Applying to Law School: Seat Deposits, Waitlists, Open Houses …. Oh My!

In the next post of the Applying to Law School series, we will focus on how to manage the post-application phase of the overall admissions process. We will discuss the critical importance of seat deposits, what to do if you are on a waitlist and/or have not heard from schools, and how to navigate making that final decision on which law school to attend.

April’s arrival marks a significant point in the application cycle. Many final application deadlines have passed, applicants continue to receive admissions decisions, waitlists are populated, and admitted student events begin. It is an important time for applicants as you are now able to begin making the final decisions in your law school admission journey! And, this part of the cycle can cause anxiety and pressure, so read on for some tips on navigating post-application.

Get Organized

As you receive more information from the schools you applied to, make sure you have a structure in place for organizing all the details. Consider creating a working document that may include some or all of the following:

• Name of School

• Admission Decision/Status: i.e., admitted, denied, waitlisted, other…

• Seat Deposit Deadline(s) and amount: some schools have first and second deposits!

• Admitted Student Event(s) Dates

• Admissions Office Contact

• Scholarship Offer

• Tuition

• Cost of Attendance (COA): this includes books, rent/mortgage, food, supplies, etc.

• Any admissions processes/steps/deadlines specific to the school

• Things that stand out to you about that school: i.e., a specific course or clinic, a certificate program in an area you are interested in, unique opportunities and experiences, distance from home, ranking, bar passage rates, class sizes, etc.

Here is an example of what this document could look like.

Evaluate the Data and Start Taking Action

Any decision is better than no decision at all, so consider what decisions you can start to make. Are there any schools that, based on what you know now, you would not attend? Send a polite communication to that school letting them know you appreciate the offer, but you will not be attending. Congrats! You made a decision, and now you have further refined your options. That has to feel good!

Seat Deposits

Next, make sure you understand the seat deposit deadline for the top-choice schools to which you have been admitted. DO NOT MISS A SEAT DEPOSIT DEADLINE! It can be very difficult to make a decision, especially when you may not have heard from all the schools you have applied to yet. However, schools will strictly enforce these deadlines, meaning if you miss a seat deposit deadline, you have almost certainly forfeited your spot in that law school's entering class. You need to ensure you secure your seat in your "best choice" school among your current offers of admission.

Keep in mind that paying seat deposits at multiple schools, while this practice may not be expressly prohibited, is not the best strategy. In addition to being costly, some schools may have strict language on depositing at more than one school. If you are considering this strategy, take a moment to understand why you want to put down more than one deposit at the same time. Let’s not confuse the above scenario with a waitlist situation. You may get pulled off a waitlist later on and would need to pay another deposit if that becomes your number one school. That’s different. What we are talking about now is paying two deposits at the same time to two different schools. Law schools expect applicants to be negotiating in good faith at all times, and you really should not pay a deposit at a school that you do not plan to attend. Remember, remaining waitlisted while paying a seat deposit at an alternative school is perfectly acceptable.

Waitlists

Navigating waitlists can be tricky. Some schools will maintain a waitlist up until the first day of Orientation (and some do get offered admission at this stage in the game!). You will have to evaluate how long you want to remain on a waitlist. For some, they will do anything (including breaking a lease or moving across the country) to attend their “dream school”. For others, remaining on a waitlist into the summer is too stressful and impractical, as they would want to move forward with their plans. Consider setting a personal deadline for yourself on when you plan to withdraw from a pending waitlist. Additionally, continue engaging with the schools you are waitlisted at. If you have new, positive, and substantive information that will supplement your application, consider sending a letter of continued interest (after you make sure the school is receptive to receiving them). Finally, keep revisiting your spreadsheet and checking in with yourself. Waitlists can be very uncertain. Are you willing to continue waiting in light of new information?

Making a Final Decision

At some point, you will need to make a final decision. Make a point to update your spreadsheet with new information as it comes in. Revisit it with fresh eyes and continue narrowing down what is important to you. Has anything changed for you since you last evaluated your list? Consider attending in-person and/or virtual admitted student events to help you get a feel for the school. Add any notes from your visits and interactions to your spreadsheet. Jot down any additional questions you may have and connect with the law school to get them answered. Do your best to be as comfortable as possible with your decision… and once you are, CELEBRATE!

You have been on quite a journey, taking proactive steps to achieve your goal of attending law school. In a few short months, you will be sitting in your first law school class, engaging with faculty and classmates on all things legal. Take a few moments to reflect on your accomplishment and celebrate your successes. We can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you will do in your career!

Gabriela Brunner holds a JD from Chicago-Kent College of Law and a MS in Higher Education Leadership from Western Illinois University. Prior to becoming a prelaw advisor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gabriela practiced law for ten years in business litigation and immigration law. She has a passion for mindfulness and meditation, particularly as it applies to pre-professionals.