2015-2016 Fee Waivers Forum

togoornottogo · Post by **togoornottogo** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 5:06 am

I am an international student, mediocre U.S. GPA with a good LSAT and I got unsolicited waivers from Penn, NYU, Duke (PT), Michigan, UVA and GT. Just go ahead and ask - if you have a 170 plus LSAT score you are (largely) in demand.

ihenry · Post by **ihenry** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 7:26 am

Oh OK. I think here by "international student" we mean those whose degree granting institution is an international institution with fewer than 60 U. S. credit hours, therefore without a reportable U. S. GPA. Also in LSAC terms, technically it's "foreign educated J.D. applicants".

togoornottogo · Post by **togoornottogo** » Wed Oct 14, 2015 7:55 am

ihenry wrote:Oh OK. I think here by "international student" we mean those whose degree granting institution is an international institution with fewer than 60 U. S. credit hours, therefore without a reportable U. S. GPA. Also in LSAC terms, technically it's "foreign educated J.D. applicants".

Got it, best of luck.

ltbenn · Post by **ltbenn** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 10:32 am

Unsolicited from bu today!

Hercules Mulligan · Post by **Hercules Mulligan** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 10:38 am

I just got an unsolicited Iowa waiver today. I don't actually have an LSAT score, so I'm pretty confused.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:23 am

LSAT: 158

I thought the unsolicited waivers were nearly always given based on purely the LSAT score, but a few of these law schools specifically talked about their veterans programs in their emails - no idea if they're just mentioning that to everyone or if I'm getting a lot of apps in part because I'm a vet. For the solicited fee waivers, it seems to play a big role.

Unsolicited: (most recent first)
Missouri (Oct13)
Temple (Oct13)
Santa Clara (Oct13)
Western New England (Oct13)
BC (Oct8)
Villanova (Oct7)
Maine (Oct5)
Tulsa (Oct5)
Creighton (Oct3)
Marquette (Sep30)
Tulane (Sep29)
Baltimore (Sep18))
Colorado (sep17)
Florida (Sep17)
Thomas Jefferson (Sep10)
Valparaiso (Sep9)
Suffolk (Sep9)
Cardozo (Sep9)
Washburn (Sep8)
Northern Kentucky (Sep4)
William and Mary (Sep3)
Northeastern (Sep3)
Savannah (Sep3)
Liberty (Sep1)
Stetson (Aug26)
Indiana (Aug25)
Penn State (Aug17)
Michigan State (Aug12)
Lewis and Clark (Aug11)
Regent (Jul28)
Minnesota (Jul27)
Elon (Jul24)
Cincinatti (Jul21)
Idaho (Jul20)
Nebraska (Jul17)
UMKC (Jul16)
Charlotte (Jul16)
Miami (Jul15)
Richmond (Jul15)
Pittsburgh (Jul13)
Maryland (Jul13)
Case Western (Jul9)
FIU (Jul9)
SC (Jul8)
Vermont (Jul8)
St. John's (Jul7)
Baltimore (Jul7)
Indiana Tech (Jul6)
Oklahoma (Jun5)
UMASS (Jun2)

Solicited:
Georgia (Sep14)
Vanderbilt (Sep14)
NYU (Sep11) [applied b/c I heard they offer fee waivers to vets, and they did so on Sep11 - classy, NYU)
UCONN (Sep21)

Free Apps Available:
Notre Dame
William Mitchell
Baylor
Brooklyn
George Mason
Washington and Lee
Loyola Chicago
Illinois
Chicago Kent

Hidden Fee Waivers:
Haven't checked

Additionally, I'd like to note the veteran fee waiver list on the TLS vets thread. There's a couple more I might solicit.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:27 am

Hercules Mulligan wrote:I just got an unsolicited Iowa waiver today. I don't actually have an LSAT score, so I'm pretty confused.

LUCKY!!!!

I just called them to ask about a fee waiver, and was told that they currently don't charge application fees, so its free for everyone.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:29 am

janderson821 wrote:I also got the UT fee waiver (non-resident), notre dame and michigan all unsolicitede

Notre Dame doesn't "really" have an app fee. They have an app fee through LSAC but actually encourage students to submit their application directly, in which case there is no fee.

ltbenn · Post by **ltbenn** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:34 am

Troianii wrote:LSAT: 158

I thought the unsolicited waivers were nearly always given based on purely the LSAT score, but a few of these law schools specifically talked about their veterans programs in their emails - no idea if they're just mentioning that to everyone or if I'm getting a lot of apps in part because I'm a vet. For the solicited fee waivers, it seems to play a big role.

