c/o 2019 Applicant Compendium (2015 - 2016) Forum

[CJRpnw]

Oh hey for everyone thinking about financial aid! Did y'all already fill out your FASFA and Need Access Application? Some schools have deadlines for that by the first week of February.

Do you know, off-handedly, which schools require it sooner? I asked my parents to aim for Feb 15, and can definitely sort through each school individually, but if you know....

I do not know. But for most schools they only differ from each other by one or two questions. And you only have to fill out one application regardless of how many different schools it for and each school will just tack on its question at the end in the 'school specific questions'

Some of the school-specific questions were a little sketchy. Not sure which school it was that wanted me to agree to allow them to release my/my parents' personal financial information to organizations of their choosing. I'm sure it was just for donor-supported scholarships, but yeesh, talk about a stipulation most lawyers would cringe at.

[Nachoo2019]

I was accepted to DePaul with almost a full tuition scholarship a few weeks ago. I was not really considering seeing as their job placement and regional competition is not very desirable. Fast forward two weeks and I received a phone call welcoming "Lauren" to DePaul College of Law.... My name is Kamron... Huge turn off when you can't even get your admits name right on the phone

[ugg]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

same question... we didn't do FAFSA for undergrad for this reason. Will i still have to do it for law school if I don't expect need-based aid but do want to apply for loans?

I'm pretty sure a lot of schools said you need to fill it out if you want to be considered for ANY kind of aid, including merit aid and definitely including loans. Honestly, after doing Need Access the FAFSA is a piece of cake, so if that's all you have to do consider yourself lucky...

I don't think merit aid has anything to do with it. That being said, I didn't realize that the FAFSA takes into account received merit aid? Or am I confused?

[CJRpnw]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

same question... we didn't do FAFSA for undergrad for this reason. Will i still have to do it for law school if I don't expect need-based aid but do want to apply for loans?

I'm pretty sure a lot of schools said you need to fill it out if you want to be considered for ANY kind of aid, including merit aid and definitely including loans. Honestly, after doing Need Access the FAFSA is a piece of cake, so if that's all you have to do consider yourself lucky...

I don't think merit aid has anything to do with it. That being said, I didn't realize that the FAFSA takes into account received merit aid? Or am I confused?

Some schools, as I understand it, will not even consider merit aid offers until getting back FAFSA and Need Access materials. That seems to be the case with the UCs, for example -- UC Davis, UC Berkeley, etc. I think it kind of sucks too, but it must be a time-saver on their end.

[pittsburghpirates]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

same question... we didn't do FAFSA for undergrad for this reason. Will i still have to do it for law school if I don't expect need-based aid but do want to apply for loans?

I'm pretty sure a lot of schools said you need to fill it out if you want to be considered for ANY kind of aid, including merit aid and definitely including loans. Honestly, after doing Need Access the FAFSA is a piece of cake, so if that's all you have to do consider yourself lucky...

I don't think merit aid has anything to do with it. That being said, I didn't realize that the FAFSA takes into account received merit aid? Or am I confused?

Also worth noting that if you want federal loans, you'll need to do the FAFSA regardless of need

[Li'l Sebastian]

Some of the school-specific questions were a little sketchy. Not sure which school it was that wanted me to agree to allow them to release my/my parents' personal financial information to organizations of their choosing. I'm sure it was just for donor-supported scholarships, but yeesh, talk about a stipulation most lawyers would cringe at.

Eh. For a the thousands of dollars in need aid you'll receive I think it's worth it.

[ugg]

Realizing I know absolutely nothing about financial aid.

[ugg]

So assuming I have a full ride at a school, what are the chances I'll get financial aid for cost of living expenses? Zero, I assume?

[lymenheimer]

So assuming I have a full ride at a school, what are the chances I'll get financial aid for cost of living expenses? Zero, I assume?

FAFSA is required for government loans and baed on my understanding, you will be able to take out the sticker price worth of loans regardless of your individual or parental income (don't know if scholarship drops it down to remaining estimated COA, but income shouldn't affect eligibility for govt loans).

[ugg]

So assuming I have a full ride at a school, what are the chances I'll get financial aid for cost of living expenses? Zero, I assume?

FAFSA is required for government loans and baed on my understanding, you will be able to take out the sticker price worth of loans regardless of your individual or parental income (don't know if scholarship drops it down to remaining estimated COA, but income shouldn't affect eligibility for govt loans).

Thanks.

[mabes]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

same question... we didn't do FAFSA for undergrad for this reason. Will i still have to do it for law school if I don't expect need-based aid but do want to apply for loans?

I'm pretty sure a lot of schools said you need to fill it out if you want to be considered for ANY kind of aid, including merit aid and definitely including loans. Honestly, after doing Need Access the FAFSA is a piece of cake, so if that's all you have to do consider yourself lucky...

I don't think merit aid has anything to do with it. That being said, I didn't realize that the FAFSA takes into account received merit aid? Or am I confused?

Also worth noting that if you want federal loans, you'll need to do the FAFSA regardless of need

this was what I was unsure of, ty

[pittsburghpirates]

So assuming I have a full ride at a school, what are the chances I'll get financial aid for cost of living expenses? Zero, I assume?

As I understand it yep this is the case. Since you are already receiving such a large chunk of assistance, they will not provide additional need based aid to cover the full cost of attendance. Congrats again on the Hamilton!

[lemonparty]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

[ugg]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

They don't care unless you declare yourself independent, I believe.

[lymenheimer]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

They don't care unless you declare yourself independent, I believe.

