I’m talking about paying between nothing and $1,000 per year based on credentials, ignoring need-based aid.
Based on stats alone? Zero.
@PrimeMeridian not only stats, but also SOP’s, recommendations, work experience, and additional essays.
@SeinfeldFan1: Every law school except HYS gives out merit aid. It’s entirely based on GPA/LSAT/URM. No one cares about SOPs (no idea what those are), recommendations, work experience, or additional essays.
Columbia definitely does, from what I’m told by people who received full rides. I’d think that Duke also does; it gives out pretty generous scholarships. Otherwise, I’d guess (without knowing first-hand) that most if not all of the top 10, below HYS, do.
Almost-full merit scholarships are difficult to come by in the top-ranked law schools, though partial merit aid is more common. As @Demosthenes says above, HYS do not award merit scholarships. There are prestigious named full scholarships at some of the remaining T14 schools, but the students who receive them will almost certainly be weighing those offers against acceptances at HYS. The full-tuition Rubenstein Scholars Program at UChicago is an example, and UChicago offers a few additional full-tuition awards: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/financialaid/howtofund/scholarships
Here’s an interesting 2015 article that shows the percentage of students who received full tuition/more than 50%/less than 50% in grant aid at the top 50 law schools as of (I think) 2012 (on pages 4-5 of the article): http://tippingthescales.com/2015/08/the-most-generous-law-schools/ Sorry, that’s the most recent information I can find in one place.
Two other points: some schools will offer full tuition and a stipend to some of their top applicants - I know that Vanderbilt and Northwestern do. And beware of law schools that make renewal of the scholarship contingent upon anything other than satisfactory academic progress. Some schools load their top merit recipients into the same section, placing them at a disadvantage when they’re graded on a curve.
I generally agree with Demo, but I’ll disagree here. In the case that the OP’s requests info on, consideration for a full ride does in fact include an evaluation of other items besides GPA/LSAT/URM (recommendations, essays, and the other stuff.)
For example, (nearly) everyone at Fordham LS with certain numbers will receive an automatic discount for that numbers pair (GPA-LSAT), but only a few accceptees each year are offered full tuition (Mulderig), and that is based on the other stuff in the app.
Look up a school’s 509 form. It should include data on how many partial and full scholarships they give out.
@SeinfeldFan1 - Our S applied to 14 law schools ranked from around 50 to the middle of the T14. He was admitted to 12 of them including 4 in the T14. He received full tuition offers from 3 of the schools in the T25 - T50 range. While enticing, he chose a T10 school with a partial scholarship and some healthy loans. He is just starting his 2L year and is just now completing callback interviews for summer associate positions next summer from his school’s OCI week. So far he has received six offers for next summer, all with V30 firms including 3 V10 firms, all offering the new NYC biglaw starting rate. He feels that the risk of taking loans at a T10 school was worth it as he will be able to pay off his loans in just a few years.
^ what were our son’s stats - GPA, LSAT score, any significant ec/research/leadership?
^^ 169 and 3.48. Two summers as a junior law clerk (gopher and researcher) in a smaller local firm. Led a project senior year that involved work on capitol hill meeting with congressional aides; played a club sport, was a TA in one of his business classes; spent junior fall semester abroad. He interviews very well and is an excellent writer and speaker. He was a high school medical research summer intern his jr/sr summer at a leading research hospital. He was actually initially waitlisted at three of the law schools he applied to and was able to set up interviews with the Admissions Deans and interviewed himself acceptances at all three including the school he is attending.
Thank you! This is most helpful!
Genearally, a well-thought out ‘Why this LS?’ letter to those wait listed schools can do the trick as well, to save on interview travel, if that is an issue.
That really wasn’t a problem or consideration. He had one low semester of grades that pulled his GPA down to below their median admissions figure (due to a serious family health situation that was totally out of his control) and he wanted to get in front of the decision makers to tell his story and sell himself which he was able to do. He did spend some time and a few bucks traveling to the schools but it also showed a high level of interest in the schools and I think he got some respect and consideration for that.
@Demosthenes49 you have no idea what Statements of Purpose are? Lol, I could see them not being used in the Law School admissions process, but they are a pretty common thing.
@SeinfeldFan1: If it’s not used for law schools, I neither know nor care to know. Not my area.
@Demosthenes49 very friendly.
@SeinfeldFan1: I spend some of my free time making sure prospective law students like you have accurate information. You’re welcome.
@Demosthenes49 that’s good for you.