Acceptances, Denials and Referrals

Some law schools will notify candidates about the outcome of their applications on a rolling basis, while others will do so at the end of the entire application cycle. Some schools will greatly oversubscribe their classes counting on the fact that not all of those who are admitted will indeed enroll.

Candidates whose qualifications are not deemed adequate will be rejected. Candidates whose qualifications are considered viable but not strong enough for immediate admission will be waitlisted and will be transferred to the accepted list when and if an opening occurs. Some schools will rank their waitlists; others will divide them into a few categories; others will not rank them at all.

Offers for admissions are necessarily predicated on current deposit yields and enrollment forecasts, which law schools adjust as time goes on. You can expect more movement from the waitlists later in the application cycle (spring and even summer).

If you have been waitlisted, stay in touch with the school and make yourself reachable at all times. Inform the schools in writing of any changes in your home and e-mail addresses, and both day and evening telephone numbers. If appropriate, authorize in writing a parent, spouse or other family member to act on your behalf in accepting or declining an admission offer if such an offer should be made while you are away from home for any extended period of time. A seat that is available immediately to you will often be filled by someone else if the school can neither make contact with you nor obtain a commitment from someone designated to act on your behalf. This is particularly important if you will be backpacking or traveling overseas for any given time this spring and summer.

It would also be appropriate--especially if you have not sent any updated information since you were notified of your waitlisted status--to provide the law school with some additional materials on you, such as updated transcripts and information about any recent activity or accomplishment.