to my request for merit aid saying the same thing--no money now, check back after the first seat deposit. That's unfortunately useless to me, I'm not going to deposit to a school without knowing the scholarship status.

I also inquired about the PI scholars, and they said that interviews will be in the next few weeks with people chosen in early April--again, AFTER the seat deposit. Crazy, huh?

[ShowJumper560]

Is anyone else waiting for a decision? I've been complete since early Nov...

[GatorCTS]

Is anyone else waiting for a decision? I've been complete since early Nov...

Yep, ive been complete for over a month now. I'm still waiting patiently to hear back.

[LAFish]

I was in-review since November 4th ish and only heard back last week and now there's no more scholarship money... Hello Temple?

[xChiTowNx]

Has anyone had any luck negotiating scholarship awards with them?

I sent an email a week or two ago just to the general admissions email address (probably a silly thing to do), and didn't hear back. I followed up yesterday with Alyssa someone (the admissions recruiter who had emailed me after being accepted), and she responded saying no additional funds are available at this time and to check back after the first seat deposit, April 15th. Please let me know if anyone has had any success!

I just wanted to update this to let folks know that I got a response to my request for merit aid saying the same thing--no money now, check back after the first seat deposit. That's unfortunately useless to me, I'm not going to deposit to a school without knowing the scholarship status.

I also inquired about the PI scholars, and they said that interviews will be in the next few weeks with people chosen in early April--again, AFTER the seat deposit. Crazy, huh?

So let me get this straight: I am in the same boat, so I will have to wait until the seat deposit deadline passe before I can figure out if I get denied or not based on whether or not I get interviewed for the PI scholarship?

The anticipation is killing me.

[grovevilleroad]

Has anyone had any luck negotiating scholarship awards with them?

I sent an email a week or two ago just to the general admissions email address (probably a silly thing to do), and didn't hear back. I followed up yesterday with Alyssa someone (the admissions recruiter who had emailed me after being accepted), and she responded saying no additional funds are available at this time and to check back after the first seat deposit, April 15th. Please let me know if anyone has had any success!

I just wanted to update this to let folks know that I got a response to my request for merit aid saying the same thing--no money now, check back after the first seat deposit. That's unfortunately useless to me, I'm not going to deposit to a school without knowing the scholarship status.

I also inquired about the PI scholars, and they said that interviews will be in the next few weeks with people chosen in early April--again, AFTER the seat deposit. Crazy, huh?

So let me get this straight: I am in the same boat, so I will have to wait until the seat deposit deadline passe before I can figure out if I get denied or not based on whether or not I get interviewed for the PI scholarship?

The anticipation is killing me.

The first seat deposit is pushed back to April 15th if you attend the ASD. I would also assume that the seat deposit would be April 15th is you are applying for the PI scholarship. If you found out early April, then it would be before the first seat deposit. As I do not know for sure, you should just call the admin office and ask.

[zor]

Has anyone had any luck negotiating scholarship awards with them?

I sent an email a week or two ago just to the general admissions email address (probably a silly thing to do), and didn't hear back. I followed up yesterday with Alyssa someone (the admissions recruiter who had emailed me after being accepted), and she responded saying no additional funds are available at this time and to check back after the first seat deposit, April 15th. Please let me know if anyone has had any success!

I just wanted to update this to let folks know that I got a response to my request for merit aid saying the same thing--no money now, check back after the first seat deposit. That's unfortunately useless to me, I'm not going to deposit to a school without knowing the scholarship status.

I also inquired about the PI scholars, and they said that interviews will be in the next few weeks with people chosen in early April--again, AFTER the seat deposit. Crazy, huh?

So let me get this straight: I am in the same boat, so I will have to wait until the seat deposit deadline passe before I can figure out if I get denied or not based on whether or not I get interviewed for the PI scholarship?

The anticipation is killing me.

She didn't mention anything about pushing back the deposit deadline, so if you do ask the office us know what they say. I figured I would wait to see if I got an interview, and if I didn't, withdraw, and if I did, ask for an extension.

[SUCO]

Novasis info came out today, except it doesn't actually show any of my financial aid info. I suppose a seating deposit has to be paid first? Or maybe we just have to wait?

[cphal]

Novasis info came out today, except it doesn't actually show any of my financial aid info. I suppose a seating deposit has to be paid first? Or maybe we just have to wait?

yeah i tried to play around with it today and did not have much success either ha

[Sherlock1708]

For those of you who have heard from Villanova, did your status checker change from complete to in review (or something similar to this)? I have been complete since 1/11. On LSN, it looks like Villanova has only sent out acceptances so far. This was one of the schools I thought I would definitely receive an acceptance from... I guess if I haven't heard back yet, it's probably waitlist or rejection. Sigh.

[SUCO]

For those of you who have heard from Villanova, did your status checker change from complete to in review (or something similar to this)? I have been complete since 1/11. On LSN, it looks like Villanova has only sent out acceptances so far. This was one of the schools I thought I would definitely receive an acceptance from... I guess if I haven't heard back yet, it's probably waitlist or rejection. Sigh.

I was fortunate to get accepted before I had really started paying attention to my status checkers, but I think people earlier in the thread said they went in review before being accepted.

[ShowJumper560]

For those of you who have heard from Villanova, did your status checker change from complete to in review (or something similar to this)? I have been complete since 1/11. On LSN, it looks like Villanova has only sent out acceptances so far. This was one of the schools I thought I would definitely receive an acceptance from... I guess if I haven't heard back yet, it's probably waitlist or rejection. Sigh.

