Top Law Schools

I received a call from a top 10 law school today. Thought i was going to be offered acceptance but that wasn't the case. First they told me they were impressed with my story and credentials, but then i was asked "is there anything else you want to tell us before we make a decision?" TBH, i was totally unprepared for that question--so much so that i even admitted it.

My interpretation is that i'm a borderline candidate. The thing is, i have no idea what they want me to say. Put another way, i don't know what, if anything, could make them say "well, after learning this from/about you, now you're worthy of an acceptance."

The person sensed that i was unprepared (i also admitted it), we laughed it off, and he was generous enough to offer me the convenience of calling back tomorrow to give them something, anything, that would make their decision easier. I get the feeling they're looking for a commitment of some sort. Should i emphasize how much i really want to go to the school? Should i tell them that if i get in i'm definitely going? I don't want to do the latter because i have to consider other acceptances and scholarship offers, but i am genuinely interested in attending.

I feel like i made a fool of myself when i said i wasn't prepared to answer that question . Any advice would be appreciated.

facile princeps wrote:I received a call from a top 10 law school today. Thought i was going to be offered acceptance but that wasn't the case. First they told me they were impressed with my story and credentials, but then i was asked "is there anything else you want to tell us before we make a decision?" TBH, i was totally unprepared for that question--so much so that i even admitted it.

My interpretation is that i'm a borderline candidate. The thing is, i have no idea what they want me to say. Put another way, i don't know what, if anything, could make them say "well, after learning this from/about you, now you're worthy of an acceptance."

The person sensed that i was unprepared (i also admitted it), we laughed it off, and he was generous enough to offer me the convenience of calling back tomorrow to give them something, anything, that would make their decision easier. I get the feeling they're looking for a commitment of some sort. Should i emphasize how much i really want to go to the school? Should i tell them that if i get in i'm definitely going? I don't want to do the latter because i have to consider other acceptances and scholarship offers, but i am genuinely interested in attending.

I feel like i made a fool of myself when i said i wasn't prepared to answer that question . Any advice would be appreciated.

What are your stats? What school is this? How much do you want the school? Has anything changed in your life (promotion, new job, grades in school) since you applied?

crumpetsandtea wrote:

facile princeps wrote:I received a call from a top 10 law school today. Thought i was going to be offered acceptance but that wasn't the case. First they told me they were impressed with my story and credentials, but then i was asked "is there anything else you want to tell us before we make a decision?" TBH, i was totally unprepared for that question--so much so that i even admitted it.

My interpretation is that i'm a borderline candidate. The thing is, i have no idea what they want me to say. Put another way, i don't know what, if anything, could make them say "well, after learning this from/about you, now you're worthy of an acceptance."

The person sensed that i was unprepared (i also admitted it), we laughed it off, and he was generous enough to offer me the convenience of calling back tomorrow to give them something, anything, that would make their decision easier. I get the feeling they're looking for a commitment of some sort. Should i emphasize how much i really want to go to the school? Should i tell them that if i get in i'm definitely going? I don't want to do the latter because i have to consider other acceptances and scholarship offers, but i am genuinely interested in attending.

I feel like i made a fool of myself when i said i wasn't prepared to answer that question . Any advice would be appreciated.

What are your stats? What school is this? How much do you want the school? Has anything changed in your life (promotion, new job, grades in school) since you applied?

Was trying to keep them a bit anonymous since dude prob reads the boards, too. Anyhow, it's UVA, this is my cycle, i really like them a lot, and nothing new.

.

wert3813 wrote:I took it to mean you didn't disclose something you should have and they wanted to take you so they were giving you a last chance to disclose. But you were on the phone with him so you should know better than I.

If this is the case, i'm clueless as to what they may have 'uncovered.' I have nothing to disclose. Clean academic and social records. Thanks, but i strongly doubt it.

Edit: You've prompted me to go take another look at my submitted app. I honestly don't know of anything that may need to be disclosed. Now i'm a bit concerned.

facile princeps wrote:

wert3813 wrote:I took it to mean you didn't disclose something you should have and they wanted to take you so they were giving you a last chance to disclose. But you were on the phone with him so you should know better than I.

If this is the case, i'm clueless as to what they may have 'uncovered.' I have nothing to disclose. Clean academic and social records. Thanks, but i strongly doubt it.

Yeah, this sounds to me like an opportunity to win them over. I think you should definitely indicate your interest, as strongly as you feel is truthful. And come up with a few points to make that wasn't on your application. Kind of like the interview question "so what else can you tell me that isn't on your resume?" or "why should I hire you?" Both are pretty tough questions. Come up with 2-3 points if you can, find something intangible most likely.

ph14 wrote:

facile princeps wrote:

wert3813 wrote:I took it to mean you didn't disclose something you should have and they wanted to take you so they were giving you a last chance to disclose. But you were on the phone with him so you should know better than I.

