Getting Off Waitlists at BC + SMU Forum

[arielsm23]

Hi Guys

Just wondering about the odds of getting off the waitlist at Boston College, SMU, and presumably Tulane..

Stats: 155 LSAT, 3.3 GPA at UT Austin (2.2 sophomore year and then like 3.8/3.9 junior and senior years, I had a very bad second year of college and then improved), I'm also Hispanic.

I'm a fairly good writer so my personal statement was solid and my resume is not the worst but there's certainly better. Service industry+ campus jobs through college, Worked at a startup and then as a Legal Assistant during the year after college. I know these softs don't matter much, just giving as much info as possible.

Before everyone tells me to retake, I took the LSAT 3 times so I would have to wait two cycles to try again. I got a 155 every time as well as on my diagnostic. I took a comprehensive course where my score improved to about a 160-162 consistently on practice tests but I sort of choke on test day due to nerves and getting 0 hours of sleep every time I've taken. Anyways, I realize the risks this poses for law exams as the pressure is similar to the LSAT. I understand that. But I don't think my LSAT will improve in two years although yes you never know as I know I am capable of scoring higher, I'm certainly not fond of the idea so I'm just wondering the odds of getting into these schools.

So just for the sake of having an idea, I'm interested on opinions of getting off the waitlist at BC and SMU. I've yet to hear from Tulane but feel I may get waitlisted there as well. I know I'm well below the median LSAT range and chances are slim so this post may be redundant haha. Also, any advice on LOCIs would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[SullivanLSAC]

Hi arielsm23:

I think your chances at BC depend on how many admitted URMs, and specifically, but not necessarily, how many admitted Hispanics, accept BC’s offer, and secondarily how many admitted southwesterners (that matters to regional schools like BC) accept BC’s offer. I think one of the reasons you were not denied outright was because its applicant pool had an unusually low number of one or both to begin with, so you do have hope. BC will have all that sorted out in large part after the deposit deadline of April 15, so you might hear soon, but will not have it completely clear until classes begin, so if you’re serious about BC, hang in there. As to SMU and Tulane, with your package you have a decent shot.

As to your LOCIs, get them out right away to BC and SMU. I advise clients to do two things in their initial LOCI: express CI, and thank them for having waitlisted you. That’s right, thank them. They don’t get many “thank you notes” from waitlisted applicants, so they’ll appreciate that if admitted you won’t be walking around for three years with a chip on your shoulders. Very shortly thereafter, in a SECOND, SEPARATE LOCI, give them everything they asked for in the waitlist letter. Waitlisted applicants need to keep their files out of the cobwebs, so the more things you send them separately (up to a point, of course – don’t become a pest) the better.

If I may, I’m curious about your choice of schools. They’re literally all over the map. You realize, I hope, that as regional schools, their degrees don’t travel well outside their regions, so you need to decide where you want to work, and spend a large part of your life, after law school, before you choose one of these schools. If you want to spend your life in Texas, don’t go to BC (or just don’t bother to thank them in your first LOCI!).

Good luck.

Dan Sullivan

[sallysitwell]

Hi, I had very similar stats (plus I'm Hispanic) and I got off the BC waitlist two cycles ago. Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have about getting off the BC waitlist and about BC in general. Good luck!

[arielsm23]

Hi arielsm23:

I think your chances at BC depend on how many admitted URMs, and specifically, but not necessarily, how many admitted Hispanics, accept BC’s offer, and secondarily how many admitted southwesterners (that matters to regional schools like BC) accept BC’s offer. I think one of the reasons you were not denied outright was because its applicant pool had an unusually low number of one or both to begin with, so you do have hope. BC will have all that sorted out in large part after the deposit deadline of April 15, so you might hear soon, but will not have it completely clear until classes begin, so if you’re serious about BC, hang in there. As to SMU and Tulane, with your package you have a decent shot.

As to your LOCIs, get them out right away to BC and SMU. I advise clients to do two things in their initial LOCI: express CI, and thank them for having waitlisted you. That’s right, thank them. They don’t get many “thank you notes” from waitlisted applicants, so they’ll appreciate that if admitted you won’t be walking around for three years with a chip on your shoulders. Very shortly thereafter, in a SECOND, SEPARATE LOCI, give them everything they asked for in the waitlist letter. Waitlisted applicants need to keep their files out of the cobwebs, so the more things you send them separately (up to a point, of course – don’t become a pest) the better.

If I may, I’m curious about your choice of schools. They’re literally all over the map. You realize, I hope, that as regional schools, their degrees don’t travel well outside their regions, so you need to decide where you want to work, and spend a large part of your life, after law school, before you choose one of these schools. If you want to spend your life in Texas, don’t go to BC (or just don’t bother to thank them in your first LOCI!).

Good luck.

Dan Sullivan

Dan,

I appreciate the advice. This sort of confirms my thinking regarding my chances and why I was waitlisted by BC at all.

I will be sure to get my LOCIs out to BC and SMU asap and make sure to thank them for waitlisting me. I will follow your advice.

As far as why I chose these schools, I know that they're regional and don't travel well. Don't worry, I'm not going to attempt attending BC with the expectation of coming back to Austin or SMU with the expectation of traveling to Boston etc. I'm simply young, have nothing tying me to a particular place at the moment, and am up for living in Dallas, the South, or Boston. I like all of these locations and would be perfectly happy to have a career in the Northeast or Texas. Both locations have things I like about them.

But thank you for the advice!

[SullivanLSAC]

arielsm23:

I understand. All the best.

Dan