Most law school admissions decisions are released between January and March, including invitations to join waitlists. If you haven’t heard back yet, you will soon.
If you are waitlisted — or your admissions decision is put on hold or reserve — this will be disappointing, but don’t despair. Schools only waitlist candidates they seriously consider admitting.
[Read frequently asked questions about law school waitlists.]
To give yourself the best chance of getting accepted from a waitlist, hold or reserve status, demonstrate that you are likely to enroll if admitted. Send letters of continued interest, visit the campus and submit an updated resume if you have new information to share.
Another way to supplement your application is to submit an additional recommendation letter. But deciding what aspects the letter should address and choosing the best person to write this additional letter can be tricky.
Consider these tips when adding a letter of recommendation to your waitlisted file.
— Evaluate potential weaknesses: A challenge to securing an additional recommendation is that you should have already submitted your strongest letters. To decide what to add, evaluate your application from the law school admissions committee‘s perspective.
What potential weakness in your file may have led to being waitlisted? Consider how an additional recommendation could fill any gaps that weren’t covered in your previous letters.
For example, an applicant who was waitlisted at a school within his median LSAT and undergraduate GPA reached out to me for advice. I learned that he had submitted two professional letters of recommendation but no academic references.
[Read about the anatomy of a law school recommendation letter.]
Since he had graduated from college more than two years prior, he was worried no one on campus would remember him. When I suggested he reach out to professors anyway, he was able to find a recommender who not only remembered him but also was willing to praise his scholarly work in a letter.
In contrast, I have worked with applicants who have submitted only academic letters of recommendation. A strong recommendation from a current employer could highlight professional accomplishments they’ve achieved since submitting their applications.
Remember that the admissions committee has carefully reviewed your file. Avoid sending a supplemental letter that treads on ground well covered in your application. Look for recommenders who will shed new light on your application.
— Don’t be afraid to coach recommenders: When waitlisted, make sure your recommenders know that you need a strong letter to boost your admissions chances. A generic letter won’t help you get admitted off the waitlist.
I encourage my clients to send follow-up guidance that articulates the accomplishments and skills they hope the letters will highlight. These reminders will help jog your recommender’s memory and set an example for the level of specificity you hope will be reflected in their letters.
[Learn five ways to get standout law school recommendations.]
Also be sure that recommenders are aware that time is a factor. Waitlists are continually in flux.
You may not know when the school will make a final decision on your candidacy. Without compromising quality, ensure that an additional recommendation letter is received before an admissions committee moves you from waitlist to rejection.
— Follow waitlist instructions: Admissions offices have different preferences when it comes to adding new information to your file. Some programs prefer you submit letters of recommendation through the Law School Admission Council.
Others schools, like the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor law school, invite recommenders to send letters directly to the admissions office. Be sure to instruct your recommenders accordingly.
Other programs may not accept supplemental letters of recommendation if you have already submitted the maximum number permitted in the original application. A few programs prefer that applicants do not send any additional information at all.
When in doubt, contact the admissions office of schools where you are waitlisted and politely ask about their policy for sending a supplemental letters of recommendation.
Have questions about adding a recommendation to your file? You can reach me at lawadmissionslowdown@usnews.com.
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Recommendation Letter Tips for Waitlisted Law School Applicants originally appeared on usnews.com
