Ok guys, so something good has happened and I haven't been rejected from UVA ED. On the other hand, they've put me in purgatory aka waitlist.

I have NO CLUE how I even got on the waitlist since my numbers are super low...160/3.62 but now that I've been notified that I've been waitlisted, the beast has awoken within me and now I am determined to get OFF the waitlist.

I guess my first steps are to:

1) write a letter of continued interest (why UVA)
2) send in more recs
3) request interview
4) an email/phone call every 2-3 weeks?

Please tell me if the above are completely off/wrong or if there's anything else I should do to improve my chances.

Your advice will be very much appreciated.

Thanks everyone and good luck!!!!

I got waitlisted there too, 3.6/158. I'll keep an eye on this thread and see what you think might work
If you look at last year's LSN stats you can get an idea of how the waitlist played out for them...

Retake the LSAT in February and get a 170. Seriously.

My thoughts is that you could lose #2, and not start 1,3, and 4 until at least Jan.
I would do the rest though.. but just hold off a little. Maybe make some initial contact.
True on the LSAT retake

yeah. i think this is your best option. last year's numbers don't fall in your favor. and if this year sees the speculated across-the-board increase in numbers, your lsat won't hold up for long when the regular decision applications start rolling in. you might still have a shot if you send in more recommendations and addendums, but it seems your best bet is increasing your lsat.

Ok, thanks guys. I think you're right...

I think I could do a lot better on the LSATs in Feb although it would be my 3rd time taking them... I'm just concerned that I won't be able to raise it higher than a 166.

OMG that's incredible. I've been hesitant to apply to UVA because I thought my numbers where lower but I think I might bite the bullet and go for it now.

Congratulations. That's excellent.

how the heck did you get on the waitlist? you must be quite the PS writer.

Doesn't UVA often use a waitlist as a soft reject (a la William and Mary)?

Sorry, don't kill me...

But yeah, if you retook the LSAT and got a 170+ you could definitely get them to reconsider you and I bet you would have a lot of success.

UVA didn't auto-reject a 158 and 160. Are you retaking the LSAT and notified them of that in advance? Are you both gods? Is there a supernatural boost?

I read on another thread that they were way overenrolled last year and hardly used the WL, don't know if that will be same this year but apparently their yield is great.

I second this. I applied last year and got WL. There were four different lists (Priority & General / In-State & Out of State), and there were like hundreds of applicants on each list. If you can get on the Priority list you stand a shot, otherwise if this year is like last year it is probably a soft reject.

Sorry to say.

Just shoot for that 170+ and things might change drastically

Based on a conversation I had last year, and as much as I hate to recommend it, taking the LSAT again is a pretty good idea. I had a friend last year who talked with the D. of A., and was told that they do consider a re-take in terms of admittance off of WL and in terms of increasing scholarship awards down the road.

Other than that, a visit there is something that you might want to think of. I know last year a couple of people did in-person interviews to try and get off the WL.

how did you find out about being on the WL? did your status change/decision sent?

By email. Finally got the rejection letter like in August, though it was a nice letter from them. LOL

Yea, I found out through email. Don't know if they will send anything through snail mail.

I think UVa may do the WL thing has a soft reject! But will take my chances.

And yes, am PAINFULLY considering retaking the LSAT for a third and final time.

I did see that last cycle, they were actually overenrolled so it wasn't very good at all for any of the waitlisters.

How do you find out which waitlist you're actually on? If I call admissions, would they divulge that kind of information to me?

That's a great start, but here's possibly a small dose of reality if true:

They don't normally reject off of ED do they? What I'm saying is, they wait list EVERYBODY who isn't admitted correct? Even those that are a definite auto-deny?

Just curious to this myself?

I think that you should wait to see what happens w/the other law schools you've applied to in order to make a decision in re: retaking LSAT. Sure, everyone wants to re-take the lsat and get a 170, and that sounds like an amazing plan, but how many of you who are suggesting this as a viable plan of action have gotten a 170 when retaking it? That's what I thought.

Millhouse -- were you planning on re-taking the LSAT before this news about the WL? I think the crew here on TLS can be a somewhat crazy/self selecting group of people, so I would take some advice w/a grain of salt. Go with your first instinct.

Actually no, I was not planning on retaking the LSAT because I didn't think I would be able to score at an increase of 6+ points if I took it again for the third time. I think I have some pretty unique soft factors so I'm going to try and see what happens with some of the other schools I'm waiting for...maybe if I get into some other comparable schools, I can use them as leverage in some way when I talk to UVa?

yea, unless u think you could've done better on ur lsats i dont suggest taking it again b/c u'll prob get around the same score plus or minus a few points. and dont they average the scores anyway?

.

edit: n/m

lol
Not retaking... I'll PM you my PS if you're interested in reading it... I'm not the average candidate, but not a superhero either

UVA did overenroll this year, but I got in off the priority non-res WL in May with an LSAT below their 25%, so it happens (at least it did last year). But, I didn't apply ED, so I don't know if a WL at that point is more ominous.

Definitely show your love for UVA and if you honestly will go there no matter what, let them know that.