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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 11/27/23
Have you applied to law school only to find yourself on the waitlist? Read on to find out how to increase your chances of getting off the waitlist!
The waitlist can seem scary, unsettling, and frustrating, but you still have a shot at acceptance. Many students just sit on the waitlist and wait to hear a reply, but did you know you can take proactive steps to increase your chances of getting an acceptance letter?
From writing additional letters of continued interest to updating your ongoing achievements, this article will help you understand how to turn your waiting period into actual acceptance.
Before we tackle getting off the waitlist, we first need to understand the waitlist. Schools use waitlists for applicants who are deemed almost worthy.
But don’t confuse this with rejection. Waitlisted applicants are considered competitive applicants (they would’ve been rejected otherwise), but since schools receive thousands of applicants each year, waitlisted applicants fall just shy of the school's elite applicants.
Here are the factors that schools consider when placing an applicant on the waitlist.
Law schools receive thousands of applicants every admissions cycle, especially elite schools such as Harvard and Yale. These schools have very few seats, so the volume of exceptional applicants can make the final decision challenging.
This means that even the strongest applicants may find themselves on a waitlist. But it’s not a rejection, actually quite the opposite.
Being waitlisted means that you’re still being considered–the admissions board just needs to be strategic when filling the final seats.
Even the most qualified applicants might not get an offer of acceptance and instead find themselves on the waitlist. The answer is simple: schools need to protect their yield rate.
If an admissions officer thinks you’ll reject their offer of admission, you might find yourself on the waitlist. The admissions board would prefer to protect the school’s yield rate to appear more attractive to future applicants.
Think of it this way: you’d probably apply to an elite school with a 10% yield rate over an elite school with a 5% yield rate. This is what admissions committees try to protect.
So, if you're waitlisted, your application might have nothing wrong with it. The admissions board might just think you’ll apply to an even more prestigious school and accept their offer instead. You should think wisely about the schools that you apply to.
Many law schools use rolling admissions, which means they evaluate applications as they receive them throughout the admissions cycle.
If you get placed on the waitlist, the reason could be as simple as tardiness. Strong candidates may end up on the waitlist simply because they applied later in the cycle. It seems “the early bird gets the worm” fits well here.
Competitive test scores might have been the key to admissions several years ago, but not in the age of holistic admissions. It’s not enough to just be a top 10% LSAT scorer. Admissions decisions go beyond just GRE and LSAT scores.
Every single aspect of an applicant’s profile must hit all the marks. This means that letters of recommendation, personal statements, essays, and interview responses, are all just pieces of a greater puzzle that all need to be well-refined.
So, if you have a competitive LSAT or GRE score and still find yourself on the waitlist, you might need to update other aspects of your profile.
Getting waitlisted for law school can feel disappointing, but it isn’t a dead end. Use this as an opportunity to stay proactive and make a strong case for why you should be accepted. You want to go into law, so it’s time to build a compelling case for your education.
Law school admissions are always changing, and spots may open up throughout the process as students decline offers or withdraw from programs. Always remember that your position on the waitlist is never set in stone.
Admissions committees look at candidates who show true enthusiasm for their school. Engage with the admissions office, submit updated information, and attend hosted events. This not only keeps you on their radar but it can set you apart from other waitlisted applicants.
As they finalize the incoming class, admissions committees may look for a diverse group of students. Sometimes they reassess and adjust for diversity, academic focus, or other evolving goals. This is why it’s important to highlight what makes you unique in your application. They’ll know who you are and what you bring to the table just by looking at your application. Keep updating your file with relevant new achievements or details that make you stand out.
Sending well-crafted, specific letters of continued interest is an excellent way to show your commitment. Share meaningful updates and explain why the school aligns with your personal and professional goals. This keeps you top of mind with the admissions team.
Schools sometimes move quickly to fill spots from the waitlist, so stay on top of your emails and be prepared to respond quickly if an offer comes in. Always double or triple-check your junk folder just in case.
Remember that this is not a job, so you shouldn’t treat it like one. Don’t wait to respond to any emails that offer you acceptance. Act quickly to ensure that the seat has your name on it. Being flexible and responsive shows them how serious you are about attending.
Since waitlist offers can arrive late, sometimes just before orientation, start researching housing in the area to be ready for a quick move. You can also start packing some things away that you might need such as clothes, bedding, etc to make the moving period smoother.
Some schools allow waitlisted students to visit, which can show your commitment to attending. If allowed, attend a class, tour the campus, or connect with current students. Mentioning this visit in a follow-up LOCI can add weight to your application.
