. Forum

[20141023]

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[BerkeleyBear]

Regulus, congrats!!

I'd say it's worth it to ask. Unless you end up getting a really generous offer. Worth the shot IMO!

[Dany]

You should absolutely not resign yourself to sticker (although you may end up paying sticker anyway). Chicago has offered at least $30k to some ED admits in previous years even without them asking. If you get 0 merit aid initially, what's the harm in asking for it? Worst case scenario is you miss out on free money.

[orbotop]

yeah, its not going to do any harm to ask, but i dont know of any instance in which a binding-ED applicant received more than $10-15k total. especially if you aren't aiding the medians, itll be tough bc you have zero levg, but why not try?

[JamesDean1955]

I think the TLS consensus is to ask, regardless of leverage, etc., until: a) they give you aid/increase your aid award, or b) until you're told "No" at least twice (3 times might be pushing it)

[Tiago Splitter]

Ask for more after your initial offer, especially if the initial offer is zero, then ask again after the second deposit deadline.

For those out there considering an ED app in the future, always expect to pay sticker price if you get in ED and don't apply ED if you aren't prepared for that.

[20141023]

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[Crowing]

ED applicants do get money sometimes, so I don't think there's any reason not to ask. As for numbers, well, they did a huge favor for me by letting me in with my numbers but I'm still gonna try and negotiate for money.

[Dany]

Regarding "being ungrateful" - that's incredibly foolish. UChicago is UNGODLY expensive, and law school tuition in general is an expensive scam. You need to do what you have to to get your cost of attendance lowered. The school will be fine - it's you who will be left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Don't worry about coming across as ungrateful - this is your life, and law schools don't deserve to be revered.

This isn't to say you should be rude or anything - far from it - just that the school isn't doing you some big favor by letting you pay $200k, so this notion that you're somehow being thankless by negotiating is insane.

[suralin]

Regarding "being ungrateful" - that's incredibly foolish. UChicago is UNGODLY expensive, and law school tuition in general is an expensive scam. You need to do what you have to to get your cost of attendance lowered. The school will be fine - it's you who will be left with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. Don't worry about coming across as ungrateful - this is your life, and law schools don't deserve to be revered.

This isn't to say you should be rude or anything - far from it - just that the school isn't doing you some big favor by letting you pay $200k, so this notion that you're somehow being thankless by negotiating is insane.

+1

[curious66]

I applied and was accepted to the University of Chicago through their early decision program, but with my numbers, I was even lucky to get in at all (166 / 3.92).

I am grateful to have even been accepted and am 100% prepared to pay sticker, but I figured I'd ask you all about merit-based scholarship just to be as thorough as possible. I assume that schools usually let students know if they will be receiving any scholarship, but in non-ED cases, applicants usually negotiate to try and get more than they are originally offered.

Should ED admits resign themselves to the fact that they are paying sticker, or is it worth asking for merit-based scholarship (no matter how marginal) once the initial financial aid offer (if any) comes from their law school?

Thanks in advance for any advice you all can provide!

Ask them. Based on your profile, you are right in range for LSAT for them.. so, like I don't think that they did you a favor by admitting you.

[20141023]

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[hattrick87]

It's definitely worth asking/negotiating/groveling, but it might also depend on the school. I ED'd at UCLA upon admiszsion they gave me no money, but after talking with the Dean of Admissions a few months later I got a 60K scholarship, so it's worth asking at least!

[Nickg415]

probably 0 in merit aid. The fact that you ED suggests that you are not academically competitive for the school. However I got in ED to UPenn. Zero Merit aid but I did end up getting 50,000 in need based. Also I know that EDers will some times get Dean Scholarships if they have compelling PS or background.