Northwestern Law Class of 2014 Forum

[bdubs]

Just got email, 10k year for 3 years, I was coming anyways and this was pretty unexpected, so woo! The letter specifically said my award was both merit and need based (i.e. I have a kid and am poor).

Congrats homestyle, probably be seeing y'all there next year

[localboy]

Congrats to all those receiving scholarships!

[eliekedourie]

.

[forward]

Thanks for nothing so far, Northwestern. Happy Birthday to me.

Hey, they gave me 120k the day after my birthday, so maybe you'll have similar luck. Assuming you're accepting belated gifts...

It came today. Apparently your extra LSAT point is worth another 75k. Very, very disappointed.

[Aine]

I just realized that I never received a confirmation email. I don't know how I didn't realize this earlier... *face palm*

I KNOW I turned in the supplemental essays by the deadline. I'm positive. Did this happen to anyone else?? I am thoroughly worried that my potential scholarship will be effected and can't call Chicago at the moment because I'm in India and its 2:00 a.m. in the morning there.

Did everyone receive a confirmation email?? Did you get it right after you submitted your essays or did it take some time? I sent in my supplemental essays the day of the deadline.

Also I deferred for a year so maybe I'm part of a different list/batch?

[Bumi]

Also I deferred for a year so maybe I'm part of a different list/batch?

If you are starting in 2012, I don't think you'll hear until a year from now. The guy who deferred from last year just got his scholarship I believe.

[rinkrat19]

Also I deferred for a year so maybe I'm part of a different list/batch?

If you are starting in 2012, I don't think you'll hear until a year from now. The guy who deferred from last year just got his scholarship I believe.

The deferral letter specifically says that you'll have to re-apply for financial aid next year.
I got a confirmation email, but I submitted my financial aid stuff long before my deferral was granted so I was still in the Class of 2014 pile at that point.

[tipler4213]

Thanks for nothing so far, Northwestern. Happy Birthday to me.

Hey, they gave me 120k the day after my birthday, so maybe you'll have similar luck. Assuming you're accepting belated gifts...

It came today. Apparently your extra LSAT point is worth another 75k. Very, very disappointed.

Bummer man. Sorry to hear that. They really caught me off gaurd with my offer--although, I think it is primarily b/c of my work experience and somewhat unique career goals. I only have one year experience, but its a really "eye-popping" type work.

If you had told me that I could have 55k from NU at the beginning of the cycle though, I would have been ecstatic

[homestyle28]

Also I deferred for a year so maybe I'm part of a different list/batch?

If you are starting in 2012, I don't think you'll hear until a year from now. The guy who deferred from last year just got his scholarship I believe.

yeah, but that dude is an idiot...oh wait

Yeah, like rinkrat said. The deferral letter says they take you out of this years class and put you into next years class. You have to reapply for finaid next year and you'll be considered then.

It's worth pointing out that NU is not known for doling aid far and wide. If you look at LSN they seem to give out a handful of higher dollar schollys then a smaller number of small dollar schollys. So, while a particular NU admit might be competitive for aid at other schools, numberswise, that doesn't mean you can count on NU for monies.

[bdubs]

Since we're on the scholarship topic. Why does Berkeley hate Northwestern? They match schollys from all of the other T14, but not Northwestern. Any cross admits know why this is?

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6957.htm

PS - I did not apply to Berkeley and this really doesn't affect me. I was just curious and I didn't feel like it was appropriate to go into the Berkeley thread to ask.

[rinkrat19]

Since we're on the scholarship topic. Why does Berkeley hate Northwestern? They match schollys from all of the other T14, but not Northwestern. Any cross admits know why this is?

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6957.htm

PS - I did not apply to Berkeley and this really doesn't affect me. I was just curious and I didn't feel like it was appropriate to go into the Berkeley thread to ask.

A guess: NU is known for not giving out as many scholarships as a lot of other schools, but giving out much larger individual awards. If Berkeley matched NU's awards, they'd have to give a lot more money to more students.

[homestyle28]

Since we're on the scholarship topic. Why does Berkeley hate Northwestern? They match schollys from all of the other T14, but not Northwestern. Any cross admits know why this is?

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6957.htm

PS - I did not apply to Berkeley and this really doesn't affect me. I was just curious and I didn't feel like it was appropriate to go into the Berkeley thread to ask.

I hadn't seen that before, that's kind of funny...seems like there has to be a story there

[Bumi]

Since we're on the scholarship topic. Why does Berkeley hate Northwestern? They match schollys from all of the other T14, but not Northwestern. Any cross admits know why this is?

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6957.htm

PS - I did not apply to Berkeley and this really doesn't affect me. I was just curious and I didn't feel like it was appropriate to go into the Berkeley thread to ask.

A guess: NU is known for not giving out as many scholarships as a lot of other schools, but giving out much larger individual awards. If Berkeley matched NU's awards, they'd have to give a lot more money to more students.

If you're willing to look at historical self-reported data, Northwestern has the highest average award in the country. What's particularly interesting is that NU gives scholarships to a higher percentage of admits than many other T-14 schools.

[eliekedourie]

.

[casterfield]

60k! Feeling pretty relieved that I'm not 'that guy'.

[bdubs]

OK. I just received a 75K offer to switch from the 3 yr JD (no scholly) to the AJD.

I have to say, I'm feeling rather torn. I had originally concluded when I applied that I wanted to pursue the 3yr JD and I was ready to reject a 30K scholly. However, 75K is a very different sum.

