Waitlist interviews Forum

[Redsgomarchingon]

I was contacted by the admissions of a school I'm waitlisted at and they want to do a phone interview.

Anyone done one?

I'm wondering what kind of questions they will ask, and wondering if they'd be open to negotiating with offers from peer (or almost peer) schools

[bk1]

From my experience with admissions interviews it will probably be generic interview questions about your background and why you want to go to law school and specifically that school.

I doubt they will be open to negotiating $ with you considering waitlist acceptances generally don't get money.

[aPosseAdEsse]

One to watch out for is:

"IF we WERE to give you an acceptance, WOULD you accept it?"

It's highly technical and fairly dubious, but what they're looking to do is secure a yes before sending an official acceptance in order to protect yield. If you really want to go there, don't equivocate. It's arguably fair for you to emphatically say, "YES, I would love to. This was and still is my #1 choice." etc., and then to ask for 24 hours or so to think about it if they extend an acceptance over the phone. That's what I did. I called the next morning and said yes again. .

[Redsgomarchingon]

One to watch out for is:

"IF we WERE to give you an acceptance, WOULD you accept it?"

It's highly technical and fairly dubious, but what they're looking to do is secure a yes before sending an official acceptance in order to protect yield. If you really want to go there, don't equivocate. It's arguably fair for you to emphatically say, "YES, I would love to. This was and still is my #1 choice." etc., and then to ask for 24 hours or so to think about it if they extend an acceptance over the phone. That's what I did. I called the next morning and said yes again. .

yea that's the question I'm worried about. I have a pretty significant offer from a (arguably) peer school. Do you think I should bring that up?

[aPosseAdEsse]

No, I don't think so. Since they're peer schools and this one school already decided to waitlist you, it is highly unlikely to offer you any scholarship money (which would be the only reason to bring it up I would think). By bringing up the other acceptance you'll just make them skeptical about whether you will actually accept their offer.

Keep in mind, I'm fairly sure you're allowed to accept at multiple schools as long as you're willing to comply with their deposit requirements. But of couse check with the application paperwork/interest research (I'm shooting from the hip.) Then decide if $100-$500 is worth having more time to decide (and maybe it is, depending on what variables you're weighing.)

[Redsgomarchingon]

No, I don't think so. Since they're peer schools and this one school already decided to waitlist you, it is highly unlikely to offer you any scholarship money (which would be the only reason to bring it up I would think). By bringing up the other acceptance you'll just make them skeptical about whether you will actually accept their offer.

Keep in mind, I'm fairly sure you're allowed to accept at multiple schools as long as you're willing to comply with their deposit requirements. But of couse check with the application paperwork/interest research (I'm shooting from the hip.) Then decide if $100-$500 is worth having more time to decide (and maybe it is, depending on what variables you're weighing.)

k thanks. Time to decide how debt averse I am I guess

[CanadianWolf]

All they want to hear is "If accepted, I will attend".

[justhoping]

All they want to hear is "If accepted, I will attend".

+1
haven't done one myself, but I think Penn likes to interview with basically just this question.

GOOD LUCK!!!

[IHaveLawyers]

Is this case western