Top Law Schools

Hi there. So this has been briefly mentioned (in the link at the end), but I was wondering if anyone had any more advice to offer on how fee waivers are indicators of chances of acceptance.

I've gotten a lot of fee waivers, mostly from schools which, based on my gpa and lsat, seem like schools where I expect not only admission but a large scholarship, because their median figures are well below my own. However, there are a few that I've gotten that I just don't think I have a real chance at. One, just as an example (I've had offers from ones that are even more out of my league), has a 25th percentile lsat which exactly matches my lsat, but my gpa is below their own 25th. The LSAC predictor gives me an estimated 0-10% chance of admittance, which I just look at as basically 0%.

So what I'm curious about is this: how well do these act as a gauge for admissions chances? From my understanding, BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ, they're issued based on LSAT scores alone, drawn from the LSAT test when people check to share their score with schools. And (again, BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ) some schools seem to actually send out letters to improve their number of applicants even if they know they won't accept the applicant, because it has some effect on their rankings - basically that schools that admit a smaller percentage of applicants get a boost, and obviously you can lower your acceptance rates by getting people who you'll never accept to apply (see link below for formula). So it sounds real gamey and as though it is not a good indicator, but even with this I've HEARD that applicants with fee waivers do have better chances of admission - which basically just says that your numbers, namely on the LSAT, are within the appropriate range, right?

So in my thinking in this particular case this school, the one which LSAC gave me a "0-10% chance of admittance" is an app where I probably have about as good a chance of admittance as I do winning at roulette, but that since I'd only be paying the LSAC fee per school (which itself has gone up to $30, see link below) the crap shoot is worth it a stab in the dark.

What are other people's thoughts on fee waivers? Any indicator at all of chances for acceptance, or simply something to take advantage of if you want to go to a given school? Would any of you actually decide not to apply to a school that gave them a fee waiver because you thought your chances were too slim?



http://www.top-law-schools.com/guide-to ... ivers.html
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-gr ... ethodology
http://www.lsac.org/jd/applying-to-law- ... ol-reports

Apply to the schools you want to go to. This analytical neurosis is a little much. If it's free, that's better than it not being free. If you have no shot a fee waiver doesn't change things.

Clearly wrote:Apply to the schools you want to go to. This analytical neurosis is a little much. If it's free, that's better than it not being free. If you have no shot a fee waiver doesn't change things.

This is true I will just add that it probably is true as the OP suggested that these waivers can be used to game the system. It is far more likely a lot of people will apply when it costs only the LSAC fee instead of that fee and the School fee. This can make schools appear more selective. That being said, people who aren't close generally don't get fee waivers. For example I didn't get a fee waiver to UCLA and Vanderbilt 5 years ago when I only had a high 150s LSAT and I got both unsolicited the day after I updated my cycle with my new score.

I don't think though in most cases the schools are really trying to "game" it that much though. I fact, it can be understood as a pretty rational business decision. If you *could* be a potential admit, which your scores suggest is within the realm of possibility, the school wants to encourage you to apply. Why? Well you will almost for sure end up on the Waitlist if you don't get dinged, but maybe applicants will be low this year to that school or an abnormal amount of people will select to go elsewhere, pull out last minute, etc. The school is essentially buying insurance by soliciting your app with a fee waiver. Extraordinary things happen. A guy I saw on the Cornell Waitlist Thread got in with a 158 and 3.83 as a white male.

Short answer is don't worry too much, if you want to go to one of those schools and you got a fee waiver apply. Your at least somewhat in the running. It'll be up to you if you want to pay sticker or close to it if you get in

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