Scholarship bridges the gap between the cost of attendance and the ability to pay. The law schools are expensive but financial aid is available that can offset the cost of attendance and help students attend their dream schools. The process of negotiation with law school scholarships can be a crucial step in introducing the financial burden of pursuing legal studies. The scholarship helps students to focus on their studies without any stress from heavy student loan debt. Scholarships take off the burden of loans and heavy interest amounts. Here, we will discuss the strategies that will help students in negotiation with law school scholarships.
How to Negotiate Law School Scholarships?
There are various ways of negotiation through which you can negotiate with your scholarship provider institution. Some of the major ways that help you in resolving the difference by discussion are as follows.
- Know About Yourself: Before entering into any negotiation with the institution, evaluate yourself and try to understand your value. At the time of negotiation, use your strengths, accomplishments, and unique qualities that set you apart from others. Mention how your potential can contribute to the community and Law School. The level of potential includes your undergraduate GPA score, extracurricular involvement, practical and work experience, LSAT score, community participation, and other personal achievements.
- Do Your Research: When you receive any scholarship offer from any Law School, before accepting, start researching and understanding the scholarship offer. Note down the bullet points that are mentioned in the scholarship offer including amount, renewal process, type of scholarship whether merit-based or need-based, requirements like maintaining a certain GPA, and other terms and conditions.
- Keep It Professional: Students need to act professionally, and respectfully towards any school personnel you engage with at the time of negotiation. Sometimes, they want to agree with you and want to work with you but due to their limits and constraints, they are unable to agree with your negotiation terms. Still, you have to behave professionally as it may be the case in the future you will get another opportunity from the same institution.
- Collect Additional Offers: If you can gather scholarship offers from other Law schools then it will work in your favor as it strengthens your negotiation position. You have to collect the written documentation of the scholarship offers as it provides the evidence that you have offered from other schools as well. You can choose any preferred Law School that offers you the best amount for the scholarship.
- Show Your Interest: You have to show your genuine interest in the scholarship offer. For this, you have to respond timely, you can talk about the Law School attraction points, you can tell them how your skills contribute to their Law School, etc. These points show your keen interest in the scholarship program.
- Personalized Approach: You have to prepare your separate negotiation policy for each Law School because each school has its policies and budgets. So, you have to negotiate accordingly. Try to write individual emails that address specific aspects of each Law School scholarship offer.
- Express Gratitude: At the time of negotiation, you must express your gratitude to the Law School as they offer you the scholarship. If you thank them for their efforts then it will help you in the future as a positive impression can leave the door open for future opportunities. Even if you are declining the offer, don’t behave irrationally.
- Follow-Ups: Don’t forget to follow up with the Law School on your negotiation terms. If you haven’t received any response from the Law School, then contact them by email and inquire about the status of your negotiation. Don’t use harsh words and write an email in polite language that shows your gratitude towards the Law School.
- Timely Negotiation: If you want to negotiate with the offer, then communicate with the Law School within the preferred time frame. Before the deadline to accept the offer, put your negotiation terms in front of the provider. It increases your chance of success because the number of scholarships is limited at every Law School.
- Highlight Updated Information: If there is any new information that is not included in the initial application, then provide the updated details via email. The things that could be updated over time are the GPA score, LSAT score, additional achievement, and any recent accomplishment. While providing details, attach the certificate transcripts, and report cards that provide the evidence of your accomplishment.
- Consider Your Bottom Line: Before making any decision, evaluate your budget and make a clear understanding of how much scholarship amount you need to attend the Law School. Your limits and financial need will help you make informed decisions during the negotiation with the providers.
- Expert Advice or Guidance: Sometimes, it is very difficult to negotiate with the providers. To get advice and help, you can contact your mentors, advisors, seniors, or professionals. They will help you with your admission process and scholarship process as they are experienced candidates for Law School. They will guide you with valuable insights.
So, these are the points that are important to consider before entering into any negotiation with the scholarship providers. For successful negotiation, you have to follow the terms and conditions of the law school from which you received the scholarship offer.
Conclusion
Negotiation with Law School is not an easy job because it requires a lot of planning, research, and benchmarks. Before negotiating, you have to evaluate all the details of the scholarship program including amount, type, renewal process, requirements, GPA score, etc. If you can convince your provider with your skills, behavior, achievements, and acknowledgment then it will increase your chances of securing a good amount of financial package. Negotiation is a two-way discussion and for this, you have to maintain a positive image with the provider. Even if you are declining the offer, you have to end it on a positive note because it opens up the door in the future for you.