Southwestern awards a select number of merit scholarships providing up to full tuition to entering students in the J.D. or Concurrent-degree programs who have demonstrated exceptional academic promise. Criteria for these scholarships include strong undergraduate grade point average and Law School Admission Test scores, leadership potential and other outstanding personal accomplishments, among other factors. Awards are renewable for students who meet the continuing academic performance requirements. These scholars are invited to special receptions and networking opportunities with alumni of the scholarship program and other prominent members of the bench and bar.
Based upon a review of the information submitted in their admissions application files, all accepted first-year J.D. applicants are considered for Wildman/Schumacher Scholarships, and all accepted first-year concurrent-degree program applicants are considered for Law and Business Scholarships. There is no separate application for either scholarship program; however, each admitted applicant who potentially qualifies for one of these scholarships will be required to participate in an individual interview (on-campus or via telephone) to complete the process (please note that these interviews are initiated by the law school).
As required of all ABA law schools, and to provide transparency regarding our scholarship program, below is an analysis of the past three entering classes and their rates of renewal for their scholarships:
| 2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Awarded |
56 | 92 | 45 |
Kept |
48 | 84 | 40 |
Lost |
8 | 8 | 5 |
Percentage Kept |
85.7% | 91.3% | 88.9% |
Percentage Lost |
14.3% | 8.7% |
11.1% |
Wildman/Schumacher Scholarships
- 2013-2014 Eligibility Rules (PDF)
UPDATED FEBRUARY 26, 2013
Law and Business Scholarships
- 2010-2011 Eligibility Rules (PDF)
The Wildman/Schumacher Scholarship Program was established in 1983 in memory of Paul W. Wildman who served Southwestern for 28 years as a student, faculty member, dean and president, and Southwestern’s founder, John J. Schumacher, who championed legal education opportunities for students from a wide range of backgrounds and actively encouraged the enrollment of women and minority students long before other institutions did so.
Please note: Additional information regarding these two scholarships funds may be obtained from the Admissions Office.
