SMU Dedman applicants c/o 2019 (2015-2016) Forum

[p1921]

"Held for further review"-I applied ED in September. Anyone have any experience with this?

Held after ED usually means they're considering you with regular applicants.

[thetravelinglawyer]

If you applied before Nov 15 then you are supposed to be guaranteed an answer before end of January, so held for review likely means you won't have your answer this month. Check the c/o 18 and c/o 17 threads, there is probably some info there on when the ED holdovers got their responses.

[polinter]

If you applied before Nov 15 then you are supposed to be guaranteed an answer before end of January, so held for review likely means you won't have your answer this month. Check the c/o 18 and c/o 17 threads, there is probably some info there on when the ED holdovers got their responses.

That clarifies my situation. Thank you!

[ash0410]

Does SMU offer travel stipends to visit the school?

[blonde&confused]

Hellloo. I've lurked for a while now but decided I'd finally get an account lol. Accepted a couple of weeks ago with 30k/yr. Anyone planning on going to one of the ASDs?

[thetravelinglawyer]

Does SMU offer travel stipends to visit the school?

No they don't, I just asked about this yesterday I am coming in for the April 1 ASD

[BigTex]

Hellloo. I've lurked for a while now but decided I'd finally get an account lol. Accepted a couple of weeks ago with 30k/yr. Anyone planning on going to one of the ASDs?

I'm planning on going to one of them. Still debating on which one to go to.

[p1921]

Hellloo. I've lurked for a while now but decided I'd finally get an account lol. Accepted a couple of weeks ago with 30k/yr. Anyone planning on going to one of the ASDs?

Without a Sumners or Hughes that's about the most anyone will get. Congrats, that's impressive.

[blonde&confused]

Hellloo. I've lurked for a while now but decided I'd finally get an account lol. Accepted a couple of weeks ago with 30k/yr. Anyone planning on going to one of the ASDs?

Without a Sumners or Hughes that's about the most anyone will get. Congrats, that's impressive.

Oh that's good to know! I was thinking about trying to ask for more but I heard SMU doesn't really negotiate. Unfortunately I don't qualify for the Sumners or the Hughes. But SMU is definitely still one of my top choices. I'm going to the March 4th ASD to check it out, it'll be my first time in Dallas too.

[thetravelinglawyer]

Oh that's good to know! I was thinking about trying to ask for more but I heard SMU doesn't really negotiate. Unfortunately I don't qualify for the Sumners or the Hughes. But SMU is definitely still one of my top choices. I'm going to the March 4th ASD to check it out, it'll be my first time in Dallas too.

Never hurts to ask, but don't hold your breath, I don't think I've seen a single example of anyone getting their offer bumped, even from those with a full ride to a higher ranked school. 30k is a very impressive offer from them, congrats.

Dallas is a cool city, a really great place to go to school too. Low cost of living, friendly people, good sense of community, tons of culture, always some event/concert/festival going on, easy and cheap travel thanks to two airports, surprisingly good public transport for a car-heavy city, healthy job market if you choose to stay there. Unfortunately SMU is located smack in the middle of the most expensive area of Dallas (Highland Park/University Park, which is actually the most expensive area in the whole of Texas), but there are niches for students for affordable living. I think you'll like it!

[p1921]

Hellloo. I've lurked for a while now but decided I'd finally get an account lol. Accepted a couple of weeks ago with 30k/yr. Anyone planning on going to one of the ASDs?

Without a Sumners or Hughes that's about the most anyone will get. Congrats, that's impressive.

Oh that's good to know! I was thinking about trying to ask for more but I heard SMU doesn't really negotiate. Unfortunately I don't qualify for the Sumners or the Hughes. But SMU is definitely still one of my top choices. I'm going to the March 4th ASD to check it out, it'll be my first time in Dallas too.

The Sumners doesn't have specific requirements if I remember correctly, besides being admitted by a certain date so they can narrow down their applicants. I would definitely apply if I were you. It can't hurt.

[thetravelinglawyer]

The Sumners doesn't have specific requirements if I remember correctly, besides being admitted by a certain date so they can narrow down their applicants. I would definitely apply if I were you. It can't hurt.

You have to be a resident of, or attended college in, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas for Sumners.

[hopefulJDfor2016]

"Held for further review"-I applied ED in September. Anyone have any experience with this?

how were you notified? my regular mail or by your "Applicant Online Status?" I submitted mine in October, but my file went "complete" on 1/4 and I still haven't heard anything.

[Echoduck]

"Held for further review"-I applied ED in September. Anyone have any experience with this?

how were you notified? my regular mail or by your "Applicant Online Status?" I submitted mine in October, but my file went "complete" on 1/4 and I still haven't heard anything.

My status checker updated and I received an email.

