Waitlist FAQ
We hope the information below will answer most of your questions if you applied to W&M Law and were placed on our waitlist.
Why am I on the waitlist?
Our waitlist is reserved exclusively for candidates the admissions committee found compelling. If you're here, we were impressed. There is simply more demand for seats than we have capacity for right now.
We do not use the waitlist as a polite way of declining strong candidates. Your place on it is meaningful.
How long will I be on the waitlist?
When you confirmed your place on the waitlist, we asked how long you wanted to remain. As that date approaches, you will receive correspondence from us to confirm your continued interest.
At that time, you will have the option to:
- withdraw from the waitlist
- extend your date to a later one
How will I be notified if I am admitted?
Admission offers are sent via email. Please take a moment now to:
- confirm your email address on file is current and correct
- add W&M Law to your trusted senders/contacts so our message doesn't land in spam. We would hate for you to miss an offer due to a technical hiccup. Please don't skip this step.
If I receive an offer, how quickly do I need to respond?
You will have two business days (48 hours) from the time of the offer to place your seat deposit and accept.
If we do not hear from you within that window, we will assume you are no longer interested and will extend the offer to another candidate.
Given that little to no financial aid is likely to be available for candidates admitted from the waitlist over the summer (see explanation in detail further below), we strongly encourage you to think through your decision in advance so you are ready to act quickly if the moment comes.
Is there anything else I should send?
There is nothing additional you need to submit unless you have genuinely new information to share. New information might include:
- an updated LSAT score
- an updated GPA (e.g., a new semester)
- a new or significantly changed employment situation
New letters of recommendation are generally not necessary. The letters already in your file made their impression on the committee. That said, if someone wants to write on your behalf, that is ultimately your call. Please keep in mind it is a manual process to add a letter to the system, and a member of our already-stretched team will need to upload it. Please make sure any addition to your application adds real, new value.
May I send a letter of continued interest (LOCI)?
Yes, and we encourage it. A LOCI is a great way to stay on our radar and remind the committee that W&M remains a top choice for you.
Please be mindful of cadence: once every four weeks is appropriate. Daily or weekly outreach isn't necessary and won't improve your standing.
Your LOCI does not need to be formal. At this point, the committee simply wants to know:
- that W&M Law remains a top choice for you at this stage of the cycle
- that you will seriously consider our offer if given the opportunity
Be genuine and keep it short. A brief, heartfelt update goes a long way.
How is the waitlist ranked?
The waitlist is not ranked. There is no number assigned to your position.
If the committee decides to activate the waitlist, all waitlisted candidates will be reviewed again at that time.
How many people will be admitted from the waitlist and when?
Honestly, we don't know.
Whether and when we activate the waitlist, and how many candidates we ultimately admit from it, varies from cycle to cycle depending on factors we cannot predict.
What we can promise is that if and when there is news to share, we will communicate it to you promptly.
What about financial aid?
We want to be up front with you: little to no financial aid is likely to be available for candidates admitted from the waitlist over the summer.
We strongly encourage you to assess your financial situation now and make sure you are prepared for the full cost of attendance should you receive an offer.
Given the 48-hour response window, it is especially important that your financial house is in order before an offer arrives.
If financial aid availability is a key factor in your decision, you are welcome to address that in a LOCI.
Other questions?
We're here. Reach out to us anytime at [[w|lawadm]] and we'll do our best to get back to you promptly.