Appealing a transfer rejection Forum

[Zazelmaf]

I have heard a few stories of people appealing a transfer rejection and getting in. Is there a certain way to do this? Has anyone here had luck with that. Does one write another essay? If anyone has any examples, I'd love to see them.

[Vronsky]

save your time.

this is like in A Few Good Men when Demi Moore says "But your honor, we strenuously object."

[CanadianWolf]

It might happen if you have significant updated information.

[starchinkilt]

It might happen if you have significant updated information.

Yeah, I can see it maybe happening if there was a grade error where your grade was a C+ due to an error and then it was changed back to an A-.

[Headybrah]

Just do it. Nothing to lose. Plus they can see ur legal skills.

[Zazelmaf]

I think I'm going to appeal a couple of them if I get rejected. I have a few updates and I have all the time in the world this summer.

[Vronsky]

if you have legit updates, you should update your applications BEFORE you get rejected.

[Zazelmaf]

I see, I was thinking of doing it like a trojan horse. You know, I get through the gates, they are like "pretty good but not good enough" then WHAM!

It's not big enough stuff to warrant me telling them about, but just enough to make them want me a tad more.

[Wholigan]

if you have legit updates, you should update your applications BEFORE you get rejected.

I see, I was thinking of doing it like a trojan horse. You know, I get through the gates, they are like "pretty good but not good enough" then WHAM!

It's not big enough stuff to warrant me telling them about, but just enough to make them want me a tad more.

Vronsky's post is TCR. Transfer admissions move quickly and the cycle ends quickly. If you want to use the trojan horse analogy, getting rejected is probably like the gates being closed and locked permanently, so when you jump out of the horse, you will suddenly realize you are still at your old school. It's no big deal to update the schools you applied to with new info, even if it seems minute. It shows interest.

[Vronsky]

this is dumb. if your 'update' is substantive enough for them to want you a 'tad more,' you should email them and update your application. it gives you an opportunity to express your continued interest. you should realize that if you are rejected, there is a 99.99 percent chance that you will stay rejected. therefore, you should add everything to your application prior to a decision if it has any chance of helping you get in. you are not working the system or anything by with holding some info and then appealing your rejection.

the chances of school X saying "we'll, if we had known that before, we might've accepted you" >>>> the chances of school X saying "well now that we know this about you, we'll change that rejection into an offer."

[Helmholtz]

The worst that could happen is they could delete your e-mail without a second glance, think you're a moron, and possibly pass it around the office so everybody gets a good laugh. The best that could happen is they delete your e-mail without a second glance.

[Total Litigator]

Most schools have a strict policy of not divulging why they rejected your transfer application, specifically to dissuade people from trying to "appeal" their decision. The only reason I can think is if u managed to fanangle something amazing right before they rejected you and when it was too late to write an LOCI. So if you are just appealing because you are sure that they didn't "weigh" your qualifications correctly, you are wasting your time.

[Zazelmaf]

Ok, so here's the deal. I am thinking about e-mailing and saying that I was able to volunteer during the first part of the summer in Costa Rica. Would that be worth, adding? If so, do I just put it as an added addendum? It's not really law related, so I wasn't sure if it was worth it.

If I was going to appeal, I would once again state how it is important for me to be in New York City.

Would saying something like:
-----
Hello,

I applied as a transfer student to [your school] and noticed my file is under review. Since applying, I have spent part of May and June in Costa Rica volunteering in marketing a small start up restaurant that caters to both locals and tourists. (explain a little more in depth...etc.) As mentioned in my application, I am transferring due to my spouse being accepted into college in New York City, and am willing to accept an offer of admissions and pay the required deposit immediately. Thank you very much for your time.

(name of the applicant)

[IrwinM.Fletcher]

Ok, so here's the deal. I am thinking about e-mailing and saying that I was able to volunteer during the first part of the summer in Costa Rica. Would that be worth, adding? If so, do I just put it as an added addendum? It's not really law related, so I wasn't sure if it was worth it.

If I was going to appeal, I would once again state how it is important for me to be in New York City.

Would saying something like:
-----
Hello,

I applied as a transfer student to [your school] and noticed my file is under review. Since applying, I have spent part of May and June in Costa Rica volunteering in marketing a small start up restaurant that caters to both locals and tourists. (explain a little more in depth...etc.) As mentioned in my application, I am transferring due to my spouse being accepted into college in New York City, and am willing to accept an offer of admissions and pay the required deposit immediately. Thank you very much for your time.

(name of the applicant)

You desperately need to do something law-related this summer. Even for just a few weeks. Anything. Even if it's down in Costa Rica.

Your email might actually have a detrimental effect on your chances of admission. They will know you're not doing anything related to the legal field this summer, and this really hurts your post-grad employment chances. And since transfer schools have no interest in taking on students who are more likely to drag down their employment numbers/rankings/etc...

[jstn1104]

Ok, so here's the deal. I am thinking about e-mailing and saying that I was able to volunteer during the first part of the summer in Costa Rica. Would that be worth, adding? If so, do I just put it as an added addendum? It's not really law related, so I wasn't sure if it was worth it.

If I was going to appeal, I would once again state how it is important for me to be in New York City.