Unsolicited: (most recent first)
Missouri (Oct13)
Temple (Oct13)
Santa Clara (Oct13)
Western New England (Oct13)
BC (Oct8)
Villanova (Oct7)
Maine (Oct5)
Tulsa (Oct5)
Creighton (Oct3)
Marquette (Sep30)
Tulane (Sep29)
Baltimore (Sep18))
Colorado (sep17)
Florida (Sep17)
Thomas Jefferson (Sep10)
Valparaiso (Sep9)
Suffolk (Sep9)
Cardozo (Sep9)
Washburn (Sep8)
Northern Kentucky (Sep4)
William and Mary (Sep3)
Northeastern (Sep3)
Savannah (Sep3)
Liberty (Sep1)
Stetson (Aug26)
Indiana (Aug25)
Penn State (Aug17)
Michigan State (Aug12)
Lewis and Clark (Aug11)
Regent (Jul28)
Minnesota (Jul27)
Elon (Jul24)
Cincinatti (Jul21)
Idaho (Jul20)
Nebraska (Jul17)
UMKC (Jul16)
Charlotte (Jul16)
Miami (Jul15)
Richmond (Jul15)
Pittsburgh (Jul13)
Maryland (Jul13)
Case Western (Jul9)
FIU (Jul9)
SC (Jul8)
Vermont (Jul8)
St. John's (Jul7)
Baltimore (Jul7)
Indiana Tech (Jul6)
Oklahoma (Jun5)
UMASS (Jun2)

Solicited:
Georgia (Sep14)
Vanderbilt (Sep14)
NYU (Sep11) [applied b/c I heard they offer fee waivers to vets, and they did so on Sep11 - classy, NYU)
UCONN (Sep21)

Free Apps Available:
Notre Dame
William Mitchell
Baylor
Brooklyn
George Mason
Washington and Lee
Loyola Chicago
Illinois
Chicago Kent

Hidden Fee Waivers:
Haven't checked

Additionally, I'd like to note the veteran fee waiver list on the TLS vets thread. There's a couple more I might solicit.

You sure BC was a waiver? I also got an email from them on October 8, but it was just an "invitation to apply" ... And also got an email from them that said they were hoping to see me at the Boston LSAC forum -- but no waiver

I also have a military background, and one LSAT score in the 160s with another on the way...

SirArthurDayne · Post by **SirArthurDayne** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:48 am

Post removed.

lymenheimer · Post by **lymenheimer** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:54 am

SirArthurDayne wrote:
So you seriously go all those waivers with a 158? Are you a URM?

Not to belittle the OPs accomplishments, but a bunch of those are schools that nobody on this site would advise anyone to go to, even on full scholly. They are the ones that drop fee waivers widely to get breathing bodies to attend and spam emails to anyone who signs up for CRS. Some of them may be merited, but many are spam-like.

Hercules Mulligan · Post by **Hercules Mulligan** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 11:54 am

Troianii wrote:
Hercules Mulligan wrote:I just got an unsolicited Iowa waiver today. I don't actually have an LSAT score, so I'm pretty confused.
LUCKY!!!!

I just called them to ask about a fee waiver, and was told that they currently don't charge application fees, so its free for everyone.

How sneaky of them, trying to tempt me like that.

SirArthurDayne · Post by **SirArthurDayne** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 12:01 pm

Post removed.

lymenheimer · Post by **lymenheimer** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 12:10 pm

SirArthurDayne wrote: But OP got a waiver from Vandy with a 158?

Oh, yea. I wasn't looking at that. I read it assuming you were pointing to the quantity of fee waivers, not the few quality ones.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 12:48 pm

ltbenn wrote: You sure BC was a waiver? I also got an email from them on October 8, but it was just an "invitation to apply" ... And also got an email from them that said they were hoping to see me at the Boston LSAC forum -- but no waiver I also have a military background, and one LSAT score in the 160s with another on the way...

Sort of? I got an invitation to apply, then I called their office asking about a fee waiver, and they said I should have gotten it with the invitation to apply. So either they processed a fee waiver anyway, or you (or anyone else) who got such an invitation should be able to get a waiver with a phone call.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 12:50 pm

SirArthurDayne wrote: So you seriously go all those waivers with a 158? Are you a URM?

white/NA Blackfoot.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 12:53 pm

lymenheimer wrote: Not to belittle the OPs accomplishments, but a bunch of those are schools that nobody on this site would advise anyone to go to, even on full scholly. They are the ones that drop fee waivers widely to get breathing bodies to attend and spam emails to anyone who signs up for CRS. Some of them may be merited, but many are spam-like.

Completely agree. I don't feel particularly accomplished either, there are some reaches that I figure I have no hope at (talking about you, MN), many are TTT, and I kind of get the feeling that some offered a fee waiver knowing that they'd say no, but wanting to lower their acceptance rate.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 12:55 pm

Hercules Mulligan wrote:
Troianii wrote:
Hercules Mulligan wrote:I just got an unsolicited Iowa waiver today. I don't actually have an LSAT score, so I'm pretty confused.
LUCKY!!!!

