Michigan 2011 Forum

[wolverine2014]

So when are you guys and gals filling out the financial aid stuff? Can any of the 1Ls comment on the process? I'll also post this question in the "Michigan 1Ls/2Ls/3Ls taking questions" thread.

[saito816]

Just got an accepted packet in the mail . It came as a huge surprise because my status checker never updated to decision mailed... I'm feeling very happy right now .

[Ratchet Jackson]

Just got status checker email. Applied 12/1, received 12/7.

[GMVarun]

So when are you guys and gals filling out the financial aid stuff? Can any of the 1Ls comment on the process? I'll also post this question in the "Michigan 1Ls/2Ls/3Ls taking questions" thread.

I am currently a 1L and can take any questions you guys have. Congrats to all who are accepted and good luck to those waiting. As far as financial aid is concerned, I filled the FAFSA in January (and sent it to all the schools I was accepted to/waiting from) if I remember right and I did the other Michigan specific stuff (the questionnaire, etc) later - I think if I remember right late Feb/ March. I was fairly certain of Michigan early on, but I still did the tedious financial aid for other schools so I could use it to leverage Michigan which worked nicely for me. In general, fill out the financial aid stuff ASAP because schools tend to have more money early in the cycle as opposed to late and for negotiation this helps.

[timmna]

Just got an accepted packet in the mail . It came as a huge surprise because my status checker never updated to decision mailed... I'm feeling very happy right now .

Congrats! Mind saying when you submitted?

[ht2988]

Just got status checker email. Applied 12/1, received 12/7.

Finally got mine! Applied 12/1, received 12/6, status checker 1/5. This is my top choice... Have lived in Michigan my entire life and wouldn't mind staying another 3 years for a blue & maize JD. But... even with URM selected, I'm a deny on LSN... Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst

[timmna]

Just got status checker email. Applied 12/1, received 12/7.

Finally got mine! Applied 12/1, received 12/6, status checker 1/5. This is my top choice... Have lived in Michigan my entire life and wouldn't mind staying another 3 years for a blue & maize JD. But... even with URM selected, I'm a deny on LSN... Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst

Don't give up hope - I've already gotten into a school that LSP had me as an outright "deny" for. Good luck!

[saito816]

Just got an accepted packet in the mail . It came as a huge surprise because my status checker never updated to decision mailed... I'm feeling very happy right now .

Congrats! Mind saying when you submitted?

I submitted November 1 I believe, and got the status checker Nov 24.

[Ratchet Jackson]

Just got status checker email. Applied 12/1, received 12/7.

Finally got mine! Applied 12/1, received 12/6, status checker 1/5. This is my top choice... Have lived in Michigan my entire life and wouldn't mind staying another 3 years for a blue & maize JD. But... even with URM selected, I'm a deny on LSN... Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst

Don't give up hope - I've already gotten into a school that LSP had me as an outright "deny" for. Good luck!

This. Especially for URM cycles, LSP has proven to be wildly inaccurate. Don't let their predictions affect you in the slightest.

[ht2988]

Just got status checker email. Applied 12/1, received 12/7.

Finally got mine! Applied 12/1, received 12/6, status checker 1/5. This is my top choice... Have lived in Michigan my entire life and wouldn't mind staying another 3 years for a blue & maize JD. But... even with URM selected, I'm a deny on LSN... Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst

Don't give up hope - I've already gotten into a school that LSP had me as an outright "deny" for. Good luck!

This. Especially for URM cycles, LSP has proven to be wildly inaccurate. Don't let their predictions affect you in the slightest.

Thanks! Haven't given up hope entirely - but I'm trying to be pragmatic about this... Looking forward to receiving a decision, whatever Goddess has in store for me

[FortuneFavorsTheBold]

its no secret that the status checker updates EVERYDAY with (complete)....but has anyone else been at complete as long as 10/26? I figured by now it would of switched to decision made.

[T6Hopeful]

its no secret that the status checker updates EVERYDAY with (complete)....but has anyone else been at complete as long as 10/26? I figured by now it would of switched to decision made.

I'm not apart of it, but there's an entire club :
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=140941
Don't know if any of them still haven't heard back yet.

[AreJay711]

Yo I just checked my mail to find two letters from Michigan. Apparently they figured that I was a candidate for scholarship $. It was only 10K but still I'm pretty freaking ecstatic... especially considering I was early decision and already loved the school.

[Entchen]

Yo I just checked my mail to find two letters from Michigan. Apparently they figured that I was a candidate for scholarship $. It was only 10K but still I'm pretty freaking ecstatic... especially considering I was early decision and already loved the school.

Hooray! Congrats!

Hoping some mail from Michigan has reached other parts of our fair city today, but you also got in before me, so maybe I get to wait longer.

What was the second letter?

[AreJay711]

Yo I just checked my mail to find two letters from Michigan. Apparently they figured that I was a candidate for scholarship $. It was only 10K but still I'm pretty freaking ecstatic... especially considering I was early decision and already loved the school.

Hooray! Congrats!

Hoping some mail from Michigan has reached other parts of our fair city today, but you also got in before me, so maybe I get to wait longer.

What was the second letter?

Thanks! It was that they received my deposit and a little booklet with things you need to be a successful law student. I'm going to check it out later.

