LOCI if you've been rejected? Forum

[j.wellington]

I heard back from my first law school today, and the news wasn't good. I got rejected at my first choice – not my reach, but a school I was within the range for and genuinely wanted to attend. Guess that's the nature of the cycle. I applied to nine schools and expect I'll get in somewhere, but I would be willing to wait a year if it meant having my first option, which really is more up my alley than any of the others. I was considering sending a letter to the admissions office thanking them for their consideration and asking if they had any specific advice for me on applying next year. Two questions:

1) Is this a terrible idea? I want to show my interest, but I don't want it to seem like I'm demanding an explanation for why I was rejected.

2) If I do end up sending something, any advice on how to word it?

[lawschoolstudent85]

Stats and school?

[AffirmativeOffense]

A letter of continued interest is a waste of time if you've been rejected. They aren't going to reconsider you. I doubt you'd even get a response. That's the nature of the beast.

[LSATfromNC]

I believe you can appeal your decision. I have only heard of it being over turned a handful of times.

[09042014]

Stats and school?

[AffirmativeOffense]

I believe you can appeal your decision. I have only heard of it being over turned a handful of times.

I thought appeals were reserved for rejected applicants who have something substantial and substantive to add to their application? E.g. a new LSAT score, error on the app, etc.

[missvik218]

A letter of continued interest is a waste of time if you've been rejected. They aren't going to reconsider you. I doubt you'd even get a response. That's the nature of the beast.

He's not asking to be reconsidered this year, but for advice on strengthening his application next year.

[Thirteen]

Stats and school?

Also, start studying for the June LSAT right now.

[AffirmativeOffense]

A letter of continued interest is a waste of time if you've been rejected. They aren't going to reconsider you. I doubt you'd even get a response. That's the nature of the beast.

He's not asking to be reconsidered this year, but for advice on strengthening his application next year.

I didn't read his full post before making my comment; my mistake. Nevertheless, it seems like a waste of time. What else can they say other than improve LSAT/GPA and softs? I don't know what he'd be accomplishing with a LOCI after rejection.

[starstruck393]

Stats and school?

This. It's kind of hard to say anything else without knowing...

[j.wellington]

I'll say it was a top 50 state school, and my stats were just slightly below the medians. I don't have residency, though, and they're known for their low out-of-state yields. I have connections to the area and could see myself settling there, so it was my top choice.

I wasn't shocked to be rejected; gave myself about a 50/50 chance. I'm not looking to appeal the decision. I thought a letter might, if nothing else, show that I'm genuinely committed to the school so that if I reapply next year and am again on the fence, maybe I'll fall to the other side.

[09042014]

I'll say it was a top 50 state school, and my stats were just slightly below the medians. I don't have residency, though, and they're known for their low out-of-state yields. I have connections to the area and could see myself settling there, so it was my top choice.

I wasn't shocked to be rejected; gave myself about a 50/50 chance. I'm not looking to appeal the decision. I thought a letter might, if nothing else, show that I'm genuinely committed to the school so that if I reapply next year and am again on the fence, maybe I'll fall to the other side.

Schools don't accept people below both medians (even by 1 lsat and .03 GPA) because it takes someone else above both medians to cancel out your ill effect on their stats.

If you are below both median expect to get rejected unless you did something epic.

[LSATfromNC]

If nothing changes then do not expect a different out come next year. The only way I could see things changing is if the number of applicants drops dramatically next year.

[j.wellington]

Fair enough. I was planning to retake the LSAT anyway if I do reapply, so maybe I'll knock it out of the park and have a legitimate reason to try again.

[Sangiovese]

I don't think it can hurt you to send a letter asking what you can work on over the coming year to strengthen your application. What are they going to do... turn you down?

At best, you get information on where they thought you were weak. At worst, they tell you to shove off.

Phrasing is important. It is legitimate to ask how to make yourself a stronger candidate. It is not kosher to ask them why they rejected you. Essentially they are the same thing... but it's a real distinction.

Disclaimer... my experience in this comes from interviewing job applicants, not law school applicants - but in both companies where I've been directly involved in the hiring process we always gave feedback to those who asked how to improve for their next interview. And ignored those who asked why we didn't pick them.

As someone else mentioned, being below both their medians hurts, and it may not be possible to get over the hump without improving your LSAT. If you feel that you can do better and get over their median (and really, really want to go there) then it might be worthwhile to sit out a year. I'd spend a lot of time making that decision though as a year is a significant investment with no guarantee you'll achieve the desired result.