Yale c/o 2019 Applicants (2015-2016) Forum

[clovis]

My impression is that faculty review doesn't come into play until after the app deadline. In other words, Asha admits her 80-100 and then after the app deadline sends out the chosen files to the profs. They're not sending out files to profs before that right? Cause that would give those who apply in February an advantage. (If they sent out files to profs in January with the Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan apps, then the competition would be lowered for those applying in Feb cause they're only being compared by the profs to other Febers). Correct me if I'm wrong on this analysis, cause I very well might be.

This post from the 203 Blog suggests that faculty review admits and presumptive admits from Asha are admitted both early and late in the process. We might infer that more (even most?) faculty review admits indeed come later in the process but we don't have a sense of what that scale looks like exactly. Excerpted below:

"There is no correlation between when you are admitted and whether you were a presumptive admit or read by faculty (I really don't see why this would make any difference once you are admitted, but anyway). Both I and the members of the faculty are reading files from early fall into April. So, it's entirely possible for an application to make it through a round of three faculty readers by December, just as it is possible for me to admit someone directly in the spring (it would be kind of odd, wouldn't it, if a must-have applicant applied on February 15 and I had no choice but to send the person to the faculty gamble?). In fact, I believe two years ago the very very very last file I read was a presumptive admit. Again: your chances of admission remain the same regardless of when you apply."

Huh, yeah your definitely right on that. The thing I would love to know is how the apps sent to a certain professor are grouped. For instance, if its true that profs are reading apps from "early fall" onwards (which I think it is safe to assume means by the latest the end of November) that of course means in the faculty review process at that point they are only competing against other early apps.

TL;DR Since if you go to faculty review the group you are sent along with is crucially important (since you are being compared directly against them), how does YLS ensure that each different group has the same level of "difficulty"?

Sorry if no one cares about my ultimately useless ruminating. You can feel free to tell me to stop no hard feelings

They try to make each stack representative of the pool (or rather, the portion of the pool that gets sent to the faculty—presumably slightly below the stats of an admitted class, but considerably above the stats of the pool as a whole). They know how to do this based on previous years, without having to wait and see this year's entire pool. Once they have enough apps to put together a representative stack, they'll do that and send it to the faculty. There are probably some apps that come in early but that don't yet fit into such a group, and for those they'll wait until they can fit them into one. But I imagine they try to make each stack a microcosm of what what the whole faculty-reviewable population will turn out to be.

This is of course idle speculation. It is, however, fascinating to think about how they do this. One thing that does seem to be the case in law school admissions, which has always boggled my mind, is how consistent the trends are from year to year. For example, how do they keep their class sizes so consistent? How do they always know that 50, or 350, admitted people will always opt not to go to a given school? We are more predictable than we might like to think.

[yenisey]

All the ruminating is making me want to apply! Only applied to HS because Y seemed like too much of a stretch for a KJD with average softs (although one is quite unique and has been generating a lot of interest in interviews, it certainly isn't Y level prestigious). I've been stalking the thread a bit and now I'm wondering if it would be worth it.. the 250 seems killer and I'm super poor atm.

Definitely do it! I'm KJD and my numbers aren't as high as yours but I figured why not, you'll never know if you don't try! I think you def have a shot!

Eh, but what is KJD?

[yenisey]

Application finally sent. Super late to the game & leaving all hope at the door.

Super late? So I'm Armageddon-level late. I sent it yesterday.

[yenisey]

Has anyone else gotten an email from YLS student? I feel bad for not having applied yet but my 250 essay is horrible

Don't write something new. Just take your diversity statement and dramatically shorten it since you're not using it for Yale anyway.

This is horrible advice

It's great advice and turned out very well and is also what my consultant asked me to do. Instead of just throwing shade why don't you give your advice?

Sorry, the 250 is supposed to be a unique, self-contained, cohesive essay, seems unlikely that an abridged DS would successfully fit that style. Obviously possible, but it doesn't seem like good advice in general. Seems like better advice would be to find a topic you find intellectually stimulating, maybe philosophically or ethically complex, and argue a position. There are a lot of ways to write a 250, I just don't think "shorten your DS" is going to be a good formula for most people. That said, if you're admitted (esp with your numbers) I will gladly eat my words

Philosophically? I just wrote a super short fiction.

[jetsfan1]

My impression is that faculty review doesn't come into play until after the app deadline. In other words, Asha admits her 80-100 and then after the app deadline sends out the chosen files to the profs. They're not sending out files to profs before that right? Cause that would give those who apply in February an advantage. (If they sent out files to profs in January with the Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan apps, then the competition would be lowered for those applying in Feb cause they're only being compared by the profs to other Febers). Correct me if I'm wrong on this analysis, cause I very well might be.

