Stanford C/O 2019 Applicants (2015-2016 cycle) Forum

[robertwabisabi]

Is anybody else struggling to comprehend the two most recent acceptances on lsn?

No struggles to comprehend from me.

Ohmylanta123 has good numbers and appears to have reasonably strong leadership skills. Wouldn't know more without reading ps and resume.

beenawhile also has good numbers. Plus this person is a non-trad with 5-9 yrs work experience. The accepts to stanford and berkeley lead me to believe this person has ties to northern california. Also, could have a very resume.

Good numbers? They're both sub 3.9 and 170.

I bet the fact that they aren't kjd is a bigger boost than most think.

+1

The difference between a 168 or 169 and a 170 is 1 multiple choice question (although I am aware that smc1994 scored much higher than even a 170). Also, 3.72 and 3.85 are sub-3.9 gpa's to be sure, but they are pretty damn close.

I am still hanging on to Stanford with much lower numbers. I also have 8 years of pretty strong work experience and I am a Stanford alum.

[Smc1994]

.

[jalapenocheeseburger]

So...tomorrow right guys?

[Dcc617]

So...tomorrow right guys?

We can only make this prediction 9 more times, allegedly.

[killingmesoftly]

.

[B1GWest]

Hey Lurker here...hoping my first post will result in some type of movement!

Complete mid-Nov, last school i'm waiting on but really ready to take this $$$ from another T14 school with nice weather too!

[EnderWiggin]

Is anybody else struggling to comprehend the two most recent acceptances on lsn?

YP is a real thing

[cdotson2]

Is anybody else struggling to comprehend the two most recent acceptances on lsn?

YP is a real thing

I think YP is way overblown. I have a hard time imaging the second best law school in the nation, which also happens to have the smallest class size in the t-14, thinks there are law students who are too good for them. Unless you mean yp as in someone didn't put enough effort in their app to make the school believe they actually want to go to that school.

[EnderWiggin]

Is anybody else struggling to comprehend the two most recent acceptances on lsn?

YP is a real thing

I think YP is way overblown. I have a hard time imaging the second best law school in the nation, which also happens to have the smallest class size in the t-14, thinks there are law students who are too good for them. Unless you mean yp as in someone didn't put enough effort in their app to make the school believe they actually want to go to that school.

I agree that YP is overblown as a justification for decisions on this site generally, but many people agree that SLS is among the more yield-conscious top schools, including Stanford admits this cycle. It's not a stretch to think that a 168/3.7 applicant (who likely does not have HY or CCN big $$$) who showed measurable interest at SLS might be admitted over a 176/4.0 who likely has other great options but shows no distinguishing likelihood of attending.

Also, SLS is very sensitive to yield. If you can possibly admit someone, I think you'd prefer to straight admit them rather than WL them.

I'm clearly not an expert, but I really don't think that it would come off as desperate. For folks like us who really want Stanford, I think it's easy to overestimate the extent to which Stanford will assume that everyone wants to go to Stanford, so it can seem like there's no benefit from demonstrating continued interest. But Stanford loses great applicants to Yale, Harvard, Chicago ($$), etc. every year, and they seem to actively try to keep their yield in check by valuing the Stanford-specific elements of the application, whether that's a Why Stanford, Stanford-specific LOR, or LOCI.

I was at an admissions panel in October, and if I remember correctly, Dean Deal said that files are reviewed first upon submission, and then often are held and read again later in the cycle. She said it's underwhelming for admissions to pull your file off the shelf in the spring and find that there's been no movement whatsoever on your part since you applied. She advised submitting fall grades, another LOR, or a LOCI. I assumed based on her description of the review process that the advice was relevant even prior to being waitlisted.

This characteristic about Stanford needs to be repeated to the point that it becomes conventional wisdom. Stanford is not Harvard or Yale. They do not assume they are your first choice. You only help yourself the more you can show specific Stanford interest. Why is Stanford this way? Simple math:

Yale admitted 269 to fill a class of 200, that's a 74% yield, which is really low for Yale. Strange.
Harvard admitted 931 to fill its class of 562, that's a 60% yield, which is higher than they usually are.
Stanford admitted 433 to fill a class of 180, that's a 42% yield. These guys are fighting tooth and nail for every deposit they can get.

[AriGold33]

I can definitely see SLS using YP as a factor, but wouldn't their yield be much better if they just admitted people on a normal timeframe? I feel that they lose a lot of top candidates just because they make people wait so long, the same people with many other great options actively courting them. Just my opinion tho, maybe cus I'm a little tired of waiting

[WinterComing]

I can definitely see SLS using YP as a factor, but wouldn't their yield be much better if they just admitted people on a normal timeframe? I feel that they lose a lot of top candidates just because they make people wait so long, the same people with many other great options actively courting them. Just my opinion tho, maybe cus I'm a little tired of waiting

I was just making this exact point to some friends earlier this morning. If Stanford had admitted me two months ago, I might have gone there. Now, I've made up my mind and a Stanford admission probably wouldn't change it.

I also think it's weird that they specifically acknowledge that keeping people waiting around so long is an intentional aspect of their process, whereas I feel like Yale sort of apologizes for it as a necessary evil associated with faculty review. From the SLS website: "However, some applications are held until the committee has reviewed the entire applicant pool. This second review occurs in April, at which time the class will be filled. (A small number of applications will be held for possible use in filling vacancies that may occur during the summer.)"

[scandk]

at this point i want a 4/30 DLS, just to say i got a 4/30 DLS

[nicknar]

DLS!

[jlk411]

DLS!

only in this thread would you see a DLS followed by an exclamation point lol.

[freshprinceoflaw]

.

[WinterComing]

DLS!

Me too!

[mollywood]

DLS!

Me too!

Please tell me they don't all turn DLS simultaneously...because I didn't get one yet. Stanford, if you don't love me let me go!

[drblakedowns]

Is anybody else struggling to comprehend the two most recent acceptances on lsn?

I don't think this is useful commentary. Unless I am misunderstanding the comment, there is the implication that because of their self reported numbers, they don't deserve an accept.

IMO there are a few issues with this, 1) lsn.com numbers are self reported, and can be identifying. It is possible that within a cycle an applicant does not use their real numbers, with the intention of changing them at later date. 2) We don't have much of the information that is used for a decision. This is especially important for SLS. Based on my data modeling experiments, of the T14 schools, SLS and YLS decisions are least explained by numbers.

Everyone is in the same boat, and though applications may be a zero sum game, the applicants can only really control their own application and actions. I think we should try and be supportive. If anything, we should take this as evidence that SLS is really a black box, which depending on your situation, may be a good or bad thing. Though I assume that those that have the number where they would prefer SLS to not be a black box probably have very strong options.

[jlk411]

DLS!

Me too!

WL?

[freshprinceoflaw]

.

[itookthelsat]

DLS

[itookthelsat]

What's their #?

[WinterComing]

DLS!

Me too!

WL?

I called and confirmed it was a WL. I tried to withdraw over the phone, but the woman wouldn't let me. Sending the email now.

[WinterComing]

What's their #?

650 723.4985

[Oskosh]

Can you guys include your complete dates? Trying to find a method to their madness lol.

ETA: I know that some of you (winter et al lol) have amazing options, so don't let the DLS bum you out. Y'all are great!


*commences Hamlet-Esque soliloquy*

Now I am alone.... Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!