University of Washington School of Law c/o 2019 Applicants (2015-2016) Forum

[robertwabisabi]

UW doesn't offer $$$ to foreign students but law school does.

That's great news! I hope they offer you a lot of scholarship money to make it worth considering.

[mcmand]

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[LincolnLawyer]

Hi all, admitted last Friday 3/4 via phone call. Submitted around 2/15. I am wondering what UW scholarship offers are usually like. I hear from current students that they are more focused on giving a bit of aid to everyone rather than big scholarships to a few. Is it even heard of for UW to give a full ride aside from gates? I get the sense that most scholarships are in the 10-25 per year range. I really want to go to UW, but I have a very generous offer from higher ranked WUSTL.

[mcmand]

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[CJRpnw]

Hi all, admitted last Friday 3/4 via phone call. Submitted around 2/15. I am wondering what UW scholarship offers are usually like. I hear from current students that they are more focused on giving a bit of aid to everyone rather than big scholarships to a few. Is it even heard of for UW to give a full ride aside from gates? I get the sense that most scholarships are in the 10-25 per year range. I really want to go to UW, but I have a very generous offer from higher ranked WUSTL.

You can get a good sense of this from any law school's ABA 509 report, including UW. http://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/ Download the report, check out Grants and Scholarships on the first page, lower right column. I've pasted it for you below. As you can see, there are people who get close to full tuition (if not full) that are not Gates Scholarship (compare the "half to full tuition" number to the "more than full tuition" number, the latter being the Gates scholarship).

Total # of students: 516, 100%
Total # receiving grants: 309, 59.9%
Less than 1/2 tuition: 251, 48.6%
Half to full tuition: 40, 7.8% (Non-Gates scholars, probably includes the ~7 Gregoire fellows)
Full tuition: 0
More than full tuition: 18, 3.5% (These are the Gates scholars)

75th Percentile grant amount $ 14,000
50th Percentile grant amount $ 9,000
25th Percentile grant amount $ 9,000

This is a really helpful breakdown! For understanding that Washington just doesn't have a lot of scholarship money to give.

[forlornhope]

Hi all, admitted last Friday 3/4 via phone call. Submitted around 2/15. I am wondering what UW scholarship offers are usually like. I hear from current students that they are more focused on giving a bit of aid to everyone rather than big scholarships to a few. Is it even heard of for UW to give a full ride aside from gates? I get the sense that most scholarships are in the 10-25 per year range. I really want to go to UW, but I have a very generous offer from higher ranked WUSTL.

You can get a good sense of this from any law school's ABA 509 report, including UW. http://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/ Download the report, check out Grants and Scholarships on the first page, lower right column. I've pasted it for you below. As you can see, there are people who get close to full tuition (if not full) that are not Gates Scholarship (compare the "half to full tuition" number to the "more than full tuition" number, the latter being the Gates scholarship).

Total # of students: 516, 100%
Total # receiving grants: 309, 59.9%
Less than 1/2 tuition: 251, 48.6%
Half to full tuition: 40, 7.8% (Non-Gates scholars, probably includes the ~7 Gregoire fellows)
Full tuition: 0
More than full tuition: 18, 3.5% (These are the Gates scholars)

75th Percentile grant amount $ 14,000
50th Percentile grant amount $ 9,000
25th Percentile grant amount $ 9,000

This is a really helpful breakdown! For understanding that Washington just doesn't have a lot of scholarship money to give.

Given the low tuition cost, I honestly prefer this approach to education. I never could comprehend why some schools have astronomical tuition costs yet also give out scholarships like candy.

[mcmand]

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[CJRpnw]

Hi all, admitted last Friday 3/4 via phone call. Submitted around 2/15. I am wondering what UW scholarship offers are usually like. I hear from current students that they are more focused on giving a bit of aid to everyone rather than big scholarships to a few. Is it even heard of for UW to give a full ride aside from gates? I get the sense that most scholarships are in the 10-25 per year range. I really want to go to UW, but I have a very generous offer from higher ranked WUSTL.

You can get a good sense of this from any law school's ABA 509 report, including UW. http://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/ Download the report, check out Grants and Scholarships on the first page, lower right column. I've pasted it for you below. As you can see, there are people who get close to full tuition (if not full) that are not Gates Scholarship (compare the "half to full tuition" number to the "more than full tuition" number, the latter being the Gates scholarship).