If this is the case, i'm clueless as to what they may have 'uncovered.' I have nothing to disclose. Clean academic and social records. Thanks, but i strongly doubt it.

Yeah, this sounds to me like an opportunity to win them over. I think you should definitely indicate your interest, as strongly as you feel is truthful. And come up with a few points to make that wasn't on your application. Kind of like the interview question "so what else can you tell me that isn't on your resume?" or "why should I hire you?" Both are pretty tough questions. Come up with 2-3 points if you can, find something intangible most likely.

This was my take on it as well. I just wanted to see if it's more or less the general consensus before i call them back. I'm definitely going to find some honest, interesting, and hopefully compelling things to say. I was just taken by surprise because so far i've only heard of people getting acceptance calls without being asked any questions as to why they should be accepted.

Thanks.

facile princeps wrote:

ph14 wrote:

facile princeps wrote:

wert3813 wrote:I took it to mean you didn't disclose something you should have and they wanted to take you so they were giving you a last chance to disclose. But you were on the phone with him so you should know better than I.

If this is the case, i'm clueless as to what they may have 'uncovered.' I have nothing to disclose. Clean academic and social records. Thanks, but i strongly doubt it.

Yeah, this sounds to me like an opportunity to win them over. I think you should definitely indicate your interest, as strongly as you feel is truthful. And come up with a few points to make that wasn't on your application. Kind of like the interview question "so what else can you tell me that isn't on your resume?" or "why should I hire you?" Both are pretty tough questions. Come up with 2-3 points if you can, find something intangible most likely.

This was my take on it as well. I just wanted to see if it's more or less the general consensus before i call them back. I'm definitely going to find some honest, interesting, and hopefully compelling things to say. I was just taken by surprise because so far i've only heard of people getting acceptance calls without being asked any questions as to why they should be accepted.

Thanks.

Yeah, that's strange. Not sure why they did that. UVA had a reputation, at least in my application year, for yield-protecting if you couldn't or didn't demonstrate enough interest. So maybe they want to gauge your interest.

Whatever you do- don't make a committment to Virginia. I have a AA female friend that got into Harvard with a 3.5ish/165ish. You are going to Harvard, Columbia or Chicago. I can almost guarantee it. You are probably out at Yale and Stanford because of their small class sizes. You are making a big mistake by not applying to Yale and Stanford though. If I were you, I would start prepping ASAP for the February LSAT and try to bump up my LSAT a few points in order to almost guarantee Harvard or Stanford. Even if you do not get YHS, you will only end up at ColumbiaTTT as a consolation prize. Lol. Good luck.

Given your URM status I think you're well above being a borderline candidate, so I doubt it was that. I'm guessing, as ph14 mentioned, this was a yp call to gauge your interest. I'd respond by emphasizing why you think you'd be a good fit at UVA. Did you submit a Why UVA with your application?

facile princeps wrote:

crumpetsandtea wrote:

facile princeps wrote:I received a call from a top 10 law school today. Thought i was going to be offered acceptance but that wasn't the case. First they told me they were impressed with my story and credentials, but then i was asked "is there anything else you want to tell us before we make a decision?" TBH, i was totally unprepared for that question--so much so that i even admitted it.

My interpretation is that i'm a borderline candidate. The thing is, i have no idea what they want me to say. Put another way, i don't know what, if anything, could make them say "well, after learning this from/about you, now you're worthy of an acceptance."

The person sensed that i was unprepared (i also admitted it), we laughed it off, and he was generous enough to offer me the convenience of calling back tomorrow to give them something, anything, that would make their decision easier. I get the feeling they're looking for a commitment of some sort. Should i emphasize how much i really want to go to the school? Should i tell them that if i get in i'm definitely going? I don't want to do the latter because i have to consider other acceptances and scholarship offers, but i am genuinely interested in attending.

I feel like i made a fool of myself when i said i wasn't prepared to answer that question . Any advice would be appreciated.

What are your stats? What school is this? How much do you want the school? Has anything changed in your life (promotion, new job, grades in school) since you applied?

Was trying to keep them a bit anonymous since dude prob reads the boards, too. Anyhow, it's UVA, this is my cycle, i really like them a lot, and nothing new.

ROFL @ those pitiful schollies from Fordham and FSU. Pathetic. Enjoy HYS!

