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

AOs are working hard to push out admissions decisions and scholarship offers as quickly as they can. Admitted students should anticipate communications regarding scholarship decisions, reconsideration policies, and admitted student events. Waitlisted candidates should prepare any relevant updates for submission, as admissions offices may take looks at their lists as we near commitment deadlines this spring.

Some students are seeing that their status is “Hold.” This is a pre-decision status, which means that you are still being considered for admission; however, the admissions team needs more time to evaluate your candidacy. They may want to see more of the application pool and/or need a candidate with balancing credentials before they can offer a seat. There isn’t anything that you need to do if you are placed on a hold, though any positive updates to your application materials would be welcomed.

FAQs from Law School Applicants

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Discussion

This week, our discussion continues on interactions with the law schools in terms of admitted student events and weekends.

As an admitted student, CONGRATULATIONS!! You’ve successfully accomplished the first critical task on your journey to becoming a member of the legal profession. The next big task is determining which offer you will accept, and often campus visits help to seal the deal.

Depending on the law school, admitted student events might take the form of an open house, a full weekend program, or a series of events. Some are off-campus receptions and dinners that allow admitted students to meet esteemed alumni and learn about their professional trajectories. Some are informative programs meant to help advise admitted students of institutional offerings and next steps. Some are meant to help admitted students find and build community with current students, organizations, and faculty. Some allow admitted students an immersive experience to feel like enrolled students for the day—attending current classes, meeting with faculty, lunching with current students, sitting in on a program or clinic lecture, and visiting some of the most popular haunts on the law school campus. Many schools try to offer a combination of these.

Note: School visits can get expensive, but some schools have travel subsidies within their budgets specifically for admitted student events. Don’t be afraid to ask whether the school offers travel subsidies or other forms of assistance—these may include stipends for flights, hotel accommodations, and travel to and from the airport. Some will help coordinate other cost-saving options. For instance, sometimes current students will volunteer to host an admitted student for their visit.

Though admitted student events are a fun opportunity to network with your potential peers, admitted student events and weekends are excellent opportunities to help students assess law school fit and whether the educational environment is one where they can thrive. Especially for those who are having a tough time deciding among multiple programs, these visits help admitted students obtain critical information that may assist them in narrowing their lists to the school that best fits their needs and professional goals.

How do they do this?

  • Ask questions. These events are meant to be resources for you, so don’t shy away from asking questions that are important to you or that speak to your needs. Listen to the questions that other peers ask too—everyone is trying to figure out and assess fit, and other perspectives might help you consider your must haves in a different way.
  • Meet with faculty, current students, and Financial Aid. It’s a good idea to schedule some additional visits while you’re on campus if you have the time. Reach out to a faculty member you’d like to meet and see if they have time for coffee. Ask a current student or student ambassador to join you for lunch or for an informal tour. Meet with Financial Aid to learn more about what funding might be available to continuing students or for summer public interest work or in terms of loan repayment assistance.
  • Sit in on current classes. This is with permission, of course. Introduce yourself to the professor before class. Observe interactions between the students and the faculty. Get a feel for various teaching styles.
  • Familiarize yourself with the campus and consider it based on your needs. Are you going to be commuting from a full-time job to an evening program and need easy access to food? Look and see what’s available to you on/near campus. Do you need a locker to store your books? Most law school libraries aren’t open for 24 hours, but if you’re a part-time student, do you have access that will suit your schedule?
  • Research potential living arrangements. Some law schools have graduate student housing or roommate connection services. Others leave living arrangements to the incoming students, though they might maintain listings of apartment buildings near campus. This research might shake more questions loose. What can you afford? Do you need a roommate? Will you have a commute that requires parking?
  • Determine what access you have to the resources you need. Each campus handles student wellness and accommodations differently. See what the Dean of Students/Office of Student Affairs offers in terms of appointments, resources, mental health support, student organization support, and student communications.
  • Get to know your peers. Talk to the other admitted students. What’s the vibe? No one expects you to solidify your study group at an admitted student event, but you should be able to find people that you can connect with. What kind of peer support do you need? Do you feel like this campus offers you that level of support? Is this somewhere that you feel like you can build a community?

In the spring, it can be extremely hard to remember what priorities you had in terms of law schools, because often the spring feels like it’s all about the scholarship offers. As you visit law schools, try to tap back into that original list of priorities you had. The scholarship dollars help, but you want to make sure that you’re selecting an institution where you will feel supported by people and programs committed to your success.

We will cover commitment deadlines and extension requests in the next newsletter—how to ask for extensions, when they are most appropriate, what information schools will need. Stay tuned!

7Sage on Clubhouse

Join 7Sage admissions consultants on Clubhouse on Wednesday, March 9 at 8 p.m. ET for a panel discussion on scholarship offers, making scholarship reconsideration/negotiation requests, and preparing for or extending commitment deadlines. There will be time reserved for Q&A. RSVP for the event and join Club 7Sage here.

7Sage Webinar: Combating Test Anxiety + LSAT Tutoring Giveaway

On Thursday, March 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET, join the 7Sage Tutoring Team for a webinar about "Combating Test Anxiety,” which will include time for a Q&A session. One attendee will be awarded a free hour of LSAT tutoring service. You must be registered to attend! Register here. For more information on 7Sage LSAT Tutoring services, click here.

Upcoming Recruitment Events

  • Duke Law is offering law student-guided tours on Mondays and Fridays at 2 p.m. ET. Tour size is limited, so registration is advised. Register here.
  • Notre Dame Law is offering in-person visits for prospective and waitlisted applicants on Mondays, which include a class observation, admissions information session, and student-led tour. Visits are limited to 10 people at a time. Register here.
  • UCLA Law is offering online information sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 12:15 p.m. PT. 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.