March 2nd, 2005
Make it better, faster, stronger!
Law school admissions are arcane. I’m pretty sure the law schools do this on purpose. I don’t know why, as it only increases the anxiety of their future students, but I can’t imagine that their administrators haven’t wondered if there are more efficient, kinder ways to produce a class of students each year—much less figured out ways to reform the process.
As an example of the stupidity of admissions, LawMom has been hearing from law schools, but in confusing ways. She’s received deferrals and holds from schools who admit lots of other students with her numbers. Why? They haven’t said.
Likewise, Sui Generis is frustrated with the seeming illogic of his current application status. He’s resorted to imagining what the adcoms are saying about him—why haven’t they admitted him?
I myself have been waiting an inordinately long time for a decision from a school where my numbers are smack in the middle of their middle 50%. Even my in-state choice has decided not to give me any information lately. Why? What else do they need from me? What are they waiting for?
Too many whys out there, that’s what I see. We’re frustrated, and the message boards are groaning under the collective weight of a million posts about not hearing anything, or only being rejected or deferred.
This process could be simpler! I think about one of the schools I’ve gotten into and how they lay it right out there on their website—we like students with work experience. Hey, that’s me! Yet they get a lot of flak for this—some bloggers equate it to turning law school into business school. But, hey, if that’s what they want to do, let them! At least they get applications from students who know that their work experience factors in—and they enroll students who know what to expect in terms of the school’s environment.
I’d love it if every law school out there would be up front and honest about their application process. You just look at numbers? Tell us! I’m sure there are lots of students with good numbers but no other soft factors who will apply in droves. You like lots of undergraduate volunteer experience? Great—all those kids who were in Alphi Phi Omega know where they’re going to apply.
Instead, the admissions websites babble about “holistic” approaches to applications, about “considering the whole student.” But that doesn’t help—everyone is a unique individual with a lot to offer! Tell us more specifically what you like in a student:
“We consider the whole student. Particularly, we like students with an undergraduate record that indicates interest in rigorous academics, an interest and devotion to others, and a well-developed social sense.”
OK, so no Kinesiology/Fashion Merchandising majors, and Greek participation is a plus.
Or how about this:
“We feel that test scores don’t adequately reflect a student’s abilities, and prefer to focus on the quality of undergraduate education.”
In other words, if you went to a top undergrad, we’ll give you some leeway on your LSAT.
Maybe this would work:
“We understand that, while rankings are imperfect, they are the best current measure of an institution’s prestige. Therefore, our admissions policies will reflect our interest in rising in rank.”
That speaks clearly enough for me.
So maybe this sort of disclosure would be too radical. How about, then, being open and upfront in those deferral and waitlist letters?
“We waitlisted you because we see that you’ve been a stay-at-home mom for many years and aren’t sure how serious you are about this whole thing.”
I bet LawMom would love a response like that because it would give her something to address in a further letter to them.
Or if SG or myself were told, “Your numbers are decent, but we’re holding out for better students. If we don’t get them, we’ll look at you again.”
Sure, this is the general presumption, but at least we’d know. After all, what if the real reason I haven’t yet gotten in is that they’ve already accepted too many students from Texas? I could at least argue that I intend to stay in DC after graduation.
It’s arcane, that’s all. And it’s frustrating and everyone’s time gets wasted: my time, in fretting; their time, in reading applications from students who will never attend their school.
I always liked the KISS method: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Law school applications are anything but simple. They need fixing.
Update: Fellow blawgcooper Bad Glacier makes a good point, too, that when students know so little about the admissions process, they often end up letting a school choose them. That’s bad, also.
comments
Piece of advice from someone who’s been there — if you’ve been deferred or waitlisted or otherwise not been told firmly “No” then LOBBY THEM to get in. Send a follow-up letter to the admissions office with more information about yourself, e.g., if you did something interesting since your application, tell them about it; if it made the paper, include a clipping. Get another letter of recommendation — from someone they either care about or have heard of — into their offices. Have someone call on your behalf. Be pushy. 99% of everyone else will sit back and wait to hear the decision from the school, but if you lobby the office, your application will stand out for that reason alone. It shows that you’re seriously interested in the school/program, that you’re creative/energetic and that you’re just obnoxious enough to make an excellent lawyer!
