So many of my clients text me with messages like this one:
“OMG, X Law School changed my status to ‘2nd Faculty Review.’ OMG. What does that mean?” or “Decision Made! That sounds ominous. I haven’t gotten an email or phone call. Does this mean I didn’t get in?”
To help relieve this anxiety, I’m doing something unprecedented: I’m asking my blog readers for help.
Tell me – what are some of the strangest status checker messages you’ve gotten and what law schools are they from? Are they simply completion dates, three months after submitting your applications? “In-Review?” “Decision-Made?” Pretty standard stuff. Tell me the weirdest, least helpful, most aggravating status update a law school has provided.
Any funny stories about misleading status checker updates, followed by phone calls from the law school? Or stories about how you could log in as an admitted student before ever getting an admission decision? The law schools aren’t perfect….let’s get them to change their cryptic language and be smart about how they communicate their decisions. Let’s call them on it!
9 Responses
First of all, I’ve been an avid follower of your blog and I want to say thank you so much! I’ve gotten a lot out of your blog and books and I believe that my many acceptances and scholarships so far wouldn’t have happened without taking your advice. So thanks for all you do! 🙂
I got a “Decisions not given by phone or e-mail” from South Carolina with an update as of 12/13, but I haven’t heard anything from the school (nor have I attempted to contact them). My George Mason status checker doesn’t say anything in the decision status section (but it shows that they mailed me something on 12/13, even though it doesn’t have a description of what the mailing is). And UNC’s says “Complete” with an update as of 12/16. But it already said “Application Complete” a week ago. So what is complete this time? 🙂
Amanda – thanks for sharing!!!!
Hi Amanda,
I’m so glad the blog and books are helpful! (If you are so inclined – I love collecting 5-star reviews on Amazon!).
Your status checker updates are definitely ambiguous, and random (apparently). Wishing you all the best in your admission cycle!
Hi Ann,
So I was reading through your book and in one of the chapters you stated that you wouldn’t try to change my opinion on affirmative action and I wouldn’t be able to change your opinion on it. What exactly is your opinion on affirmative action? Does it still exist in law school admissions today and if so which schools still practice it? Have you ever made an admissions decision based on affirmative action?
Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Hi Brent – this is a great question. Yes, affirmative action exists in order to level the playing field so law schools and the legal community are not filled with those who are members of the majority and/or privileged/advantaged. And I do believe in this, and diversity is absolutely taken into account by law school admission personnel – diversity in all forms.
Hello! I came across this blog. I am currently in my application cycle and I have been extremely boggled down with anticipation. I would like to be accepted to North Carolina Central University. So I check my online status profile ALOT. Many past applicants have mentioned the “Decision Rendered” notation next to the “Status” line. Well mine still reads “Complete and In Review.” As of 3/13, there was an addition section that popped up and it reads “Decision Status” which also has “Deny Day” beside of it. Well, I took this to mean the obvious. I was not accepted. I gave the school a call for clarification, and the admissions director explained this is not the final decision. Yet as of 3/19, a letter had been mailed of my final decision. Despite my file never reading “Decision Rendered.” I know it sounds pretty obvious, but it just isn’t aligned with anyone else’s experience in applying. NCCU is pretty ambiguous via electronically (no emails are sent, etc).
I am hoping this means I was denied guaranteed admission, but offered an opportunity for their conditional program. Who knows! Hope this helps someone….
Hello! I came across this blog and decided to contribute. I am currently in my application cycle and I have been extremely boggled down with anticipation. I would like to be accepted to North Carolina Central University. So I check my online status profile A LOT. Many past applicants have mentioned receiving a decision once their online status checker revealed a “Decision Rendered” notation next to the “Status” line. Well mine still reads “Complete and In Review.” As of 3/13, there was an additional section that popped up and it reads “Decision Status” which also has “Deny Day” beside of it. Well, I took this to mean the obvious, I was not accepted. I gave the school a call for clarification, and the admissions director explained this is not the final decision. Yet as of 3/19, a letter had been mailed of my final decision. Despite my file never reading “Decision Rendered.” I know it sounds pretty obvious, but it just isn’t aligned with anyone else’s experience in applying. NCCU is pretty ambiguous via electronic methods (no emails are sent, etc).
I am hoping this means I was denied guaranteed admission, but offered an opportunity for their conditional program. Who knows! Hope this helps someone….
I am currently going through the same! Did you ever find out?
hey Nicole.. I am dealing with the same thing did you ever find out?? I applied for NCCU school of law as well.