Reapplying to previously waitlisted schools Forum

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

Anyone else doing this as well? Just thought it would be useful for us to share experiences and help each other out after a long summer of riding the waitlists!

Me, personally, I'm reapplying with the hopes of getting into the schools that waitlisted me. I applied in December/January last year and was waitlisted at my top choices in lower-T14. Anyone have any advice/tips on how I should tackle my applications this time around? I'm slightly below median at all three and was surprised to have been waitlisted.

1. Can applying earlier this year in September tip the scales in my favor?
2. Should I rewrite my PS or just modify it? (Don't want to change the topic completely because I feel it perfectly defined why I wanted to attend law school. I feel like rewriting it with a different topic might raise red flags and make Adcomms feel I'm not sure why I want to pursue law)
3. Is there anyone here that successfully reapplied to previously waitlisted schools?

Thanks!

[cavalier1138]

1. Applying earlier is better, yes. September is better than December, but September isn't particularly better than October or early November. Thanksgiving is generally considered the cutoff for getting your app in the "early" category.

2. Rewriting is recommended, according to prior posts on the subject. So I don't think you should be concerned about appearing uncommitted. But that also doesn't mean you have to totally change the general theme.

No idea on the third one. But the big question is the one you didn't answer: what has changed about your application this time around?

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

1. Applying earlier is better, yes. September is better than December, but September isn't particularly better than October or early November. Thanksgiving is generally considered the cutoff for getting your app in the "early" category.

2. Rewriting is recommended, according to prior posts on the subject. So I don't think you should be concerned about appearing uncommitted. But that also doesn't mean you have to totally change the general theme.

No idea on the third one. But the big question is the one you didn't answer: what has changed about your application this time around?

Thanks for the advice!

Does the "What Changed about your application this time around" apply as much to waitlisted applicants as it does to those rejected? I completely get why rejected applicants should change their applications and find things to make them more attractive, but aren't waitlisted candidates (correct me if I'm wrong) usually qualified enough to attend that school but there just wasn't space for them?

I've been hoping that 2 fresh LORs from work, an improved PS, an earlier application, as well as a new job (more in line with where I want to be after Law School than where I was when applying last year) would help push my application from the waitlist to the accepted pile this cycle.

[A. Nony Mouse]

If your application had been more attractive they would have found space for you, though.

[cavalier1138]

If your application had been more attractive they would have found space for you, though.

Pretty much this (except for YP waitlist scenarios, which would have ended with you getting off the waitlist). Getting waitlisted is not getting admitted. It's getting waitlisted. And if nothing's changed, then expect to be waitlisted or rejected this year, given the increase in competition seen across the board this cycle (and expected to continue into next).

Applying to a school that waitlisted you with exactly the same LSAT is basically telling them that you assume they won't have nearly as many qualified applicants this year, so you're pretty sure they'll take you this time around.

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

If your application had been more attractive they would have found space for you, though.

That's a fair point :/

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

If your application had been more attractive they would have found space for you, though.

Pretty much this (except for YP waitlist scenarios, which would have ended with you getting off the waitlist). Getting waitlisted is not getting admitted. It's getting waitlisted. And if nothing's changed, then expect to be waitlisted or rejected this year, given the increase in competition seen across the board this cycle (and expected to continue into next).

Applying to a school that waitlisted you with exactly the same LSAT is basically telling them that you assume they won't have nearly as many qualified applicants this year, so you're pretty sure they'll take you this time around.

Yeah, you're right. I guess I should go into this cycle marking my previous waitlists as rejections and work my way up from there!
I wish I could retake the LSAT but I used up my 3 takes in 2 years already...which is why I can only improve my chances through my softs. My strategy this cycle looks to be shaping up:

1. Earlier App
2. Improved PS
3. Stronger LOR
4. Relationships with AdComm through frequent correspondence, WL Interview, Campus Visits, etc. from the previous waitlist cycle.
5. ED Application

[floatie]

If your application had been more attractive they would have found space for you, though.

Pretty much this (except for YP waitlist scenarios, which would have ended with you getting off the waitlist). Getting waitlisted is not getting admitted. It's getting waitlisted. And if nothing's changed, then expect to be waitlisted or rejected this year, given the increase in competition seen across the board this cycle (and expected to continue into next).