This post from the 203 Blog suggests that faculty review admits and presumptive admits from Asha are admitted both early and late in the process. We might infer that more (even most?) faculty review admits indeed come later in the process but we don't have a sense of what that scale looks like exactly. Excerpted below:

"There is no correlation between when you are admitted and whether you were a presumptive admit or read by faculty (I really don't see why this would make any difference once you are admitted, but anyway). Both I and the members of the faculty are reading files from early fall into April. So, it's entirely possible for an application to make it through a round of three faculty readers by December, just as it is possible for me to admit someone directly in the spring (it would be kind of odd, wouldn't it, if a must-have applicant applied on February 15 and I had no choice but to send the person to the faculty gamble?). In fact, I believe two years ago the very very very last file I read was a presumptive admit. Again: your chances of admission remain the same regardless of when you apply."

Huh, yeah your definitely right on that. The thing I would love to know is how the apps sent to a certain professor are grouped. For instance, if its true that profs are reading apps from "early fall" onwards (which I think it is safe to assume means by the latest the end of November) that of course means in the faculty review process at that point they are only competing against other early apps.

TL;DR Since if you go to faculty review the group you are sent along with is crucially important (since you are being compared directly against them), how does YLS ensure that each different group has the same level of "difficulty"?

Sorry if no one cares about my ultimately useless ruminating. You can feel free to tell me to stop no hard feelings

They try to make each stack representative of the pool (or rather, the portion of the pool that gets sent to the faculty—presumably slightly below the stats of an admitted class, but considerably above the stats of the pool as a whole). They know how to do this based on previous years, without having to wait and see this year's entire pool. Once they have enough apps to put together a representative stack, they'll do that and send it to the faculty. There are probably some apps that come in early but that don't yet fit into such a group, and for those they'll wait until they can fit them into one. But I imagine they try to make each stack a microcosm of what what the whole faculty-reviewable population will turn out to be.

This is of course idle speculation. It is, however, fascinating to think about how they do this. One thing that does seem to be the case in law school admissions, which has always boggled my mind, is how consistent the trends are from year to year. For example, how do they keep their class sizes so consistent? How do they always know that 50, or 350, admitted people will always opt not to go to a given school? We are more predictable than we might like to think.

Glad to see another speculator And I think with yield: For a school below YHS, if you want a yield of lets say 300, you admit to where based on last year you would have slightly less - 275 lets say - matriculants. Then when you have the exact number you use the wait list to be precise. Always easier to add one off the wait list to get to an exact number than admit to many at the start and try to get people to defer. Looking at past years at Chicago for instance, it seems like this is their strategy with a solid amount of WL admits.

[texasellewoods]

All the ruminating is making me want to apply! Only applied to HS because Y seemed like too much of a stretch for a KJD with average softs (although one is quite unique and has been generating a lot of interest in interviews, it certainly isn't Y level prestigious). I've been stalking the thread a bit and now I'm wondering if it would be worth it.. the 250 seems killer and I'm super poor atm.

Definitely do it! I'm KJD and my numbers aren't as high as yours but I figured why not, you'll never know if you don't try! I think you def have a shot!

Eh, but what is KJD?

Means Kindergarten through JD - coming to law school straight from undergrad with little to no real work experience. Can be difficult competing with older applicants because they've had the time to build some impressive resumes.

[texasellewoods]

Sorry, the 250 is supposed to be a unique, self-contained, cohesive essay, seems unlikely that an abridged DS would successfully fit that style. Obviously possible, but it doesn't seem like good advice in general. Seems like better advice would be to find a topic you find intellectually stimulating, maybe philosophically or ethically complex, and argue a position. There are a lot of ways to write a 250, I just don't think "shorten your DS" is going to be a good formula for most people. That said, if you're admitted (esp with your numbers) I will gladly eat my words

Philosophically? I just wrote a super short fiction.

I was thinking of going this route as well - is it fairly common? I think I would write a much more interesting fiction than an ethically complex issue... plus my PS already covers a fairly serious moral topic.

[lemonparty]

I was thinking of going this route as well - is it fairly common? I think I would write a much more interesting fiction than an ethically complex issue... plus my PS already covers a fairly serious moral topic.

Yeah I don't think it has to be philosophical at all, from everything I've read about the 250 it can be literally about anything. Mine was SUPER weird, but since I have slim to 0 chance at Y anyway, I figured I would go for it and maybe it'll capture their attention

[jetsfan1]

Just on the idea of writing fiction: Asha says its explicit a bad idea.

https://www.admissionsdean.com/research ... a-rangappa

Also, people who write poetry or a fictional piece -- I just don’t get that and that’s definitely a “Bad Idea.”

[curious bobcat]

Application finally sent. Super late to the game & leaving all hope at the door.

Super late? So I'm Armageddon-level late. I sent it yesterday.

I've read several places (incl. an Asha blog) that timing does not affect your chances at Yale, so I wouldn't sweat it too much.

[texasellewoods]

Just on the idea of writing fiction: Asha says its explicit a bad idea.

https://www.admissionsdean.com/research ... a-rangappa

Also, people who write poetry or a fictional piece -- I just don’t get that and that’s definitely a “Bad Idea.”

