LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off? Forum
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2014 10:25 am
LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
Hey everyone,
I know that a few people have had an issue regarding the LSAC fee waiver and LSAC considering you to be a "dependent," solely based on age and having nothing to do with how you filed your taxes. I'm currently an Americorps VISTA and make about $11,000 annually, which comes out to less than $5.00 an hour. I only made $11,100 in 2013 and filed independent of my parents, but in my forum research I've discovered this might not matter, since I'm under 25 (birthday 3/28/91). When I went to apply for the LSAC fee waiver, I noticed it just asked if I was born before January 1, 1991, and if I had my birthday entered truthfully it automatically lumped me into the "dependent" category. If I had my birthday as December 28, 1990, just three months before my birthday, it lumped me into the "independent" category, which would presumably allow me to be granted the waiver. Does it really come down to a difference of three months?!
I'm going to apply for the waiver regardless, but I wanted to hear from others out there who might be in the same predicament. Would it pay to wait a few months? Does LSAC even change that "cut-off" birthday before the new year? It's all very frustrating, especially since the $120 LSAT registration fee plus the reporting services is more than half of my monthly income.
Let me know what your experiences have been!
I know that a few people have had an issue regarding the LSAC fee waiver and LSAC considering you to be a "dependent," solely based on age and having nothing to do with how you filed your taxes. I'm currently an Americorps VISTA and make about $11,000 annually, which comes out to less than $5.00 an hour. I only made $11,100 in 2013 and filed independent of my parents, but in my forum research I've discovered this might not matter, since I'm under 25 (birthday 3/28/91). When I went to apply for the LSAC fee waiver, I noticed it just asked if I was born before January 1, 1991, and if I had my birthday entered truthfully it automatically lumped me into the "dependent" category. If I had my birthday as December 28, 1990, just three months before my birthday, it lumped me into the "independent" category, which would presumably allow me to be granted the waiver. Does it really come down to a difference of three months?!
I'm going to apply for the waiver regardless, but I wanted to hear from others out there who might be in the same predicament. Would it pay to wait a few months? Does LSAC even change that "cut-off" birthday before the new year? It's all very frustrating, especially since the $120 LSAT registration fee plus the reporting services is more than half of my monthly income.
Let me know what your experiences have been!
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
I applied for it when I was making not much more than that and actually had my own place (actually had to pay my own bills) and was denied. Good luck.allisonkristyne wrote:Hey everyone,
I know that a few people have had an issue regarding the LSAC fee waiver and LSAC considering you to be a "dependent," solely based on age and having nothing to do with how you filed your taxes. I'm currently an Americorps VISTA and make about $11,000 annually, which comes out to less than $5.00 an hour. I only made $11,100 in 2013 and filed independent of my parents, but in my forum research I've discovered this might not matter, since I'm under 25 (birthday 3/28/91). When I went to apply for the LSAC fee waiver, I noticed it just asked if I was born before January 1, 1991, and if I had my birthday entered truthfully it automatically lumped me into the "dependent" category. If I had my birthday as December 28, 1990, just three months before my birthday, it lumped me into the "independent" category, which would presumably allow me to be granted the waiver. Does it really come down to a difference of three months?!
I'm going to apply for the waiver regardless, but I wanted to hear from others out there who might be in the same predicament. Would it pay to wait a few months? Does LSAC even change that "cut-off" birthday before the new year? It's all very frustrating, especially since the $120 LSAT registration fee plus the reporting services is more than half of my monthly income.
Let me know what your experiences have been!
I think they mostly want to just give it to the homeless if they apply.
-
- Posts: 1862
- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:36 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
When I applied for undergrad, FAFSA has an exemption for if you were raised by a legal guardian that allows you not to give parental income information. LSAC doesn't have that, so they told me I had to give parental income/tax information. I told them that I wouldn't be able to provide that to them, hence the legal guardian thing. They told me tough luck.
Moral of the story is, LSAC doesn't give a fuck. Best apply to schools directly for free waivers. I had good luck with that.
Moral of the story is, LSAC doesn't give a fuck. Best apply to schools directly for free waivers. I had good luck with that.
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
The fee is a few hundred bucks. Take out a credit card if you have to and pay it off with interest on a monthly basis for a year.arklaw13 wrote:When I applied for undergrad, FAFSA has an exemption for if you were raised by a legal guardian that allows you not to give parental income information. LSAC doesn't have that, so they told me I had to give parental income/tax information. I told them that I wouldn't be able to provide that to them, hence the legal guardian thing. They told me tough luck.