[blonde&confused]

The Sumners doesn't have specific requirements if I remember correctly, besides being admitted by a certain date so they can narrow down their applicants. I would definitely apply if I were you. It can't hurt.

You have to be a resident of, or attended college in, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas for Sumners.

So many states, none of them mine. But I think that I'm going to ask for a reconsideration. I know I already received a large offer and it is a long shot but even if it was just a little bit more it would help. I really like SMU, but only paying $5k a year at a similar school is very tempting... Should I add some sort of note in the email with my reconsideration form?

[p1921]

The Sumners doesn't have specific requirements if I remember correctly, besides being admitted by a certain date so they can narrow down their applicants. I would definitely apply if I were you. It can't hurt.

You have to be a resident of, or attended college in, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas for Sumners.

So many states, none of them mine. But I think that I'm going to ask for a reconsideration. I know I already received a large offer and it is a long shot but even if it was just a little bit more it would help. I really like SMU, but only paying $5k a year at a similar school is very tempting... Should I add some sort of note in the email with my reconsideration form?

It won't hurt to add a note. It'll come down to where you want to practice. If you want to practice in Dallas, paying more will probably be beneficial, but if you want to practice in your "similar school" geographic area for only $5k/year you would be MUCH better off doing that. Just my $.02.

[eagle2a]

The Sumners doesn't have specific requirements if I remember correctly, besides being admitted by a certain date so they can narrow down their applicants. I would definitely apply if I were you. It can't hurt.

You have to be a resident of, or attended college in, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas for Sumners.

So many states, none of them mine. But I think that I'm going to ask for a reconsideration. I know I already received a large offer and it is a long shot but even if it was just a little bit more it would help. I really like SMU, but only paying $5k a year at a similar school is very tempting... Should I add some sort of note in the email with my reconsideration form?

FWIW I had close to a full ride at a similarly ranked school, which made it 15k cheaper than SMU, but couldn't get them to increase their offer.

[BasilHallward]

Same experience. They won't budge re scholarship. I had an acceptance to UT (in state) with $ and they wouldn't budge. If you are fortunate to get a full scholly from them, there's a stupid top 1/3 requirement. The 30k guaranteed is arguably better, depending on your risk profile

[sneijder]

Same experience. They won't budge re scholarship. I had an acceptance to UT (in state) with $ and they wouldn't budge. If you are fortunate to get a full scholly from them, there's a stupid top 1/3 requirement. The 30k guaranteed is arguably better, depending on your risk profile

Owe wow.

[thetravelinglawyer]

The 30k guaranteed is arguably better, depending on your risk profile

This is something I have been thinking about. On the (admittedly slim) chance of a Sumners, is it worth the risk of the stip? If you finish out of 1/3, the assumption is that your scholarship goes to $0. What is better, a relatively guaranteed half or a risky full? Tough call IMO.

[BVest]

The 30k guaranteed is arguably better, depending on your risk profile

This is something I have been thinking about. On the (admittedly slim) chance of a Sumners, is it worth the risk of the stip? If you finish out of 1/3, the assumption is that your scholarship goes to $0. What is better, a relatively guaranteed half or a risky full? Tough call IMO.

I've never known anyone personally in the situation, but I've always been skeptical that they take it to zero (unless you totally crap the bed and would risk losing a "good academic standing" scholarship as well). But it happens to so few people every year, it's hard to know unless you know/are one of those people, and ABA reporting only asks for "reduced or eliminated". Here's their scholarships with stips record (Sumners and Hughes) for the past 4 years:

2011-12: 0/13 reduced or eliminated
2012-13: 3/9
2013-14: 2/15
2014-15: 0/12

It's a fair question though.

[p1921]

I would assume that if you got a Sumners or Hughes and missed the stip, you would revert back to your initial offer (so $30k, for blonde). Not even SMU is that ridiculous.

[kalvano]

SMU also makes a very pointed effort to ensure that Sumners people do not fall out of the top 10%, much less the top 1/3.

[ChampionshipPressure]

Checking in. Who's going to ASD on 3/4? Kalvano, how does SMU make it a point to keep Sumners in the top 10%? What sort of special treatment do they get? Just curious.

[thetravelinglawyer]

Checking in. Who's going to ASD on 3/4? Kalvano, how does SMU make it a point to keep Sumners in the top 10%? What sort of special treatment do they get? Just curious.

I can't speak to what they do to keep the Sumners in the top (though I have heard that from multiple people), but I do know it's a lot more than a scholarship. They have private meetings and networking events with major Dallas figures, visiting professors/judges/celebs, law firms, etc, they get hooked up with internships in DC if they want them, they get calls made to get them clerkships or summer associate positions, etc. It's a sweet gig if you can get it (and meet the stip).