Thanks! This is a great resource

[yenisey]

I was thinking of going this route as well - is it fairly common? I think I would write a much more interesting fiction than an ethically complex issue... plus my PS already covers a fairly serious moral topic.

Yeah I don't think it has to be philosophical at all, from everything I've read about the 250 it can be literally about anything. Mine was SUPER weird, but since I have slim to 0 chance at Y anyway, I figured I would go for it and maybe it'll capture their attention

Same boat. Hehe

[yenisey]

Application finally sent. Super late to the game & leaving all hope at the door.

Super late? So I'm Armageddon-level late. I sent it yesterday.

I've read several places (incl. an Asha blog) that timing does not affect your chances at Yale, so I wouldn't sweat it too much.

They don't do rolling?

[yenisey]

Just on the idea of writing fiction: Asha says its explicit a bad idea.

https://www.admissionsdean.com/research ... a-rangappa

Also, people who write poetry or a fictional piece -- I just don’t get that and that’s definitely a “Bad Idea.”

Thanks! This is a great resource

Oops! So do they let applicants replace the originally-submitted 250-word essay?

[clovis]

Glad to see another speculator And I think with yield: For a school below YHS, if you want a yield of lets say 300, you admit to where based on last year you would have slightly less - 275 lets say - matriculants. Then when you have the exact number you use the wait list to be precise. Always easier to add one off the wait list to get to an exact number than admit to many at the start and try to get people to defer. Looking at past years at Chicago for instance, it seems like this is their strategy with a solid amount of WL admits.

Oh yeah, you're probably right about that. That also helps explain why they are so eager to woo admitted students. They really want as many of their admits as possible (knowing that no matter how hard they woo, they will still probably not completely fill the class) before they have to start dipping into the WL.

[woc]

Removed.

[birdstheword]

hate to ask, but i'm really struggling with my 250. would anyone be willing to offer feedback?

yes post or PM away!

[curious bobcat]

Application finally sent. Super late to the game & leaving all hope at the door.

Super late? So I'm Armageddon-level late. I sent it yesterday.

I've read several places (incl. an Asha blog) that timing does not affect your chances at Yale, so I wouldn't sweat it too much.

They don't do rolling?

https://www.law.yale.edu/admissions/jd- ... ll-station

[gamerish]

Anybody else get an email from a current student today?

[yenisey]

hate to ask, but i'm really struggling with my 250. would anyone be willing to offer feedback?

Same boat. I sailed it through in minutes, writing a fiction. However people on this topic admonished that's a bad idea. I Emailed the admission staff, requesting to replace my 250. Just now they say OK. So I've got dragged down into your struggle.

[JusPassItToWill]

Anybody else get an email from a current student today?

Yes! It threw me off a bit, since for a second I thought it was some sort of admissions decision, even though I haven't applied yet. Interesting though!

[mattf27]

Anybody else get an email from a current student today?

Yes! It threw me off a bit, since for a second I thought it was some sort of admissions decision, even though I haven't applied yet. Interesting though!

I'm in the same boat. Haven't applied yet-- definitely going to now, even if it is a long shot.

[newrad]

Long time lurker sticking my head out to say: imagine my surprise when I opened my mailbox and found a thick envelope from YLS with a viewbook and a letter encouraging me to apply 'cause I'm LGBT. YLS has a viewbook? They need to convince people to go? Whaa?

I'm at/just above both 25th percentiles, and had no intentions of applying, but that big ol' envelope, though...

I also received this! I'm not LGBT though, so I'm not sure why I received this, but it was pretty lol when my mom called me after opening the letter (my law school mail is delivered to her) and thought this was how I would be coming out to her.

This was just sent to my "permanent address" (i.e., my parents' house). I'm glad I checked here after my mom told me, because I'm LGBT and not out and I almost told my parents to open it. Bullet dodged.

[oliverotis]

Long time lurker sticking my head out to say: imagine my surprise when I opened my mailbox and found a thick envelope from YLS with a viewbook and a letter encouraging me to apply 'cause I'm LGBT. YLS has a viewbook? They need to convince people to go? Whaa?

I'm at/just above both 25th percentiles, and had no intentions of applying, but that big ol' envelope, though...

I also received this! I'm not LGBT though, so I'm not sure why I received this, but it was pretty lol when my mom called me after opening the letter (my law school mail is delivered to her) and thought this was how I would be coming out to her.

This was just sent to my "permanent address" (i.e., my parents' house). I'm glad I checked here after my mom told me, because I'm LGBT and not out and I almost told my parents to open it. Bullet dodged.

Yikes, maybe YLS should start sending these via email

[salander]

hate to ask, but i'm really struggling with my 250. would anyone be willing to offer feedback?

Same boat. I sailed it through in minutes, writing a fiction. However people on this topic admonished that's a bad idea. I Emailed the admission staff, requesting to replace my 250. Just now they say OK. So I've got dragged down into your struggle.

Feel free to PM.