Moral of the story is, LSAC doesn't give a fuck. Best apply to schools directly for free waivers. I had good luck with that.
Orchard Bank will give cards to anyone (ANYONE) but has an annual fee.
Depends how bad you want it. If you won't take a loan for this, how can you justify even a "good deal" for thousands of dollars of debt in law school? (cost of books alone, without tuition)
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:39 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
I applied for the fee waiver a few months ago and was accepted. I was born in 89 and have been filing taxes independently for the last three years. I was making around 14000 a year.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
were you living with parents when you applied? If so, I am pissed about them denying me. Mind snap type pissed.Godric32 wrote:I applied for the fee waiver a few months ago and was accepted. I was born in 89 and have been filing taxes independently for the last three years. I was making around 14000 a year.
Hope this helps.
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:39 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
No, I was living, and continue to live, on my own. Were you pre-approved? Did you appeal their decision?thebarcaneatme wrote:were you living with parents when you applied? If so, I am pissed about them denying me. Mind snap type pissed.Godric32 wrote:I applied for the fee waiver a few months ago and was accepted. I was born in 89 and have been filing taxes independently for the last three years. I was making around 14000 a year.
Hope this helps.
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
I didn't appeal, I didn't even give that part much thought at the time.Godric32 wrote:No, I was living, and continue to live, on my own. Were you pre-approved? Did you appeal their decision?thebarcaneatme wrote:were you living with parents when you applied? If so, I am pissed about them denying me. Mind snap type pissed.Godric32 wrote:I applied for the fee waiver a few months ago and was accepted. I was born in 89 and have been filing taxes independently for the last three years. I was making around 14000 a year.
Hope this helps.
Did you win on appeal?
-
- Posts: 1016
- Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 9:33 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
...
Last edited by Learn_Live_Hope on Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
no details of any kind, great postLearn_Live_Hope wrote:I got an LSAC fee waiver.thebarcaneatme wrote:I applied for it when I was making not much more than that and actually had my own place (actually had to pay my own bills) and was denied. Good luck.allisonkristyne wrote:Hey everyone,
I know that a few people have had an issue regarding the LSAC fee waiver and LSAC considering you to be a "dependent," solely based on age and having nothing to do with how you filed your taxes. I'm currently an Americorps VISTA and make about $11,000 annually, which comes out to less than $5.00 an hour. I only made $11,100 in 2013 and filed independent of my parents, but in my forum research I've discovered this might not matter, since I'm under 25 (birthday 3/28/91). When I went to apply for the LSAC fee waiver, I noticed it just asked if I was born before January 1, 1991, and if I had my birthday entered truthfully it automatically lumped me into the "dependent" category. If I had my birthday as December 28, 1990, just three months before my birthday, it lumped me into the "independent" category, which would presumably allow me to be granted the waiver. Does it really come down to a difference of three months?!
I'm going to apply for the waiver regardless, but I wanted to hear from others out there who might be in the same predicament. Would it pay to wait a few months? Does LSAC even change that "cut-off" birthday before the new year? It's all very frustrating, especially since the $120 LSAT registration fee plus the reporting services is more than half of my monthly income.
Let me know what your experiences have been!
I think they mostly want to just give it to the homeless if they apply.
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:39 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
No. I was pre-approved and they just wanted to confirm my income by sending them my IRS forms. I faxed that information to them and they approved me within the week. Frankly I thought the process was quite easy and not as horrible as I have read in other posts. I would recommend you contact them and ask if you can still appeal it. The worst they can say is no.thebarcaneatme wrote:I didn't appeal, I didn't even give that part much thought at the time.Godric32 wrote:No, I was living, and continue to live, on my own. Were you pre-approved? Did you appeal their decision?thebarcaneatme wrote:were you living with parents when you applied? If so, I am pissed about them denying me. Mind snap type pissed.Godric32 wrote:I applied for the fee waiver a few months ago and was accepted. I was born in 89 and have been filing taxes independently for the last three years. I was making around 14000 a year.
Hope this helps.
Did you win on appeal?
-
- Posts: 1016
- Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2014 9:33 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
...
Last edited by Learn_Live_Hope on Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
I think it may be a bit too late for me.
-already did JD

-already did JD
Register now!
Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.
It's still FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:39 pm
-
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 10:34 pm
Re: LSAC Fee Waiver and Birthday Cut-off?
maybe they got nicer?Godric32 wrote:Ha nice.
I dunno. Happy for you though.
Get unlimited access to all forums and topics
Register now!
I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...
Already a member? Login