Letters of Continued Interest

A few years ago, getting waitlisted felt like the end of the road.

Today, that’s not always true.

As law school applicants have become more strategic, schools have changed their strategies too. More applicants are applying broadly, comparing offers, and negotiating scholarships. In response, schools seem more willing to use waitlists as a tool to identify applicants who are genuinely interested in attending.

If you end up on a waitlist this cycle, don’t assume you're out of the running. But don’t throw yourself at these schools either. 

Why Schools Are Waitlisting More Applicants

Many applicants assume a waitlist means a school isn’t interested.

Not necessarily.

Nathan and Josh point out that some schools use waitlists to gauge interest before making admissions or scholarship decisions. The waitlist gives schools time to see which applicants engage, respond, and continue the conversation.

In other words, a waitlist isn’t always a rejection.

Sometimes it’s an invitation to negotiate.

Waitlists Used to Mean Something Different

For years, we advised students to treat getting waitlisted like getting rejected.

Not because you couldn't get in, but because getting off the waitlist often meant paying full price.

Historically, schools would use waitlists to fill remaining seats after scholarship budgets had been allocated. Students admitted off the waitlist frequently received little or no scholarship money. If your goal was to attend the right school at the right price, a waitlist offer wasn’t worth pursuing.

This cycle looks different.

Nathan and Josh have seen applicants receive substantial scholarship offers after coming off waitlists, which was very uncommon just a few years ago.

That doesn’t mean every waitlist will turn into a great offer. But it does mean applicants should stop treating waitlists as automatic rejections.

The game appears to have changed. Many schools are now using waitlists to identify serious applicants before deciding who to admit and how much scholarship money to offer. If that’s the reality, then responding thoughtfully to a waitlist becomes part of the admissions process, not an afterthought.

Write the Letter

If a school invites you to submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI), do it.

A professional LOCI signals that you’re still considering the school and are interested in learning more about it. Ignoring that opportunity ends the conversation.

It doesn’t need to be a masterpiece. But a professional, well-written letter can reinforce the rest of your application. 

Treat It Like a Professional Conversation

A strong LOCI is short, professional, and specific.

Thank the admissions office for keeping your application under consideration. Mention a few reasons you’re interested in the school. If you’ve attended events, visited the campus, or know about a particular clinic or program, it’s fine to mention those details.

Then leave the ball in their court. Don’t beg. Just keep the conversation going.

Keep Your Options Open

The strongest position in any negotiation comes from having alternatives.

If you’re on a waitlist, continue evaluating the offers you already have. Keep pursuing scholarship opportunities. Don’t assume that one particular school is your only path to becoming a lawyer.

A thoughtful LOCI can be a negotiating tool that gets you off the waitlist and toward the right school at the right price.