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Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:37 pm
by OmbreGracieuse
So... LSAC granted me a fee waiver; does this look bad to law schools when I apply? Do people who recieve fee waivers often get financial aid, or is this considered a turn-off to law schools knowing the applicant doesn't have a lot of money?
How do you think fee waivers impact the admissions process?
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:44 pm
by Flanker1067
Since no one has answered yet here goes. It doesn't matter, at all. Most people finance most if not all their law school with loans anyway, so the schools don't care that you are poor.
Well, they do care a little, but only in the way that they are slightly more inclined to offer you need aid.
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:55 pm
by OmbreGracieuse
Flanker1067 wrote:Since no one has answered yet here goes. It doesn't matter, at all. Most people finance most if not all their law school with loans anyway, so the schools don't care that you are poor.
Well, they do care a little, but only in the way that they are slightly more inclined to offer you need aid.
I actually feel relieved. I am going to be applying in September, and was granted a fee waiver through the LSAC. I truly cannot afford the hundreds of dollars (thousand?) I would have to spend to apply to different schools, but at the same time don't want them to turn me down because they think I can't afford tuition.
Thanks!

Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:55 pm
by 09042014
Got fee waviers I didn't really deserve. Got into a reach. Got no need aid.
It doesn't matter.
Outside of HYS, and NYU and Boalt, need aid is a myth anyway.
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 4:57 pm
by Renzo
Desert Fox wrote:Got fee waviers I didn't really deserve. Got into a reach. Got no need aid.
It doesn't matter.
Outside of HYS, and NYU and Boalt, need aid is a myth anyway.
I think the OP is talking about an LSAC fee waiver, which is based on financial need, not the application fee waivers that schools send.
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:00 pm
by 09042014
Renzo wrote:Desert Fox wrote:Got fee waviers I didn't really deserve. Got into a reach. Got no need aid.
It doesn't matter.
Outside of HYS, and NYU and Boalt, need aid is a myth anyway.
I think the OP is talking about an LSAC fee waiver, which is based on financial need, not the application fee waivers that schools send.
No I did too. I applied when they were asking for 2007 tax data, despite it being March 2009. I was in college in 2007, and fully employed in 2009. So I got the waivers despite not being poor at all. That loophole saved me over a thousand dollars.
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:04 pm
by Renzo
Ah, I see. Nice work. Loopholing his the true sign of a lawyer-to-be.
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:23 pm
by OmbreGracieuse
Renzo wrote:
I think the OP is talking about an LSAC fee waiver, which is based on financial need, not the application fee waivers that schools send.
A little bit of both. I was granted a fee waiver through the LSAC, which as I understand, means most schools will also waive the fee waiver for the app process. I just wasn't sure if that looked bad (if that makes sense).
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 5:57 pm
by LvingLegend
Desert Fox wrote:Got fee waviers I didn't really deserve. Got into a reach. Got no need aid.
It doesn't matter.
Outside of HYS, and NYU and Boalt, need aid is a myth anyway.
UC Davis gives out need based aid.
Re: Do fee waivers look bad to potential law schools?
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 7:11 pm
by thebunk
i got a LSAC waiver and my cycle went pretty well. i really don't think it'll hurt you in any way.