In a very competitive admissions cycle, like this one, you may end up on the waitlist. But there’s still hope — here are some strategies to think about.
Assess your admissions chances
Think realistically about what you can still do to up your chances of admissions.
Can you take a late LSAT and submit another LSAT score to help your waitlist chances? Do you have a final semester of school left in which you might still raise your gpa? Do you have a reference that you did not use in your applications who might send in a letter on your behalf?
Also, assess the market. Has it been a very busy high volume admissions cycle? There may be fewer spots open on the waitlist, potentially. Or has it been one in which applications are down?
Assess your overall chances based on how the cycle is going — you can look on www.lsac.org for a daily national summary throughout the cycle that will tell you if applications are up, down or the same compared to last year.
Delay your final decision if possible
Because waitlist decisions often occur over the summer, delay making permanent decisions such as signing a lease for an apartment until you hear back from all your schools.
Try to delay buying books for as long as you can. Also, try to remain psychologically open to the idea that you will be attending a different law school if you do get in off the waitlist, even at the last minute. Be aware that if you are offered a last-minute spot, a school may only give you a short time to decide.
Make connections
It’s not too late to make connections with law schools that have waitlisted you. If you haven’t had a chance to do so, go on a tour of the law school. Try to connect with alumni of the school. Continue to show interest. Hopefully you may have met admissions representatives at a law fair already. If not, many admissions offices hold zoom office hours. Go and introduce yourself.
Interest in the school is very important
When schools look at how many spaces they have left after first and second deposit deadlines, they want to admit applicants from the waitlist who they think are likely to enroll. If you submitted a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) you may have already indicated your strong interest. Express your continued enthusiasm and if the school is your first choice, and you would definitely enroll if admitted, tell them.
Timing is everything
After a law school’s first deposit deadline, typically in April, they have a chance to assess remaining openings. They may admit from a waitlist at this time.
After the second deposit deadlines, schools have an even better sense of how many spots could be left. At this point, it is likely that if they have space, they offer waitlist spots. Be aware of their deposit deadlines and check in with them again after each deadline to see if they anticipate open spots.
Finally, if you are willing to hang in there throughout the summer all the way up to orientation and the first week of classes, a law school may offer admissions from the waitlist all the way up to the first day of classes. I’ve seen this happen. At this point the pool of waitlist applicants is probably very small, as most have fully committed to other schools — so if you’re still available, go for it.
