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Waitlist Advice From Our Students
Published July 28, 2020
Finding out that you have been placed on the waitlist of a law school you've applied to may feel disheartening, but there is hope! Khalil Williams '21 answers some questions and offers some advice about being on the waitlist.
When were you notified you were waitlisted?
Initially, I was notified about a month or so after I submitted my application. The Admissions Committee regularly updated me on the decision-making process via email.
Did you communicate with the admissions office while you were on the waitlist? If so, what did that communication consist of?
Yes, I periodically e-mailed a letter of continued interest to law-admissions@buffalo.edu. I kept the letter concise, but detailed enough to articulate my strong interest and desire to attend UB School of Law, and to update the Admissions Committee with new extracurricular activities and experiences I was engaged in. For example, I emailed a second letter of continued interest to inform the Admissions Committee that I would be participating in the six-week long New York Legal Education Opportunity Program (NY LEO). I was also fortunate to schedule an appointment with Vice Dean Lindsay Gladney and meet with her where I discussed my aspirations and strong interest to study and pursue the study of law at UB School of Law. My meeting with Vice Dean Gladney and subsequent tour allowed me to ask more in-depth questions about the institution, available experiential opportunities, and the overall environment of the law school.
How did you keep your morale up while on the waitlist?
The fact that I was waitlisted, rather than outright denied admission, helped me to maintain a positive outlook, because it meant that there was something about my application that stood out to the Admissions Committee. Also, I assumed there were multiple factors that weighed in the decision-making process, and understood that the admissions process is highly competitive. Remaining patient and focused was key.
What are you involved with at the law school now?
I am heavily involved with the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), which I now serve as the Vice President on the E-Board. I have also participated in the Northeast Regional BLSA's Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in New York City; and, I will be returning to the Civil Rights and Transparency Clinic in the Fall as a Student Attorney.
For the last two years, I have worked as a Student Ambassador in the School of Law’s Office of Admissions, which has been a lot of fun and a nice breather from the rigor of academics. And, I have worked as a Summer Associate at Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy LLP for the last two summers, which although it technically falls outside of the law school, I continuously apply the skills and knowledge I have acquired thus far at UB School of Law whenever I am working on a legal matter.
What advice do you have for someone waiting to hear back on the waitlist?
My advice is to not get discouraged and to use this time to advocate for yourself such as writing a letter of continued interest. If going to law school is something you are committed to and serious about, express that interest to the Admissions Committee. Lastly, trust the process and remind yourself that if you were placed on the waitlist it means that the Admissions Committee sees potential in you to thrive in law school. What’s meant for you will work in your favor.
