Strategy for Full Merit/Need based scholarship

Paying for College
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<p>What negative ramifications could there be? People have divorced for worse reasons and colleges are not going to ask why you’ve gotten divorced. A divorce is a divorce is a divorce: legally, they’re not tied anymore and neither are their personal incomes and finances.</p>

<p>It doesn’t sound like OP is getting a divorce for FA reasons - she said “sadly,” and the way she mentioned it made it sound like it was already in the works even when she first asked the question. Regardless, I don’t see how it could possibly affect her FA.</p>

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<p>Thank you so much Juillet. I appreciate you coming to my defense. I don’t see how MTpaper would even muster to imply something like that, throwing low blows which in my opinion is not only insulting but most importantly incorrect but I digress with MTPaper… </p>

<p>Juillet, I read your post yesterday and I must that my first intended reply was a bit emotional, and I am glad I retracted it all after a good night sleep. You have shared a lot of invaluable information for which I am appreciative and made me realize just how hard it is to finance law school. It is rather depressing because I know my credit is bad and there is no way in the world I will be to incur any out of pocket cost to cover the cost of law school, thus my only chance is my opinion is a full ride scholarship or anything else that will PAY the difference… So far it looks bad… but I am determined to get there. </p>

<p>I thought about going back to France Juillet and attend law school there for free at la Sorbonne University but I firmly believe that American education will help me so much more if I ever were to return to France and increase my chances in a country where people like me do not stand a chance. I am a French/Algerian and Black woman ( Mixed). I endured many obstacles to be here and to even debate with people here is something I do not take for granted. Having spent considerable amount of time in North Africa and having even witnessed some of my family members being slaughter during the 1990 genocide in Algeria makes me realize just how fortunate I am here to be here debating with people… I can say that freedom of speech is something sacred, but that alone does not guarantee happiness. To me the only way is education, let me be clear, an American education is invaluable but a first class one will ensure that I no longer suffer acute disparities and escape from a destiny that has been traced the moment I was born. At time I get sick and tired of hearing people complain about how hard they have it. I know I have it good coming from where I come from. My stomach aches so hard thinking about what I have endured and witnessed back home. My stomach hurts so hard when I think about all my brothers and sisters suffering in North African and in France where racism in entrenched at all levels and where institutionalized apartheid is rampant at all levels of society. </p>

<p>When I have stated that my life experience is unique, it was not to lessen the experience of others of discredit them for that matter. I know Los Angelinos travel and have international experience. I have actually met my husband a Los Angelino overseas in Germany to be exact so I am aware of that and my goal is certainly not dismiss their experience especially with regards to my latinos brothers and sisters. I know how hard THEY have it. I actually do a lot of community work, to promote the French culture and encourage young minorities to study French. I hold French book drive and donate Free French books in the most underprivileged sections of Los Angeles ( Compton, Inglewood, Watts, Echo Park, East LA, Highland Park) in order to promote French Diversity and encourage blacks and latinos to have a competitive edge and destroy the notion that French is language reserved to the elite class or to rich Americans who can afford to send kids to rich French schools in LA. I can go on, and on, and on about the community activism that I am involve in because I am a resident to that community. I look up to people like Angela Davis, and Thurgo Marshall who embody courage and fearlessness and were not scared of anything. </p>

<p>Finally, I am not trying to convince anyone here but myself. My goal is to give myself a first class education and have a chance to survive in a world where equity are still PROFOUND even here in the states! I am not putting down Cal State, but I am playing ranking game because it’s rough out here and I want a chance and sadly ranking still RULES in this world and so does money… When I was accepted at NYU I was elated beyond words but that sentiment quickly dissipated after realizing that I could not afford NYU or did not the credit to acquire private loans because my credit is so bad due to medical bills. </p>

<p>My impeding divorce with my husband is another reason where I am pressed to get what it takes to get there. Let’s all be on the same page and this is directed at low blow comments of MTpaper… Again, thank you Juillet, I know the road is not an easy one but I am not afraid of challenges I just which things were not as challenging at times :-)… Now I know I have big mouth and hold strong opinions, but that’s me, I have always been that way lol… I hope I was able to clear the air because your post made me think “wow, wait a minute… That’s wrong, that’s not me at all…”</p>

