When my daughter was applying to university this fall, I checked in with her an astonishing number of times to see if she had heard anything back from Admissions. This is most interesting because I understand the process and know what things look like from this side. But I couldn’t help checking. It’s a big deal.
So, when we get countless inquiries from applicants to UVic Law beginning shortly after the application intake closes, we get it. We understand. These are people’s hopes and dreams on hold while people read and review their applications.
The truth is that, while as many of our processes as possible are automated and assisted by computer programs, they can’t all be. We holistically review every application we get, which means we are reading anywhere from two to six or more pages of essay for each applicant, in addition to reviewing the other information and figuring indices. This year, we received nearly 1200 applications. That’s a lot of pages to read! The short answer is that we are working really hard to evaluate all of the applications, but it takes time.
Some applicants will receive an offer as early as late November. Some offers for Fall 2025 have already gone out. However, it is completely normal to not hear back from us until late April or early May. By late Spring, you should have heard from us whether we extended an offer to you, placed you on our waitlist, or declined to make you an offer.
We understand that it can be difficult to wait that long. Again, we know these are your hopes and dreams in limbo. So what can you do in the meantime while you wait?
Financial Aid: Can you get your finances in order? Law bursaries and student loans don’t typically open up until June, so there isn’t much you can do in the way of applying for financial aid. However, you can check with your bank to see if they offer a professional student line of credit and what the terms of that might look like. In fact, it’s a good idea to shop around, as all of the major banks offer professional student lines of credit offer different terms of repayment and have different requirements.
Tuition: Can you plan for how much tuition will be? Yes and no. UVic has a great tuition estimator available online. It gives a breakdown of tuition and fees for the current year. Tuition for 2025-26 will not be available until May. While we cannot predict with certainty what that will look like for 2025-26, it typically goes up around 2% a year.
Housing: Here is perhaps where you can do the most good for yourself. Research housing options, including what various options require. Arming yourself with knowledge in a difficult housing market will allow you to make a strong educated decision when you do get a call from us.
Application mistakes and incomplete applications: We do not accept incomplete applications. We do not allow changes to applications after the deadline. It’s unfortunate if you forgot to include something in your application. However, nothing new will be accepted. This also means it’s not a good idea to send us new documentation. It just slows down the process and won’t be considered. The exception to this is, of course, updated LSAT scores or grades.
Visit, research, or plan: Victoria is a neat city, and UVic is a beautiful campus. If you want to find out more about either, there are a lot of online resources, including virtual campus tours. If it’s convenient, and you don’t already live in Victoria, it’s a great place to visit.
Social media:
Sigh.
We love that people get very excited about UVic Law. We love that people are eager to share their stories. However, we don’t love that a lot of misinformation about UVic, UVic Law, the admissions process, and probably all other schools is spread on social media every year. Online resources can be valuable. They can also really add to your anxiety and make you feel bad about things that don’t exist. If we were to give you advice about reading threads on social media, we would say don’t. You can definitely use it to connect with others who might attend UVic Law next year. However, it’s not a good way to learn reliable facts about UVic Law or the admissions process.
What else can you do? Mark important dates on your calendar. Make note of other things you should do in the future. Get advice from people you know who have been through law school. Go out for a walk, do a puzzle, bake some cookies, chat with a friend. Let the time pass. We know waiting is hard. But we promise you will hear from us.