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3 Ways to Boost the Chances of a Late Law School Application

By U.S. News & World Report

As spring approaches, many of the application deadlines for the 2014-2015 law school admissions cycle are approaching, and the earliest application deadlines have already passed.

Since the law school application process is rolling, meaning that schools evaluate applications as they receive them and will offer admission to applicants without having seen their entire applicant pool, there is an advantage to applying earlier in the application cycle for the simple reason that there are more spots available.

One of the most common questions I get at this time of year is whether it is better to submit applications late in the cycle or wait a year and apply at the beginning of the next year’s cycle.

Get more [tips on applying to law school late in the year.]

It’s important to remember that although there is a disadvantage to applying late in the cycle, in recent years that disadvantage has been much less pronounced as applicant numbers have decreased. With this year’s slight uptick in law school applications, the disadvantage of applying late is slightly greater than in recent years, but it is still not an insurmountable disadvantage. So if you are applying now, do not despair and consider the following suggestions.

1. Make your interest known: Since there are generally fewer spots for applicants who submit applications close to the deadline, it is especially important to emphasize your strong interest in each school to which you are applying.

The best way to do this is to contact admissions offices to find out ways that you can further educate yourself about the school, its students, faculty and alumni and its best programs. Admissions offices will often have events for prospective students or student and alumni networks to give applicants the opportunity to learn more.

Check out [law admissions trends 2015 applicants should know about.]

There are three advantages to doing this investigating. First, you will be making a better-informed decision about where you are applying to law school.

If you are admitted, you will have already done a lot of the work that you would do to decide where to attend.

Second, you are putting yourself on the radar of the admissions offices you contact. Some schools will make a note of who reaches out to them for information, especially if you let them know that you are definitely applying this cycle.

Finally, by learning more and coming into direct contact with the school community, you are arming yourself with information and anecdotes you can use to demonstrate your interest in the school in your written application or in an interview.

2. Update your personal statement: Once you have attended an event for prospective students, spoken with the admissions office or contacted students and alumni, you should make sure to include those experiences in your personal statement.

I recommend that students include in a school-specific paragraph in their personal statements, in which they speak about each school individually and why it would be a great fit for that student.

Follow [four final steps before submitting law school applications.]

Doing this is especially important if you are applying late in the cycle, as you are competing for a limited number of spots. Admission may hinge on whether the school believes that you truly want to attend that school and are not simply applying at the end of the cycle as an afterthought.

3. Submit an application after the deadline: Most applicants believe that once the stated deadline has passed, there is no chance to submit applications. In fact, I have found through my work with clients that many schools will accept applications past the deadline if the applicant contacts the school directly and requests to be considered for admission.

This situation is not ideal, and most schools who accept applications after the deadline will consider those applications only if there are spots remaining after having considered the applicants who submitted their applications before the deadline. Even though submitting after the deadline is a long shot, a long shot is better than no shot at all.

What steps are you taking to maximize your chances of admission? Let me know in an email or tweet me @shawnpoconnor.

More from U.S. News

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3 Ways to Boost the Chances of a Late Law School Application originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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