Admissions Q & A
Financial Aid Q & A
Do you have an early decision program?
We have a non-binding early notification program. If you submit your application by November 1 and it is completed by November 21, your decision will be mailed on December 14. If your application is denied, it is a final decision and will not be returned to the applicant pool. You have until mid-April to decide whether to accept an offer of admission.
Do you have a rolling admission program?
Yes. Applications are read in the order in which they complete. We begin sending decisions out in January (other than early notification program decisions). We do not wait until the deadline of March 1 to send out our decisions.
What is the latest LSAT exam I can take?
For early notification applications, you must take the LSAT no later than the October administration. All other candidates should take the LSAT no later than December. We accept February scores, but candidates who take the test in February will not have completed files until very late in the admissions cycle.
Do you average two LSAT scores or take the latest one?
We will consider all LSAT scores in the application review process. We will use the highest LSAT score for reporting to the ABA and LSAC.
Do you accept more than two letters of recommendation?
Yes, but remember that a third can delay the completion of your file. If you want to send a third letter, please put a note to that effect on your application. Please remember that we prefer that the letters of recommendation be submitted through the LSAC letter of recommendation service.
Do you grant fee waivers?
We will consider a waiver of the fee upon receipt of the following information:
• If you are a registered student, a copy of your 2007-2008 financial aid award notice showing both budget and award
• If you are not a student, a letter detailing your financial situation (e.g. employment, assets, federal tax return, etc.)
If you were granted a fee waiver from Law Services, please attach a copy of the waiver to your application for admissions and the application fee will be waived.
Fee waivers are generally granted only to those extremely needy applicants who would not otherwise be able to apply to Boston College Law School
If you were or currently are a participant of Teach for America, please send us a copy of a letter verifying your participation.
Do you rank the wait list? What can I do to increase my chances of admission from the wait list?
No, we do not rank the wait list. You are welcome to submit anything you may think would be beneficial to your file. We will consider all information when the time comes for us to review our wait list.
When should I expect a final decision if I am on the wait list?
We try to make decisions in a timely manner but you should keep in mind that some wait list candidates do not receive a final decision until July or August.
What are the various components of a financial aid package?
There are two components: federal aid, i.e., Stafford Loans, which total $20,500 per academic year; and institutional financial aid, i.e., Boston College Law School scholarships, grants, the Law School Loan and the Perkins Loan.
How do I apply for financial aid?
To apply for federal Stafford loans, complete the FAFSA. To apply for institutional financial aid, complete the Need Access.
When do I apply for financial aid?
Once you have submitted your application to the Admissions Office, you are ready to apply for financial aid. The FAFSA and Need Access for the "new" academic year become available online after January 1st. Make sure you complete both by February 1st, which will allow 6 weeks of processing and getting the electronic data to us by our priority deadline of March 15
On the FAFSA, do I complete the student AND parent section?
No…applicants to Boston College Law School only complete the Student section. Please leave the Parent section blank.
On the Need Access, do I complete the student AND parent section?
Yes. Unlike the FAFSA, you do need to provide parental information on the Need Access. If parents are divorced, the non-custodial parent's financial information is required as well.
Why is parental information required on the Need Access for BC Law School?
By looking at the student's family resources, we get a "better read" on the student's true financial picture.
Does BC Law School have a separate application for its scholarships, grants and institutional loans?
No….By completing the Need Access you will automatically be reviewed for our need-based scholarships, grants, and loans.
Does Boston College Law School offer Merit Aid?
Yes, there are some merit scholarships awarded to incoming law students. No separate application is required. Also, our Public Service Scholarships are awarded without regard to need.
SPECIFIC NEED ACCESS QUESTIONS
Do I need to provide my parents' information on Need Access if I am no longer listed as a dependent on their tax forms? What if I have lived on my own for several years after college? What if I am an "older" student?
Yes, we still require your parents' financial information in order to determine your eligibility for institutional funding.
What if my parents will not be contributing financially to my law school education; should they still provide their financial data on Need Access?
Absolutely yes! If they don't, you will not be reviewed for institutional funding eligibility. Whether or not your parents plan to contribute should not be a factor in their decision on whether or not to provide their financial data.
How can I afford law school IF I don't qualify for institutional funding AND my parents have decided not to contribute financially to my legal education?
You can apply for private education loans to supplement your Stafford loans. As long as you have good credit history, this option should be available to you.
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SPECIFIC FAFSA QUESTIONS
What is the Federal Code for Boston College, as required on the FAFSA?
