Public Interest Deferral Scholarship - Offer Details
What exactly is a deferral? A deferral will allow you to move your starting date for law school to Fall 2010 without the need to reapply or submit an additional $60 application processing fee. You will be notified by email and letter whether your request is granted.
What happens to my $300 seat deposit? Your $300 seat deposit will be applied toward your Fall 2010 tuition without the need to submit an additional seat deposit. If you do not enroll in Fall 2010, the $300 seat deposit will be fully refunded beginning in March 2010 until June 2010. In July 2010, the normal partial refund schedule will apply.
Why are we making this offer? We are making this offer available because a greater number of admitted applicants have accepted our offer than has been the case in the recent past.
Why are we offering a public interest related scholarship? We highly value public interest work and have a strong commitment to instilling a public service ethic in all of our students. If you dedicate a minimum of 120 hours of service, a $5000 Public Interest Deferral Scholarship will be applied toward tuition in your first year (2010/2011).
What counts as public interest related work? Qualifying public service work includes paid and volunteer work for any charitable, religious, civic, health, community, governmental, tribal, or public educational organization. We intend to apply a broad standard, but if you have questions concerning a specific qualifying activity, you may inquire in advance with Marni Lennon, Assistant Dean for Public Interest & Pro Bono mlennon@law.miami.edu.
Can I take advantage of the deferral offer without doing any public service work? You are free to request a deferral without participating in this program; however, you will not be eligible to receive the $5,000 public interest scholarship. You will still benefit from having your entire $300 seat deposit applied to Fall 2010 without the need to submit a new seat deposit.
When do I have to decide if I want to take advantage of this deferral offer? You must respond by email (admissions@law.miami.edu) or facsimile (305-284-3084), by Friday, July 10th, prior to 5:00 p.m., EST. You must include in your correspondence whether or not you plan on completing the public service work required to receive the $5,000 Public Interest Deferral Scholarship. Your answer will not impact the outcome of your request. In the future, you are free to change your mind with regard to the public service work; however, once granted, the deferral itself is final and you will not be able to start law school at Miami until Fall 2010.
If I am granted a deferral, do I have to withdraw all other law school applications? You are free to pursue whatever options you wish. If your plans to enroll in Fall 2010 change, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible.
How do I qualify for the $5,000 Public Interest Deferral Scholarship? You will receive a $5,000 Public Interest Deferral Scholarship, applied toward your first-year tuition at Miami, if you complete a minimum of 120 hours of public service work during the year prior to law school entry (Fall 2010). The $5,000 scholarship will be dispersed in increments of $2,500 in the Fall and $2,500 in the Spring. This offer is valid for the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters only. You must complete your public service hours and submit the requisite certification form by June 1, 2010. Click here to access the certification form.
Will I be considered for other scholarships if I defer? You will be eligible for consideration for a $75,000 Miami Scholars Scholarship ($25,000 for each of your three years in law school). We normally award 22 Miami Scholars Scholarships, but your chances of receiving the award are improved because two out of the twenty-two Miami Scholars Scholarships will be reserved specifically for applicants who meet all standard requirements for Miami Scholars consideration and who are participating in the Public Interest Deferral program. In addition, you are eligible to be considered for the remaining 20 Miami Scholars Scholarships. The Miami Scholars Program targets candidates from across the United States who, in addition to academic achievement and strong LSAT scores, have demonstrated an interest in public service. Miami Scholars serve on the Public Interest Leadership Board through the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center and play a key role in advancing public interest programming and opportunities at the School of Law. Click here for further details regarding the Miami Scholars Scholarships and application process.
You will also automatically be considered for all Dean’s Scholarships. Dean’s Scholarship awards typically range from $10,000 - $23,000. The average LSAT and G.P.A of admitted applicants who receive Dean’s Scholarships are 160 and 3.50. The majority of the awards are offered to admitted applicants and deferred students between December and February or until funds are depleted. As a deferred student, you will automatically be reviewed for scholarships next year if your credentials are competitive.
May I combine scholarship offers? If you meet the public interest requirements, your $5,000 Public Interest Deferral Scholarship award will be applied toward tuition and may be combined with any other scholarship you receive. However, the total amount of combined scholarship offers can not exceed the cost of tuition.
Can I take advantage of this offer if I already deferred? If you previously submitted a deposit and subsequently deferred with a partial seat deposit refund, you will be eligible to participate in this offer. The portion of your deposit that was not refunded will be credited toward your $300 seat deposit next year. You will be required to submit the balance of the $300 seat deposit by March 15th.
Is my current scholarship deferrable? Scholarships are not deferrable. If you already received a scholarship and take advantage of this deferral offer, your current scholarship will not defer to next year. However, you will be considered for a new scholarship award with 2010 admitted applicants. Note that there is no guarantee that you will receive the same scholarship offer next year.