George Washington & Need-Based Aid Forum

[LawDude88]

Hey all,

So I got my acceptance into George Washington! Pretty sure it was a close call but thankful I made it in. That being said I didn't get any type of scholarship and was just wondering if anybody knows how generous they are with need-based aid. I'm sure I won't be paying full sticker price but I don't think $5k off a year would be much to cheer over...

Any insight would be great. I'm almost dead set on this school and just wondering how much in debt I am going to end up. Haha!

I haven't heard back from my other choices but this was my number 1!

[cavalier1138]

Need-based aid is almost never given out, period. So apply, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Also, GW should not be your number one choice with any significant amount of debt.

[LawDude88]

Need-based aid is almost never given out, period. So apply, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Also, GW should not be your number one choice with any significant amount of debt.

Thanks!

[LawDude88]

Do you know if George Washington is open to any form of negotiation? If I got scholarships from other schools I don't want to go to?

[timbs4339]

Do not pay sticker debt for George Washington. Retake and they will give you a full scholarship. Serious.

[favabeansoup]

GW would probably negotiate if you got better scholarship packages, but only from similarly ranked schools, but it probably wouldn't drastically improve.

Highly, highly recommend not going to GW at full cost. You will end up with probably over $300,000 in debt, which is a enormous amount of money.

[LawDude88]

Do not pay sticker debt for George Washington. Retake and they will give you a full scholarship. Serious.

I wish I could retake. For personal reasons I am starting in the fall and can't put it off for another year

[LawDude88]

GW would probably negotiate if you got better scholarship packages, but only from similarly ranked schools, but it probably wouldn't drastically improve.

Highly, highly recommend not going to GW at full cost. You will end up with probably over $300,000 in debt, which is a enormous amount of money.

In your honest opinion, what annual tuition level should I be happy with? What level of debt do you think GW would be worth? I know it's common wisdom on TLS that it's a "trap school" but a fair share of their students DO find success afterwards. It might not be the unanimous success of a T-14 school but nevertheless is still impressive.

Thanks!

[cavalier1138]

GW would probably negotiate if you got better scholarship packages, but only from similarly ranked schools, but it probably wouldn't drastically improve.

Highly, highly recommend not going to GW at full cost. You will end up with probably over $300,000 in debt, which is a enormous amount of money.

In your honest opinion, what annual tuition level should I be happy with? What level of debt do you think GW would be worth? I know it's common wisdom on TLS that it's a "trap school" but a fair share of their students DO find success afterwards. It might not be the unanimous success of a T-14 school but nevertheless is still impressive.

Thanks!

Well, what do you consider "impressive"?

I wouldn't take on more debt than you can pay off. And since GW is not likely to get you biglaw, that means I wouldn't take on more than the cost of living expenses, because you won't be earning enough to reasonably pay off anything else.

[LawDude88]

GW would probably negotiate if you got better scholarship packages, but only from similarly ranked schools, but it probably wouldn't drastically improve.

Highly, highly recommend not going to GW at full cost. You will end up with probably over $300,000 in debt, which is a enormous amount of money.

In your honest opinion, what annual tuition level should I be happy with? What level of debt do you think GW would be worth? I know it's common wisdom on TLS that it's a "trap school" but a fair share of their students DO find success afterwards. It might not be the unanimous success of a T-14 school but nevertheless is still impressive.

Thanks!

Well, what do you consider "impressive"?

I wouldn't take on more debt than you can pay off. And since GW is not likely to get you biglaw, that means I wouldn't take on more than the cost of living expenses, because you won't be earning enough to reasonably pay off anything else.

A minimum of 25% of GW grads end up in BigLaw. It very much is a possibility of a decent portion of grads.

I appreciate your reply but I actually didn't quote you in the above post and respectfully request you not post on this thread. Thanks!

[cavalier1138]

A minimum of 25% of GW grads end up in BigLaw. It very much is a possibility of a decent portion of grads.

I appreciate your reply but I actually didn't quote you in the above post and respectfully request you not post on this thread. Thanks!

Sure thing, boss. Not sure exactly what you found objectionable about my post, but if you think that a 25% shot at biglaw is "very much a possibility", please don't go to Vegas.

Incidentally, I'd already posted in this thread above, so I'm guessing you just don't like being told things you don't want to hear. You might want to work on that now, rather than after taking out six figures in loans.

[LawDude88]

Thanks for understanding.

A minimum of 25% of GW grads end up in BigLaw. It very much is a possibility of a decent portion of grads.

I appreciate your reply but I actually didn't quote you in the above post and respectfully request you not post on this thread. Thanks!

Sure thing, boss. Not sure exactly what you found objectionable about my post, but if you think that a 25% shot at biglaw is "very much a possibility", please don't go to Vegas.

