Photo by Kai Pilger on Unsplash
A Post of Encouragement for Anyone on the Wait List
Published August 25, 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! Dorothy Shuldman '22 offers some advice about being on the waitlist.
If you, like me, received the application decision from your top choice law school only to find out you are on the Wait List, do not despair.
Take a deep breath and a moment to be proud of all the work you have done so far to apply to law schools, from hours and hours of studying for the LSAT to perfecting your personal statement. This work was not in vain and there are still steps you can take to try and get off the Wait List.
First, if you have not done so, immediately reply to the Law School to let them know that you would like to remain on the Wait List. This email is also a reflection of you, and if you can include a couple of sentences to promote yourself or express excitement to be a part of the school, do so.
If it has been a month or so since sending your email to remain on the Wait List, I recommend sending another email informing the admissions office of your continued interest. Also, if you live outside of Buffalo, but have the ability to relocate if admitted off the Wait List, make sure the admissions office knows this should they admit people later in the summer.
Next, ask yourself if there is anything you can do to add to or update your application. For example, an amended resume or cover letter with a new career development or perhaps a volunteer project you worked on over the summer.
To add to my application while on the Wait List, I reached out to two previous professors and asked if they would email a letter of recommendation on my behalf to the UB Law admissions office. Another letter of recommendation could help you further stand out from those also on the Wait List.
You can also try reaching out to the admissions office directly to ask about their process on admitting people from the Wait List, or even request a phone call to discuss any questions you have. In my experience with UB Law, Dean Gladney and the admissions team were very helpful and transparent about the process.
While this was not the journey I envisioned when applying to law schools, it certainly did not hold me back when I finally arrived. In my first year I joined the board of UB Law’s chapter of the American Constitution Society, and I just finished a judicial internship with the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. I look forward to participating in more activities in my next two years, and I am especially excited for my spring 2021 semester in NYC.
If you have any questions on my experience on the Wait List or at UB Law in general, feel free to contact me.
Good Luck!
Have questions for Dorothy? Connect with her on her LinkedIn!
Read about her judicial internship with the Honorable Julio M. Fuentes on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on the Clinics Blog.