I know a little about how it works at L&C because a student friend participated and I asked questions. The committee meets only after finals and is made up of faculty and two students. They get the files that do not go through the affirmative action (not what it’s called, but I don’t remember the technical name) process. Each week each person has a certain number of application files to go through which are evaluated by numbers, strength of resume & transcript, the essays, and the letters of recommendation. Then each person recommends a certain number of those files to the committee at the next meeting, and defends their choices. This goes on and on and on until the class is filled up.
I don’t know if they all work that way, but that’s how L&C does it.
Sorry — that should be winter finals, meaning “in January.”
(The other) Kristine—I am contemplating sending a letter to at lesat one of my undecided schools. I have nothing new to report, though. I have no problem tooting my own horn a couple more times, but I don’t really have anything of substance to say. I guess that doesn’t matter, though. I should just write the thing and send it off, huh?
When I applied to GULC, I applied early admission and got deferred to the regular process (which generally isn’t seen as a particularly promising response). Not deterred, I amped up my application and lobbied the dean of admissions by sending another letter of recommendation and info about some of the work I had been doing in the interim. The difference here is that I had heard from the school with a “we want to see if we get anyone better than you” kinda response. I wanted to show them that they would be missing out if they didn’t accept me. So, I do think it’s worthwhile to send more if you have it — another recommendation, anything that will make you stand out. I can’t imagine that it will hurt you. Worst case is that it never makes it to your file. I can’t imagine any school would ding someone for being too excited about going there. When I was (eventually) accepted, the dean handwrote a note on the bottom of my letter specifically referencing the materials I had sent him. And when I introduced myself at orientation, he certainly remembered my file.
Since you’re still in limbo, if I were you, I’d probably try to find an alum of any of the Georgetown schools and get them to write something for you… call in your chits if GULC is the place you wanna go. But, GWU ain’t exactly slumming either.
PREACH ON SISTER!
Great post, kristine! It really would be great to get a straight answer, and the waiting time is ridiculous. I was ready to be flat-out rejected by all 9 schools, but I wasn’t prepared for this drawn-out ordeal of hearing nothing at all.
I understand the schools’ side. They are playing to win, just like the applicants. The schools have individual goals and rankings to achieve. To do that, their focus may change from year to year, so there’s no way they can have a policy that says they focus more on one part of an applicant’s numbers or background than another because the steps required to meet their ultimate goals change (e.g. they may need more high GPAs, or more people with a certain type of experience or from a specific location). I think I emphasize with them because I’ve been on the other side in interviewing students for jobs at a competitive place of employment, and it just doesn’t come down to any one thing or number. It’s who would be the best fit based on the feel you get of the applicant in combination with the current needs at the place of employment- and that changes daily.
I’ve interviewed qualified people who would be a perfect fit, but then they don’t get an offer because we didn’t need people in their geographic region or because we needed a specific background or some other small but critical detail that the applicant isn’t even aware of. If the person truly would/could be a good fit, you tell them the reason and keep them in mind should something that fits become available. If you just don’t want them, you reject them politely. You don’t want to tell them it’s because their GPA is too low or because they didn’t have enough extras, or because they switched jobs too much. That’s burning bridges, and that’s not good practice. For example, if a school called out my weakness, or the reason they didn’t want me, be it a weakness or not, I might be inclined to never hire a staff from that school if I become a hiring partner one day.
I’m not saying I like the process, but I understand.
I think the extra letters are a great idea. Enthusiasm is sure to help.
You’ve never met anyone who’s as positive as I am
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