What's Going On in the Admissions Cycle Right Now?
As we approach second commitment deadlines at many law schools, AOs continue to assess how their classes are filling up and what more is needed to reach their goals. Several have reached out to candidates on their waitlists, and that “summer melt” will continue to trickle through to August at many institutions. 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.
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Discussion
Several schools are sending more communications regarding their waitlists and what candidates can potentially expect should they receive an offer of admission. I’ve seen communications explain how the decision time after an offer is made may be substantially less as we near the end of the cycle. Let’s talk about exploding offers.
During the early part of the cycle, admitted students may have months to finalize their decision, as the first commitment deadlines aren’t until April. However, as we get into the late spring and summer months, the time that a candidate is given to consider an offer may shrink from weeks to days. In late summer, it’s possible that a candidate will have to make a decision within twenty-four hours.
Often, these “exploding offers” do not afford candidates much time to think things through, and candidates typically want to discuss any opportunities with family, partners, or close friends before making a decision. It’s a good idea to talk through various scenarios in advance, so that you have a sense of what you would do based on when during the summer you receive such an offer. Also, if you’re waitlisted at a school that you haven’t had a chance to visit, researching the surrounding areas is a really good idea, as you want to make sure that all of your needs are met—not just your academic ones.
As a waitlisted candidate, it is important to consider all of the possibilities and think about what is really feasible for you. This may help you to communicate with schools where you are waitlisted the amount of time that you can reasonably remain on their waitlist. For instance, if you live on the West Coast and are waitlisted at schools in the Northeast, offering you a seat the day that mandatory orientation starts is likely going to be far too late for you to uproot and move cross-country unless you happen to have close friends/relatives nearby who can offer you lodging while you look for a place to stay.
While securing living arrangements is one of the most obvious considerations when you are assessing the feasibility of an offer, there are many other potentially applicable circumstances you may need to assess:
- Housing affordability/dormitory availability
- Like-minded residents
- Financial aid/loan repayment assistance
- Mental health and wellness resources
- Local health facilities
- Local schools/childcare options for parents
- Partner/spouse job/study prospects
- Pet care/lodging
- Local grocers/restaurants that support \your dietary needs
- Local religious/spiritual organizations/support
- Traffic/size of the city
- Safety in and around campus/local neighborhoods
- Parking
- Social scene
- Climate
- Walkability
- Public transportation
- Post-grad plans (where you want to practice)
Think about how much time you might need to realistically make arrangements, make your move, get settled, and feel adequately prepared for a successful start. Often, students who feel behind at the start struggle to get caught up, which affects their first-term performance. Even with an exploding offer, you can set yourself up for success.
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