UC Hastings 2011 Forum

[barklm]

Just received my scholarship email from Hastings today - my initial acceptance phone call was on 2/10.

I've been asked, respectfully, by a couple of people and don't mind sharing details if it helps others.

164/3.88 - I received a 30k scholarship over three years. It is awarded based upon both "academic promise and financial need" - it's called a Dean's Renewable Scholarship Award. (The top one on their scholarship website page for entering students.) It is given in addition to any need based aid and there wasn't a grade stipulation attached/stated.

See, now everyone feels obligated to provide all their personal information.

No obligation! Just responding to some PM's I received - thought it would be easier to just post it.
I definitely think that there were other issues at hand. I chalk it up to a bad day?

In any event, I hope that others start hearing back soon too! There looks to be some movement on LSN.

Submitted 3/1. Complete (Review) 3/2. Too fast? Few apps speed up process?
Those are my concerns, so all of us are anxious, to some extent.

Definitely quick but I don't think you have anything to worry about. My app went complete in about 4 business days in early February so I think their TAT is on the faster side in general. Good luck!

[ProfitsProphets]

Maybe some of us are displaying misplaced emotions, you know, nerves, anticipation, consternation; this is a challenging time for many of us...always wondering, comparing, hoping. It's just my 2-cents.

Well I totally get that - I submitted in October and just found out I was accepted a week ago, so I understand all of the waiting and anxiety. I just think he could stand to be a little nicer, that's all.

A little pedantic, maybe.

[ProfitsProphets]

Submitted 3/1. Complete (Review) 3/2. Too fast? Few apps speed up process?
Those are my concerns, so all of us are anxious, to some extent.

Definitely quick but I don't think you have anything to worry about. My app went complete in about 4 business days in early February so I think their TAT is on the faster side in general. Good luck![/quote]

Thanks! It was a total last minute decision (preparing for LSAT retake 10/1/11) to apply. I'm a splitter, and last year's cycle taught me I should retake the LSAT. But after learning more about Hastings, I thought it wouldn't hurt to see if I can get in a year earlier.

[originalmutt]

Got my acceptance letter today, but no mention of scholly? Does that mean I didn't get one? Or do they send that separately? I apologize because I'm sure this question has been asked but I haven't been following this thread.

[ilovesf]

Got my acceptance letter today, but no mention of scholly? Does that mean I didn't get one? Or do they send that separately? I apologize because I'm sure this question has been asked but I haven't been following this thread.

Scholly info come separately, a lot of people have been getting it via e-mail, but it seems to take a while after your acceptance to receive any info.

[originalmutt]

Got my acceptance letter today, but no mention of scholly? Does that mean I didn't get one? Or do they send that separately? I apologize because I'm sure this question has been asked but I haven't been following this thread.

Scholly info come separately, a lot of people have been getting it via e-mail, but it seems to take a while after your acceptance to receive any info.

Cool, thanks. Did the folks who got fin aid already fill out the separate fin aid application? Or is that app just for need-based money and not merit schollys?

[Lasers]

i'm a moron and forgot to fill out the supplemental financial aid form before march 2nd.

then again, i don't think i would have gotten anything regardless, so...

[toster19]

Any San Diegans in here who are going to the reception 3/22?

[ejeric]

Got my acceptance letter today, but no mention of scholly? Does that mean I didn't get one? Or do they send that separately? I apologize because I'm sure this question has been asked but I haven't been following this thread.

Scholly info come separately, a lot of people have been getting it via e-mail, but it seems to take a while after your acceptance to receive any info.

I was accepted in Jan, received scholly email in late Feb, followed by snail mail about the scholly about a week later.

Does Hastings match higher schollies from other (higher ranked) schools? Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I'm a relative TLS newbie.

[drdolittle]

I was accepted in Jan, received scholly email in late Feb, followed by snail mail about the scholly about a week later.

Does Hastings match higher schollies from other (higher ranked) schools? Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I'm a relative TLS newbie.

No matching. Last year, the highest initial scholarship was around $10K. But many get significantly more grant support (i.e. free money) based on "need."

[ProfitsProphets]

i'm a moron and forgot to fill out the supplemental financial aid form before march 2nd.

then again, i don't think i would have gotten anything regardless, so...

Financial Aid is optional. According to the school's website, if a student wants to apply for financial aid, then select Option 3 (How To Apply link).

[ProfitsProphets]

Anyone who applied near the end of the cycle (close to 3/1 or on 3/1) had any contact from the school yet?

[arizona2hastings]

165/ 3.9 from U of A. 3 years with Teach For America in San Francisco.

