Duke Law School c/o 2020 Applicants (2016-2017) Forum

[TAD]

On CSS, when it says enter parents' wages, salaries, etc, received... is it assuming gross or net?

That language implied to me it was asking for line 07 on their 1040

I'm international. For line 07, on the 1040, do you know which one it is you use?

[brinicolec]

Just checked the status checker for the first time in a couple days. Went UR sometime yesterday (12/12)

[carlos_danger]

Do we have to do our 2016 taxes before finishing the need-based financial aid application?

[proteinshake]

Do we have to do our 2016 taxes before finishing the need-based financial aid application?

the CSS profile asks for my 2015 info

[carlos_danger]

Do we have to do our 2016 taxes before finishing the need-based financial aid application?

the CSS profile asks for my 2015 info

Thx

[taxman14]

Do we have to do our 2016 taxes before finishing the need-based financial aid application?

the CSS profile asks for my 2015 info

Nope - the CSS just asks for 2016/17 estimates

[Dr.Degrees_Cr.Cash]

On CSS, when it says enter parents' wages, salaries, etc, received... is it assuming gross or net?

That language implied to me it was asking for line 07 on their 1040

I'm international. For line 07, on the 1040, do you know which one it is you use?

Yeah sorry, might have been unnecessarily glib. It's the "gross" figure in that it's your total wages less any tax deductible deductions. Basically the total amount of all pay stubs before tax withholding if your country has that

[LawTweet]

Got in! Applied on 12/5 and heard back today. Of course it's a "provisional acceptance" but I'm still happy.

[proteinshake]

got a letter in the mail about reasons to choose Duke and stuff.

[addie1412]

got a letter in the mail about reasons to choose Duke and stuff.

+1

[noroomfordoubt]

Hey y'all! Long-time lurker and first time poster.
I didn't come across this in my searches, so forgive me if it's been asked and answered, but for PT applicants: has anyone else had the situation where on the status checker, your current status is "under review," but "welcome packet" is listed in your mailings? Ideas on what this means? Thanks!

[Christinabruin]

got a letter in the mail about reasons to choose Duke and stuff.

+1

+2

[TAD]

On CSS, when it says enter parents' wages, salaries, etc, received... is it assuming gross or net?

That language implied to me it was asking for line 07 on their 1040

I'm international. For line 07, on the 1040, do you know which one it is you use?

Yeah sorry, might have been unnecessarily glib. It's the "gross" figure in that it's your total wages less any tax deductible deductions. Basically the total amount of all pay stubs before tax withholding if your country has that

Okay perfect. Thank you.

[Christinabruin]

Hey y'all! Long-time lurker and first time poster.
I didn't come across this in my searches, so forgive me if it's been asked and answered, but for PT applicants: has anyone else had the situation where on the status checker, your current status is "under review," but "welcome packet" is listed in your mailings? Ideas on what this means? Thanks!

It said "welcome packet" under my mailings after I got my acceptance email and after my status changed to "decision made." So maybe you missed your acceptance email? What day of PT are you?

[chargers21]

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[govlife]

You all were not joking about how big of a pain the CSS profile thing was. Geesh, I hope every school doesn't have something like this.

Luckily, it looks like a lot of them use Profile too at this point.

[Stephylynette]

Applied under PT and accepted!!! My LSAT is a mess so to even get PT was exciting but the acceptance blew my mind. Feeling good y'all

[brinicolec]

Applied under PT and accepted!!! My LSAT is a mess so to even get PT was exciting but the acceptance blew my mind. Feeling good y'all

Congrats!

[Kaylasvi]

My PT application went complete on the 5th and I still haven't heard back. Is it normal for them to use all 10 days or is this bad news for me? What's the protocol if I haven't heard by the 15th?

[zeglo]

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[LawTweet]

I haven't received the scholarship forms yet but I'm already concerned. My parents have already shared that they will not be providing any financial support to me for law school. They are also outraged that schools expect a parental contribution and have thus said that they will not be providing any of their information for a financial aid application. For what it's worth, I'm completely financially independent and have been out of school for several years.

Anyway, I accepted my parents' directives without any sort of a fight. I had never really expected to receive any need-based aid anyway. My plan is to pursue the merit aid route and supplement with loans. But it sounds like Duke requires a need-based aid application to qualify for merit-based aid. Will I now be ineligible for merit scholarships because of my parents' refusal to provide their financial information?

[Baby Gaga]

I haven't received the scholarship forms yet but I'm already concerned. My parents have already shared that they will not be providing any financial support to me for law school. They are also outraged that schools expect a parental contribution and have thus said that they will not be providing any of their information for a financial aid application. For what it's worth, I'm completely financially independent and have been out of school for several years.

Anyway, I accepted my parents' directives without any sort of a fight. I had never really expected to receive any need-based aid anyway. My plan is to pursue the merit aid route and supplement with loans. But it sounds like Duke requires a need-based aid application to qualify for merit-based aid. Will I now be ineligible for merit scholarships because of my parents' refusal to provide their financial information?

No you can say that you're signing up for merit aid only and then you only fill out the regular scholarship app.

[azaleafire]

My PT application went complete on the 5th and I still haven't heard back. Is it normal for them to use all 10 days or is this bad news for me? What's the protocol if I haven't heard by the 15th?

I am a few pages up, but I literally went UR2 at 1pm on my 10th day and they emailed me like 4 hours later. So yeah, sometimes it does take the whole time.

[eck456]

I haven't received the scholarship forms yet but I'm already concerned. My parents have already shared that they will not be providing any financial support to me for law school. They are also outraged that schools expect a parental contribution and have thus said that they will not be providing any of their information for a financial aid application. For what it's worth, I'm completely financially independent and have been out of school for several years.

Anyway, I accepted my parents' directives without any sort of a fight. I had never really expected to receive any need-based aid anyway. My plan is to pursue the merit aid route and supplement with loans. But it sounds like Duke requires a need-based aid application to qualify for merit-based aid. Will I now be ineligible for merit scholarships because of my parents' refusal to provide their financial information?

I would call the financial aid office and explain to them you are 100% independent of your parents...if you can show that you've been self-supporting for x # of years and say your parents 100% refuse to provide financial info you might be able to get them to accept a financial aid app for need just on your own, with a $0 EFC. That's not to say you won't still need to get loans, but often offices are willing to work with people when there's a situation like this (I'm an ex-college prep advisor, and I've been to a bunch of financial aid conferences/ workshops). I personally messed this up on my college forms and wound up loosing out on $$, so just remember that SOME need based aid is better than NONE if they're willing to at least look @ you on your own merits. This actually isn't super rare - think about if you're a foster kid or something and don't have an adult guardian, or people who don't have regular contact with a parent

ETA: The financial aid office can choose to be dicks about it of course, but just don't give up on trying at all for need based and relying on loans without talking to someone. This also differs institution to institution, so if you're applying to more than one school I'd talk individually with each institution, because someone's bound to be a jerk and toe the line but someone else is going to be nice and help you out. Good luck!

[chargers21]

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