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Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 11:40 pm
by xxinfinity
Hi all,
Congrats on acceptances and good luck on waitlists.
I'm a splitter applicant and applied to a ton of schools. Got 7 waitlists, from T10 to T40..., very few acceptances and the equivalent in rejections. Therefore looking to learn about your best advice on getting off a waitlist.
Also it seems like the buzz is that lots of schools are admitting fewer ppl in hopes that there will be people applying to transfer next year. I've had a few rejection letters actually stating that they will be looking for my transfer app next year.
I'm sure this thread could be useful to many.
Thanks in advance!
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 11:55 pm
by metallaura
xxinfinity wrote:Hi all,
Congrats on acceptances and good luck on waitlists.
I'm a splitter applicant and applied to a ton of schools. Got 7 waitlists, from T10 to T40..., very few acceptances and the equivalent in rejections. Therefore looking to learn about your best advice on getting off a waitlist.
Also it seems like the buzz is that lots of schools are admitting fewer ppl in hopes that there will be people applying to transfer next year. I've had a few rejection letters actually stating that they will be looking for my transfer app next year.
I'm sure this thread could be useful to many.
Thanks in advance!
#s?
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:58 am
by MyManKanye
The only thing I know is to send LOCI to all schools. If you have one that you really want to attend, you could word the letter along the lines of "I will definitely attend if admitted." That helps in particular for schools whose numbers you exceed. They often waitlist people who they suspect won't attend and if you write them saying you will, generally you can get in.
If you're waitlisted on a reach (like me) I think all you can do is keep in contact (I'm trying to walk a fine line between very interested and annoying) and hope.
Although I do have to say any school that told me they wanted to see my transfer next year would be automatically black listed. Talk about a crock of shit.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:00 pm
by Mce252
Although I do have to say any school that told me they wanted to see my transfer next year would be automatically black listed. Talk about a crock of shit.
This sounds like a line that was inserted during one of those, "so what else can we say to make this sound nice" moments.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:00 pm
by MyManKanye
I don't know, I've always just been a fan of being frank. I know schools don't have time for this, but what I'd like out of my rejections is "We are rejecting you because ___ was too low." where ___ is likely GPA or LSAT. I don't mind the standard emails saying you were good enough we just had too many good people emails so much, but telling you they want your transfer just reads to me "You weren't good enough, but do really well at another school and maybe we'll take you for full tuition." It just reeks of arrogance and condescension.
On topic though, I've heard that visiting the campus is also a good thing, particularly if you can meet the adcomm people and allow them to put a (charming) face to a name. Other than that, there aren't really any secrets. You need to really be competitive to begin with or have something incredible to add to your resume (make sure to send updated transcripts to LSAC as well). If you're competitive with their numbers, all you can do is make yourself known as interested and excited. Even then you'll have to hope lots of other people withdraw since they usually over enroll a fair bit.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:04 pm
by Mce252
MyManKanye wrote:I don't know, I've always just been a fan of being frank. I know schools don't have time for this, but what I'd like out of my rejections is "We are rejecting you because ___ was too low." where ___ is likely GPA or LSAT. I don't mind the standard emails saying you were good enough we just had too many good people emails so much, but telling you they want your transfer just reads to me "You weren't good enough, but do really well at another school and maybe we'll take you for full tuition." It just reeks of arrogance and condescension.
On topic though, I've heard that visiting the campus is also a good thing, particularly if you can meet the adcomm people and allow them to put a (charming) face to a name. Other than that, there aren't really any secrets. You need to really be competitive to begin with or have something incredible to add to your resume (make sure to send updated transcripts to LSAC as well). If you're competitive with their numbers, all you can do is make yourself known as interested and excited. Even then you'll have to hope lots of other people withdraw since they usually over enroll a fair bit.
What good does sending an updated transcript to LSAC do? Won't the school only receive it if they request another electronic copy of your file? I think it might be a better idea to send updated transcripts directly to the school if you're on the waitlist.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:05 pm
by bport hopeful
retake
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:09 pm
by MyManKanye
Mce252 wrote:
What good does sending an updated transcript to LSAC do? Won't the school only receive it if they request another electronic copy of your file? I think it might be a better idea to send updated transcripts directly to the school if you're on the waitlist.
Might depend on the school. The schools I was WL'd at explicitly said to send updated LORs or transcripts to LSAC and anything else to them. You could ask the individual schools though. Given that LORs and Transcripts have to go out officially to the school (i.e. you don't do it yourself) I'm not sure its any faster one way or the other.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:24 pm
by lsa2011
Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:27 pm
by badwithpseudonyms
reach around.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:27 pm
by bport hopeful
badwithpseudonyms wrote:reach around.
Id let you in.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:33 pm
by CanadianWolf
Which law schools stated that they were looking forward to receiving your transfer application next year ? UCal-Berkeley ?
To get off waitlists visit &/or use the five magic words--"If accepted, I will attend.".
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:36 pm
by callen7828
I was waitlisted at a school and simply emailed the Dean of Admissions and told them if they admitted me I would attend and one week later, they offered me the evening program instead and pulled me off the waitlist. It was not what I wanted exactly but it allowed me to continue to work to support my family so I would say that emailing the dean does help.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:39 pm
by 071816
There is only ONE sure-fire method: Withdraw.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:36 pm
by fragged
I have visited schools when my app was under evaluation, and even then it was difficult to get someone other than an admissions rep to see me. How do you visit a school when you're on the waitlist and get someone (important) to meet with you?
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:37 pm
by callen7828
fragged wrote:I have visited schools when my app was under evaluation, and even then it was difficult to get someone other than an admissions rep to see me. How do you visit a school when you're on the waitlist and get someone (important) to meet with you?
I don't know about that but the email for the dean of admission is usually listed on their website so that is one way to contact someone important.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 2:46 pm
by nygrrrl
bport hopeful wrote:retake
Bport, in case you missed this when it was first posted?
http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5#p4002383

Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:44 pm
by gotcha
chimp wrote:There is only ONE sure-fire method: Withdraw.
haha
Constructively though: Pray. A lot.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:46 pm
by callen7828
I am glad someone said it, I am tired of hearing retake. We cannot all score the perfect score because we are all different people.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:05 pm
by bport hopeful
Well, I never do that as a token smart ass response because it is obnoxious.
Are you trying to tell me that retaking is not a good way to get off a waitlist, because I have some emails from deans that suggest otherwise.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:05 pm
by bport hopeful
And for the record, it was never funny.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:06 pm
by 3ThrowAway99
Pay them off. Works every time.

Guaranteed method. Now I have a book to sell you for $9.99.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:10 pm
by CanadianWolf
You should have sold the book before giving away the answer.
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:29 pm
by dtl
gotcha wrote:chimp wrote:There is only ONE sure-fire method: Withdraw.
haha
Constructively though: Pray. A lot.
Opposite of constructive
Might as well try
http://myworld.ebay.com/moonstruck9000/ ... 4340.l2559
Re: Successful methods to get off wait-lists?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 9:53 pm
by callen7828
Ha funny that praying is the same is casting spells! very funny!