Incidentally, I'd already posted in this thread above, so I'm guessing you just don't like being told things you don't want to hear. You might want to work on that now, rather than after taking out six figures in loans.

[favabeansoup]

GW would probably negotiate if you got better scholarship packages, but only from similarly ranked schools, but it probably wouldn't drastically improve.

Highly, highly recommend not going to GW at full cost. You will end up with probably over $300,000 in debt, which is a enormous amount of money.

In your honest opinion, what annual tuition level should I be happy with? What level of debt do you think GW would be worth? I know it's common wisdom on TLS that it's a "trap school" but a fair share of their students DO find success afterwards. It might not be the unanimous success of a T-14 school but nevertheless is still impressive.

Thanks!

I think $150kish or less all in, including non tuition loan cost of living, would be near the top end of acceptable to go to GW. Most of TLS is going to jump on me for going even that high, but I think with the availability of government jobs in DC where you can get loan forgiveness + biglaw chances evens out your debt options.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Asking someone not to post here doesn't make their advice wrong.

[Npret]

GW would probably negotiate if you got better scholarship packages, but only from similarly ranked schools, but it probably wouldn't drastically improve.

Highly, highly recommend not going to GW at full cost. You will end up with probably over $300,000 in debt, which is a enormous amount of money.

In your honest opinion, what annual tuition level should I be happy with? What level of debt do you think GW would be worth? I know it's common wisdom on TLS that it's a "trap school" but a fair share of their students DO find success afterwards. It might not be the unanimous success of a T-14 school but nevertheless is still impressive.

Thanks!

I think $150kish or less all in, including non tuition loan cost of living, would be near the top end of acceptable to go to GW. Most of TLS is going to jump on me for going even that high, but I think with the availability of government jobs in DC where you can get loan forgiveness + biglaw chances evens out your debt options.

You're not worried about government hiring over the next few years?

[cavalier1138]

I think $150kish or less all in, including non tuition loan cost of living, would be near the top end of acceptable to go to GW. Most of TLS is going to jump on me for going even that high, but I think with the availability of government jobs in DC where you can get loan forgiveness + biglaw chances evens out your debt options.

You're not worried about government hiring over the next few years?

In defense of fava's approach, the OP would be graduating after this administration is over. So unless we see a literal dictatorship take root (I'm not ruling that possibility out), government hiring will, if anything, be even better than it has been, because agencies will be trying to fill all the dead space created by this idiotic freeze.

That said, the OP seems to only be interested in biglaw (see prior comments about 25% of the class getting it), so I'm not sure how relevant the government-for-10-years-to-PSLF track is for them.

[favabeansoup]

I think $150kish or less all in, including non tuition loan cost of living, would be near the top end of acceptable to go to GW. Most of TLS is going to jump on me for going even that high, but I think with the availability of government jobs in DC where you can get loan forgiveness + biglaw chances evens out your debt options.

You're not worried about government hiring over the next few years?

In defense of fava's approach, the OP would be graduating after this administration is over. So unless we see a literal dictatorship take root (I'm not ruling that possibility out), government hiring will, if anything, be even better than it has been, because agencies will be trying to fill all the dead space created by this idiotic freeze.

That said, the OP seems to only be interested in biglaw (see prior comments about 25% of the class getting it), so I'm not sure how relevant the government-for-10-years-to-PSLF track is for them.

Hiring freeze definitely is a worry, and can and should affect D.C. area school decisions. In my totally government layman understanding , I can see the logic in there being massive federal hiring 4 years from now with an administration change. You're right though that political violatility is never something one should depend on going to law school. Probably a lot of GW 1Ls who are suddenly feeling lost with this freeze.

[Npret]

I think $150kish or less all in, including non tuition loan cost of living, would be near the top end of acceptable to go to GW. Most of TLS is going to jump on me for going even that high, but I think with the availability of government jobs in DC where you can get loan forgiveness + biglaw chances evens out your debt options.

You're not worried about government hiring over the next few years?

In defense of fava's approach, the OP would be graduating after this administration is over. So unless we see a literal dictatorship take root (I'm not ruling that possibility out), government hiring will, if anything, be even better than it has been, because agencies will be trying to fill all the dead space created by this idiotic freeze.

That said, the OP seems to only be interested in biglaw (see prior comments about 25% of the class getting it), so I'm not sure how relevant the government-for-10-years-to-PSLF track is for them.

Hiring freeze definitely is a worry, and can and should affect D.C. area school decisions. In my totally government layman understanding , I can see the logic in there being massive federal hiring 4 years from now with an administration change. You're right though that political violatility is never something one should depend on going to law school. Probably a lot of GW 1Ls who are suddenly feeling lost with this freeze.

