How does this guy get more money for law school? How? Forum

[unitball]

I just found I got into a T1 school. It's a deferred acceptance (Fall 2013) and they are offering an 80% merit scholarship. I am in awe to have been accepted, further shocked to have received any merit scholarship, and triply surprised to receive such a large chunk of change. BOTH my LSAT score and undergrad GPA are considerably below median, but I have some great softs and essays, and I believe my letters of continued genuine interest and regular e-mail updates are what got me accepted. I'm certainly an outlier with respect to admitted students in terms of LSAT and GPA.

Outside negotiating my scholarship amount with the school, how do I acquire more money to help pay for law school?

My stats are...

GPA: 3.1 in electrical engineering from top undergrad university
LSAT: 161 on 3rd attempt
ETH: african american male
Eligible to re-take the LSAT in February 2013

Are there other scholarships outside the school's scholarships that I can get?

Currently, I feel like have zero leverage in negotiating for more scholarship money seeing as how both my GPA and LSAT are below median. Additionally, I got wait-listed at all the other schools to which I applied, so I have no other scholarship offers to use as leverage.

I am looking to come into additional scholarship/grant money from any avenue. What to you all suggest?

[thederangedwang]

well, you got in with scholly because you are URM, so you really cant go by the medians. Other than negotiating, there's really no other ways to get more money besides get a job or apply for an outside scholly.

For outside scholly, just google law scholarships or use fastweb or other similar scholly search websites...or just apply for a job and work for a year since its deferred.

[mr.hands]

You got in w money because you're black (I'm not putting a value judgment on it, that's just a fact). You can't really get more money from the school. I dunno, try applying for a "diversity scholarship" or something

What range of T1 is the school (#20-30 for instance) and what are the stips? That should help answer a lot of questions.

[Nova]

Outside negotiating my scholarship amount with the school, how do I acquire more money to help pay for law school?

Congrats on the 80% scholarship. TBH, you should not expect to get any more $$ from the school. You should be fine taking out grad plus loans to cover COL and the rest of tuition/fees.

You have 13 months till school starts. Get a job, and stack paper.

My very quick search lead me to this:

African-American Law Student Fellowship
Sponsor: The National Bar Institute
Description: Applicants must have demonstrated a commitment to creating equality and justice for African-Americans through work in their law schools, their neighborhoods and community and intend to return to a Black community to practice law.
Contact: 202/842-3900
http://www.nationalbar.org

Congressional Black Caucus
1004 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-263-2800
Criteria: Awarded to African American students only. This is a nine month research program designated to prepare minority graduate and professional students for senior level careers in the legislative arena.
Deadline: May
--LinkRemoved--

Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
1707 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
Awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 are given to members of Delta Sigma Theta. Aid is based on meritorious achievement. Winners may also be eligible for other types of financial assistance.
Deadline: March

Earl Warren Legal Training Program, Inc. - Public Interest Law Scholarships
99 Hudson Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10013
212.219.1900
Awards of $1,500 per year for three years (plus a $2,500 summer intern grant) are available to African American law students who are U.S. citizens and who pledge to work one year in the field of public interest law for every year of financial backing provided. Preference is given to needy applicants who are under 35 years of age.
Deadline: March
http://www.naacpldf.org/

Herbert Lehman Scholarship for African-American Law Students
Sponsor: NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
Description: this program is open to African Americans who are students at law schools where African Americans are significantly underrepresented. U.S. citizenship is required.
Contact: 212/965-2225
Mbagley@naacpldg.org
http://www.naacpldf.org
Deadline: Applications must be requested by February

National Association of Black Women Attorneys
724 Ninth Street, NW, Suite 206
Washington, DC 20001
202.637.3570
First-and second-year black, female students may apply for scholarships of varying amounts offered to outstanding law students. Winners are selected based on an essay contest, the subject of which focuses on an issue of contemporary concern.
Deadline: February

Mandela Law Scholarship
National Black Law Students Association
--LinkRemoved--
c/o LaTanya Funches
9919 S. Union Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Criteria: Applicants must be studying law. Students who are entering law school or are in their first year of law school are eligible.
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: November

Sandy Brown Memorial Scholarship
National Black Law Students Association
--LinkRemoved--
c/o LaTanya Funches
9919 S. Union Ave.
Chicago, IL 60628
Criteria: Two monetary awards will be given commemorative of Ms. Brown. Applicants must be a rising second or third year law student, and submit an essay on the specified topic.
Amount: Not less than $500
Deadline: November

Sherman & Sterling and NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Criteria: Awarded to African American students entering law school with financial need, academic achievement, and personal commitment to the legal profession and public service. Scholarship is renewable.
212/965-2225
Mbadley@naacpldf.org
http://www.naacpldf.org
Amount: $13,500
Applications must be requested in writing between November, and February.
Deadline: March

Good luck on your search.

