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What to do when you're waitlisted

Published May 5, 2017 This content is archived.

Applying to law school is an exciting step in your life, involving lots of hard work, preparation and some inevitable stress. All applicants hope to be admitted to their preferred school, but sometimes the process can take an unexpected turn if you are placed on the waitlist.

First things first: Don't panic

What may seem like law admissions purgatory actually may turn into an offer of admission, if you are willing to take the chance and wait. The best thing to do is take a deep breath and consider the things you can control instead of worrying about the ones you can’t. At the top of this list is filling out the UB Waitlist Response Form—which lets the admissions committee know if you’d like to accept or decline your position on the waitlist. If you do want to accept, there are a few other things you should do.

Update your application

When an admissions committee reviews the waitlist, they consider several factors when deciding who to admit. By updating your application, you can add anything pertinent that may have occurred since you initially applied. For example, most law schools accept additional letters of recommendation or updated resume experience to add to your application file. Be sure to check with the admissions office prior to sending anything to see if they will take additional documents. It is likely they will prefer you send these electronically, so they can easily add them to your application file without having to scan a hard copy.

Improve your LSAT or GRE score

At the point of applying to law school, your GPA is likely finalized with only tenths of a point that can be changed by a final semester. What you can do is retake the LSAT or GRE to improve your score. Our admissions committee does look to see how your GPA progressed throughout your years at university, but this is an additional way to reiterate your dedication and show you’re making an effort to improve your chances of being admitted.

Waitlist advice and FAQ

While this blog post touches on a few key aspects, you should visit our Waitlist FAQ to find more information from a dozen commonly asked questions about the process.

If you’d like to hear from those who went through the process, read these waitlist words of advice and encouragement from UB Law students on how they navigated the waitlist process.

While being on the waitlist is not the ideal situation, it is better than being denied and it lets you know that you have some qualities that the admissions committee is seeking. Determination and patience are key, as the longer you are willing to remain on the waitlist, the less competition you will face. “Many applicants withdraw from the list to avoid forfeiting deposits they've placed at other schools – and for the sanity of knowing where they'll be studying in the fall.” (U.S. News)  

Additional Resources

Gladney.

Amber Melvin '13 is the Marketing and Recruitment Coordinator for the Office of Admissions.

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University at Buffalo School of Law
408 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260
716-645-2907
law-admissions@buffalo.edu

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