I'm in the same boat as you. I've been complete since 11/8. Have you emailed them asking what's going on?

[cphal]

hey everyone... i was accepted way back and am really considering villanova. if i get into georgetown or william and mary my story may change (haha), but to date, this school is really one of the front runners. anyone else in the same boat and getting nervous of that april 1st deposit date??

[Hlstaggs]

For those of you who have heard from Villanova, did your status checker change from complete to in review (or something similar to this)? I have been complete since 1/11. On LSN, it looks like Villanova has only sent out acceptances so far. This was one of the schools I thought I would definitely receive an acceptance from... I guess if I haven't heard back yet, it's probably waitlist or rejection. Sigh.

I went into review first on 1/25 and again on 2/1 but nothing since then. I sent an LOCI last week but they are going realllly slow. Does this mean a rejection?

[beach_terror]

Our administration is generally incompetent. There's no rhyme or reason to how they do things.

[bardreams]

Has anyone heard back from their public interest scholars program application?

[xChiTowNx]

Has anyone heard back from their public interest scholars program application?

someone a couple posts up said that they called and they would start contacting shortlisted applicants, and that final results would come out after the april 1st dead line.

correct me if im wrong

[grovevilleroad]

Novasis info came out today, except it doesn't actually show any of my financial aid info. I suppose a seating deposit has to be paid first? Or maybe we just have to wait?

yeah i tried to play around with it today and did not have much success either ha

You will not see any financial aid until they e-mail you that it has been sent. I was able to view my aid package today. I am not sure about any of the other info.

[beach_terror]

Before any of you freak out that we're ranked 101 now, it doesn't matter.

[btowncane]

Before any of you freak out that we're ranked 101 now, it doesn't matter.

Can you talk me away from the cliff, beach_terror? I'm considering VLS and George Mason at the moment and I understand how vapid and shallow it is to place so much importance on US News rankings but there must be something important driving the Villanova ranking to drop from 61 > 67 > 84 > 101. Is it the public censure, the new ranking methodology or something else I'm no taking into consideration?

I bet this will be addressed at the ASD at the end of the month but if you could provide some incite or opinion it'd be very helpful.

[theramblinman]

The ranking drops scares me a little, but Villanova still places well in Philly. Hopefully this will give me some leverage in scholarship negotiations though. I have full tuition awards at schools that where previously below Villanova but have jumped them.

[beach_terror]

We got audited. All our numbers are more or less 100% accurate, and probably conservative. In an odd way, it should be somewhat assuring. ITT, I've said that if you aren't top 1/3 after 1L you should probably drop out if you're financials aren't in order and you don't have a reliable connection for a job. Our employment numbers put us at ~40% employed at graduation - confirming what I knew, and what you all knew as well. Those aren't non-legal jobs, or jobs people don't want, because typically someone won't resort to something undesirable before graduation. Part of our hit in the ranking is obviously the scandal.

Something I'm still not sure how to interpret our salary data. 39.5% is confirmed, audited data. I'm assuming our median salaries are based on said data, so $100k private seems to add up in my head. Approximately 12% of our class has biglaw or similar pay for the summer (confirmed, because I'm a 2L), which is 130-145 in Philadelphia. I'm going to be somewhere between 80 and 100k (ranked 15% after 1L) after graduation assuming I don't fuck up at my job this summer, and I'm sure others are in my boat too. As a "median" number, it seems right - but it's skewed high because more people in private practice are in biglaw and thus making above it, which only reflects the top 12-13% of the class.

Long story short, the data just reflects where we realistically are. Sure, I'm infuriated that we've fallen out of the T100, but none of our peer schools have been audited - and I have friends there who say the situation is the same there at it is here.

Another anecdote, I'm interning at a large federal agency this semester and nobody there thinks Temple and Villanova are any different. My boss told me this morning that Villanova is an excellent school, and I commented that it's just "alright." She said in Philly, people love it. That's true, and it'll always be true.

Edit: if anyone is worried, follow up with me here or PM me. I'd be happy to chat over the phone/email with any of you as well.

[stayway]

We got audited. All our numbers are more or less 100% accurate, and probably conservative. In an odd way, it should be somewhat assuring. ITT, I've said that if you aren't top 1/3 after 1L you should probably drop out if you're financials aren't in order and you don't have a reliable connection for a job. Our employment numbers put us at ~40% employed at graduation - confirming what I knew, and what you all knew as well. Those aren't non-legal jobs, or jobs people don't want, because typically someone won't resort to something undesirable before graduation. Part of our hit in the ranking is obviously the scandal.

Something I'm still not sure how to interpret our salary data. 39.5% is confirmed, audited data. I'm assuming our median salaries are based on said data, so $100k private seems to add up in my head. Approximately 12% of our class has biglaw or similar pay for the summer (confirmed, because I'm a 2L), which is 130-145 in Philadelphia. I'm going to be somewhere between 80 and 100k (ranked 15% after 1L) after graduation assuming I don't fuck up at my job this summer, and I'm sure others are in my boat too. As a "median" number, it seems right - but it's skewed high because more people in private practice are in biglaw and thus making above it, which only reflects the top 12-13% of the class.

Long story short, the data just reflects where we realistically are. Sure, I'm infuriated that we've fallen out of the T100, but none of our peer schools have been audited - and I have friends there who say the situation is the same there at it is here.

Another anecdote, I'm interning at a large federal agency this semester and nobody there thinks Temple and Villanova are any different. My boss told me this morning that Villanova is an excellent school, and I commented that it's just "alright." She said in Philly, people love it. That's true, and it'll always be true.

Well said.