Ep 87: When to Withdraw from Law School Waitlists
Today, we discuss the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with being on a law school wait list. While there's no one magical answer for dealing with waitlist anxiety, we offer a few universal tips to help you navigate this challenging time. Most law schools will ask how long they can make you wait, so it's important to consider how important the school is to you, what your alternatives are, how comfortable you are with uncertainty, and what other responsibilities may require you to make a decision by a certain date. We can't stress this enough that being on the wait list does not mean that you failed.
Episode Highlights
Reflect on How Important Is This Law School To Me
Determine the importance of the law school to you based on your metrics. It doesn't have to be based on prestige. It doesn't have to be based on anything other than this is the school that I want to attend. Whatever your metrics are that you've used to rank the schools that you have chosen to apply to, that's what matters.
Waitlist scholarships are typically smaller than directed mid-students, so waiting solely for scholarship opportunities may not be the best option.
If you are waiting for a decision based on financial aid, it is recommended to speak with admissions officers to determine if scholarships are available for waitlisted students.
Dealing with Uncertainty
Law schools may accept students up until the day before orientation and may unexpectedly require admitted students to attend orientation within a short time frame.
Geographical proximity can be a factor in how feasible it is to attend orientation on short notice.
Admissions officers may not be able to give concrete information about waitlists, but they can offer general guidance.
Prospective students should communicate with admissions officers to help them make decisions about waiting and gauge how long they may have to wait.
Thinking About Your Other Options
Consider your other options, including schools that have admitted you and offered scholarships.
While it's not ideal, it is possible to deposit at one school while waiting on a waitlist for another school.
But if you do pay a deposit at another school, understand that you will lose it if you later get accepted off the waitlist at your dream school.
Reflect On Your Other Responsibilities When Making This Decision
It's important to consider other responsibilities in your life when deciding to attend law school, such as family, job, and housing situations.
The amount of time needed to wind things up before attending law school should be taken into account and given as much time as realistically necessary.
Geographic proximity to the law school should also be considered, as traveling long distances on short notice can be difficult and expensive.
There may be other events or responsibilities during the summer that require decision-making and could affect your attendance at law school, so it's important to weigh your options and consider what's best for you and your family.
Tweetable Quotes
“The decision of which law school to attend is a big one, and it’s important to take the time to carefully consider all factors before making a choice.”