IOWA 2012 Forum

[shredderrrrrr]

So today, I decided to email and ask about scholarship information, since I have gotten info for all of my top choices except Iowa. I sent in a nice letter explaining my interest in the school and asking about the availability of merit-based aid. They responded by saying that if I am awarded a scholarship, I will be contacted sometime towards the end of March. Most of my deposit deadlines are April 1-15, and I would like to have some time for negotiations.

I know a lot of other people haven't gotten offers either, so I more or less hoped to show my interest and see if I could get a timeline out of them. Its just stressful when you are ready to start negotiations and you've got that one straggler school who won't let you know one way or the other. It is unfortunate that I might have to throw a school out of contention if I haven't received an offer by April, as I certainly can't attend at sticker.

/rant

I don't blame you! I withdrew from a school simply because they said their scholarship committee didn't start meeting until Feb. Hell, I'm going crazy not hearing a response from Iowa about stipulations! If I don't hear back soon, I'm just going to end up withdrawing.

[TIKITEMBO]

W/L via status checker. 155ish/3.7ish non-URM with strong PI work experience and community involvement.

[llachans]

So today, I decided to email and ask about scholarship information, since I have gotten info for all of my top choices except Iowa. I sent in a nice letter explaining my interest in the school and asking about the availability of merit-based aid. They responded by saying that if I am awarded a scholarship, I will be contacted sometime towards the end of March. Most of my deposit deadlines are April 1-15, and I would like to have some time for negotiations.

I know a lot of other people haven't gotten offers either, so I more or less hoped to show my interest and see if I could get a timeline out of them. Its just stressful when you are ready to start negotiations and you've got that one straggler school who won't let you know one way or the other. It is unfortunate that I might have to throw a school out of contention if I haven't received an offer by April, as I certainly can't attend at sticker.

/rant

Will e-mailing Iowa about this help with a scholarship decision or is it completely not a factor at all? I'm on the fence about stressing my interest in them and mentioning that I'm hopeful for a scholarship decision.

[jpickman]

Accepted on 12/1 and still haven't heard anything about scholarships. I called the admissions office and they said I could be waiting until late April to get an offer. I'll be withdrawing tomorrow. No shot they're going to beat UIUC at half tuition.

[checkster]

I've been complete for almost 2 months and haven't heard a word... : /

[btw384]

So today, I decided to email and ask about scholarship information, since I have gotten info for all of my top choices except Iowa. I sent in a nice letter explaining my interest in the school and asking about the availability of merit-based aid. They responded by saying that if I am awarded a scholarship, I will be contacted sometime towards the end of March. Most of my deposit deadlines are April 1-15, and I would like to have some time for negotiations.

I know a lot of other people haven't gotten offers either, so I more or less hoped to show my interest and see if I could get a timeline out of them. Its just stressful when you are ready to start negotiations and you've got that one straggler school who won't let you know one way or the other. It is unfortunate that I might have to throw a school out of contention if I haven't received an offer by April, as I certainly can't attend at sticker.

/rant

Will e-mailing Iowa about this help with a scholarship decision or is it completely not a factor at all? I'm on the fence about stressing my interest in them and mentioning that I'm hopeful for a scholarship decision.

Generally, I think think being forward, expressing your interest in the school, and asking about the possibility of scholarship funds is a good idea. If done correctly, it can only help move things along.

That being said, I politely asked for information about potential scholarship money, and they essentially made it sound like they would make a scholarship decision whenever they felt like making one. In a week or so, I'm going to send a second, more pressing email explaining that I don't have a month (or more) to wait and that I am looking to make a decision ASAP. If I get more of the same in their second response, I might just withdraw or pretend that I don't have an acceptance from them and hope to be totally wowed if/when I get an offer.

I let them know that I have a genuine interest in the school, and I really do. I have been considering it in my top two or three choices up to this point, but this and other communication I have had with the school throughout the admissions process has been largely negative/not useful. Hopefully a more pressing email will make more of an impact with the admissions office, but I am finding it tough to be forward without sounding pushy.

[shredderrrrrr]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

[Opie]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

Maybe they're begging the regents to let them remove your stips.

[shredderrrrrr]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

Maybe they're begging the regents to let them remove your stips.

Haha one can only hope. Lol even if they were contemplating it, I'm getting annoyed by the lack of contact. I mean after two weeks you'd think they could at least give a heads up letting me know whether they would even consider it or not. I feel bad because Drake has been on the ball with everything (I think the longest they've taken to respond to an email was 30 minutes) and I want to let them know whether I'll be attending or not. More importantly, if they come back unable to remove the stipulations, I want to free up scholarship money for all the TLSers! Lord knows I'm going nuts waiting for this...I couldn't handle waiting for scholarship information.

