What's Going On in the Admissions Cycle Right Now?

As schools prepare to close for winter break, they will be distributing the completed applications that they’ve received thus far to their admissions teams for review. Some schools continue to review applications throughout the holidays, so don’t be surprised if you see updates that some schools have sent out a round or two of decisions over the holidays.

FAQs from Students

Are you still in the early stages of applying and haven’t approached recommenders yet for LORs? Here’s a module on recommendation logistics.

Helpful Link

A reminder that the registration deadline for the week starting Saturday, February 12, 2022 LSAT (US, Canada, Caribbean) is coming up on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. You can register for this LSAT here.

Discussion

Once you’ve submitted your application, there’s a feeling of “what should I do now?” Many candidates fight the urge to want to check in with the admissions office, or send updates, or send letters of continued interest in an effort to reiterate their interest and to feel like they’ve done everything that they can.

It’s important to pay close attention to communications received once you submit your application. Some schools will tell you exactly what items they will accept while they process and review your application, and you want to make sure that you’re following those instructions closely.

For others, timing is important. Check your online status checker—many schools provide a time estimate for how long their process typically takes. If they quote 4–6 weeks as their average turnaround time for decisions, then sending a letter of continued interest (LOCI) after one week doesn’t make a ton of sense. However, if a school takes longer than six weeks, it’s not a bad idea to send a LOCI as a gentle nudge that reiterates your excitement about their program and commitment to attend.

Similarly, there are schools that communicate that they only want to receive updated résumés and/or transcripts—they don’t want to receive LOCIs. In those instances, follow directions. Send the résumé to attach to your file, but if the school doesn’t want a LOCI, keep your email short and to the point—don’t use the email as an opportunity to do the thing that they’re telling you not to do. An email isn’t necessary for a transcript update—the LSAC automatically sends an updated CAS report if they receive a new transcript, as they will then recalculate your cumulative GPA.

Lastly, the online status checker really does provide up-to-date information, so trusting that page is important. Your application often goes from incomplete, to complete, to in review, to decision, though there are often internal updates as a second review takes place or the file travels through an admissions committee. The system triggers updates for you when the admissions office feels it’s pertinent, but they won’t update you on internal processes.

Know that AOs can see the last time that you logged in to check status down to the second, so if you call in to inquire about your status, it is entirely possible that they will tell you that it hasn’t changed since you logged in five minutes ago. Patience is so hard right now, we know, but AOs really appreciate the time and space to provide quality reviews of each application.

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, January 20 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.
  • NYU Law is hosting an information session to discuss the admissions process, application procedures, curriculum, and financial aid on Tuesday, January 25 at 3 p.m. ET. Register by Friday, January 21.