Very Antsy (Waitlist)

[ThaBest]

I’m in need of some insights. I’m currently waitlisted (world) at #2 from an original position of #20. The waitlist hasn’t really moved for the past couple weeks now.

I was just wondering what my chances of getting in are at this period in time. I know the deadline which students are accepted off the WL is Sept 6, but I’m not sure how viable that is. Am I doing myself a disservice for still holding onto this tiny sliver of hope?

[FellowTraveler]

You're doing yourself a huge disservice if you're just looking at a number and praying it moves.

It might, but this late in the process you're essentially hoping for something really bad to happen to two people who are planning to attend law school in a few weeks.

[chaboywb]

6 minutes ago, FellowTraveler said:

It might, but this late in the process you're essentially hoping for something really bad to happen to two people who are planning to attend law school in a few weeks.

This is an incredibly unfair judgment of OP's situation. Very easy to say when you're already in law school. They are perfectly entitled to feel nervous and hope for a good outcome. Waitlist spots can open up due to people accepting other schools, not something bad happening to them.

That said, OP, you're not helping yourself in any way by holding your breath. Operate under the assumption that you won't get in and figure out a game plan for next year, then be pleasantly surprised if it works out.

[ThaBest]

28 minutes ago, FellowTraveler said:

You're doing yourself a huge disservice if you're just looking at a number and praying it moves.

It might, but this late in the process you're essentially hoping for something really bad to happen to two people who are planning to attend law school in a few weeks.

I understand your point; however, I find it very insulting and accusatory that you think I’m “essentially hoping for something really bad to happen to two people” when I am only trying to extrapolate my chances, especially since we’re still a whole month away from when classes start. Regardless, I thank you for your input.

28 minutes ago, chaboywb said:

This is an incredibly unfair judgment of OP's situation. Very easy to say when you're already in law school. They are perfectly entitled to feel nervous and hope for a good outcome. Waitlist spots can open up due to people accepting other schools, not something bad happening to them.

That said, OP, you're not helping yourself in any way by holding your breath. Operate under the assumption that you won't get in and figure out a game plan for next year, then be pleasantly surprised if it works out.

Thank you so much for this. Yes, a lot has changed and improved since last time I applied. I believe (if it came down to it) I would be in a better position this upcoming cycle. In any case, I’ll keep hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.

[FellowTraveler]

34 minutes ago, chaboywb said:

This is an incredibly unfair judgment of OP's situation. Very easy to say when you're already in law school. They are perfectly entitled to feel nervous and hope for a good outcome. Waitlist spots can open up due to people accepting other schools, not something bad happening to them.

That said, OP, you're not helping yourself in any way by holding your breath. Operate under the assumption that you won't get in and figure out a game plan for next year, then be pleasantly surprised if it works out.

 

7 minutes ago, ThaBest said:

I understand your point; however, I find it very insulting and accusatory that you think I’m “essentially hoping for something really bad to happen to two people” when I am only trying to extrapolate my chances, especially since we’re still a whole month away from when classes start. Regardless, I thank you for your input.

Thank you so much for this. Yes, a lot has changed and improved since last time I applied. I believe (if it came down to it) I would be in a better position this upcoming cycle. In any case, I’ll keep hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.

My apologies, my intent was not to imply that is what you wanted. (But on re-reading my own words I can see why it seemed like that.)

What I was trying to say was: this late in the process, there aren't many reasons for people to drop out. You might think you're very close, but the reality is that movement is only going to happen due to exceptional circumstances, and even the move from 20->2 is illusory: many of those spots aren't people accepting offers from Dal, but rather informing the school they don't want to keep being considered at this point.

Spot #2 feels like the worst place to be, because it's impossible not to be hopeful. And I know several people who were accepted just before/after classes began (across Canada, not at Dal specifically), so it's not like there's no hope, it's just... in a painful sweet spot.

Best of luck, whatever happens.

[ThaBest]

5 minutes ago, FellowTraveler said:

 

My apologies, my intent was not to imply that is what you wanted. (But on re-reading my own words I can see why it seemed like that.)

What I was trying to say was: this late in the process, there aren't many reasons for people to drop out. You might think you're very close, but the reality is that movement is only going to happen due to exceptional circumstances, and even the move from 20->2 is illusory: many of those spots aren't people accepting offers from Dal, but rather informing the school they don't want to keep being considered at this point.

Spot #2 feels like the worst place to be, because it's impossible not to be hopeful. And I know several people who were accepted just before/after classes began (across Canada, not at Dal specifically), so it's not like there's no hope, it's just... in a painful sweet spot.

