Hamilton Fellowship (Columbia) Forum

hobbla · Post by **hobbla** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:40 am

I was looking at LSN and Columbia seems to be very generous. I saw about 20 full tuition scholarships on LSN.

It seems like most of the applicants with 3.8+ GPA's and 176+ LSATs received $132k.

Obviously the numbers alone are difficult to achieve, but I was wondering if anyone knows any more about the Hamilton Scholarships?

I'm trying to put myself in a good position by having a good GPA (effectively done at the end of this semester) and hopefully getting a good LSAT score (studying my ass off, planning to do lots and lots of preptests). Is there anything else that is especially appealing to fellowships?

I'm trying to get some significant soft factors, just Psych Research (hopefully going to get something published this semester), and mock trial so far. Planning on studying abroad in Europe for a month this summer, but while I'm over on the other side of the atlantic I'd like to hop down to Africa and do some social work if at all possible.

Big hole - no work experience ><, and I'm a youngin (but looking at Columbia's website, 75% of it's students are 21-24, which sounds pretty nice (not sure exactly how that compares to other law schools).

Please don't assume that I expect to get this scholarship (or any other); I'll need a full-ride to go to any t14 ($$), so I'm just trying pretty hard to get it.

On a related note, are there any other t14's that are known to be relatively generous (I've heard a lot about NW... but unfortunately I don't think that is going to be an option due to certain, very idiosynchratic, circumstances)?

Thanks for your advice and putting up with my obnoxiously excessive use of parentheses...

FloridaGirl · Post by **FloridaGirl** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:01 am

I don't know anything about the Hamilton scholarship, but I like the use of parentheses.

typical1L · Post by **typical1L** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:05 am

Why is this the only way? I hope you realize that most other t14 have full scholarships - Michigan offers the Darrow, Duke has one, I think, Northwestern has one. HYS do not.

hobbla · Post by **hobbla** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:11 am

sorry for the ambiguous syntax stjobs

I meant getting a full scholarship in general (not just Columbia, although that seems to be the best law school that offers one) would be the the only way I could go to a t14.

I edited the previous post, hopefully it conveys my intentions accurately this time - who knows... it's 2am

wei · Post by **wei** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:27 am

3.8+ GPA's and 176+ LSATs

I wish I had numbers like that...

I went to look at LSN after reading this topic. There's a guy who probably forgot to change his status. He has a full scholarship but is still "pending."

Don't know why but I just had to point out that completely useless piece of information.

safado · Post by **safado** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:09 am

I think it is less about your exact numbers and more about if they think you'll get into Harvard or Yale. If they really like your application and it is obvious you are HYS material, then you have a decent shot at a Hamilton. Why do you need a full scholarship to attend a t14?

hobbla · Post by **hobbla** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:51 pm

One parent makes a good amount of money now, but really needs to retire for the benefit of his health. I have to go in and replace that income relatively quickly and economically - there are 3 kids behind me, two of which will also be in undergraduate/graduate school while I'm in law school.

Going into debt really isn't a possibility because that would really kill my future cash flows. The faster and more cheaply I get out there and replace my parents' income the faster they get to retire, and that's essentially my main priority. Furthermore I don't want any of my younger siblings to to make any undergrad/grad school decisions based on money - they should be able to go wherever they want regardless of the cost (if I have to pay $50,000/year, there wouldn't be enough money to go around for the rest of them to go to top undergrads (about $45k/year).

lily76 · Post by **lily76** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:00 pm

good luck with that.

jonas · Post by **jonas** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:16 pm

hobbla,

Yikes. That sounds like an awful lot of pressure. This whole admissions process is stressful enough--I can't imagine what it'd feel like to be considering factors like yours. Good luck.

FloridaGirl · Post by **FloridaGirl** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:25 pm

Furthermore I don't want any of my younger siblings to to make any undergrad/grad school decisions based on money - they should be able to go wherever they want regardless of the cost (if I have to pay $50,000/year, there wouldn't be enough money to go around for the rest of them to go to top undergrads (about $45k/year).

One can do quite well going to the state school for UG.

Maybe something to think about.

hobbla · Post by **hobbla** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:32 pm

Yeah I definitely realize that state schools can be very efficient florida girl (I'm going to a state school right now, and I've really enjoyed it). That being said, I want my younger siblings to have their choice of whatever school they want (not going to give $$ to schools, but I'll pay for their educations).

The education that I have received here at a public university (UIUC) has been good, but to be frank I am sure that there are many other programs that are significantly better, and I want the best for my younger siblings.

More importantly, the food at UIUC is horrendous, no one should have to endure that, whether they are related to me or not

FloridaGirl · Post by **FloridaGirl** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:49 pm

More importantly, the food at UIUC is horrendous, no one should have to endure that, whether they are related to me or not

Blegh to school cafeterias. (Except breakfast, breakfast was oddly good.)

Hamilton Fellowship (Columbia) Forum

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