7Sage Admissions Digest, 12.14.2021
What's Going On in the Admissions Cycle Right Now?
Schools are focusing a lot more time and attention on application review, so you’ll want to make sure to check your email and spam folder for updates to ensure that you aren’t missing any communications from schools on your list. Waves of decisions and other communications should be picking up over the next couple of weeks. During this time, scholarship committees will also be reviewing admitted applicant files (this process can take longer for higher-ranked schools, while gift aid notifications may accompany admissions decisions from other schools). Some schools may require admitted candidates to complete supplemental forms that help them assess financial need.
Take advantage of any final information sessions and open houses to connect with the schools on your list, and catch them at the LSAC digital forums and local events if your top schools are outside of your region.
If you’ve submitted your applications already, make sure that you check your online status checker to confirm that your applications are processed and completed. If something is missing, you’ll be able to see that on your status checker.
FAQs from Students
Do you have updated information on interview questions from this cycle?
We are updating this page constantly with new information!
Helpful Link
Do you think that you might benefit from consultant support after you’ve submitted your applications? Learn more about our After-the-App services here.
Discussion
I applied early decision (ED) and was deferred/rolled over into the regular decision (RD) pool. What should I do now?
For schools that roll candidates into the regular pool for another review, these second reads are often done by a completely different admissions officer for an unbiased evaluation. During my time at Berkeley, we often admitted close to as many “rolled over” students as students who were admitted ED. While many candidates opt not to make any application amendments, many others decide to be more proactive in providing updates to the admissions team, just in case some additional information might be helpful in getting AOs to say yes. Always make sure that you pay close attention to any instructions provided by the school—often they will provide guidance on what kinds of updates they are open to considering. For ED programs with decisions communicated in early December, these “deferred” candidates can often expect that they’ll have final decisions on their applications by the end of January, so there’s a short window to submit new information.
Send in LOCI/Why Statements. Some schools will allow candidates to write letters of continued interest (LOCIs). Candidates often use this opportunity to either express either why the school is a top choice for them and/or how they know that the school is a good fit, including what they see themselves doing at the school should they be offered admission—essentially a Why X statement if they hadn’t submitted one with their application. Others will write a LOCI to reiterate their commitment, either with updates or perhaps with a new reason why their interest has strengthened—perhaps because of a visit or conversation with someone from that law school’s community.
Provide Transcript Updates. If you have an updated transcript that provides a positive boost to your GPA, make sure to get a fresh document in to the LSAC so that they can calculate a new cumulative score for you. When that happens, the LSAC will automatically provide an updated CAS report, so there’s no need to reach out to the admissions office to notify them that a new document is coming unless you want to provide context for a drastic jump and highlight the boosted score.
Provide Résumé Updates. If you’ve changed jobs, received some new honors, have some anticipated summer work that you’d like to highlight, or have some leadership experience to share, an updated résumé is always a welcomed amendment to an application.
Supplement the Application with a January LSAT Score. Some schools will allow a rolled-over application to be held in anticipation of a January LSAT score before doing the RD review. This is certainly an opportunity to improve credentials, but I’d only recommend that you do this if you are extremely confident that you’re going to outperform your previous score. If you’re unsure, or your practice tests are telling you that your score is essentially the same, the last thing that you want to do is have a new score that undermines your previous performance.
If you do decide to retake the LSAT and either want to highlight the improved score or explain a dip in performance, right when the scores are distributed, it’s a good time to email the admissions office an LSAT addendum.
Just remember, if you don’t have any updates, it’s okay not to do anything. Any school that expects updates will communicate that to you—the rest will prepare to review your application when it arrives in their queue.
Events
We will resume Club 7Sage chats on Clubhouse in early 2022. Stay tuned for date announcements in January!
Upcoming Recruitment Events
Here are some of the upcoming recruitment events:
The LSAC February Digital Forum will take place online on Saturday, February 5 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET. This will include live and on-demand workshops as well as a digital law fair with schools from across the country (a list of participating schools is not yet listed). Register by February 3.
Northeastern University is hosting an online information session on Thursday, December 16 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Join admissions representatives to learn more about what sets Northeastern Law apart, their admissions process, and their co-op. Register here.
Northwestern is hosting a virtual “Ask Dean Hari Osofsky” session on Wednesday, December 15 at 12 p.m. CT. Register here.
UCLA’s Admissions Office is offering virtual law school tours on Mondays and Fridays through December 17. Book an appointment here.