ChampagnePapi wrote:

facile princeps wrote:

crumpetsandtea wrote:

facile princeps wrote:I received a call from a top 10 law school today. Thought i was going to be offered acceptance but that wasn't the case. First they told me they were impressed with my story and credentials, but then i was asked "is there anything else you want to tell us before we make a decision?" TBH, i was totally unprepared for that question--so much so that i even admitted it.

My interpretation is that i'm a borderline candidate. The thing is, i have no idea what they want me to say. Put another way, i don't know what, if anything, could make them say "well, after learning this from/about you, now you're worthy of an acceptance."

The person sensed that i was unprepared (i also admitted it), we laughed it off, and he was generous enough to offer me the convenience of calling back tomorrow to give them something, anything, that would make their decision easier. I get the feeling they're looking for a commitment of some sort. Should i emphasize how much i really want to go to the school? Should i tell them that if i get in i'm definitely going? I don't want to do the latter because i have to consider other acceptances and scholarship offers, but i am genuinely interested in attending.

I feel like i made a fool of myself when i said i wasn't prepared to answer that question . Any advice would be appreciated.

What are your stats? What school is this? How much do you want the school? Has anything changed in your life (promotion, new job, grades in school) since you applied?

Was trying to keep them a bit anonymous since dude prob reads the boards, too. Anyhow, it's UVA, this is my cycle, i really like them a lot, and nothing new.

ROFL @ those pitiful schollies from Fordham and FSU. Pathetic. Enjoy HYS!

+1. That's dowright insulting if your LSN stats are accurate.

"I will suck your dick"

you're welcome.

minnbills wrote:"I will suck your dick"

you're welcome.

+1

With your stats + URM you should be calling UVA and asking them why you should even entertain attending their law school.

dproduct wrote:With your stats + URM you should be calling UVA and asking them why you should even entertain attending their law school.

+1. Look up my thread "Most Conservative T-14 Law Schools". Virginia probably isn't a very friendly place for an AA male. It is probably the equilvalent of my undergrad alma mater-- a very intolerant place that will make your 3 years of law school miserable. It is your life though. Good luck with your decision.

ph14 wrote:Yeah, that's strange. Not sure why they did that. UVA had a reputation, at least in my application year, for yield-protecting if you couldn't or didn't demonstrate enough interest. So maybe they want to gauge your interest.

Now i wish i wrote the why UVA statement.

bizzybone1313 wrote:Whatever you do- don't make a committment to Virginia. I have a AA female friend that got into Harvard with a 3.5ish/165ish. You are going to Harvard, Columbia or Chicago. I can almost guarantee it. You are probably out at Yale and Stanford because of their small class sizes. You are making a big mistake by not applying to Yale and Stanford though. If I were you, I would start prepping ASAP for the February LSAT and try to bump up my LSAT a few points in order to almost guarantee Harvard or Stanford. Even if you do not get YHS, you will only end up at ColumbiaTTT as a consolation prize. Lol. Good luck.

I can only hope you're right, dude. I didn't apply to Y/S for the reason you indicated (although Y did send me an invitation, i still don't trust that they'll play nice).

berkeleykel06 wrote:Given your URM status I think you're well above being a borderline candidate, so I doubt it was that. I'm guessing, as ph14 mentioned, this was a yp call to gauge your interest. I'd respond by emphasizing why you think you'd be a good fit at UVA. Did you submit a Why UVA with your application?

Didn't write that letter. I'll do my best to emphasize my interest. It wont be difficult because UVA is among my top choices.

bizzybone1313 wrote:

dproduct wrote:With your stats + URM you should be calling UVA and asking them why you should even entertain attending their law school.

+1. Look up my thread "Most Conservative T-14 Law Schools". Virginia probably isn't a very friendly place for an AA male. It is probably the equilvalent of my undergrad alma mater-- a very intolerant place that will make your 3 years of law school miserable. It is your life though. Good luck with your decision.

I'll give it a read.

Thank you all!

Unless you actually have something you want to add, try a refreshingly direct answer that will probably impress them while simultaneously keeping you out of a commitment:

"I don't have anything additional to provide for you, and I'm not going to babble off some worthless garbage to you simply for the sake of saying something new. My application accurately reflects who I am. I believe UVA is an incredible school and I'm extremely interested in attending. I hope you'll admit me."

HawgDriver wrote:Unless you actually have something you want to add, try a refreshingly direct answer that will probably impress them while simultaneously keeping you out of a commitment:

"I don't have anything additional to provide for you, and I'm not going to babble off some worthless garbage to you simply for the sake of saying something new. My application accurately reflects who I am. I believe UVA is an incredible school and I'm extremely interested in attending. I hope you'll admit me."

Just wanted to let you know that i pretty much ended up saying this in my own way. It worked out well. Thanks.