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

For Fall 2022: Law schools are monitoring the number of commitments they've received to determine whether they have open seats that they will need to fill by admitting applicants on their waitlists. They may also be reviewing their budgets to determine whether any withdrawals result in additional funding that they can redistribute to admitted students who 1) are hoping for an increase or 2) did not receive an initial award. Some schools will maintain a list of admitted students hoping to be on the receiving end of any additional funding that becomes available—it's worth it to communicate with the admissions office after final commitment dates to see if any additional funding has become available.

For Fall 2023: Law schools are submitting their updated applications and application instructions to the LSAC in anticipation of September 1. They’re also updating their recruitment calendars to give applicants a sense of when and where their admissions officers will be visiting this fall (either in person or virtually).

This Is a Good Time to…

Create personal connections with the schools that you're applying to by attending webinars and virtual tours. As schools begin to open this fall, their universities may allow them to also create opportunities for in-person visits. The connections you build are great ways to personalize Why X School statements, so that you’re not providing admissions teams with information that they already know about their offerings.

FAQs from Students

Is that addendum really necessary? It depends. Addenda are written statements that can be used to explain dips in GPA, changes over multiple LSAT scores, difficulty with standardized tests, or gaps in employment or education. These explanations provide admissions committees with context to help them understand application anomalies. Without context supplied by the applicant, an admissions officer is left to their own devices in determining what happened and how to weigh the outcomes. Should you write the addendum? The mantra of admissions teams across the country is to err on the side of disclosure. It is far easier for an admissions officer to reach a favorable decision if they aren’t left with questions when they finish reading an application file.

Want to know more? We have an entire section of our admissions course dedicated to the subject! The link to the first module in the section is here.

Helpful Link

If you've asked someone to write a letter of recommendation for you, and they ask for some guidance or a template, check out our advice for recommenders here.

Discussion

Speaking to admissions recruiters at fall events can be nerve-wracking, and one-on-one time is limited. Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you maximize your conversation time:

  • AOs are just people. They want to talk to you and help you have a strong sense of what their respective schools offer. Where possible, they want to make the process as stress-free as possible, so they are prepared to help you understand their process, how it might differ from others, and what they offer that may be unique to their institution.
  • Research schools and programs ahead of time. When you step up to the tables to speak to law school representatives, you maximize your opportunity if you have some familiarity with the school and their stats. Prepared candidates stand out.
  • Ask questions that aren't answered on the website. You can ask more tailored questions about the programs they offer that interest you—the popularity of specific programs or ways that those programs benefit the local community; about different opportunities for you to gain hands-on experience; or about ways that schools remain connected with their alumni. It is absolutely okay to step up to the table with a list of prepared questions tailored to a specific school.
  • Be sure to sign in (if the school has sign-in sheets or cards on the table). Schools that allow sign-ins typically track the information they collect. If they enter this information into their system, members of the application committee can see what events you’ve attended where you interacted with their school. Sometimes, schools also review this information when evaluating applications for scholarship consideration. If you stood out to a particular AO, they’ll sometimes also make special notations that admissions committee members can see and take into account during their assessment.
  • Follow up with the representative you met. Sometimes, you’re not just speaking to AOs at recruitment events. Often, schools depend on faculty, alumni, students, and other administrators to help with recruitment. If you can, grab the representative’s card or look them up on the school’s website directory. Send them an email to thank them for their time in explaining whatever program specifics they shared with you. Representatives may flag or note specific applications where they’ve met someone who made an impression—either positive or negative.
  • Make sure that you keep a record of the names/titles of the people that you speak to during your visit or talk. These interactions may help to shape your decision and determine a school’s fit, so these are important moments that you can share with AOs in Why X School statements. If interactions occur after you’ve applied, these can be helpful to use within LOCIs and nudge emails as well.

7Sage 7K Scholarship

We are currently accepting applications for the 2022 7K scholarship! At 7Sage, our mission is to make legal education accessible, but talk is cheap and school is expensive. We’re putting our money where our mouth is and offering a series of awards to seven aspiring law students. Our goal is to support aspiring lawyers who will work toward a more just future and to help increase diversity at top law schools. At least half of the awards will go to under-represented minorities.

Here’s the full schedule of awards:

  • One winner
    • An award of $7,000 upon matriculation
    • A pro bono 12-month subscription to 7Sage’s LSAT prep course
    • A pro bono Admissions Consulting package
  • One first runner-up
    • An award of $1,000 upon matriculation
    • A pro bono 12-month subscription to 7Sage’s LSAT prep course
    • A pro bono Admissions Consulting package
  • Two second runners-up
    • A pro bono 9-month subscription to 7Sage’s LSAT prep course
    • A pro bono package of 7Sage’s Unlimited Editing for One Essay service
  • Two third runners-up
    • A pro bono 6-month subscription to 7Sage’s LSAT prep course
    • A pro bono package of 7Sage’s 1-hour consulting service
  • One fourth runner-up
    • A pro bono 1-month subscription to 7Sage’s LSAT prep course
    • A pro bono package of 7Sage’s Edit Once service

Apply by July 1.

7Sage Live Class Announcement

7Sage Tutor Aastha S. will be teaching a 10-week LSAT course starting June 8 via Zoom! The class is limited to 16 students on a first come, first served basis. For more information, and to sign up, click here.

Recruitment Events

  • American University is offering virtual information sessions on select Tuesdays at 3 p.m. ET through August 2. Register here.
  • 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 Washington, D.C. law school fair, hosted by Catholic University, on Saturday, July 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET. For more information, sign up here.
  • 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 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.
  • Yale Law is offering one-on-one appointments with a member of the admissions office to address prospective student questions. Schedule here.