<p>I am not a snob, and I resent my fellow French counterparts snobs and my North African macho brothers, perhaps it is the reason why I married an American , but it is also the reason, why I am divorcing him :slight_smile: well my big mouth is the reason… but that’s another TOPIC… </p>

<p>Take care,
Miss monde</p>

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<p>Missmonde, a dear friend of mine went back to school via cc and then the local state college to get pre med courses to go to medical school. Despite a 4.0 average–not one grade did she get that was not an A, and a 10-10-10 MCAT score, she did not get into a single medical school, her first round. She got one waitlist the second time around and got a spot at the very last minute. This is a woman who had very high SATs some years ago, graduated from a private college summa cum laude, and then a 4.0 in science courses for her premed some years later. She did not get a dime in scholarship money for med school either. Had to borrow every cent.</p>

<p>College is largely though not entirely, a business. Colleges accept students that will enhance their school not only in terms of academic excellence, but also will make the environment of the school attractive to other students who are considering applying there. Non traditional students are a detriment when it comes to attracting the fresh crops of students each year coming out of high school. Yes, those are the kids that make the school in terms of the future. Accepting a student like you, does not help that at all. For you to gain acceptance,you have to be truly remarkable in what you bring to the table in terms of experience and academics, and frankly, from what you have written, it is truly not over the top.</p>

<p>I have known foreign students who have come here on Fullbrights and through other programs that have every bit of what you do and they bring with them the experience of going to school in their home country. They don’t need another CC non traditional student. Those are very typical and CA is having problems placing all of them ANYWHERE, much less paying for them. Why should they pay for what they have standing in line willing to pay? </p>

<p>Basically, in the cases I have seen with married folks going to top colleges for ug degrees on a non traditional basis, both husband and wife have to sacrifice their life styles to live in the student ghetto and put that money towards college, and borrow heavily. YOU have to invest in yourself. Hopefully it will pay off.</p>

<p>Top law schools don’t tend to care where you went to college. That 4.0 and your LSAT score is what is going to be the main determinant. Keep that 4.0 and get close to perfect on the LSAT and you have a chance at the top 14. I would not focus on the ug college at all, as it isn’t going to mean much if you get into the top 14 law schools. Get that BA degree and focus on the LSATs is the best advice I can give you. </p>

<p>Do be aware that getting money for law school is not going to be easy either. It is a very true stereotype of the poor law student and spouse living at poverty level, borrowing a lot of money to get through law school. And it will definitely pay off if you can make Law Review and be a top ranked student at a top law school. You will get the highest paying offers if you so succeed. But right now the most important things you can do to get on track for that option is to keep that 4.0, get your degree from where ever and get top LSAT scores.</p>

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<p>Here’s a blog post about an article from the New York Times about law schools using merit scholarships to lure students and then rescinding the students’ scholarships after the first year based on the students not attaining minimal grade point average requirements. The NYT article has been a hot topic on law blogs for the past few weeks.</p>

<p>[Are</a> Law School ‘Merit Scholarships’ A Big Racket? Above the Law: A Legal Tabloid - News and Colorful Commentary on Law Firms and the Legal Profession](<a href=“http://abovethelaw.com/2011/05/are-law-school-merit-scholarships-a-big-racket/]Are”>http://abovethelaw.com/2011/05/are-law-school-merit-scholarships-a-big-racket/)</p>

<p>I’m a lawyer and although I don’t have a traditional legal job, I love the law. That said, I don’t know that I’d encourage someone to go to law school these days. The job market for lawyers stinks but law schools are not discouraging applicants; law schools tend to be cash cows for their parent institutions (low overhead: you don’t need a bunch of equipment like medical schools do).</p>

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<p>Would you consider Columbia’s School of General Studies?</p>

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<p>mmm I was being protective of you, not attacking you.</p>

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<p>MtPaper, I’ll take what you say at face value, even though I have not committed a single crime lol!</p>