Illinois Class of 2014 (With Dean Pless) Forum

[forward]

Tick, tock. Should be within the next hour or two.

[krad]

I have not applied to this school, however, seeing as this is the only thread with an actual dean responding to questions, i have to ask this. What led you to post on TLS and create a thread such as this with a great deal of transparency? Is this a model for other deans as well, or just specific to some law schools?

The amount of bad information about the law school application process that is online has always driven me crazy. A few years ago I just finally had enough and decided that I would try to put some good information out here. I chose TLS because I thought the conversation was fairly civilized, the site is well run and it had the best search features. I don't know of any other deans currently communicating in this way, but a number of them have blogs on their own law school sites that are very informative.

This is an excellent thread! Thank you for taking the time to contribute, Dean Pless. I can only hope that other deans will take note for the benefit of future applicants!

[Pless]

Decisions will be coming out in a few minutes. 72 Admits, 189 Denies and 41 offers to the Wait List. Good luck to everyone.

The next batch of files will be going into review today for decisions on December 17th. All files completed by November 19th will be heading for review. Those will be our last decisions for the 2010 calendar year. We will put more files into review on the 17th, but those decisions won't come out until January 7.

[forward]

I'm in! Thanks Dean Pless!

[Magnifique1908]

Dean Pless,

Thank you so much for the scholarship offer. You are awesome!!!!

[Spinozist21]

Decisions will be coming out in a few minutes. 72 Admits, 189 Denies and 41 offers to the Wait List. Good luck to everyone.

The next batch of files will be going into review today for decisions on December 17th. All files completed by November 19th will be heading for review. Those will be our last decisions for the 2010 calendar year. We will put more files into review on the 17th, but those decisions won't come out until January 7.

Get reaadddy to read a Spinozist file

[Spinozist21]

Dean Pless:

When you send me the rejection email, would it be possible to personalize it a bit? Maybe to say something like: "Well, Mr. Spinoza, it is not a total loss...Better Luck Next Time"

[lalalawya]

Dean Pless--the nice rejection letter softened the blow . Good luck with the rest of the cycle! I'm sure the c/o 2014 will be excellent.

[oxford_don]

In with 33k a year. Thanks Dean Pless!

[Barbie]

In with 15k a year. I'm literally crying at work! DEAN PLESS <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[anthropologieaddict]

In with 15k a year. I'm literally crying at work! DEAN PLESS <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Congrats Barbie!!!

[Magnifique1908]

In with 15k a year. I'm literally crying at work! DEAN PLESS <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

W00T!!!

Congrats!!

[Pless]

Congratulations Barbie. Didn't mean to make you cry.

[Barbie]

Congratulations Barbie. Didn't mean to make you cry.

You made my mom cry too!! Illinois is definitly NOT only concerned with #s!! <3 <3 <3

[krad]

Congratulations Barbie. Didn't mean to make you cry.

You made my mom cry too!! Illinois is definitly NOT only concerned with #s!! <3 <3 <3

Congrats Barbie, we all know how much you wanted this!!

I can't wait to get my first acceptance, any acceptance will probably make me cry too (I'm a girl, despite my avatar haha)

[Magnifique1908]

I forwarded my email to my advisor who has been a major help with my entire application process and is also an alum.

She called me and screamed

Thanks again Dean Pless.

[mareesa]

Decisions will be coming out in a few minutes. 72 Admits, 189 Denies and 41 offers to the Wait List. Good luck to everyone.

The next batch of files will be going into review today for decisions on December 17th. All files completed by November 19th will be heading for review. Those will be our last decisions for the 2010 calendar year. We will put more files into review on the 17th, but those decisions won't come out until January 7.

Thanks for making my day!!! It is great that you started this forum in the first place!

[kk19131]

I'm a Friday away....

[thewarflamingo]

I am really looking forward to visiting Illinois for the first time! Thank you so much, Dean Pless!

[daniel5126]

Hi Dean Pless,
Could you possibly give some insights for those of us who were put on the Waitlist?

Specifically: 1) Is there something specific to a waitlisted candidate, and 2) Is there anything we can do to demonstrate further interest?

Thanks,
Daniel

[Spinozist21]

In with 15k a year. I'm literally crying at work! DEAN PLESS <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Congratulations Barbie...Seriously, I do not think I could be more happy for someone! Its an interesting phenomenon going through admission's cycles with people...there is a certain type of companionship built on mutual understanding.........and I must say that I am quite ecstatic for you.

Dreams do come true...for some at least

[Spinozist21]

Congratulations Barbie. Didn't mean to make you cry.

You are a better version of Santa Clause...a real person...making dreams come true.

[Magnifique1908]

Congratulations Barbie. Didn't mean to make you cry.

You are a better version of Santa Clause...a real person...making dreams come true.

[Pless]

This is probably going to be the toughest cycle yet for Illinois. We are projecting a class size of 180 students and are currently on pace for 5,000 applications. The quality of the applications we are receiving are just through the roof. All of the people that I have Wait Listed and even some of those that have been denied have been remarkable candidates, it is just we only have so many seats.

For those on the WL, you probably won't have to wait until May to hear something. I will see how the cycle is going in late January and start making some moves then with people on the WL. I withdraw people from the list when I know that there is no chance they will be admitted. I pull people off the WL as I see a need in the class as it is shaping up. Typically, about a week before I make any decisions about the WL I will ask for people on the list to send me some form of continued interest. That doesn't always happen, but usually that is how it works.

I will try to send out regular (at least monthly) updates to people on the WL. As we get closer to deposit deadlines I will send those out more often. We have changed our deposit structure a bit this year and I think that will help me make more WL decisions in early April.

Hope that helps some, I know the WL game is agonizing. I will do what I can to minimize that, but I am sure that it will still be stressful at times. Please feel free to ask me any other questions about the College or our process.

[beachbum]

Waitlisted. A little disappointed, but that's the way it goes. Anyway, I added my name to the waitlist and we'll see what happens; if need be, I'll do my best to put together a stronger application and come back next year.

But again, I appreciate the transparency. I may not love your decision, but your insight is definitely refreshing in a process that can often be confusing.