Total # of students: 516, 100%
Total # receiving grants: 309, 59.9%
Less than 1/2 tuition: 251, 48.6%
Half to full tuition: 40, 7.8% (Non-Gates scholars, probably includes the ~7 Gregoire fellows)
Full tuition: 0
More than full tuition: 18, 3.5% (These are the Gates scholars)

75th Percentile grant amount $ 14,000
50th Percentile grant amount $ 9,000
25th Percentile grant amount $ 9,000

This is a really helpful breakdown! For understanding that Washington just doesn't have a lot of scholarship money to give.

Your snark is noted and dismissed. No, there isn't a ton of scholarship money. That information was available to you before applying, so don't act surprised.

Become an alumnus and donate lots of money back. That's the only way there is any scholarship money to give, other than what forlornhope suggests (charge high tuition and skim large chunks off of that revenue into large scholarships for some people, creating the false impression of a lot of scholarship money). That's what schools like Georgetown and GWU do, as well as other T14s.

It would do everyone a lot of good to realize now that law school financial aid is highly inequitable. Targeting it based on merit instead of need creates a lot of problems and bad incentives. This whole website/forum is devoted to how we can take advantage of a really messed up way of delivering legal education, and the only way some of us can win is if a bunch of people lose. UW is definitely not the most egregious offender on that front, although no law school's nose is clean these days.

I wasn't being snarky. I really did think it was a helpful comment and a good reminder to keep one's expectations reasonable.

[mcmand]

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[gastronomy]

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[redtalun]

FYI the school received a $50MM donation from an alum about two years ago and scholarship #s have gone way up in the past year or two. Used to be that over $30k was unheard of (aside from Gates scholly) , but I know several 1Ls that received $75k (close to a full ride for reaidents), plus there is the Gregoire Fellowship.

[lizzielemon]

Anyone still waiting on their decision? UW is definitely one of my top choices

[googlyeyes]

current 1L at UW. Just wanted to weigh in on schollys. 3.41 GPA, 166 LSAT. got 15k/yr scholarship. There is also something that I hadn't heard about until talking to some other students, where if you have a low-enough income (unfortunately not me because married) and are an in-state resident, you can get about 9k off your tuition. This amount is not something you have to pay back, it is just a reduction based on your income. if you are a WA resident and K-JD and haven't had a substantial job, look into this, as it will lower tuition from its already relatively low amount.

FWIW, the gregoire fellowship REALLY IS a diversity fellowship (as in last names of fellows i know of are all obviously non-caucasian names). pretty sweet gig if you can land it, as you get the guaranteed 1L biglaw/in-house job (paying big $) AND the scholarship.

all in all, UW is awesome, and honestly more likely than not you will get SOME money to go here.

[gastronomy]

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[redtalun]

Email from Dean Testy addressing the leaked USN rankings: http://imgur.com/Rozc8uk

FWIW, the rankings are unlikely to affect job prospects in the PNW.

[forlornhope]

Email from Dean Testy addressing the leaked USN rankings: http://imgur.com/Rozc8uk

FWIW, the rankings are unlikely to affect job prospects in the PNW.

Good to see a quick response on this.

I know it really doesn't matter, but did anyone else have tiny feeling of disappointment (followed immediately by guilt) after seeing the latest US News rankings? It's amazing how a silly number can have such sway.

[gastronomy]

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[forlornhope]

As long as I'll be able to afford housing in Seattle before age 60, things should be alright.

[mcmand]

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[UWLawHopeful19]

Hi All,

I'm having trouble logging into the Admitted Students Portal to see the scholarship application information- does anyone know how long it takes for them to respond to issues with the ASP? Really want to make sure I can log in and complete the scholarship app before the due date on the 15th!!

[UWLawHopeful19]

Hi All,

I'm having trouble logging into the Admitted Students Portal to see the scholarship application information- does anyone know how long it takes for them to respond to issues with the ASP? Really want to make sure I can log in and complete the scholarship app before the due date on the 15th!!

Or would anyone be able to PM me the essay prompts? It would be much appreciated!

[ohialehua4444]

Hi All,

I'm having trouble logging into the Admitted Students Portal to see the scholarship application information- does anyone know how long it takes for them to respond to issues with the ASP? Really want to make sure I can log in and complete the scholarship app before the due date on the 15th!!

Or would anyone be able to PM me the essay prompts? It would be much appreciated!

I sent you a PM with the prompts Good luck!

[The_Lorax]

Withdrew today, hopefully it opens up a spot for someone either waiting or WL here!

[keezmasterflex]

Accepted to interview for the Gates scholarship on April 2nd. I'm happier than ever right now.

[OtterLaw]

Accepted to interview for the Gates scholarship on April 2nd. I'm happier than ever right now.

Hey congrats! When and how did you find out?