What does it mean to be waitlisted for law school?

Asked by: Tania Mills  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.4/5 (61 votes)

Being waitlisted means that the law school is extremely interested in you, but at that time cannot formally offer you a spot in their class—though they may be able to in the near future. ... At many law schools, applicants will need to formally accept their waitlisted status.

What should I do if I get waitlisted for law school?

What You Can Do After Being Waitlisted
  • Accept Enthusiastically. ...
  • The Letter of Continued Interest. ...
  • Visit the Law School. ...
  • Keep the Admissions Office Updated. ...
  • Consider Retaking the LSAT. ...
  • Submit Additional Required Essays. ...
  • Don't Obsess Over the Waitlist. ...
  • Don't Cease All Communications.

How likely is it to get off the waitlist for law school?

An acceptance off the waitlist *does* tend to have a 1:1 ratio per spot available.

Does Waitlisted mean accepted?

Getting on a college waitlist means that an applicant has all the necessary qualifications, but that the admissions office could not offer them acceptance at the time. Getting on a waitlist does not mean you should give up hope. Waitlisted students still have a chance at earning admission into the school.

What percentage of waitlisted students get accepted?

According to a 2019 National Association for College Admissions Counseling report, 43% of colleges use waitlists. Half of the students offered a spot on a waitlist accepted it, and colleges on average admitted 20% of students off the waitlist. At the most selective institutions, that figure was 7%.

The Law School Waitlist: What It Means & How to Get Admitted

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Are law school Waitlists ranked?

If a law student believes law schools rank those within the school's waitlist, they are only partially correct. ... As has been reported by the BARBRI Group, 60% of admissions deans feel an applicant's LSAT score or undergraduate GPA is the most significant factor when deciding which applicant to admit from the waitlist.

Is being waitlisted for law school bad?

Confirm your waitlisted status

It is extremely important for waitlisted applicants not to feel discouraged. Being waitlisted means that the law school is extremely interested in you, but at that time cannot formally offer you a spot in their class—though they may be able to in the near future.

Do law schools talk to each other?

In the law school admission process, every binding decision is communicated to every other school to which the applicant has applied.

Is waitlist a rejection?

Waitlists and deferrals are two different things, but they share some similarities. While neither is an outright rejection, they both mean you will have to wait longer to see if you will be admitted. Being deferred can mean a wide variety of things.

Are Waitlists ranked?

Just like in the regular admissions process, colleges need to evaluate their yield, institutional needs, legacy status, and other factors before deciding which students, if any, to admit from the waitlist. Waitlists aren't ranked – meaning there's not a number one student who will definitely get in if there's room.

How do I ask for waitlist status?

However, if that information is not publicly available, send an email to the general admissions email address requesting your advisor's contact information. Then, reach out to your admissions officer via email to ask questions about your waitlisted status.

Should I accept waitlist offer?

Don't worry – accepting an admission offer at another college will not hurt your chances of being admitted off the waitlist. Colleges realize that students need a place to go in the fall and will not penalize someone for accepting a spot somewhere else while waiting to hear back on a waitlist decision.

Is being waitlisted better than rejected?

Being waitlisted is better than being rejected because you still have some chance of getting into the school. According to the NACAC survey, the average acceptance rate across all institutions for those who choose to stay on the waitlist is 20% and 7% for selective institutions.

Is it better to be waitlisted or deferred?

In general, you can assume that your odds are better if you've been deferred rather than waitlisted. Deferred students are reconsidered during the regular decision round and should have about the same chance as other regular decision applicants.

What does preferred waitlist mean?

Some law schools create a special, “preferred” category for waitlisted applicants that they really want to admit, but regrettably cannot (for now). If a school uses such a system, the “preferred” waitlist tends to be shorter than the regular one. This makes your chances of getting off it pretty good.

How do you get into a law school dream?

How to Gain Admission to Your Dream Law School
  1. (1) Take the June 2017 LSAT. ...
  2. (2) Start Your LSAT Prep Immediately. ...
  3. (3) Spend Time on Your Personal Statement. ...
  4. (4) Line Up Your Letters of Recommendation. ...
  5. (5) Apply to Law School On Day 1.

How do you write loci for law school?

Generally, a good LOCI tends to express the following basic attributes:
  1. Expression of gratitude.
  2. Helpful, professional tone.
  3. Degree of interest.
  4. Update on candidacy.
  5. Offer to provide additional information.

How many students do law schools accept?

Current statistics from the Law School Admission Council, known as LSAC, show that nearly 71,000 people applied to law school for the 2021 enrollment year, roughly a 13% increase from the prior year. Those applicants submitted nearly 481,000 law school applications in total, about a 27% increase from last year.

What is a reach law school?

A reach is a law school whose students' average LSAT and GPA scores are higher than yours. Don't be discouraged from applying, but based on the numbers alone your chances are not outstanding. ... A safety is a law school where students' average LSAT scores and GPAs are below yours.

What is a seat deposit?

A non-refundable seat deposit is required to reserve your seat in the class for which you are admitted. Your seat deposit is applied towards your tuition.

How do I get off the waitlist?

Inform the school where you submitted a deposit.
  1. Accept a Spot on the Waitlist.
  2. Express Interest Again in the School.
  3. Submit a Deposit to Another University.
  4. Manage Expectations in the Admissions Process.
  5. Be Ready to Make a Decision if Admitted.
  6. Inform the School Where You Submitted a Deposit.

Do colleges waitlist overqualified students?

Overqualified students (quantified primarily by GPA and SAT/ACT) are routinely being waitlisted or denied at “no problem” colleges because the admissions committee feels doubtful these students are likely to enroll if accepted. ... Admission to the most selective colleges is as unpredictable as ever.

Should I email a professor about waitlist?

If your chances of getting into the class are small, or if the waitlist is instructor-managed, emailing or meeting with the professor is an essential thing to do. ... Nevertheless, you should email or meet with the professor to show your interest in the class.

Do law schools check your resume?

Many law schools now request a resume. It can really make a difference in your application. Like your personal statement, it gives you a chance to tell the admissions committee about what you have done that makes you stand out from the pack. ... The admissions committees read tons of resumes at this time of year.

Can you get kicked out of law school?

Yes, you can get kicked out of university. Yes, it is your fault and the result of your own lapse in judgment. Yes, that's what happens when you come from a small Balkan country, have no idea about good academic practice and don't take it seriously… even though you're studying law and should know better.