There's a question for expected parent contribution on the Need Access...If not, there is a huge box at the end that you can write in circumstances that were not answered in the other parts of your (Need Access) application. I remember not filling in this box, so I am assuming that my first statement is true. How the schools take that into consideration, I do not know. Some explicitly say they do take it into consideration, others are silent.

[ugg]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

They don't care unless you declare yourself independent, I believe.

There's a question for expected parent contribution on the Need Access...If not, there is a huge box at the end that you can write in circumstances that were not answered in the other parts of your (Need Access) application. I remember not filling in this box, so I am assuming that my first statement is true. How the schools take that into consideration, I do not know. Some explicitly say they do take it into consideration, others are silent.

On FAFSA, I'm seeing you can opt out of mentioning parents at all if your school allows it. Anyone know how this makes any sense??? lol

[Li'l Sebastian]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

They don't care unless you declare yourself independent, I believe.

This makes since based on the stated goal of supplying need based aid as a form of social mobility.

There's actually no point in supplying need aid outside of loans if all you're trying to do is making sure everyone can pay for law school, since everyone can loan finance regardless of their own or parents credit history.

They don't want those who don't come from households raking in 6 figures to have to additionally be burdened with excessive loans.

[lymenheimer]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

They don't care unless you declare yourself independent, I believe.

There's a question for expected parent contribution on the Need Access...If not, there is a huge box at the end that you can write in circumstances that were not answered in the other parts of your (Need Access) application. I remember not filling in this box, so I am assuming that my first statement is true. How the schools take that into consideration, I do not know. Some explicitly say they do take it into consideration, others are silent.

On FAFSA, I'm seeing you can opt out of mentioning parents at all if your school allows it. Anyone know how this makes any sense??? lol

The bolded is where it comes in. I don't know of a school that allows you to opt out unless you fit the "independent and 26+" criteria. The schools use a combination of fafsa and need access for need-based aid awards, but the federal government doesn't need to know your parent's info if you are filing as independent but need federal loans.

[ltbenn]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

They don't care unless you declare yourself independent, I believe.

There's a question for expected parent contribution on the Need Access...If not, there is a huge box at the end that you can write in circumstances that were not answered in the other parts of your (Need Access) application. I remember not filling in this box, so I am assuming that my first statement is true. How the schools take that into consideration, I do not know. Some explicitly say they do take it into consideration, others are silent.

On FAFSA, I'm seeing you can opt out of mentioning parents at all if your school allows it. Anyone know how this makes any sense??? lol

Federal aid (ie, loans) does not require grad students to report parental information.

However, many law schools require it for financial aid considerations (which some merge with merit).

If you're only going for loans - fill out the FAFSA without parental info and that's probably it.
If you're going for any kind of money you can get - I'm 90% sure you can file FAFSA without parental info, submit NeedAccess with parental info, and (depending on the school) there will probably be additional forms that may include more info. You will probably have to send in signed copies of both your and your parents' 2015 tax returns later on.

[ugg]

So there's basically no point to me filling out FAFSA if my parents make over $200,000 and I'm under 26, right?

Same boat... But they're not helping me finance at all, is there any way to indicate this on the form? Only completed the basics so far

They don't care unless you declare yourself independent, I believe.

There's a question for expected parent contribution on the Need Access...If not, there is a huge box at the end that you can write in circumstances that were not answered in the other parts of your (Need Access) application. I remember not filling in this box, so I am assuming that my first statement is true. How the schools take that into consideration, I do not know. Some explicitly say they do take it into consideration, others are silent.

On FAFSA, I'm seeing you can opt out of mentioning parents at all if your school allows it. Anyone know how this makes any sense??? lol

The bolded is where it comes in. I don't know of a school that allows you to opt out unless you fit the "independent and 26+" criteria. The schools use a combination of fafsa and need access for need-based aid awards, but the federal government doesn't need to know your parent's info if you are filing as independent.

Columbia does....

http://web.law.columbia.edu/financial-a ... ying/fafsa

[lymenheimer]

On FAFSA, I'm seeing you can opt out of mentioning parents at all if your school allows it. Anyone know how this makes any sense??? lol

The bolded is where it comes in. I don't know of a school that allows you to opt out unless you fit the "independent and 26+" criteria. The schools use a combination of fafsa and need access for need-based aid awards, but the federal government doesn't need to know your parent's info if you are filing as independent.

Columbia does....

http://web.law.columbia.edu/financial-a ... ying/fafsa

Well I didn't look at Columbia since I didn't apply there. but the bolded is pretty much what they say as well, so I guess I was right? lucky guess, I suppose.

[ugg]

It's about half way through the cycle... regulars want to update with where they think they're likely going to end up?

[curious bobcat]

Not a regular poster (more like regular lurker) but I think I'll end up at Harvard.

I didn't get a Hamilton, I don't think I'll get a Ruby, and I didn't apply to NYU. Otherwise, I'm not sure any other scholarship could change my mind. My goal is AUSA or PD, but with the insane competitiveness of the former, I'll probably be maxing out LIPP as a PD--so I'm not too worried about the debt.

[Hildegard15]

It's about half way through the cycle... regulars want to update with where they think they're likely going to end up?

I'm still thinking Columbia will end up being the winner

[urbanist11]

If $ comes through then Berkeley. If not (and assuming I am admitted - not to put the cart before the horse) then probably Northwestern.

Though Michigan and Duke are also strong contenders (no school is out of contention this early, obviously).