I was accepted in early Jan and received the 10k/ year scholarship that many are talking about. I read in an interview with Dean Canada that 20% receive this schol.

I look forward to meeting many of you at the 4/7 ASD and 4/20 (Bad day for a law school) reception. I've lived in SF for 3 years in the haight and can answer any questions about the city.


I am still wondering about need aid. Have people been hearing about this? What is "need"?

Any other TFAers? Other people from U of A?

[chicityteacher]

165/ 3.9 from U of A. 3 years with Teach For America in San Francisco.

I was accepted in early Jan and received the 10k/ year scholarship that many are talking about. I read in an interview with Dean Canada that 20% receive this schol.

I look forward to meeting many of you at the 4/7 ASD and 4/20 (Bad day for a law school) reception. I've lived in SF for 3 years in the haight and can answer any questions about the city.


I am still wondering about need aid. Have people been hearing about this? What is "need"?

Any other TFAers? Other people from U of A?

TFA - Chicago here. I'm withdrawing from Hastings though, since I got in to U. of Washington.

I hope one of you get my spot!

[smittelman6]

is anyone from new york, and considering going to the NY reception?

[ProfitsProphets]

165/ 3.9 from U of A. 3 years with Teach For America in San Francisco.

I was accepted in early Jan and received the 10k/ year scholarship that many are talking about. I read in an interview with Dean Canada that 20% receive this schol.

I look forward to meeting many of you at the 4/7 ASD and 4/20 (Bad day for a law school) reception. I've lived in SF for 3 years in the haight and can answer any questions about the city.


I am still wondering about need aid. Have people been hearing about this? What is "need"?

Any other TFAers? Other people from U of A?

What is "need"?

Financial need, as in paying for law school. Many law school applicants can't afford to pay for school outright. Whether it's lack of access to supportive families, trust funds, or not coming from wealth, many applicants have to work and claw their way through school. Universities recognize this - thus, they offer $$ to address the student's "need" to survive law school.

My guess is if you have to "wonder" what financial "need" is, then you probably aren't worried about how you're going to pay for law school.

[General Tso]

that was a little harsh don't you think? no need to be so self-righteous... I did not understand financial aid terms either when I started applying for all of this. I went to a cheap state UG and had no need for student loans. Does that make me a trust fund baby?

[ProfitsProphets]

that was a little harsh don't you think? no need to be so self-righteous... I did not understand financial aid terms either when I started applying for all of this. I went to a cheap state UG and had no need for student loans. Does that make me a trust fund baby?

I wasn't trying to be "self-righteous," rather, many questions that people ask on this site can easily be answered with a little research, most notably the school's website. If someone is applying to law school, then it can be assumed they want to be a lawyer. If a person wants to be a lawyer, let alone a good lawyer, then research skills are quite necessary. Wondering about what "need" means is naive, at best. Putting the two together - law school and expensive - shouldn't require much thought about how "need" plays into that.

Most people borrow $$ anyways, although scollys would be nice, but my post isn't a jab at people with money; rather, I was trying to provoke thought, as in do some research.

[ProfitsProphets]

Plus, I just think that many people are insensitive (boasting about their scholly money, LSAT scores, or how smart they are), when, in fact, there are a lot of people on this website that literally came from nothing, and find themselves reaching for heights never once imagined (applying to law school), myself included. So, for some people, Hastings is a fallback school, and they treat Hastings like a red-headed step-child, claiming if they don't "get enough money to attend," then fine, "I was going to Michigan anyways." Or my favorite, "I'm a 174 and 3.9, how did I get rejected from Hastings?", which lends itself to this sense of entitlement.

But for many, Hastings is their first choice. It's mine. Why? Because I am a LEOP candidate, and I would pay sticker to attend!! And as a LEOP candidate, I have no chance anywhere else (proven by my last cycle) because, as I mentioned, I came from nothing, and, hey, the LSAT is one tricky test (I discovered that many answers on the LSAT are simply the logical opposite, which is found from properly symbolizing the passages). Experience makes the difference.

[arizona2hastings]

Seriously, bro. I didn't know that people still wrote like this on forums. I have done extensive research on this topic and assuming that I didn't even know the definition of need based aid is ridiculous. Research is important in law, but avoiding hasty assumptions is just common sense.

Let me rephrase my original question, which I assumed would be understood to get at how schools quantify eligibility for need, not merely the definition of need. As someone with no family money to help with school, I have been a teacher for the past three years in SF. I have not been able to save any money for school during this time and will be paying for everything myself. Yesterday, I entered my expected loan debt into a repayment calculator and was shocked at the monthly bill. Like many of you, I'm trying to get the most information on how to make this number as small as possible.

