Frequently Asked Questions – Waitlist

I've been placed on the waitlist. When can I expect more information? 

We will contact you after our first and second deposit deadlines to see if you are still interested in remaining on our waitlist. At that time, we will provide detailed instructions for demonstrating your continued interest in UVA Law. Historically, most, if any, movement from the waitlist occurs in the late spring or early summer.

Once the class is filled, whether with those who are initially accepted, or with applicants accepted from the waitlist, we will notify some wait-listed applicants that the class is full and release them from the list. We will retain a smaller number of applicants on the waitlist throughout the summer months. If you do not hear from us, you may assume that you are still on the waitlist.

If I receive an offer of admission, how long will I have to decide? 

Not very long. If you are offered a seat off the waitlist, please plan to decide quickly. While you are on the waitlist, please take the opportunity to explore our resources and fully consider your interest in UVA. 

What's the latest I could be offered admission?

We have made last-minute offers right up to the day of orientation.

How will waitlist admission affect my chances of receiving financial aid or finding a place to live? 

Students from the waitlist still qualify for financial aid, including merit-based scholarship consideration. You should make sure that your FAFSA and supporting documentation remain up to date. If you are admitted off the waitlist, our financial aid team will work with you to make sure everything is in order before you arrive on campus. Students admitted off the waitlist are regularly able to find housing.

If I am offered admission from the waitlist, may I defer my enrollment?

No, the deferral option is not available to candidates admitted from the waitlist.

Where am I on the waitlist?

The waitlist is unranked.

How many candidates are on the waitlist? 

The number of candidates on the waitlist will vary throughout the cycle. The size of the list depends on a number of factors including the size of the applicant pool and the decisions of our accepted and waitlisted candidates. We will periodically release candidates from the waitlist if it appears unlikely that we will be able to offer them admission.  

How many do you usually accept?

There really is no typical number accepted off the waitlist; it has varied from none to more than 20 percent of the entering class.

Is there anything I can do to enhance my chances? 

Waitlisted applicants may submit a letter of continued interest in UVA Law to @email. However, as stated above, we provide all waitlisted candidates with detailed instructions for remaining on the waitlist and demonstrating continued interest following our first and second deposit deadlines. The responses provided at that time will serve as our primary source of information going forward. Therefore, it is not necessary to submit a letter before then. 

For more information and advice on navigating the waitlist process, we encourage all waitlisted candidates to listen to Season 2, Episode 8 of Dean Blazer’s podcast “Admissible.”

Do you meet with waitlisted candidates?

Unfortunately, we simply do not have the resources to meet with waitlisted candidates.