Admissions Interactions: Requesting Readmission After Selecting Another School
Admissions Digest, 05.24.2022
What's Going On in the Admissions Cycle Right Now?
AOs continue to assess how their classes are filling up and what more is needed to reach their goals for this fall’s incoming class. Some schools are inviting interviews with candidates on the waitlist, while others are sending communications about what to expect. Make sure that you are reviewing these communications regularly and that you update AOs with any new contact information as it becomes available.
Behind the scenes, AOs are preparing for their incoming class to register for courses, for orientation, and for summer welcome events. They are also planning out their summer info sessions for prospective students planning to apply for next fall and their recruitment calendars. Anticipate that there will again be a mix of virtual and in-person recruitment from most law schools.
FAQs from Law School Applicants
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Helpful Link
We’ve added a couple of new episodes to our podcast recently!
Episode 74: Hear from 7Sage Tutor Brittney as she describes her LSAT journey improving from a 160 to a 178. Listen here.
Episode 75: Hear from Notre Dame’s former Director of Admissions Jacob Baska about getting into law school. Listen here.
Discussion
This past week, I encountered a post on Reddit where a law school applicant was questioning whether they had committed to the right school. They wondered whether there was any upside to reaching out to other schools where they had declined an offer of admission or if doing so would be in poor taste.
I responded to the post about experiences that I’d witnessed where the ask really came down to communication. It’s all in the approach and tone of the request. When a request is respectful and polite, asking honestly doesn’t hurt.
How often does this happen? More often than you think—candidates typically have time after making their final decision and, upon reflection, they realize that perhaps they were more excited about their prospects at a school that they rejected for an institution that offered more money or was higher ranked.
What should a candidate include in their ask? First, be truthful. Tell the school that you’ve had time to think things through and that you believe that you’ve made a mistake. Share the reasons why you would really prefer to attend their school and what helped you assess that their school truly is the better fit.
Second, make your ask. Inquire whether that school would be willing to reconsider you for admission or readmit you to their program. Depending on the number of commitments and outstanding offers the school has made, they may only be able to offer you a seat on their waitlist should another seat become available.
Third, thank them for their consideration of your request. Often, these types of requests have to go through multiple people before they can be approved. Sometimes, the final decision rests with the full admissions committee or the law school dean.
While some schools will not consider readmitting candidates, this is likely due to admissions policies that have been put in place by their committee. Some schools will consider the request, but a new offer of admission might not be accompanied by the same scholarship award, as that funding may have been claimed by subsequent admitted candidates. Admissions officers will do what they can to work with candidates attempting to be readmitted, but understand that they may be limited in what they can offer a second time around.
Ultimately, the Reddit candidate took my advice and reached out to the school they really wanted to attend. They were readmitted within hours of making their request, and their scholarship award was reinstated. It’s all in how you ask!
See original post here.
Upcoming Recruitment Events
Watch this space, as event information will become more and more available over the summer months—take advantage of information sessions, open houses, and recruitment events to ask questions of admissions officers that aren’t answered on their respective school websites. These interactions can help you assess fit, introduce you to current students and faculty members, and provide you with a more detailed look at specific programs. These interactions can also be used when writing Why X School statements.
Boston University is offering law school tours led by current JD students. Space is limited and registration via their tour calendar is required. Register here.
Cornell is offering a virtual open house for prospective students on Wednesday, July 13 at 12 p.m. ET. Register here.
The LSAC is sponsoring a D.C. law school fair, hosted by Catholic University, on Saturday, July 23, so save the date! Registration information will become available within the next few weeks via the LSAC.
Northeastern Law is offering outdoor law school tours, showcasing three of their law school buildings. Each tour is led by a current law student who will take Q&A during the tour. Schedule a tour here.
Northwestern Law is offering a transfer application workshop for candidates who have just completed their 1L year. The admissions team will guide potential transfers through the admissions process and intend to leave time for Q&A during their workshop scheduled for Tuesday, June 7 at 5 p.m. CT. Register here.
Suffolk University is providing a virtual law school information session led by the admissions team on Tuesday, June 14 at 11 a.m. ET. Register here.
UCLA Law is offering in-person and virtual law school tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Register here.
University of Miami is offering a prospective transfer applicant roundtable on Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Register here. Additionally, U of Miami is offering a virtual admissions information session on Wednesday, June 8 at 2 p.m. ET. Register here.
University of Richmond is offering a summer series of virtual events. On Wednesday, June 8 at 4 p.m. ET, join the admissions team for a discussion on application components and process. Register here.
Vanderbilt Law is offering a virtual information session about their JD program on Wednesday, July 27 at 12 p.m. CT. The session will be led by an admissions officer and will cover a brief overview of the law school, the admissions process, student life, and employment outcomes. Register here.
WashU Law in St. Louis is offering meetings with admissions, virtual open houses, and live-streamed events. For more details and to sign up, click here.