Once you’ve submitted law school applications, anticipating a response can test anyone’s patience. That’s why being waitlisted — and having to continue the waiting game — can be downright aggravating.
As much as you’d prefer a definitive response, remember that admissions committees only wait-list applicants that they genuinely want to attend their school. If space allows, you may end up on campus come fall. In the meantime, here are some answers to some of the questions we’re most frequently asked about the waitlist process.
[Learn what your options are for delaying law school or being waitlisted.]
1. Are waitlists ranked? While some schools, such as the Georgetown University Law Center, may have a preferred and general waitlist status, no school takes the time to definitively rank each applicant. Waitlists are far too dynamic to rank.
As applicants either accept or decline offers of admission or communicate if they wish to remain on waitlists, the potential class makeup is continually in flux. Admissions committees are constantly assessing and reassessing their waitlists to evaluate who will be a good fit to fill an available slot.
2. How long do I have to wait for an answer? Because the Law School Admission Council enrollment guidelines state that the earliest law schools can typically require a seat deposit is April 1, there isn’t much waitlist movement until the spring. Law schools will review waitlists as they start accumulating accepted and rejected offers of enrollment. Therefore, waitlists have the most movement in April, and again in July when second deposits are often due.
[Follow these five guidelines for getting off the law school waitlist.]
The longer you are willing to remain in consideration, the less competition you’ll face on the waitlist. Many applicants withdraw from the list to avoid forfeiting deposits they’ve placed at other schools — and for the sanity of knowing where they’ll be studying in the fall.
One of my clients at Stratus Prep was admitted to the Northwestern University School of Law from the waitlist on the third day of first-year student orientation, which required withdrawing from the program where the client was currently enrolled and moving across the country.
Patience has its rewards, but I also caution against remaining on waitlists if you do not have a real intention of enrolling.
3. What can I do to maximize my chance of ultimately getting accepted? Aside from simply waiting, there are active steps you can take to increase your chance of acceptance. Communicate to the admissions office that you remain interested in their program, and tell your top choice program you would commit to attend if accepted.
Establish a respectful relationship with admissions staff through an on-campus visit, if possible, and a letter of continuing interest that provides meaningful updates to your application.
[Know six tips for writing a letter of continued interest for law school.]
Some programs may also accept additional application materials, such as another letter of recommendation, supplemental essay or a new LSAT score. Be sure to check whether it would be appropriate to send additional information before submitting more material to review, which could backfire if unwanted.
Remind yourself that admissions committees manage a tremendous amount of logistics to craft each first-year law school class and that such planning does take time.
Have other questions about what it means to be wait-listed? Email me.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Law School Waitlists originally appeared on usnews.com