I wouldn't count on massive hiring. The hiring freeze at the DOJ during the recession didn't turn into massive hiring when it ended. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel that basically people tried to get back where they were pre-freeze gradually, not by hiring huge numbers of people. Eric Holder announced that they lost 4,000 jobs by the end of the freeze, I just don't recall them hiring fast to fill those spots. Maybe someone can check.

My thinking is that there won't suddenly be a massive push to increase budgets and spending regardless who ends up in power in 4 years. There isn't a good deal of public support to increase federal spending from either side.

I feel going to law school in part relying on government jobs is a mistake when we have no idea how hiring is going to work, other than it's going to be different than it has the past two years and may likely be closer to the 3 year budgetary freeze that DOJ just went through.

[favabeansoup]

I wouldn't count on massive hiring. The hiring freeze at the DOJ during the recession didn't turn into massive hiring when it ended. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel that basically people tried to get back where they were pre-freeze gradually, not by hiring huge numbers of people. Eric Holder announced that they lost 4,000 jobs by the end of the freeze, I just don't recall them hiring fast to fill those spots. Maybe someone can check.

My thinking is that there won't suddenly be a massive push to increase budgets and spending regardless who ends up in power in 4 years. There isn't a good deal of public support to increase federal spending from either side.

I feel going to law school in part relying on government jobs is a mistake when we have no idea how hiring is going to work, other than it's going to be different than it has the past two years and may likely be closer to the 3 year budgetary freeze that DOJ just went through.

You are right. I wasn't well versed in the numbers/data about how previous freezes dealt with post-freeze hiring. Definitely agree that "relying" on government work is the wrong mindset to have in approaching any law school decision, as even if there wasn't a freeze those positions are competitive.

Besides the point for OP though, because he's not turning a sticker price admission into the substantial enough scholarship where this might merit discussion from negotiation alone.

[CR7]

Hey all,

So I got my acceptance into George Washington! Pretty sure it was a close call but thankful I made it in. That being said I didn't get any type of scholarship and was just wondering if anybody knows how generous they are with need-based aid. I'm sure I won't be paying full sticker price but I don't think $5k off a year would be much to cheer over...

Any insight would be great. I'm almost dead set on this school and just wondering how much in debt I am going to end up. Haha!

I haven't heard back from my other choices but this was my number 1!

Do you have a tech or engineering background?

[timbs4339]

Do not pay sticker debt for George Washington. Retake and they will give you a full scholarship. Serious.

I wish I could retake. For personal reasons I am starting in the fall and can't put it off for another year

What are these personal reasons? It is almost always something that doesn't really prevent a retake, like "I want to get on with my life" or "my parents are being really annoying about it."

[A. Nony Mouse]

I wouldn't count on massive hiring. The hiring freeze at the DOJ during the recession didn't turn into massive hiring when it ended. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel that basically people tried to get back where they were pre-freeze gradually, not by hiring huge numbers of people. Eric Holder announced that they lost 4,000 jobs by the end of the freeze, I just don't recall them hiring fast to fill those spots. Maybe someone can check.

FWIW, I get various job search alerts from USAjobs, and there actually were a lot of openings posted as soon as the freeze ended, since agencies had had to wait and gone chronically understaffed. I don't think anyone should rely on that happening again, though - too much reading the tea leaves.

[Rigo]

I think $150kish or less all in, including non tuition loan cost of living, would be near the top end of acceptable to go to GW. Most of TLS is going to jump on me for going even that high, but I think with the availability of government jobs in DC where you can get loan forgiveness + biglaw chances evens out your debt options.

You're not worried about government hiring over the next few years?

In defense of fava's approach, the OP would be graduating after this administration is over. So unless we see a literal dictatorship take root (I'm not ruling that possibility out), government hiring will, if anything, be even better than it has been, because agencies will be trying to fill all the dead space created by this idiotic freeze.

That said, the OP seems to only be interested in biglaw (see prior comments about 25% of the class getting it), so I'm not sure how relevant the government-for-10-years-to-PSLF track is for them.

Trump will still be president when OP graduates (unless he's removed/he quits/he dies).

[cavalier1138]

Trump will still be president when OP graduates (unless he's removed/he quits/he dies).

Not to nitpick, but OP will be class of 2021 (assuming the OP continues with the "I must attend law school next year at all costs" mentality). So even if none of those hoped-for-but-unlikely events occurs, Trump's first term will be over, and no matter how much you think people underestimated "Middle America" this election, I don't see a second term in his future.

[Rigo]

Trump will still be president when OP graduates (unless he's removed/he quits/he dies).

Not to nitpick, but OP will be class of 2021 (assuming the OP continues with the "I must attend law school next year at all costs" mentality). So even if none of those hoped-for-but-unlikely events occurs, Trump's first term will be over, and no matter how much you think people underestimated "Middle America" this election, I don't see a second term in his future.

By next year, I'm pretty sure they mean this falll. Otherwise they wouldn't have applied this cycle.