What is the difference between waitlist and hold in law school?
Asked by: Prof. Rodger Harvey DVM | Last update: December 11, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (59 votes)
Being "on hold" at a law school offers distinct advantages compared to being waitlisted, primarily due to its timing within the admission cycle. This status provides candidates with an early opportunity to enhance their application materials, setting them apart from those waitlisted later in the process.
What does it mean to be waitlisted for law school?
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. So, it's important to maintain communication with the program so that they know you haven't accepted an offer elsewhere.
What percentage of waitlisted law students get accepted?
Typically most law schools accept between 5-10% of their waitlist each year.
What is a hold in admissions?
A hold/deferral means the admissions committee is putting the application aside and revisiting it for later.
What is the difference between waitlist and deferred?
Deferral means a college is delaying their decision until spring, or the regular decision round. Being deferred from college doesn't mean you've been denied acceptance. Being waitlisted means you are on a list reserve because spots are filled. Very selective colleges defer as many as 70-80% of early applicants.
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Is waitlist basically a rejection?
The meaning of waitlisted is pretty simple: you haven't been offered acceptance, nor have you been rejected. You are currently being held on a waitlist and might eventually be accepted if a spot opens up. Schools use the waiting list to deal with the uncertainty of the admissions process.
How likely is it to get accepted after being deferred?
As a deferred student, your application will be reconsidered in the regular round and you are released from the binding commitment of early decision. Across the more competitive schools, roughly 10% of deferred students are ultimately accepted in the regular decision round.
What is a hold on a law school application?
A law school's decision to place a student on hold is not really a decision at all. Think of it more as a notification that there will be a delay in the school's processing of your application. The school might later decide to admit you, reject you, or place you on a wait list.
What does a hold mean at school?
When the district or a school building announces that a building is in a hold, what does that mean? This is when the hallways are cleared, and students remain in their area or classroom until the "All Clear" is announced. Class or business continues as usual.
What does a hold mean in University?
An academic hold is a type of restriction imposed by a school to prevent students from enrolling in classes or gaining access to their university's services. An academic hold may be imposed if a student does not pay their tuition fees or fails to return school property such as books or computers.
What major has the highest acceptance rate to law school?
Classical studies is one of the best majors for law school preparation because of its high acceptance rate, which is over 83 percent.
What college admits the most students off the waitlist?
UC Santa Cruz, which admitted the highest number of students off the waitlist – 10,812 – was tied with Stony Brook University—SUNY for the second-highest percentage at 88%.
What law school has the easiest acceptance rate?
- University of North Dakota School of Law – 68%
- Toledo Law School – 68%
- Willamette University College of Law – 68%
- University of Louisville Law School – 68%
- University of Arkansas William H. ...
- DePaul University College of Law – 67%
Do waitlisted students usually get accepted?
What Are My Chances of Getting Off the Waitlist? According to recent data from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling, colleges on average admit 20% of students off the waitlist. At the most selective institutions, that figure was 7%.
Do waitlisted law students get scholarships?
Many law schools don't offer larger scholarships to waitlist students. If money is a main concern for you, I suggest reaching out to the admissions officers and seeing what kind of awards you could realistically expect to receive coming off the waitlist.
How long do you have to accept a law school offer?
To be honest, you already know the answers. Applicants accept their offer of admission by paying the seat deposit by the deadline. The regular decision deposit deadline varies from school to school and is usually between April 1 and May 1.
What is an admissions hold?
Admissions Hold– The student has some records missing and can't register until the Admissions Office removes the hold.
What does a hold on a student account mean?
A student may have holds placed on the student record that could affect registration, enrollment, financial aid, campus services, and/or release of academic transcripts for the following reasons: Failure to comply with admission or academic provisions. Failure to settle financial obligations with the University.
What is hold and held?
The present, "hold," "holds." Past, "held." Past participle, "held." Progressive, "holding." Now, let's talk about some additional meanings for this verb. The first additional meaning for this word is to have a position or some special distinction. Let's look at some examples of this.
What does it mean to hold in law?
To bind or obligate; to restrain or constrain ; to keep in custody or under an obligation;as in the phrases “hold to bail.” “hold for court,” “held and firmly bound,” etc. 6. To administer; to conduct or preside at; to convoke, open, and direct the operationsof; as to hold a court, hold pleas, etc.
What is a hold status in school?
HOLD, in a classroom or other area of the building, is a result of a situation that requires students and staff to remain in their classrooms or stay out of access areas. For example: An altercation in a hallway; A medical issue that needs attention; or.
Why is there a hold on my LSAT score?
If you submit an official LSAT complaint, LSAC will place a hold on your file while we investigate your issue and concerns. This hold may delay the reporting of your LSAT score.
Is it better to be deferred or waitlisted?
Is one's chances better after being deferred or waitlisted? An applicant's overall chances are similar after being deferred or waitlisted. About 10% of deferred applicants and about 10% of waitlisted applicants ultimately get in.
Is a deferral basically a rejection?
Deferrals are not rejections. Rather, they signal that the admissions office sees potential in your application but is not ready to make an early decision. Instead, the admissions committee wants to evaluate it alongside a larger applicant pool, so they send a deferral letter.
What happens if you get waitlisted for an Early Decision?
According to a 2019 report, 43% of colleges, primarily selective colleges, use waitlists. In early decision/early action admissions, a deferral means you will be considered again within the regular admission cycle. Colleges must notify you by August 1 with a final rejection or admission.