LSAT BOSS with Shana Ginsburg, Esq.

Not all scholarships are created equal.

In this episode, Shana (Founder and CEO, Ginsburg Advanced Tutoring) and Trudel (Yale Law '25) break down conditional scholarships—those tantalizing tuition discounts that aren’t guaranteed to last. If you're relying on one to fund your legal education, you need to know the fine print.

🎙️ Understanding the Risk Many law schools offer merit-based scholarships that seem like a golden ticket—until you realize you must maintain a certain GPA or rank in a specific percentile to keep the funding. And here’s the kicker: grading curves in law school are brutal.

Even top-performing students in undergrad can struggle when faced with the reality that not everyone can meet the renewal requirements—because the school simply doesn’t allow it. We unpack why this system exists, how law schools benefit from it, and what students should consider before accepting these offers.

📌 Strategic Decision-Making If you’re weighing a scholarship offer, consider: ✅ How realistic is it to meet the renewal requirements? ✅ What happens if you lose the scholarship—can you afford tuition without it? ✅ Should you pick a school with lower tuition instead of a risky scholarship?

💡 Takeaways Conditional scholarships can be powerful tools or potential traps depending on how they’re structured. We explore real stories from students who have lost their funding and what they wish they had done differently.

In Season 5, Episode 2 of LSAT Boss, hosts Shana Ginsburg and Trudel Pare dive into the world of merit-based scholarships and strategies to reduce law school costs. Like planting daffodils in springtime, thoughtful application preparation can yield incredible rewards-- in the form of tuition savings.

From understanding American Bar Association 509 Disclosures to breaking down scholarship award data, this episode arms you with actionable tips to make law school more affordable. They also discuss the potential financial impact of extending or expediting your debt repayment timeline, and how factors like part-time employment or underestimated living expenses might influence your overall investment. Shana and Trudel use Georgetown Law as an example, breaking down tuition costs and scholarship strategies to illustrate how retaking the LSAT could save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.

Welcome back to LSAT Boss! Season 5 kicks off with your host, Shana Ginsburg, and the brilliant co-host, Trudel Pare, as they dive into the art of writing compelling personal statements and navigating law school admissions. From brainstorming anecdotes to explaining your "why law school" journey, this episode unpacks how to stand out authentically in your applications. Shana and Trudel reflect on how personal insights shape impactful statements and explore how law school choices connect to lifelong goals.

Stick around to hear why understanding conditional scholarships could be a game-changer for your law school decision-making process—plus a sneak peek into next week's episode on financing your legal education. As always, we remain committed to advocating for diverse voices and creating equitable spaces in the legal field.