Unsolicited Fee Waivers 2017 Forum

[brinicolec]

Of the 13 schools I'm planning to apply to, I recently e-mailed 9 of them, excluding HYS (for obvious reasons) and UChi, since their policy is clear about "no soliciting," and I've yet to find anyone on TLS or elsewhere who's stubbornly still solicited and been successful. Just to add more "data" points for this cycle, here are the responses I've received so far:

"Only through LSAC" (via approved fee waiver request and/or CRS) -- Columbia, Cornell, NYU, Vanderbilt

"Request forwarded for review" -- Duke

Referred to school's need-based fee waiver request form -- UPenn

Fee waiver granted! -- Georgetown, WUSTL

Still waiting to hear back from UVA, but hoping for the best, given the generous policy stated on their website. Also, I'm hoping that, at least for Vanderbilt and maybe also Cornell, I'll have a hidden fee waiver awaiting me once the application goes live.

EDITED: JK, gonna e-mail Chicago anyway just for funsies. I know they'll fall into the "Only through LSAC" category, but if there's any chance of later getting an unsolicited and/or hidden fee waiver from them, then, hey, I'll try my luck!

Thank you for this!

[brinicolec]

So what's the rationale behind hidden fee waivers anyways? I'd think schools would want to tell you they'd waived your fee to induce warm fuzzies in applicants' mind about how kind and generous the school is.

Another question: does emailing a school that only gives CRS waivers still help, even though they won't tell you they've given you one?

Just guessing on the rationale, but maybe it's for schools that don't feel that they need to boost their applicant numbers (which is what I've understood as why some schools offer fee waivers to ppl that might not be competitive) and assume that the people with the hidden fee waivers are likely to apply based on their stats anyway???

[brinicolec]

Also, question: Most people are saying LSAC#, GPA, LSAT for fee waiver soliciting but... would it be good to note if you're a URM as well?

[KMart]

Do you chances of admission to a top school (i.e. Chicago, Columbia, NYU, Penn) go down if you don't get a fee waiver?

Probably not enough to worry about.

[KMart]

Also, question: Most people are saying LSAC#, GPA, LSAT for fee waiver soliciting but... would it be good to note if you're a URM as well?

You'll probably get ~90-95% of the fee waivers you ask for without including URM. It won't hurt but it probably doesn't move the needle. Include it if you want. I wouldn't but it won't matter much.

[raspberryo]

Successfully solicited fee-waiver from UVA and Cornell. Penn said "only through CRS".
And Michigan: "We are just starting the fee waiver process, but it does look like you will qualify for a fee waiver. If you are registered for that service then the fee waiver will appear automatically in your LSAC account in the next few days."

[proteinshake]

Successfully solicited fee-waiver from UVA and Cornell. Penn said "only through CRS".
And Michigan: "We are just starting the fee waiver process, but it does look like you will qualify for a fee waiver. If you are registered for that service then the fee waiver will appear automatically in your LSAC account in the next few days."

someone else said Cornell only did through CRS. this is what they told me last cycle as well. do they only give them to certain people who solicit? Lol

[raspberryo]

Successfully solicited fee-waiver from UVA and Cornell. Penn said "only through CRS".
And Michigan: "We are just starting the fee waiver process, but it does look like you will qualify for a fee waiver. If you are registered for that service then the fee waiver will appear automatically in your LSAC account in the next few days."

someone else said Cornell only did through CRS. this is what they told me last cycle as well. do they only give them to certain people who solicit? Lol

I don't know about that but here's the email:

Hello XXX, and thank you for your email and interest in Cornell Law.

We have processed your request for an application fee waiver, and you should be able to apply without paying our $80 fee (no fee waiver code is required). Our fall 2017 Early Decision Round I and Regular Decision applications will be available September 1.

Let us know if you encounter any problems, and we look forward to receiving your application.

[proteinshake]

Successfully solicited fee-waiver from UVA and Cornell. Penn said "only through CRS".
And Michigan: "We are just starting the fee waiver process, but it does look like you will qualify for a fee waiver. If you are registered for that service then the fee waiver will appear automatically in your LSAC account in the next few days."

someone else said Cornell only did through CRS. this is what they told me last cycle as well. do they only give them to certain people who solicit? Lol

I don't know about that but here's the email:

Hello XXX, and thank you for your email and interest in Cornell Law.

We have processed your request for an application fee waiver, and you should be able to apply without paying our $80 fee (no fee waiver code is required). Our fall 2017 Early Decision Round I and Regular Decision applications will be available September 1.

