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William & Mary Law School receives a significant number of applications for admission each year. As has been the case in prior years, many strong candidates are not selected for immediate admission due to the small size of our student body. We assume that a limited number of individuals initially admitted will decline our offer and will elect to attend another institution or choose another career opportunity. Thus, the wait list is established to provide a means through which other well-qualified applicants may be selected for admission should openings in the class occur.
You must complete and submit the online form. You have the option to remain on or be removed from the wait list. This form must be received by May 1. If it is not received by that date, you will automatically be removed from the wait list and not be considered for any additional offers of admission. If you choose to stay on the wait list, you will remain on the wait list until school begins, unless: 1) we notify you otherwise, or 2) you notify us that you are no longer interested in attending William & Mary Law School.
Applicants who elect to remain on the wait list will receive via email a status report in early June. This allows us time to determine the number of admitted students who have paid a seat deposit. We will also send a final status report before enrollment is finalized and classes begin.
The wait list is not ranked and all candidates are considered for admission when the opportunity for additional offers occurs.
The wait list will remain active until the start of classes. Over the summer, we will monitor the status of the members of the class. If an admitted student withdraws from the class or decides to decline their admission offer, we will decide whether to offer that vacancy to someone on the wait list. We do not extend offers after classes begin.
There are many variables affecting this process and it is extremely difficult to predict the outcome. Each year is unique. Some admitted applicants may place multiple deposits at several schools and select their law school following a summer campus visit. They also may be waiting for financial aid awards before they make their final enrollment decision. The process is also affected if other law schools move to their wait lists which possibly may affect the admitted students’ law school decisions and/or reduce the size of our wait list.
We encourage you to submit any information that you believe will strengthen your application. Everything that is submitted will be reviewed and considered. If we are sincerely your law school of first choice, it is important for us to know that as well! If you have additional questions as to supplementing your application, please contact the admission office.
As you consider your law school selection, it is helpful to visit each school. We offer student-led tours when classes are in session, as well as self-guided tours. If you have additional questions, you can also meet with an admission dean. To schedule tours and/or meetings, please use our online form or call our office at 757-221-3785.
We would email you seeking information as to your current situation. If we are able to extend an offer of admission to you, we would call you. We will then send you our admission package for your review. You will be given a short amount of time to make your decision. Because offers may be extended in the late summer toward the start of classes, this amount of time may become very short. It is extremely important that we have your current email address and phone number while you are on the wait list.
Candidates offered admission from the wait list will be considered for any available financial assistance awarded by the Law School. They may also apply for government and private educational loans. Students applying for need-based funds and/or educational loans are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). William & Mary‘s Title IV code is 003705.
We appreciate your interest in William & Mary Law School. We encourage you to stay in touch with us throughout the summer. You can email us at lawadm@wm.edu and let us know of your continued interest. Though we understand that the wait list process can be stressful, we hope that wait listed applicants will be able to keep their options open as long as possible. We understand, of course, that you may decide to pursue other alternatives rather than remain on the wait list. As much as we hope William & Mary Law School will be able to accommodate additional candidates, we urge those on our waiting list not to forego desirable alternatives while waiting for a final decision from our office. Please let us know if you have elected to pursue other opportunities and are no longer interested in attending William & Mary Law School so we can remove you from the waiting list.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Wait List
What is the wait list and how is it used?
William & Mary Law School receives a significant number of applications for admission each year. As has been the case in prior years, many strong candidates are not selected for immediate admission due to the small size of our student body. We assume that a limited number of individuals initially admitted will decline our offer and will elect to attend another institution or choose another career opportunity. Thus, the wait list is established to provide a means through which other well-qualified applicants may be selected for admission should openings in the class occur.
What steps do I need to take now?
You must complete and submit the online form. You have the option to remain on or be removed from the wait list. This form must be received by May 1. If it is not received by that date, you will automatically be removed from the wait list and not be considered for any additional offers of admission. If you choose to stay on the wait list, you will remain on the wait list until school begins, unless: 1) we notify you otherwise, or 2) you notify us that you are no longer interested in attending William & Mary Law School.
How am I kept informed as to my status on the wait list?
Applicants who elect to remain on the wait list will receive via email a status report in early June. This allows us time to determine the number of admitted students who have paid a seat deposit. We will also send a final status report before enrollment is finalized and classes begin.
Is the wait list ranked?
The wait list is not ranked and all candidates are considered for admission when the opportunity for additional offers occurs.
How does the wait list process work?
The wait list will remain active until the start of classes. Over the summer, we will monitor the status of the members of the class. If an admitted student withdraws from the class or decides to decline their admission offer, we will decide whether to offer that vacancy to someone on the wait list. We do not extend offers after classes begin.
What are my chances of being admitted?
There are many variables affecting this process and it is extremely difficult to predict the outcome. Each year is unique. Some admitted applicants may place multiple deposits at several schools and select their law school following a summer campus visit. They also may be waiting for financial aid awards before they make their final enrollment decision. The process is also affected if other law schools move to their wait lists which possibly may affect the admitted students’ law school decisions and/or reduce the size of our wait list.
Can I submit my final transcript (if the Law School does not already have the document), additional honors or awards that I may have received, additional substantive letters of recommendation, the results on the June LSAT if I decide to take the test, or other information to supplement my application?
We encourage you to submit any information that you believe will strengthen your application. Everything that is submitted will be reviewed and considered. If we are sincerely your law school of first choice, it is important for us to know that as well! If you have additional questions as to supplementing your application, please contact the admission office.
What about coming for a visit?
As you consider your law school selection, it is helpful to visit each school. We offer student-led tours when classes are in session, as well as self-guided tours. If you have additional questions, you can also meet with an admission dean. To schedule tours and/or meetings, please use our online form or call our office at 757-221-3785.
How will you notify me if I am accepted from the wait list?
We would email you seeking information as to your current situation. If we are able to extend an offer of admission to you, we would call you. We will then send you our admission package for your review. You will be given a short amount of time to make your decision. Because offers may be extended in the late summer toward the start of classes, this amount of time may become very short. It is extremely important that we have your current email address and phone number while you are on the wait list.
What about financial assistance for candidates selected from the wait list?
Candidates offered admission from the wait list will be considered for any available financial assistance awarded by the Law School. They may also apply for government and private educational loans. Students applying for need-based funds and/or educational loans are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). William & Mary‘s Title IV code is 003705.
We appreciate your interest in William & Mary Law School. We encourage you to stay in touch with us throughout the summer. You can email us at lawadm@wm.edu and let us know of your continued interest. Though we understand that the wait list process can be stressful, we hope that wait listed applicants will be able to keep their options open as long as possible. We understand, of course, that you may decide to pursue other alternatives rather than remain on the wait list. As much as we hope William & Mary Law School will be able to accommodate additional candidates, we urge those on our waiting list not to forego desirable alternatives while waiting for a final decision from our office. Please let us know if you have elected to pursue other opportunities and are no longer interested in attending William & Mary Law School so we can remove you from the waiting list.