[sunynp]

I'm assuming the deferral means you can't apply and attend another school next year? The best way to get more money is to negotiate by playing schools off each other. I wouldn't assume you absolutely couldn't get more money next year, the admissions process and scholarships has been very screwy this year.

(also did you send in letters of continuing interest where you were waitlisted? Did any of your schools show movement off the waitlist?)

You can always ask for more money. Just tell them next year that you think you might need more. But an 80% scholarship with no stipulations ( if that is what you have) is pretty good. Hard to tell how much more you can push it.

If you can't, the only other thing you might do is find out if other people at your school with similar stats are getting more. It would need to be someone with the URM boost.

Congrats on your acceptance.

[unitball]

Thederangedwang, I run a tech company, so I'm going to continue that until next year. I have never applied for any scholarships before, and didn't know how the process worked. This forum seems like a good place to ask.


Mr.hands, I have to maintain good academic standing.


Nova, thanks for that. I didn't know scholarships like that existed for law school.


Sunynp, they didn't mention whether or not accepting the deferral would restrict me from applying to other schools, and this hadn't crossed my mind until you mentioned it. I'll have to ask. I was thinking of re-taking the LSAT because I've be averaging 171 the past month. I was thinking they might increase my scholarship amount if I score much higher on the LSAT before attending. Thanks for the congrats and advice, I appreciate it.

[noggo10]

Thederangedwang, I run a tech company, so I'm going to continue that until next year. I have never applied for any scholarships before, and didn't know how the process worked. This forum seems like a good place to ask.


Mr.hands, I have to maintain good academic standing.


Nova, thanks for that. I didn't know scholarships like that existed for law school.


Sunynp, they didn't mention whether or not accepting the deferral would restrict me from applying to other schools, and this hadn't crossed my mind until you mentioned it. I'll have to ask. I was thinking of re-taking the LSAT because I've be averaging 171 the past month. I was thinking they might increase my scholarship amount if I score much higher on the LSAT before attending. Thanks for the congrats and advice, I appreciate it.

If you are averaging a 171 you should absolutely reapply. With a 3.1/171 you could definitely get MVP maybe (though far from certain) CCN too.

[Dr. Review]

My stats are...

GPA: 3.1 in electrical engineering from top undergrad university
LSAT: 161 on 3rd attempt
ETH: african american male
Eligible to re-take the LSAT in February 2013

Am I the only one seeing the employment prospects for someone like this?

[IAFG]

I'm a little confused by why you need more money. I mean, obviously it's a nice-to-have, but won't your debt load be quite low?

[Br3v]

What are the stips on the $ you already have

[TLSwag]

My stats are...

GPA: 3.1 in electrical engineering from top undergrad university
LSAT: 161 on 3rd attempt
ETH: african american male
Eligible to re-take the LSAT in February 2013

Am I the only one seeing the employment prospects for someone like this?

ya damn didn't catch that till ur post. bros about as secure as it gets!

[Dr. Review]

ya damn didn't catch that till ur post. bros about as secure as it gets!

With OCI, IP fairs and Diversity fairs, this guy is going to get more interviews than he'll know what to do with, assuming he isn't last in his class (hell, maybe even then).

[IAFG]

ya damn didn't catch that till ur post. bros about as secure as it gets!

With OCI, IP fairs and Diversity fairs, this guy is going to get more interviews than he'll know what to do with, assuming he isn't last in his class (hell, maybe even then).

A 3.1 in a top engineering program is pretty respectable, too. Patent prosecution shops will probably dig it. If this guy were a stock he'd be on my buy list.

[unitball]

Noggo, looks like I'll reapply then.

IAFG, at this point more money is not something I "need" per se. I just want to spend as little money as possible.

Br3v, the scholarship holds as long as I don't get put on academic probation.

Thanks for the suggestions guys

[09042014]

ya damn didn't catch that till ur post. bros about as secure as it gets!

With OCI, IP fairs and Diversity fairs, this guy is going to get more interviews than he'll know what to do with, assuming he isn't last in his class (hell, maybe even then).

A 3.1 in a top engineering program is pretty respectable, too. Patent prosecution shops will probably dig it. If this guy were a stock he'd be on my buy list.

And with halfway decent grades most ip groups at GP firms will want him.