Our Federal Code is #002128.
Should I use estimated dollar amounts for the FAFSA, since my tax forms won't be ready until April?
Yes, you should use estimates if you don't file your taxes early.
How do I know if Boston College Law School received my FAFSA data?
If you did receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) and listed the federal code for Boston College (002128) on your FAFSA, we should have access to your data. If you don't have your SAR and 4 weeks or more have passed since completing your FAFSA, call FAFSA at (800) 4-FED-AID for assistance.
How do I list more than 6 schools on my FAFSA?
Use your Student Aid Report (SAR) for multiple FAFSA submissions. You can replace schools already submitted with new schools, and resubmit the SAR online. Note: Correct errors and resubmit your original SAR first before replacing with new schools.
Can I use the SAR to update/correct the estimated dollar amounts on my FAFSA?
Yes, the SAR can be used for any corrections. As you get closer to filing your taxes, review your SAR to correct any financial data, thereby matching your FAFSA data to your tax returns.
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When do I find out about my financial aid award?
Our goal is to provide you with a conditional financial aid package prior to our first deposit deadline, so that you may make an informed decision on whether or not to attend Boston College Law School. The earlier you submit your FAFSA and Need Access online (we recommend prior to February 1st), the sooner we will be able to determine your eligibility. We start this process on March 15th.
Why is my financial aid award "conditional"?
It is conditional because the early data you report on your FAFSA and Need Access (in January, early February) is usually an approximation or estimate of the later data you report on your tax forms.
When does my financial aid award become "final"?
Once we've had a chance to review your federal tax forms (1040's), federal tax schedules and W-2's, as well as those of your spouse (if applicable) and your parents, we will determine if your financial aid award needs to be adjusted. This process starts around April 15th, when tax documents are expected to arrive in our office.
What if I did not file taxes because my income fell below the required filing minimum?
We will then need your W-2('s) to substantiate this. In addition, you must indicate your filing status with the IRS by checking the appropriate box on the Boston College Law School Financial Aid Validation Form .
What if I did not file taxes because I had zero income?
Then we will need a signed letter from you stating that fact. In addition,
you must check the appropriate box on the Boston College Law School Financial Aid Validation Form indicating your filing status.
Will I receive a "final" financial aid award after my taxes are reviewed?
We will send "revised" award letters to students only if their financial aid package was adjusted after reviewing their tax forms.
Once the federal (Stafford Loans) and institutional components of my financial aid package have been finalized, where can I turn to supplement my package so I am covered up to Cost of Attendance?
You can apply for private education loans (also referred to as "alternative" loans) to fill in that gap. These loans are credit based, so you must have good credit to qualify.
How do I know if I have good credit?
You should request a credit report from at least one of the three credit bureaus used by the lending industry. These are Equifax; Experian; and Transunion.
What does Law School cost?
Cost of Attendance is broken down into direct school expenses (tuition, fees, books) and living expenses (rent, utilities, food, transportation, etc.). Tuition is adjusted each year. This current academic year ('07/'08) our Cost of Attendance is $54,980; tuition is $36,510.
When should I apply for a private, alternative education loan?
We recommend that you begin the process of applying for a private loan in early June, and preferably prior to July 1st.
Do I need to seek a lender for the Federal Stafford Loans on my own?
No. We will provide you with a Stafford lender offering a 0% origination- and guarantee fee. You will receive written instructions on completing the Master Promissory Note ("MPN") online for the Stafford loans.
Are there any other steps I need to take to complete the federal loan process after I submit the MPN on line?
Yes, you will need to complete Entrance Counseling online. Boston College will mail your pin and password so that you can access this site to complete your Entrance Counseling.
I am an International student. Can I apply for financial aid?
No. Both the Federal Government and Boston College require U.S. citizenship or US Permanent Residency status (in possession of a Greencard) in order to be eligible to apply for financial aid.
How do International students finance their law school education?
We encourage all international students to investigate all available options in their home countries and with outside funding organizations. There are also private education lenders who will work with international students; usually a US cosigner is required on the loan application. These loans are credit based and an expensive way to finance all of your law school expenses. Access Group,one of these lenders, offers the Comprehensive Access Loan, specifically geared to international students.
Does BC Law offer a Loan Repayment Assistance Program ("LRAP") for graduates working in public interest?
Yes. BC Law graduates can apply to the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, which supports recent Boston College Law School graduates in law-related public interest careers by assisting them in the repayment of their educational debt. The awards are renewable annually. Recipients are determined by a Dean-appointed committee.