Top Law Schools

General Question:

How is it possible for a law school to admit about 889 applicants out of a pool of 2300+ and only matriculate about 170?… I understand the fact that not all applicants except the offer and so on… However, it seems quite a large gap.
Thoughts or explanations welcomed.

Applications Offers Matriculated

EX: Class of 2016

Aps: 3175
Ofrs: 956 (30.11%)
Matrc: 163 (5.1%)

Any Takers?

RLJAG wrote:General Question:

How is it possible for a law school to admit about 889 applicants out of a pool of 2300+ and only matriculate about 170?… I understand the fact that not all applicants except the offer and so on… However, it seems quite a large gap.
Thoughts or explanations welcomed.

Applications Offers Matriculated

EX: Class of 2016

Aps: 3175
Ofrs: 956 (30.11%)
Matrc: 163 (5.1%)

Because most of the T14 has overlapping applicants, and when you're dealing with sufficiently large populations, your yield rate won't vary tremendously from year to year, so you'll be able to predict how many you need to hit your nut. Additionally, using merit & need based aid will allow the schools to help attract the candidates they need to hit their numbers.

RLJAG wrote:General Question:

How is it possible for a law school to admit about 889 applicants out of a pool of 2300+ and only matriculate about 170?… I understand the fact that not all applicants except the offer and so on… However, it seems quite a large gap.
Thoughts or explanations welcomed.

Applications Offers Matriculated

EX: Class of 2016

Aps: 3175
Ofrs: 956 (30.11%)
Matrc: 163 (5.1%)

My best is the schools use historical data that provides the probability that someone will yield using indicators like student's undergraduate institution, GPA, LSAT etc. Further, they don't have to admit all the students at once so they can modify their plans based upon what percentage has yielded so far in the year.

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Thanks Graham42!!
That was one solid and understandable answer!

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There have actually been times (though rarely) when schools have underestimated the number of applicants who will decide to matriculate. I want to say it was 2008 or 2009, a T14 had some crazy number of applicants decide to attend, like 100 or 150 over what they expected. They offered very generous financial packages to students who agreed to wait a year, and then had to cut the number of acceptances in half the following year to make room. I won't mention which school because I'm not 100% sure I remember correctly which it was.

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PattyCake wrote:There have actually been times (though rarely) when schools have underestimated the number of applicants who will decide to matriculate. I want to say it was 2008 or 2009, a T14 had some crazy number of applicants decide to attend, like 100 or 150 over what they expected. They offered very generous financial packages to students who agreed to wait a year, and then had to cut the number of acceptances in half the following year to make room. I won't mention which school because I'm not 100% sure I remember correctly which it was.

w&l had that problem I think

It happens, and I'm sure there are plenty of students who were happy to accept huge scholarships in exchange for waiting. It was probably frustrating for applicants the next year if they weren't aware of the situation, though.