Applying to a school that waitlisted you with exactly the same LSAT is basically telling them that you assume they won't have nearly as many qualified applicants this year, so you're pretty sure they'll take you this time around.

Yeah, you're right. I guess I should go into this cycle marking my previous waitlists as rejections and work my way up from there!
I wish I could retake the LSAT but I used up my 3 takes in 2 years already...which is why I can only improve my chances through my softs. My strategy this cycle looks to be shaping up:

1. Earlier App
2. Improved PS
3. Stronger LOR
4. Relationships with AdComm through frequent correspondence, WL Interview, Campus Visits, etc. from the previous waitlist cycle.
5. ED Application

Your strategy seems like it'll give you your best shot of being competitive. But please remember that there are only so many factors that you can control at this point. Your GPA and LSAT are pretty much set and there's nothing you can do to change those numbers. And you can't control who else is going to be applying to those schools. One of the hardest things to accept (especially for those of us who are used to being top all the time) is that even if you do all the right steps, there will still be candidates who are better than you. The fact that you were waitlisted doesn't mean you were a "bad" applicant in any way - it just means that the others who were accepted were (according to the adcomms) better than you. And that might be the case again this year, even if you do all 5 of those steps.

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

If your application had been more attractive they would have found space for you, though.

Pretty much this (except for YP waitlist scenarios, which would have ended with you getting off the waitlist). Getting waitlisted is not getting admitted. It's getting waitlisted. And if nothing's changed, then expect to be waitlisted or rejected this year, given the increase in competition seen across the board this cycle (and expected to continue into next).

Applying to a school that waitlisted you with exactly the same LSAT is basically telling them that you assume they won't have nearly as many qualified applicants this year, so you're pretty sure they'll take you this time around.

Yeah, you're right. I guess I should go into this cycle marking my previous waitlists as rejections and work my way up from there!
I wish I could retake the LSAT but I used up my 3 takes in 2 years already...which is why I can only improve my chances through my softs. My strategy this cycle looks to be shaping up:

1. Earlier App
2. Improved PS
3. Stronger LOR
4. Relationships with AdComm through frequent correspondence, WL Interview, Campus Visits, etc. from the previous waitlist cycle.
5. ED Application

Your strategy seems like it'll give you your best shot of being competitive. But please remember that there are only so many factors that you can control at this point. Your GPA and LSAT are pretty much set and there's nothing you can do to change those numbers. And you can't control who else is going to be applying to those schools. One of the hardest things to accept (especially for those of us who are used to being top all the time) is that even if you do all the right steps, there will still be candidates who are better than you. The fact that you were waitlisted doesn't mean you were a "bad" applicant in any way - it just means that the others who were accepted were (according to the adcomms) better than you. And that might be the case again this year, even if you do all 5 of those steps.

Thanks! And yes, I completely understand. I just want to put myself in the best possible position and give myself the best chance I can possibly get, so that even if I get waitlisted, I can say that I put my best product out there.

[floatie]

Thanks! And yes, I completely understand. I just want to put myself in the best possible position and give myself the best chance I can possibly get, so that even if I get waitlisted, I can say that I put my best product out there.

Well, I think you're doing everything right at this point. Good luck this cycle!

[Thomas Hagan, ESQ.]

Thanks! And yes, I completely understand. I just want to put myself in the best possible position and give myself the best chance I can possibly get, so that even if I get waitlisted, I can say that I put my best product out there.

Well, I think you're doing everything right at this point. Good luck this cycle!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Saw that you were applying to UVA this cycle, best of luck to you too! Hope you enjoy Charlottesville and maybe I'll see you there?

[floatie]

Thanks! And yes, I completely understand. I just want to put myself in the best possible position and give myself the best chance I can possibly get, so that even if I get waitlisted, I can say that I put my best product out there.

Well, I think you're doing everything right at this point. Good luck this cycle!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Saw that you were applying to UVA this cycle, best of luck to you too! Hope you enjoy Charlottesville and maybe I'll see you there?

Sure hope so!!