anxiety about scholarship negotiation Forum

[bellbane12]

I would like to send a scholarship negotiation letter, but I am anxious that the school will be like "lol no" and that it would somehow jeopardize my admissions offer.
Has anyone ever had a bad experience like this? Or are there any tips on not offending the school?

[Ramius]

I hear any prospective student trying to negotiate for aid automatically drops 10% in their 1L rankings.

In all seriousness, negotiating will never harm you. Remember that once you are accepted, THEY are fighting over YOU, not the other way around. With the massive decline in applications, you might be a hot commodity for them.

Worst case scenario is that they say, "no thanks, but we'd still love to see you this Fall!" in which case you're exactly where you started.

[bellbane12]

I was just wondering if I would come off as too entitled. But I guess law schools get this all the time from 0Ls?

[Ramius]

I was just wondering if I would come off as too entitled. But I guess law schools get this all the time from 0Ls?

Obviously try not to sound like a whiny brat when you draft it, but so long as you're respectful and professional, they won't hold it against you. Negotiating scholarships is a time-honored tradition.

Think of it like you're haggling for $100 off the price of that rusted 1972 VW Beetle (at least if you're negotiating with Cooley or something like that).

If you'd like, I'd be happy to read over your negotiation letter/email and tell as an unbiased observer how you present yourself. It'll at least give you peace of mind on how you come off to someone you've never met before.

Also check out this thread to see just how prevalent negotiating is:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... =7&t=27221

[Dany]

As long as you're polite, there is no harm that can come from negotiating. During my entire time on TLS, the only time I have EVER heard of something bad happening to a student who negotiated was because the student lied about offers from other schools and admissions (easily) found out.

Also, regarding being "entitled" - that's foolish. Law school tuition is an expensive scam. You need to do what you have to to get your cost of attendance lowered. You're not going to hurt the school's feelings or look greedy. 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 hundreds of thousands of dollars to attend, and this notion that you're somehow being entitled by respectfully negotiating needs to go.

(This isn't just directed at the OP; I see people hesitant to negotiate all the time.)

[bellbane12]

great, thanks for the perspective

[Dany]

And to echo what a previous poster said, if you're nervous about how the actual email ends up sounding, we'll be happy to look over it and give you feedback!

[ms9]

I would like to send a scholarship negotiation letter, but I am anxious that the school will be like "lol no" and that it would somehow jeopardize my admissions offer.
Has anyone ever had a bad experience like this? Or are there any tips on not offending the school?

They are not going to rescind your offer, lol. That's a hugely onerous task even in the worst of scenarios. You are fine, they get this all the time. Also, my guess is people who worry about coming off as entitled are not entitled at all, and this will come through in your letter. Have at it!

[JamesDean1955]

OP, the best thing you can do is go and ask for money in person. They will definitely respect that.

If you want to guarantee that you will get the big $$$, be sure to wear this when you meet with them:

[thand42292]

Has anyone had any luck with negotiation this cycle?

[whereskyle]

Is it wiser to submit a negotiation letter after admitted students week or to submit it as soon as possible?

[BigZuck]

Has anyone had any luck with negotiation this cycle?

Yes

[PRgradBYU]

During my entire time on TLS, the only time I have EVER heard of something bad happening to a student who negotiated was because the student lied about offers from other schools and admissions (easily) found out.

If you gave me a link to that thread, you would be my hero. I need a good laugh right now.

[Dany]

During my entire time on TLS, the only time I have EVER heard of something bad happening to a student who negotiated was because the student lied about offers from other schools and admissions (easily) found out.

If you gave me a link to that thread, you would be my hero. I need a good laugh right now.

http://www.law.umich.edu/connection/a2z ... aspx?ID=17

[ineptimusprime]

Negotiate. Try not to sound like an entitled dick, and obviously be honest.

Negotiating saved me ~$20,000 over the course of three years at an already inexpensive state school. It's probably the most money you will ever make (perhaps the most money you won't lose is a better way of putting it) in exchange for 5 minutes of your time.

I feel bad for some of my classmates who are paying more than me and had better numbers -- all because they weren't aware that sending a simple e-mail could save them a ton of money. Previous posters are right. Schools are fighting over you at this point. Short of saying "Hey you bag of dicks, give me more money cause I'm super speshul" or flat out lying about other offers, I promise negotiating won't hurt you at all.

Also, do multiple rounds of negotiation unless you've already told X school that you'd come for X price.

Negotiating for scholarships is probably the best advice on TLS. Always TCR.

[PRgradBYU]

During my entire time on TLS, the only time I have EVER heard of something bad happening to a student who negotiated was because the student lied about offers from other schools and admissions (easily) found out.

If you gave me a link to that thread, you would be my hero. I need a good laugh right now.

http://www.law.umich.edu/connection/a2z ... aspx?ID=17

Thanks! I'm not sure which is more hilarious: the fact that the applicant thought he or she could get away with it, or how easily the law school called his or her bluff. Ridiculous.

[wannabelawstudent]

I heard an interview with a Dean yesterday where he said something along the lines of "once you're admitted, the game instantly changes to where the law school is the buyer of a scarce good", put some prospective on it for me.

Worse case they say no, they deal with this all the time.

[ms9]

I heard an interview with a Dean yesterday where he said something along the lines of "once you're admitted, the game instantly changes to where the law school is the buyer of a scarce good", put some prospective on it for me.

Worse case they say no, they deal with this all the time.

I heard an interview with a Dean yesterday where he said something along the lines of "once you're admitted, the game instantly changes to where the law school is the buyer of a scarce good", put some prospective on it for me.

Worse case they say no, they deal with this all the time.

So so so true.

[llachans]

I sent a negotiation letter to all of the schools I was seriously interested in when I applied (about 7 or . I think all but 2 gave me more money. Some schools gave me SUBSTANTIALLY more. Just be polite, explain that you're very interested in the school because of x, y, and z but that you're hesitant because of v, and you'll likely get more money.

[BigZuck]

I sent a negotiation letter to all of the schools I was seriously interested in when I applied (about 7 or . I think all but 2 gave me more money. Some schools gave me SUBSTANTIALLY more. Just be polite, explain that you're very interested in the school because of x, y, and z but that you're hesitant because of v, and you'll likely get more money.

What kind of schools are we talking about here?

Eta: meaning around what ranking?