Best of luck, whatever happens.

Thank you for the clarification. You’ve made very valid points, and I appreciate them. You’re quite right, the main reason I’m being very hopeful is it feels as though I’m one leg in already. It would hurt quite a bit not getting in after having a spot dangled in my face lol. 

[Yogurt Baron]

Can the board mascot just jump in for a second?

As someone who scrapped for many years to get into law school, then did, then decided not to go, and then spent years intermittently applying, getting offers, thinking about them, and passing on them...none of this is as monumental as it feels. I've been that person who gave up a seat and then someone else took it. If you're second on the waitlist, you can probably get in next year - sucks to wait, but it's not the worst thing that will ever happen to you (or if it is, you're extremely fortunate). And, given my own history, the idea that the only way someone would vacate a law school seat is if "something really bad happened to" them made me actually laugh out loud. I remember one year, I'd gotten into a school I wasn't nuts about going to, accepted the offer, thought about it, decided not to go, and everyone on the waitlist moved up by one. Not only would I not put that on the list of really bad things that have happened to me, I would not even put that on the list of "things that have happened to me". It was just a Tuesday afternoon. I've applied to, been admitted to, and chosen to go or not to go to dozens of other graduate and professional programs too. It's...just school. One year when I was a kid, I was seriously ill and missed a year of school - I think grade six? I barely remember what year that was now. I got back on track. 

I get that this feels like this is the most important thing in the world - the kind of thing that someone might only give up if they got hit by a bus. But it's just one of many things you'll do in your life. It's not a brass ring you grasp that makes you a real boy. It's just school. The OP needs to chill in the way that every applicant needs to chill, but then the person who thinks people only vacate law school seats if something really bad happened to them needs some perspective too.

[ThaBest]

38 minutes ago, Yogurt Baron said:

Can the board mascot just jump in for a second?

As someone who scrapped for many years to get into law school, then did, then decided not to go, and then spent years intermittently applying, getting offers, thinking about them, and passing on them...none of this is as monumental as it feels. I've been that person who gave up a seat and then someone else took it. If you're second on the waitlist, you can probably get in next year - sucks to wait, but it's not the worst thing that will ever happen to you (or if it is, you're extremely fortunate). And, given my own history, the idea that the only way someone would vacate a law school seat is if "something really bad happened to" them made me actually laugh out loud. I remember one year, I'd gotten into a school I wasn't nuts about going to, accepted the offer, thought about it, decided not to go, and everyone on the waitlist moved up by one. Not only would I not put that on the list of really bad things that have happened to me, I would not even put that on the list of "things that have happened to me". It was just a Tuesday afternoon. I've applied to, been admitted to, and chosen to go or not to go to dozens of other graduate and professional programs too. It's...just school. One year when I was a kid, I was seriously ill and missed a year of school - I think grade six? I barely remember what year that was now. I got back on track. 

I get that this feels like this is the most important thing in the world - the kind of thing that someone might only give up if they got hit by a bus. But it's just one of many things you'll do in your life. It's not a brass ring you grasp that makes you a real boy. It's just school. The OP needs to chill in the way that every applicant needs to chill, but then the person who thinks people only vacate law school seats if something really bad happened to them needs some perspective too.

Thank you very much for your insight. You’re correct that it wouldn’t be the worst thing to ever happen to me (I’ve gone through a lot of worse sh** in life). Definitely it’s not the end of the world if the worst thing happens - life will go on. It’s just that this is something I’ve always wanted since I was a kid.

[Yogurt Baron]

Oh, yeah, I didn't mean to give you a hard time - I completely get how you feel! Just wanted to bring a gentle perspective that if you're this close, you're likely to get there eventually. Of course you'd rather get there this year than next. I hope that for you too. But you're going to be okay either way.

I was also only trying to give the other guy, like, 2% of a hard time.

[ThaBest]

Thank you so much guys for your inputs. I’m excited to let you know that I got in today!

[Yogurt Baron]

Great news! I was rooting for you.

[MyWifesBoyfriend]

5 hours ago, ThaBest said:

 

Thank you so much guys for your inputs. I’m excited to let you know that I got in today!

 

Congratulations! That’s so exciting!

[ThaBest]

1 hour ago, Yogurt Baron said:

Great news! I was rooting for you.

Thank you very much 🥳

30 minutes ago, MyWifesBoyfriend said:

Congratulations! That’s so exciting!

Thank you! I’m so excited!