Early Commitment Question Forum

[steppenwolf6]

I have recently been accepted to a school through early commitment. I received some scholarship, but not a large amount.

My advisor suggested I apply to other colleges now to try to leverage scholarship with my early commitment school. Is this allowed since I applied early commitment? I have until December 15th to accept my position with the school (which I will), so can I just apply at other schools in the meantime?

[cavalier1138]

Need the name of the school and the actual wording of your "early commitment" agreement. Most early decision options are binding; I actually don't think I've heard of an early decision track for law school that isn't.

[Rubbishdump]

Need the name of the school and the actual wording of your "early commitment" agreement. Most early decision options are binding; I actually don't think I've heard of an early decision track for law school that isn't.

There's "early action," which is nonbinding. But yes, w/o the school no one can tell you.

[cavalier1138]

Just for funsies, I searched "early commitment" online, because it was pretty unique phrasing. The only school it kicked back was UC Hastings.

So assuming that's the one, then OP, your advisor is continuing the proud tradition of undergraduate pre-law advisors being total idiots (especially if they were the idiot who recommended you apply early in the first place). UC Hastings has a binding early commitment program, which means that you are now legally required to withdraw any other active applications and not submit any further applications for law school. You don't have any negotiating power, because you gave that up with the early commitment option. If you go to law school next year, it has to be that one.

[Mikey]

If by early commitment you mean ED, I don't think you can leverage scholarship money with them. Especially If the ED is binding then you have to withdraw apps from other schools because you're promising to go there. I'm with cavalier, pre law advisors are usually morons.

[steppenwolf6]

Oops. Thanks for the replies even with the error. I was accepted to Indiana University - Blooomington. The term they use is Early Commitment, and I've tried to research how the term changes whether I can and/or should.

[cavalier1138]

Jesus, this is like pulling teeth.

So I went and did your legwork for you. You applied early decision, and you are bound to go to that school. You must withdraw all your active applications, and you must not submit any further applications for this admissions cycle. You must also give yourself and your pre-law counselor a giant smack upside the head for screwing yourself out of more scholarship money by taking this route.

[grades??]

Well if you go to law school next year it has to be at UI. You will not get scholarship money. This on the whole is an extremely bad idea. You should not go to law school next year, retake the lsat and ignore the advice of that advisor.

Go look at this. https://www.lstreports.com/schools/indiana/jobs/

Only 64% of UI law grads got a legal job in the class of 2015. That is just slightly better of a coin flip to get ANY legal job after spending 200k for a degree. Also, the vast majority of grads work in law firms <50 people, so that means usually a salary of 40-50k. Good luck paying off 200k in loans with that salary.

[studyingeveryday]

Dude, I'm so sorry your advisor didn't know any better and led you to that position.

Take a year off, retake the LSAT, and apply elsewhere. If you're going to give that much money to a school, it may as well be a school that will afford you much better career and financial opportunities.

[steppenwolf6]

Thanks for the replies. Should've just done the legwork myself instead of leaving open the very real possibility of ridicule. I'm content with my choice and will take my chances. Thanks for the help, though, and I'm glad I didn't start anymore applications! Go Hoosiers.

[cavalier1138]

I'm content with my choice and will take my chances.

Quoting for posterity. I look forward to your "I'm not in the top 10% of my class, what do I do now?" thread.

[toobig2lose]

If it's a binding admission. Don't do that.