I just called them to ask about a fee waiver, and was told that they currently don't charge application fees, so its free for everyone.

How sneaky of them, trying to tempt me like that.

They do that. They definitely do. But hell - if its free go ahead. I assume that its just more of a hassle applying through their own app. If you've already sent in one app through LSAC, then most of the app should be pre-filled. Apart from editing the PS to fit Iowa, you could probably finish your app in five minutes. Doesn't hurt if its free.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 12:57 pm

SirArthurDayne wrote:
lymenheimer wrote:
SirArthurDayne wrote:
So you seriously go all those waivers with a 158? Are you a URM?
Not to belittle the OPs accomplishments, but a bunch of those are schools that nobody on this site would advise anyone to go to, even on full scholly. They are the ones that drop fee waivers widely to get breathing bodies to attend and spam emails to anyone who signs up for CRS. Some of them may be merited, but many are spam-like.
But OP got a waiver from Vandy with a 158?

Vandy offers fee waivers to all veterans. It's not even realistic for me, but if all I have is the LSAC fee to pay, I'll take a shot at Vandy given less than a 1% chance of admission.

btw, is there a way to multi-quote on TLS? Other forums I've been on let you mark multiple posts for quoting, but I've only been able to quote one post at a time. Suppose I could just copy and paste, but that's no fun :/

Mrs Featherbottom · Post by **Mrs Featherbottom** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 1:37 pm

Sorry if this has already been answered, but do schools send out fee waivers just once or on an ongoing basis? Asking because I just retook the LSAT this month, and assuming I score a bit higher, is there a chance that a few more fee waiver emails will come in from schools that have already sent them out? Or should I just wait for my new score and begin soliciting?

ltbenn · Post by **ltbenn** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 2:57 pm

Mrs Featherbottom wrote:Sorry if this has already been answered, but do schools send out fee waivers just once or on an ongoing basis? Asking because I just retook the LSAT this month, and assuming I score a bit higher, is there a chance that a few more fee waiver emails will come in from schools that have already sent them out? Or should I just wait for my new score and begin soliciting?

I'm in the same boat! Rumor has it there'll be another round of unsolicited waivers around a week after scores come out -- if I haven't gotten by then I'll solicit.

ETA - either way at this point I would wait until you have your scores before soliciting... Another two weeks won't make much of a difference but even a small score increase could!

Mrs Featherbottom · Post by **Mrs Featherbottom** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 5:34 pm

ltbenn wrote:
Mrs Featherbottom wrote:Sorry if this has already been answered, but do schools send out fee waivers just once or on an ongoing basis? Asking because I just retook the LSAT this month, and assuming I score a bit higher, is there a chance that a few more fee waiver emails will come in from schools that have already sent them out? Or should I just wait for my new score and begin soliciting?
I'm in the same boat! Rumor has it there'll be another round of unsolicited waivers around a week after scores come out -- if I haven't gotten by then I'll solicit.

ETA - either way at this point I would wait until you have your scores before soliciting... Another two weeks won't make much of a difference but even a small score increase could!

Thanks, good to hear. Seems like schools would be cutting a large amount of applicants out of the fee-waver pool by only sending them out once early in the application cycle, so hopefully that rumor's correct.

Troianii · Post by **Troianii** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 6:41 pm

ltbenn wrote:
Mrs Featherbottom wrote:Sorry if this has already been answered, but do schools send out fee waivers just once or on an ongoing basis? Asking because I just retook the LSAT this month, and assuming I score a bit higher, is there a chance that a few more fee waiver emails will come in from schools that have already sent them out? Or should I just wait for my new score and begin soliciting?
I'm in the same boat! Rumor has it there'll be another round of unsolicited waivers around a week after scores come out -- if I haven't gotten by then I'll solicit.

ETA - either way at this point I would wait until you have your scores before soliciting... Another two weeks won't make much of a difference but even a small score increase could!

They should still come in little by little, but there should be a massive wave after a new LSAT score comes out. Just look at the dates on mine - I took the June LSAT.

mmarsall54 · Post by **mmarsall54** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 1:54 pm

Do the schools have a sense for our scores from the October LSAT before we do? Becuase Washington University, Iowa, and William & Mary have sent me fee waivers and a bunch of emails and I know my first LSAT wasn't near their medians. Glad to have them though!

candidlatke · Post by **candidlatke** » Sat Oct 17, 2015 3:49 pm

Who would I be emailing for the solicited fee waivers?

Just the admissions link on the general pages?