Does anyone know if Hastings bases their grants on EFC (Expected Family Contribution) and if so what is the cutoff level? I see that they give $7,000 and $15,000 grants. How many students usually receive these?

Anyone know any good private scholarships? Hastings' website has some....


Thanks and good luck to everyone!

that was a little harsh don't you think? no need to be so self-righteous... I did not understand financial aid terms either when I started applying for all of this. I went to a cheap state UG and had no need for student loans. Does that make me a trust fund baby?

I wasn't trying to be "self-righteous," rather, many questions that people ask on this site can easily be answered with a little research, most notably the school's website. If someone is applying to law school, then it can be assumed they want to be a lawyer. If a person wants to be a lawyer, let alone a good lawyer, then research skills are quite necessary. Wondering about what "need" means is naive, at best. Putting the two together - law school and expensive - shouldn't require much thought about how "need" plays into that.

Most people borrow $$ anyways, although scollys would be nice, but my post isn't a jab at people with money; rather, I was trying to provoke thought, as in do some research.

[smittelman6]

Plus, I just think that many people are insensitive (boasting about their scholly money, LSAT scores, or how smart they are), when, in fact, there are a lot of people on this website that literally came from nothing, and find themselves reaching for heights never once imagined (applying to law school), myself included. So, for some people, Hastings is a fallback school, and they treat Hastings like a red-headed step-child, claiming if they don't "get enough money to attend," then fine, "I was going to Michigan anyways." Or my favorite, "I'm a 174 and 3.9, how did I get rejected from Hastings?", which lends itself to this sense of entitlement.

But for many, Hastings is their first choice. It's mine. Why? Because I am a LEOP candidate, and I would pay sticker to attend!! And as a LEOP candidate, I have no chance anywhere else (proven by my last cycle) because, as I mentioned, I came from nothing, and, hey, the LSAT is one tricky test (I discovered that many answers on the LSAT are simply the logical opposite, which is found from properly symbolizing the passages). Experience makes the difference.

i take issue with this mainly because (a) if someone has a 174 an 3.9, they have a right to be concerned/curious why they got rejected from hastings, (b) because the logic of the lsat DOES, in fact, make sense, and you are in a very wordy way saying "this test is stupid because i didn't do well," and that reasoning isn't too great, and (c) because the purpose of this board is to be an OPEN FORUM for people to discuss acceptances, denials, and waitlists, not just one for those who picked this particular school as their top choice. the quote you use is completely valid under this topic, which is for the UC Hastings 2011 cycle. if it were posted in "UC Hastings c/o 2014" and/or the person were being explicitly rude or obnoxious, you might have some sort of argument here.

[drdolittle]

that was a little harsh don't you think? no need to be so self-righteous... I did not understand financial aid terms either when I started applying for all of this. I went to a cheap state UG and had no need for student loans. Does that make me a trust fund baby?

I wasn't trying to be "self-righteous," rather, many questions that people ask on this site can easily be answered with a little research, most notably the school's website. If someone is applying to law school, then it can be assumed they want to be a lawyer. If a person wants to be a lawyer, let alone a good lawyer, then research skills are quite necessary. Wondering about what "need" means is naive, at best. Putting the two together - law school and expensive - shouldn't require much thought about how "need" plays into that.

Most people borrow $$ anyways, although scollys would be nice, but my post isn't a jab at people with money; rather, I was trying to provoke thought, as in do some research.

If you had done your research (TLS and elsewhere) or had a bit more experience in the app cycle, you would've found 1) schools are less than honest about info they release to the public (no kidding, see, employment stats); and 2) it's not uncommon that the best or most sought-after applicants seem to get the most "need" $ at schools like Hastings in general. Hence the quotes around need. But I think you're right that there's often a correlation between "need" $ and true need. Just not as iron clad as your self-rightous tone would lead one to believe.

Also, btw, last year Hastings handed out more scholarship $ later in the cycle (to those who didn't get any $ initially) as the bulk of withdrawals came in.

[Gotti]

just withdrew...hopefully someone here will get my spot =)

[doak35]

is anyone from new york, and considering going to the NY reception?

I am definitely thinking about it- although I may end up in California that week visiting schools.

[lucky277]

Did anyone receive scholarship information this week? I was accepted by phone call in late January and haven't heard anything yet. Anyone else on this timeline still waiting for aid info?