I'm going to speak with some current AJD students about concerns I have:
1) Only 1 summer to work
2) Less time for extracurriculars and journals
3) I'm unclear of the career I want to pursue after graduation (I have a criminal justice background but am interested in biglaw litigation).
4) Is this program a success? It's new and I don't particularly want to be a guinea pig. I'm 27, not in my early 30s. While I would value graduating at 29 rather than 30, the clock isn't exactly running out for me. Also, my numbers are pretty avg. Why offer me so much money if this program is a huge success?

Anyway, if anyone has input I'd love to hear it. I need to decide by March 31 but I really need to let my job know my plans by Monday.

Wow that is a tough call.

What is your prior work experience and how likely is it to lead you into the biglaw litigation track you want?

[homestyle28]

60k! Feeling pretty relieved that I'm not 'that guy'.

congrats

and

OK. I just received a 75K offer to switch from the 3 yr JD (no scholly) to the AJD.

I have to say, I'm feeling rather torn. I had originally concluded when I applied that I wanted to pursue the 3yr JD and I was ready to reject a 30K scholly. However, 75K is a very different sum.

I'm going to speak with some current AJD students about concerns I have:
1) Only 1 summer to work
2) Less time for extracurriculars and journals
3) I'm unclear of the career I want to pursue after graduation (I have a criminal justice background but am interested in biglaw litigation).
4) Is this program a success? It's new and I don't particularly want to be a guinea pig. I'm 27, not in my early 30s. While I would value graduating at 29 rather than 30, the clock isn't exactly running out for me. Also, my numbers are pretty avg. Why offer me so much money if this program is a huge success?

Anyway, if anyone has input I'd love to hear it. I need to decide by March 31 but I really need to let my job know my plans by Monday.

congrats

[Aine]

Also I deferred for a year so maybe I'm part of a different list/batch?

If you are starting in 2012, I don't think you'll hear until a year from now. The guy who deferred from last year just got his scholarship I believe.

Haha no what I meant is I was accepted in 2010 and deferred until 2011. But it looks like there is someone on here who did the same thing and already got his scholarship so that can't be the reason...

And I did reapply this year. Hopefully Ill get something.

[cubswin]

Since we're on the scholarship topic. Why does Berkeley hate Northwestern? They match schollys from all of the other T14, but not Northwestern. Any cross admits know why this is?

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6957.htm

PS - I did not apply to Berkeley and this really doesn't affect me. I was just curious and I didn't feel like it was appropriate to go into the Berkeley thread to ask.

A guess: NU is known for not giving out as many scholarships as a lot of other schools, but giving out much larger individual awards. If Berkeley matched NU's awards, they'd have to give a lot more money to more students.

If you're willing to look at historical self-reported data, Northwestern has the highest average award in the country. What's particularly interesting is that NU gives scholarships to a higher percentage of admits than many other T-14 schools.

The TLS article on NW says the opposite:

According to LSAC data, Northwestern grants scholarships to one of the lowest percentages of students (31.6% in 2009) out of the Top 14 law schools. However, the median grant amount was the highest of all 14 schools at $20,000/year.

I'm not trying to cite this as the authoritative source on the matter, but I thought that NW's high median grant came from them not giving out many scholarships.

[homestyle28]

Also I deferred for a year so maybe I'm part of a different list/batch?

If you are starting in 2012, I don't think you'll hear until a year from now. The guy who deferred from last year just got his scholarship I believe.

Haha no what I meant is I was accepted in 2010 and deferred until 2011. But it looks like there is someone on here who did the same thing and already got his scholarship so that can't be the reason...

Did you complete the NU's finaid app (and receive their confirmation it was complete) this year?

[Nola]

60k over three years. Got the email about 10 this morning.

[Bumi]

If you're willing to look at historical self-reported data, Northwestern has the highest average award in the country. What's particularly interesting is that NU gives scholarships to a higher percentage of admits than many other T-14 schools.

The TLS article on NW says the opposite:

According to LSAC data, Northwestern grants scholarships to one of the lowest percentages of students (31.6% in 2009) out of the Top 14 law schools. However, the median grant amount was the highest of all 14 schools at $20,000/year.

I'm not trying to cite this as the authoritative source on the matter, but I thought that NW's high median grant came from them not giving out many scholarships.

Here's the latest LSAC data - draw your own conclusions about this specific point or about the nature of self-reported data.

School - % Grant - Median Amount
Duke - 67.7% - $14,000
Michigan - 57.9% - $11,300
Virginia - 57.5% - $15,000
Chicago - 56.2% - $10,800
Columbia - 54.5% - $10,250
Yale - 53.6% - $21,410
Stanford - 50.1% - $22,178
Berkeley - 47.6% - $14,349
Harvard - 47.1% - $15,490
Penn - 39.9% - $14,000
Cornell - 36.9% - $18,000
Northwestern - 35.1% - $20,000
NYU - 34.8% - $20,000
Georgetown - 30.7% - $15,000

[Aine]

Also I deferred for a year so maybe I'm part of a different list/batch?

If you are starting in 2012, I don't think you'll hear until a year from now. The guy who deferred from last year just got his scholarship I believe.

Haha no what I meant is I was accepted in 2010 and deferred until 2011. But it looks like there is someone on here who did the same thing and already got his scholarship so that can't be the reason...

Did you complete the NU's finaid app (and receive their confirmation it was complete) this year?

Completed, but never received an email. Finally got in touch with NU's financial aid office and they said my application was complete. Maybe I never got the email because they don't intend on giving me anything...

[er doctor]

Does anybody know if Northwestern negotiates aid packages?

[forward]

Does anybody know if Northwestern negotiates aid packages?

I was told that all offers have gone out, so they're "out of money to give" right now. You can be put on a list for later reconsideration.

Yeah, right. What a joke.