Let us know if you encounter any problems, and we look forward to receiving your application.

awesome! I'll send an email and let y'all know what happens!

[call-me-bubbles]

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[bmathers]

I just received waivers, my 2nd time around, from Georgia State, Cinci, Penn State Law, and Dickinson Law. In my experiences from last cycle, it seems that any school outside of the top 20 or 30 will give you a waiver upon request - some without even knowing your LSAT score or GPA. Here is the exact email that I send for fee waivers:

Dear Admissions,

I am writing to request a fee waiver for the upcoming admissions cycle. My information is as follows:

LSAC#:
LSAT:
UGPA:

Thank you for considering my request and any help that you may be able to provide.

Sincerely,
XXX

[poptart123]

Successfully solicited fee-waiver from UVA and Cornell. Penn said "only through CRS".
And Michigan: "We are just starting the fee waiver process, but it does look like you will qualify for a fee waiver. If you are registered for that service then the fee waiver will appear automatically in your LSAC account in the next few days."

someone else said Cornell only did through CRS. this is what they told me last cycle as well. do they only give them to certain people who solicit? Lol

I don't know about that but here's the email:

Hello XXX, and thank you for your email and interest in Cornell Law.

We have processed your request for an application fee waiver, and you should be able to apply without paying our $80 fee (no fee waiver code is required). Our fall 2017 Early Decision Round I and Regular Decision applications will be available September 1.

Let us know if you encounter any problems, and we look forward to receiving your application.

Hello XXXXX, and thank you for your email and interest in Cornell Law. Our fee waiver policy is outlined on our website at the following link: http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admiss ... ration.cfm

Let us know if you have any questions, and we look forward to receiving your application.

Best wishes,
Connie

and

Dear XXXXX,

Thank you for your interest in Michigan Law. We offer merit-based fee waivers through LSAC's Candidate Referral Service, but we are just at the beginning of the fee waiver process. If you are registered for that service and qualify for a waiver, it will appear automatically in your LSAC account, before our application becomes available on September 1.

If you would like to be considered for a need-based fee waiver, please submit this form (http://www.law.umich.edu/prospectivestu ... waiver.pdf), along with any supporting documents, by mail, fax to the number below, or as an attachment to this email address, after our application becomes available on September 1.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to receiving your application.

Regards,

Joe

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I got fee waivers from both last year. Maybe they just like you more..

[proteinshake]

email back from Cornell just took me to a link

[bmathers]

Just heard back from Emory regarding fee waivers:

Here was their response: Thank you for your interest in Emory Law! We offer three types of fee waivers. First, we offer financial hardship fee waivers to applicants who have received a fee waiver from LSAC to take the LSAT exam. Second, Emory Law offers merit-based fee waivers directly to applicants through LSAC's "Candidate Referral Service." We do not grant merit-based fee waivers upon request. Third, Teach for America participants and alumni also are eligible for fee waivers. Additionally, our application is 50% off making it $40 until November 1. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

So, 50% off until Nov 1

UNC also gave me a fee waiver.

[zeglo]

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[bmathers]

What email addresses are you using for each school?

The email for admissions for each school

[ayylmao]

Duke just gave me a waiver and priority track status.

[call-me-bubbles]

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[PDX4343]

As expected, Chicago referred me to their fee waiver policy, meanwhile UVA came through. Bummed that I got no love from Cornell, but alas, I don't want to push it, so I'll just wait it out and hope for a hidden fee waiver.

EDITED: Just got a fee waiver from Duke!

If you don't mind me asking, did you just email the admissions email address for Duke? They told me and I think a few other people that they would forward our requests on to the head of admissions, and that we should check in with him in a few days. Did you also follow that process?

Thanks!

[ayylmao]

Duke just gave me a waiver and priority track status.

What's your highest LSAT, if you don't mind sharing? I just got a waiver (yay!) and an invitation to apply ED, which I won't be doing. I knew my LSAT is currently too low to get a PT invitation, but I was still slightly hoping for it. I wonder if they offer PT to people again after the September LSAT results are announced?

173. Re your last point, I have no idea whether they do that but it sounds extremely logical.

[TAD]

Duke priority track. Wasn't gon apply but now I might

[theothercat]

Had no plans to apply to Duke, but I think I might since they were the first waiver I got. Received today.

[zeglo]

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[call-me-bubbles]

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[Dr.Degrees_Cr.Cash]

It's all over Duke's thread, but figured it could go here to.

Duke PT invites went out today