[chrisbru]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

Maybe they're begging the regents to let them remove your stips.

Haha one can only hope. Lol even if they were contemplating it, I'm getting annoyed by the lack of contact. I mean after two weeks you'd think they could at least give a heads up letting me know whether they would even consider it or not. I feel bad because Drake has been on the ball with everything (I think the longest they've taken to respond to an email was 30 minutes) and I want to let them know whether I'll be attending or not. More importantly, if they come back unable to remove the stipulations, I want to free up scholarship money for all the TLSers! Lord knows I'm going nuts waiting for this...I couldn't handle waiting for scholarship information.

It all depends on the situation... I didn't hear back about admissions from Drake until 2 weeks before I received my scholarship from Iowa, which came 3 months after my acceptance. Drake's review of my scholarship (I asked for more money) didn't come back for 2 full weeks, and even then they didn't match what Iowa gave me.

So I wouldn't blame it on Iowa... It's just that removing stipulations really isn't something they need to do often, if ever. I hate to break it to you, but you aren't that much of a special flower. You're not going to make or break the class of 2015.

[shredderrrrrr]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

Maybe they're begging the regents to let them remove your stips.

Haha one can only hope. Lol even if they were contemplating it, I'm getting annoyed by the lack of contact. I mean after two weeks you'd think they could at least give a heads up letting me know whether they would even consider it or not. I feel bad because Drake has been on the ball with everything (I think the longest they've taken to respond to an email was 30 minutes) and I want to let them know whether I'll be attending or not. More importantly, if they come back unable to remove the stipulations, I want to free up scholarship money for all the TLSers! Lord knows I'm going nuts waiting for this...I couldn't handle waiting for scholarship information.

It all depends on the situation... I didn't hear back about admissions from Drake until 2 weeks before I received my scholarship from Iowa, which came 3 months after my acceptance. Drake's review of my scholarship (I asked for more money) didn't come back for 2 full weeks, and even then they didn't match what Iowa gave me.

So I wouldn't blame it on Iowa... It's just that removing stipulations really isn't something they need to do often, if ever. I hate to break it to you, but you aren't that much of a special flower. You're not going to make or break the class of 2015.

Lol because that's what I was thinking

But your bolded comment gets at my point. Since I'm not unique and I'm not a "special flower," why wouldn't the choice to remove the stipulations or not be easy/routine?

I'm not asking Iowa to bow down at my feet, I'm just making a comment in regards to my interactions with them. I obviously realize hearing nothing from them for almost 2 weeks is not the end of the world.

[apeopleshistory]

.

[Opie]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

I also haven't heard anything.

No scholly info for me either. I'm expecting it to go until just before deposits are due and then maybe I'll get something.

[shredderrrrrr]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

I also haven't heard anything.

No scholly info for me either. I'm expecting it to go until just before deposits are due and then maybe I'll get something.

When are deposits due? Is it early April?

[Opie]

Still no response back from them. Good chance I'll be withdrawing this week.

I also haven't heard anything.

No scholly info for me either. I'm expecting it to go until just before deposits are due and then maybe I'll get something.

When are deposits due? Is it early April?

4/1 $250
6/1 $150

[chrisbru]

Lol because that's what I was thinking

But your bolded comment gets at my point. Since I'm not unique and I'm not a "special flower," why wouldn't the choice to remove the stipulations or not be easy/routine?

I'm not asking Iowa to bow down at my feet, I'm just making a comment in regards to my interactions with them. I obviously realize hearing nothing from them for almost 2 weeks is not the end of the world.

It's not easy or routine because people probably don't ask that often. You have a full month before deposits are due anywhere. Relax.

Although based on my experience with firms for 1L summer work... You really probably are better off at Drake if you're set on Des Moines.

[shredderrrrrr]

Lol because that's what I was thinking

But your bolded comment gets at my point. Since I'm not unique and I'm not a "special flower," why wouldn't the choice to remove the stipulations or not be easy/routine?

I'm not asking Iowa to bow down at my feet, I'm just making a comment in regards to my interactions with them. I obviously realize hearing nothing from them for almost 2 weeks is not the end of the world.

It's not easy or routine because people probably don't ask that often. You have a full month before deposits are due anywhere. Relax.

Although based on my experience with firms for 1L summer work... You really probably are better off at Drake if you're set on Des Moines.

That's what I'm thinking as well. But like everyone has said, guaranteed money > money with stipulations (if Iowa were to remove stipulations).