[DreamShake]

Just got an accepted packet in the mail . It came as a huge surprise because my status checker never updated to decision mailed... I'm feeling very happy right now .

Congrats! Mind saying when you submitted?

I submitted November 1 I believe, and got the status checker Nov 24.

Congrats! You give me hope...fellow 11/1 submitter with the same status checker e-mail date. Come on, Michigan...

[reversejinx]

I was fairly certain of Michigan early on, but I still did the tedious financial aid for other schools so I could use it to leverage Michigan which worked nicely for me. In general, fill out the financial aid stuff ASAP because schools tend to have more money early in the cycle as opposed to late and for negotiation this helps.

Thanks for taking/answering questions! Can you elaborate on this? How exactly did you leverage Michigan w/financial aid info? Are you referring to need-based scholarships, or just strictly to how much of a FAFSA loan you were able to get? And is FAFSA negotiable?

[FMaze]

Because I am a reverse splitter (3.9 – 165) I decided to take a shot at a top ten school [Michigan] via an ED, but since I did not consider myself a shoe-in I also applied at other schools, including U Miami. When I received the favorable ED acceptance I had to withdraw from all the schools I had applied to, which I did (including U Miami, even though I never heard back from them).

Over the holidays I visited Miami and LOVE the city (South Beach, Coconut Grove, the Keys, etc.)., plus I drove through the U Miami campus―it is gorgeous. To my amazement, I just received an acceptance to U Miami. I researched them and came away very impressed. My guess is that they would offer a fair amount of $$$ assistance. Plus, I heard a U Miami law degree is gold in South Florida. I can see myself living there!

My question is, do any of you know of anyone who has successfully talked their way out of an ED because of a change of heart?

[Tanicius]

I bet you could do it if you tried really, really, really hard, but it's seen as quite a low move. If you want out of the ED, I would wait until next year and apply again.

[Knock]

I bet you could do it if you tried really, really, really hard, but it's seen as quite a low move. If you want out of the ED, I would wait until next year and apply again.

I actually don't think it's that enormous of a deal. Law school don't want you to be forced there, against your will. Just explain politely that you'd like to withdraw your ED, maybe for financial reasons, etc.

[Tanicius]

I bet you could do it if you tried really, really, really hard, but it's seen as quite a low move. If you want out of the ED, I would wait until next year and apply again.

I actually don't think it's that enormous of a deal. Law school don't want you to be forced there, against your will. Just explain politely that you'd like to withdraw your ED, maybe for financial reasons, etc.

The other problem is saying yes to Miami after withdrawing.

[GMVarun]

I was fairly certain of Michigan early on, but I still did the tedious financial aid for other schools so I could use it to leverage Michigan which worked nicely for me. In general, fill out the financial aid stuff ASAP because schools tend to have more money early in the cycle as opposed to late and for negotiation this helps.

Thanks for taking/answering questions! Can you elaborate on this? How exactly did you leverage Michigan w/financial aid info? Are you referring to need-based scholarships, or just strictly to how much of a FAFSA loan you were able to get? And is FAFSA negotiable?

Sure. I basically used my lowest ranked acceptance from which I got a significant amount of money (UT/UCLA/Vandy) range and asked the next highest acceptance, very politely that if they could match it so I could attend their school. I initially only got a very good package from the lowest school, and basically nothing from anyone else. I was able to get decent money from the lower T-14 this way and Michigan basically matched my Cornell/Georgetown offers. Michigan's was actually better given low COA. The goal here though is to be respectful and absolutely do NOT lie. Do NOT fabricate other people's financial offers. If you read Dean Zearfoss's blog, she in fact specifically has an article on just this. I sent them an attachment that had a scanned copy of each of my awards as well as a detailed email which was basically another why mich.

This means apply broadly and do all the financial paperwork broadly ( and early). This also might mean (at least for me it did) sending in more than one deposit - just make sure none of your deposits indicate that you are withdrawing from other schools (usually the first deposit does not, but double check with every school). It's shitty to have to pay more than one deposit but it was well worth it for me. Especially since I think schools intentionally slow down financial aid negotiating to see if you will deposit. Also keep in mind that it's Michigan's policy not to negotiate once they give you some money so this was mainly successful for me because I had been given no money to begin with. You could try if you got money to do this. I have heard stories of it working, but I cannot really speak to this.

Edit: This has nothing to do with the FAFSA. I had 0 on my FAFSA (I think most people get this) but still got nothing initially from Michigan. In my email to them I cited the other schools' offers and had a bit on my particular need. I think, based on the amount I got, it was largely because of my leverage and not because of my need story. Michigan does look at need aid, but you are far more likely to be successful getting merit aid.

[Entchen]

Just got email to apply for Darrow

I was hoping to get some money, but definitely thought my GPA would put me out of the running for that. Obviously they invite lots of people to apply, so I'm not counting on anything, but still exciting to be considered.

[AreJay711]

Just got email to apply for Darrow

I was hoping to get some money, but definitely thought my GPA would put me out of the running for that. Obviously they invite lots of people to apply, so I'm not counting on anything, but still exciting to be considered.

It seems there was good news heading out. Congratulations!!

[Entchen]

It seems there was good news heading out. Congratulations!!

Thanks