Sample fee waiver request Forum

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MURPH

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Sample fee waiver request

Post by MURPH » Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:01 am

I was wondering if the letter below would suffice as a request for a fee waiver. I am a splitter GPA=2.98 and LSAT = 175 so I am applying to a lot of schools. Any suggestions to make it better?

Dear sir or ma'am,
I will be applying to the YOUR Law School for admission in the Fall of 2010. I would like to apply for a fee waiver. My LSAC # is L123456789.
The reason that I am asking for a fee waiver is that I have been a little short of cash lately. I have eighteen year old twins who both started college this fall. They received financial aid but the additional costs of clothes, transportation, food, etc. has been expensive. Please consider granting me an application fee waiver.

Thank you,
Older Applicant

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calicocat

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by calicocat » Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:05 am

I'd include my GPA and LSAT score. Instead of "a little short on cash" I would put something like "Application fees present a substantial financial burden and I hope to be able to defray this cost if possible" (got this from another thread on this forum) and then give your reasons.

Edit: Just as a side note, if you are applying for a merit based waver you should mention that because otherwise law schools will direct you to their need based waiver applications.

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MURPH

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by MURPH » Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:33 am

Thanks I'll mention the merit based fee waiver too and make the change you suggested.

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Vincent Vega

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by Vincent Vega » Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:38 am

I think you're confused about fee waivers. Asking for fee waivers like your prompt is almost invariably the format for requesting merit-based fee waivers. If you want a need-based waiver (the only time you should discuss money), and you don't qualify for an LSAC waiver, most law schools have fee waiver request forms, and you won't need to write to them.

GatorBait09

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by GatorBait09 » Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:40 am

Honestly I think your request is a bit crude. I sent out about a dozen fee waiver requests and found that the best way to get one is to make it sound like they're the school for you. I mentioned certain aspects, programs, clinics, etc. I was excited to be involved in and that I needed a little bit of help in applying to their school. Do some research. Mention your GPA and LSAT and then go into a little bit of detail about why they are your number one choice (even if they're not).

You have no idea how receptive adcoms were to my requests. W&M, Wake, Emory, and Stetson all responded with personal emails giving the waiver code, encouraging me to apply to their schools, and describing the programs I mentioned I was interested in.

The more personalized your request the better. I'm guessing they receive an assload of generic "please help me because of X" emails and they aren't really impressed. If you can show them that you are genuinely interested in their school, you have a much better shot.

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MURPH

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by MURPH » Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:19 am

Halibut,
Thanks for the feedback. I asked for both merit based and need based in the letters so far. For the ones that had a specific form, I've printed the form. At my old age I am not going to ask my parents for their financial information, which most of these forms request. So I am playing both angles here -need based and merit based. About one third of the schools I've checked out have a specific form.

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superflush

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by superflush » Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:29 am

Oli wrote:I'd include my GPA and LSAT score. Instead of "a little short on cash" I would put something like "Application fees present a substantial financial burden and I hope to be able to defray this cost if possible" (got this from another thread on this forum) and then give your reasons.

Edit: Just as a side note, if you are applying for a merit based waver you should mention that because otherwise law schools will direct you to their need based waiver applications.
+1 for this.

Some schools may just give you their need-based form anyway. But others will give you a waiver, or tell you that you don't qualify for a merit-based waiver.

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superflush

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by superflush » Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:31 am

btw, you should definitely include your LSAT & GPA (along with your LSAC #)

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by Anastasia Dee Dualla » Sun Nov 15, 2009 10:59 am

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Last edited by Anastasia Dee Dualla on Sat May 02, 2015 12:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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njskatchmo

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by njskatchmo » Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:13 pm

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Last edited by njskatchmo on Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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scribelaw

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by scribelaw » Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:15 pm

njskatchmo wrote:I wish I found this thread earlier. I sent a similar message earlier, I have stats well worthy of most fee waivers, and I explained how I am dead broke. All responses only focused on my need based request. They completely ignored my merit based request. I am emailed all top 15 (except UVA and UCLA) and only got a a waiver from duke and michigan (michigan only gave it to me after a second email). They all told me to send in need based applications, which took forever to fill out an compile all the paperwork.
Would you mind sharing or PMing your numbers?

I haven't tried fee waiver requests for t14, wondering if it'd be worth the effort...

GatorBait09

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by GatorBait09 » Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:19 pm

sharthree wrote:
GatorBait09 wrote:Honestly I think your request is a bit crude. I sent out about a dozen fee waiver requests and found that the best way to get one is to make it sound like they're the school for you. I mentioned certain aspects, programs, clinics, etc. I was excited to be involved in and that I needed a little bit of help in applying to their school. Do some research. Mention your GPA and LSAT and then go into a little bit of detail about why they are your number one choice (even if they're not).

You have no idea how receptive adcoms were to my requests. W&M, Wake, Emory, and Stetson all responded with personal emails giving the waiver code, encouraging me to apply to their schools, and describing the programs I mentioned I was interested in.

The more personalized your request the better. I'm guessing they receive an assload of generic "please help me because of X" emails and they aren't really impressed. If you can show them that you are genuinely interested in their school, you have a much better shot.
No offense to how you sent your request, but most ppl I know who requested waivers from the first three were given them, no matter how "crude" the request.
Fair enough. Obviously it doesn't matter what you say if you end up getting it. I just always took the approach that buttering them up without being completely ridiculous would be more successful than saying things like "short of cash" and using the imperative, "please consider."

njskatchmo

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by njskatchmo » Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:56 pm

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Last edited by njskatchmo on Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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WhiskeyGuy

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by WhiskeyGuy » Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:05 pm

MURPH wrote:I was wondering if the letter below would suffice as a request for a fee waiver. I am a splitter GPA=2.98 and LSAT = 175 so I am applying to a lot of schools. Any suggestions to make it better?

Dear sir or ma'am,
I will be applying to the YOUR Law School for admission in the Fall of 2010. I would like to apply for a fee waiver. My LSAC # is L123456789.
The reason that I am asking for a fee waiver is that I have been a little short of cash lately. I have eighteen year old twins who both started college this fall. They received financial aid but the additional costs of clothes, transportation, food, etc. has been expensive. Please consider granting me an application fee waiver.

Thank you,
Older Applicant
--Hyphenate "eighteen-year-old twins." Otherwsie, it could sound as though you have eighteen (one) year old twins.

--Use a synonym for "cash."

Good luck!

njskatchmo

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by njskatchmo » Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:08 pm

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Last edited by njskatchmo on Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Anastasia Dee Dualla

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by Anastasia Dee Dualla » Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:10 pm

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Last edited by Anastasia Dee Dualla on Sat May 02, 2015 12:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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superflush

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by superflush » Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:17 pm

WhiskeyGuy wrote:--Hyphenate "eighteen-year-old twins." Otherwsie, it could sound as though you have eighteen (one) year old twins.
:lol: :lol:

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Re: Sample fee waiver request

Post by Amelie » Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:30 pm

MURPH wrote: Dear sir or ma'am
I would say "madam," not "ma'am"

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