Is it dumb to think I have a better chance of being top third at Drake then at Iowa? I know you guys have pointed out that it's a lot about luck, but with Iowa having higher caliber students (based on admission criteria), would Drake be safer in any way?

[Opie]

Lol because that's what I was thinking

But your bolded comment gets at my point. Since I'm not unique and I'm not a "special flower," why wouldn't the choice to remove the stipulations or not be easy/routine?

I'm not asking Iowa to bow down at my feet, I'm just making a comment in regards to my interactions with them. I obviously realize hearing nothing from them for almost 2 weeks is not the end of the world.

It's not easy or routine because people probably don't ask that often. You have a full month before deposits are due anywhere. Relax.

Although based on my experience with firms for 1L summer work... You really probably are better off at Drake if you're set on Des Moines.

That's what I'm thinking as well. But like everyone has said, guaranteed money > money with stipulations (if Iowa were to remove stipulations).

Is it dumb to think I have a better chance of being top third at Drake then at Iowa? I know you guys have pointed out that it's a lot about luck, but with Iowa having higher caliber students (based on admission criteria), would Drake be safer in any way?

FWIW, students I have spoken to say the curve isn't that steep at Drake. A 160/3.44 (4.0) friend of mine told me she was in the top third after 1L and finished top 20% without much trouble. She's probably the most dedicated and hardworking person I know though. She was also in like 7 different clubs, a journal, etc. too though, so YMMV.

[buckythebadger]

I emailed them yesterday about removing the stipulations and they responded this morning with a pretty generic email about how they are unwilling to do so. Looks like I'll have to cross Iowa off my list

[shredderrrrrr]

I emailed them yesterday about removing the stipulations and they responded this morning with a pretty generic email about how they are unwilling to do so. Looks like I'll have to cross Iowa off my list

Really? Who exactly did you email it to?

[nickjive]

If I were fortunate enough to have a scholarship I would use the stips to further my motivation to perform AT LEAST in the top 1/3 so I could come out of law school with a job....

...see that, adcomms, I would be grateful if I were to receive some money...

[buckythebadger]

I emailed them yesterday about removing the stipulations and they responded this morning with a pretty generic email about how they are unwilling to do so. Looks like I'll have to cross Iowa off my list

Really? Who exactly did you email it to?

I emailed law-financialaid@uiowa.edu and then Dean Byrd responded this morning. At a different ASW someone told me that they asked for the stipulations to be removed and the emails sounded very similar. My guess is that they already have it written up and just copy and pasted it. If you haven't heard back in awhile, maybe that is a good thing? or they possibly just forgot to respond to the email.

[YankeeFan2]

So what do y'all think about this. I got an email the other day from a law professor from another law school (not Iowa) but they went to Iowa for their JD. The email shared that they would be happy to discuss with me their experience at Iowa and hoped that I would also choose Iowa. Now....what was a bit odd was that the person had a very similar background as a non-traditional student in the same field of work as me and even mentioned moving their children to Iowa City. They also shared that they moved to Iowa City with their spouse and children and the number of children and gender of their children are the same as mine. Now, that seems to really be stretching into their alumni network.

[bigpig]

So what do y'all think about this. I got an email the other day from a law professor from another law school (not Iowa) but they went to Iowa for their JD. The email shared that they would be happy to discuss with me their experience at Iowa and hoped that I would also choose Iowa. Now....what was a bit odd was that the person had a very similar background as a non-traditional student in the same field of work as me and even mentioned moving their children to Iowa City. They also shared that they moved to Iowa City with their spouse and children and the number of children and gender of their children are the same as mine. Now, that seems to really be stretching into their alumni network.

I received an almost identical email, except gender was not mentioned. Syracuse? Iowa's weekly emails have been doing nothing more than reiterating their website and focusing on quality of life, so I delete them. This email, however, caught my interest. The only email/mailing I really want, though, is regarding scholarships... I'm getting nervous about possibly having to rely on an RA position to keep costs down as an OOS.

[Opie]

So what do y'all think about this. I got an email the other day from a law professor from another law school (not Iowa) but they went to Iowa for their JD. The email shared that they would be happy to discuss with me their experience at Iowa and hoped that I would also choose Iowa. Now....what was a bit odd was that the person had a very similar background as a non-traditional student in the same field of work as me and even mentioned moving their children to Iowa City. They also shared that they moved to Iowa City with their spouse and children and the number of children and gender of their children are the same as mine. Now, that seems to really be stretching into their alumni network.

Why didn't I get this? I'm a non-trad with kids.