Admissions offices appreciate candidates who stay engaged but not overly pushy. Send monthly updates to reiterate your interest, but keep them brief and specific. It’s like a salesperson; a good salesperson separates themselves from the rest by constantly being in their customer’s ear without an irritating nagging feeling.
Top 50 US law schools rely on waitlists to manage enrollment numbers, especially as each year’s acceptance rates and class sizes vary. Typically, schools will respond to applicants on the waitlist from April–May.
Each school handles waitlists a little differently. Georgetown and UCLA, for instance, usually show more waitlist movement. On the other hand, schools like Harvard are more selective, but they still tend to accept a few waitlisted applicants each year.
In recent cycles, many law schools have increased the size of their waitlists, likely in response to the rising number of applicants. So, while there may be more spots on the list, your chances of hearing back from the school can vary depending on the needs and the applicant pool that year.
This is why some applicants might get put on the waitlist in one admissions cycle but receive an early acceptance offer with that same application in the next cycle.
Typically most law schools accept between 5-10% of their waitlist each year. However, there is no way to give an exact answer as to how competitive the applicant pool is in any given year. We can use historical data to make an estimated guess, but there’s rarely a guaranteed answer.
This is because your chances of getting off the waitlist are highly dependent on several factors, which we’ve already outlined above, but to reiterate:
And if you’re applying to an elite school like Harvard Law, your chances of getting off the waitlist are even slimmer. For the class of 2027, only 27 students were accepted to Harvard Law from the waitlist of 56,937 applicants, which brings us to a 0.04% waitlist acceptance rate. Yikes.
Here is a table outlining the law school waitlist acceptance rate for the top 15 law schools in the US
The waitlist can feel like an isolated abyss, especially when certainty is most valued. But despite the low acceptance rates–and we can’t stress this enough–know that the waitlist doesn’t mean your chances are over!
Sure, a 0.04% waitlist acceptance rate for Harvard Law seems ridiculously low, but that’s still 27 people who got into an elite school from the waitlist, and you could be the next. Below, we’ll outline the actionable tasks you can do to increase your chances of getting off the waitlist and into your dream school.
Submit a well-crafted LOCI to the admissions committee to show your interest. Be specific about why the school remains your top choice, and mention any new accomplishments, skills, or relevant experiences since your initial application. Use the LOCI to show genuine enthusiasm and reiterate your commitment to attending if accepted.
Admissions officers want candidates who are excited to attend their program, so you must demonstrate your interest effectively. Attend any virtual or in-person admissions events, open houses, or Q&A sessions that the school may offer. Not only does this show your continued commitment, but it also provides opportunities to connect with the admissions team and learn more about the program.
If you’ve achieved any new accomplishments since applying (such as a promotion, significant awards, volunteer work, or a higher LSAT score), submit these updates to the admissions office. Schools value applicants who continue to grow and make positive strides even after applying.
Consider asking a new recommender who can add a different perspective to your application, particularly someone who is familiar with your skills or background and can speak to your suitability for the program. Ideally, this could be from someone connected to the school or in the legal field.
Schools often move quickly when filling spots from the waitlist. Respond promptly to any communications from the admissions office, and be prepared to make decisions quickly if an offer is extended. Flexibility with housing, financial plans, and logistics will also be important, as offers can come as late as orientation week
If your initial LSAT score was on the lower end for the school, retake it. This will improve the school’s overall median LSAT ranking, making you a much more appealing applicant. However, only do this if you believe a higher score is realistic and if the score is relevant to the school’s median.
Here are a few common questions on how to get off the law school waitlist.
To improve your chances of moving from the waitlist to acceptance, take these steps:
By following these steps, you can increase your chances of being accepted from the waitlist.
A waitlist status is not a rejection; it means the admissions committee needs more time to assess. You're still in consideration, and factors like enrollment numbers can affect your chances. So, treat it as a transitional phase, stay engaged, and advocate for your candidacy.
Whether you get off a waitlist and into a school is different for each school and can't be predicted. But if you show you really want to go, fix any application problems, and work on improving your qualifications, you'll have a better chance of getting accepted.
To increase your chances of getting off the Harvard Law School waitlist :
Doing these things can improve your chances of moving from the waitlist to acceptance.
To navigate a law school waitlist successfully, take a proactive approach. Confirm your interest, send compelling updates, and provide additional materials. Secure strong recommendation letters, engage with the school, and address application weaknesses.
The goal is to actively advocate for your candidacy, which can increase your chances of moving from the waitlist to acceptance.
Getting off the law school waitlist is unnerving, to say the least. However, what should empower you is the recognition that it’s not as out of your control as you think. Hopefully, you now know what to do if you’re waitlisted and how to improve your chances of getting into your dream school. Good luck!
