Break Into Law

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Ep 75: What To Do While Waiting to Hear From Law Schools

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Today we're going to be talking about the long dreadful waiting period. What do you do? When should you reach back out? When do you write a letter of continued interest? Should you send the law school updates? 


Episode Highlights

  • It usually takes somewhere between 6 and 10 weeks on average for your file to go under review due to the volume of applications that admissions are receiving. Remember, admissions are a small number of people! So if it's been more than 12 weeks and your file hasn't gone under review, that doesn't mean anything bad, they could just be busy. I wouldn't reach out until after it's been about maybe 10 to 12 weeks.

  • Make sure that all of your application materials are complete if you haven't heard within 10 to 12 weeks. You don't wanna get to March and realize that admisions never really received one of your letters of recommendation or for some reason their system never marked your application as complete, but now it's March, most of the classes are filled. It’s very rare, but there is a level of computer and human error that can happen.

  • When it comes to sending an update, it is an automatic yes to send an updated transcript and updated LSAT score. However, when it comes to sending an update about a new job, a promotion, or volunteering endeavor, it’s not as black and white. 

    • If you think your new job would substantially help your applications, there’s nothing wrong with sending a quick note and an updated resume to be attached to your file. Do not send more than one. 

    • If you’re an applicant that is below the median, you feel like this is a reach school, and overall feel like odds aren’t in your favor, I would suggest sending all of the new updated information in your email. If you’re a strong applicant, and confident that your application was pretty good on its own, then it may be wise to hold onto some of that information and save it for a letter of continued interest.

  • Don't write a letter of continued interest if you're just waiting. You don't want to send a letter of continued interest if you haven't been waitlisted. You may think, “It's been three months.I should just tell them I'm still interested.” They know. Trust me. They don't think that you've stopped being interested in three months. It is not necessary

    • You also don’t want to be the annoying applicant who has been constantly sending emails. Your job is to not annoy admissions. 

  • Law school admissions is holistic and comparative. They’re looking at your entire application, so not just your GPA and LSAT. They are comparing your application to the other applicants to gauge a better idea. That is why some students will find out sooner than others.


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