Would saying something like:
-----
Hello,

I applied as a transfer student to [your school] and noticed my file is under review. Since applying, I have spent part of May and June in Costa Rica volunteering in marketing a small start up restaurant that caters to both locals and tourists. (explain a little more in depth...etc.) As mentioned in my application, I am transferring due to my spouse being accepted into college in New York City, and am willing to accept an offer of admissions and pay the required deposit immediately. Thank you very much for your time.

(name of the applicant)

Why do you think that telling a law school that has already rejected you that you spent the summer working for a restaurant in Costa Rica would have any effect on their decision?

This information doesn't seem like it would have much of an effect on a school's initial consideration of your application, but why you assume this information alone would cause an admissions commitee to reconsider your application after rejecting you to begin with is kind of baffling.

Anything that may be material to their decision, you should tell them before the deadline, and certainly before they make a final decision. I'm not sure if working at a restaurant falls into that cateogy, but this seems like a pretty obvious strategy.

[Zazelmaf]

Ok, so here's the deal. I am thinking about e-mailing and saying that I was able to volunteer during the first part of the summer in Costa Rica. Would that be worth, adding? If so, do I just put it as an added addendum? It's not really law related, so I wasn't sure if it was worth it.

If I was going to appeal, I would once again state how it is important for me to be in New York City.

Would saying something like:
-----
Hello,

I applied as a transfer student to [your school] and noticed my file is under review. Since applying, I have spent part of May and June in Costa Rica volunteering in marketing a small start up restaurant that caters to both locals and tourists. (explain a little more in depth...etc.) As mentioned in my application, I am transferring due to my spouse being accepted into college in New York City, and am willing to accept an offer of admissions and pay the required deposit immediately. Thank you very much for your time.

(name of the applicant)

You desperately need to do something law-related this summer. Even for just a few weeks. Anything. Even if it's down in Costa Rica.

Your email might actually have a detrimental effect on your chances of admission. They will know you're not doing anything related to the legal field this summer, and this really hurts your post-grad employment chances. And since transfer schools have no interest in taking on students who are more likely to drag down their employment numbers/rankings/etc...

Well, I have an interview and a possible side job. I also have an offer of employment during winter break and next summer in San Francisco.

[Total Litigator]

Received an prestigious award, got back awesome grades, was published: all good reasons for a LOCI.

"I have a volunteer job": This is not gonna persuade them either way.... ESPECIALLY since this is a post rejection appeal, not a LOCI.

I mean, if those job offers are so great then you shouldn't be mad about not getting into law school... Take the job by all means and reapply next year. However, if the job is not great so that you would RATHER go to law school at sticker, than I don't think its the kind of job that will sway them (even in a LOCI, especially not in a rejection appeal). Furthermore a job offer (as opposed to job experience) means nothing to a law school.

TBH this reeks of desperation. Work for a while and reapply next year. Then those jobs (depending on what they are) might actually mean something.

EDIT: Sorry I didn't realize this was a transfer app. But yeah... volunteering at a restaurant your 1L summer??... i agree with the poster who said it could actually hurt you.

[OnWisconsin]

It's worth a shot.

Nothing lights a fire under adcoms like some additional substantive information (ie a note composed of magazine cut out letters detailing the general whereabouts, condition, and threatened future of a loved one if demands are not met).

But seriously go for it, what have you got to loose?

[bceagles182]

But seriously go for it, what have you got to loose?

Time, dignity.

Take your rejection like a man. There is a zero percent chance they will reconsider.

[3ThrowAway99]

...to use the trojan horse analogy... when you jump out of the horse, you will suddenly realize you are still at your old school.

I did send an email expressing continued interest in a school after getting rejected and sent one piece of additional info, but that was the extent of my 'appeal.'

Unless there is game-changing info I don't think anything is likely to change (even then I think the decision will probably stand), but I don't see it hurting anything as long as you are polite about it.

[3ThrowAway99]

meh.. read some of the thread more carefully and tend to think you prob should just accept you are rejected and move on OP. I at least would not try to 'appeal' if I were you. I still don't think sending a brief and polite email saying you are disappointed and still interested if somehow an extra seat opens up would be such a bad idea though, if you think it would help you feel like you did everything possible to let the school know how interested you are.

[Zazelmaf]

I have not been rejected yet, just worried that I might be. I did send in updated information, as I got a summer internship and have volunteer work outside of the US. I hope it will help show that I am still very interested in the schools I applied to. Thank you all for input so far. I truly appreciate all the supportive replies, but have a feeling that the next reply will be somewhat nasty *braces self*.

[flcath]

What the fuck is up with all the supportive posts in this thread?

No, dude, your waitressing job and an ambiguous and unverifiable 'job offer' aren't going to impress them at all, let alone cause them to admit an applicant that they previously did not deem WL-worthy.

[bilboteabaggins]

What the fuck is up with all the supportive posts in this thread?

No, dude, your waitressing job and an ambiguous and unverifiable 'job offer' aren't going to impress them at all, let alone cause them to admit an applicant that they previously did not deem WL-worthy.

180.

[lawgod]

What the f--- is up with all the supportive posts in this thread?

No, dude, your waitressing job and an ambiguous and unverifiable 'job offer' aren't going to impress them at all, let alone cause them to admit an applicant that they previously did not deem WL-worthy.

Yes. This is a really dumb idea.