phd in engineering - competitive for harvard? Forum

[bajamrock]

I'm getting my PhD in electrical engineering from a top school, gpa 3.55, and undergrad from a state school, gpa 3.9. I haven't taken LSAT yet, but let's assume I got a 170, and that my recs are from established prof's at my university.

What would be the probability of getting into Harvard Law?

Thanks.

[clintone88]

With you an EE phd you will be more competitive from a lower T-14 than all of the poli-scis at harvard, just go wherever is free or cheapest.

[09042014]

30%ish at 170. I'd aim higher.

[ajr]

I'm getting my PhD in electrical engineering from a top school, gpa 3.55, and undergrad from a state school, gpa 3.9. I haven't taken LSAT yet, but let's assume I got a 170, and that my recs are from established prof's at my university.

What would be the probability of getting into Harvard Law?

Thanks.

If your question is whether you'll overperform your numbers because of your EE PhD the answer is not by much. But you'll overperform comfortably when it comes to finding a job.

[bajamrock]

With you an EE phd you will be more competitive from a lower T-14 than all of the poli-scis at harvard, just go wherever is free or cheapest.

clintone could you please explain what you mean? and what's a lower t-14? thanks.

30%ish at 170. I'd aim higher.

so...what are the chances at HLS if i got a 175? 50%?

If your question is whether you'll overperform your numbers because of your EE PhD the answer is not by much. But you'll overperform comfortably when it comes to finding a job.

wow...so you think having a phd will not increase my chances by that much? by "overperform" my numbers, you're referring to my chances at getting in, right?

thanks for your feedback everyone.

[lsatprepguy]

30%ish at 170. I'd aim higher.

so...what are the chances at HLS if i got a 175? 50%?

check this site out. should answer all of these types of questions:
http://www.mylsn.info

[TheThriller]

Why take a PhD with a 3.55 and a 170 when they can literally fill their whole class with high GPAs and LSATs?

Think of it this way:

Only your undergraduate gpa is recorded - 3.55

now lets say:

X student has majored in psychology at Middle Georgia State College and graduated with a 3.8 ugpa

Both of you scored a 170

Who will get admitted?

[bajamrock]

Why take a PhD with a 3.55 and a 170 when they can literally fill their whole class with high GPAs and LSATs?

Think of it this way:

Only your undergraduate gpa is recorded - 3.55

now lets say:

X student has majored in psychology at Middle Georgia State College and graduated with a 3.8 ugpa

Both of you scored a 170

Who will get admitted?

no my ug gpa is 3.9. also i was the valedictorian of my major and summa cum laude. this is from a state school on par with univ of georgia

my phd gpa is 3.55 or so but i don't know how much that gpa matters. this is from a school on par with princeton/duke. i have several publications.

let's say im up against an ug with the same academic record as my ug record. in addition i have the phd from a good school but am three years older. wouldn't i be the stronger candidate?

i'm honestly just asking. i did think that having a phd would help in admission to HLS but it seems from all your answers like i may be wrong about that. i'm basically trying to decide whether the time investment in studying for lsat which i'd take in dec makes sense.

[TheThriller]

Sorry OP, didn't see the 3.9 gpa.

All I can offer then is to bump up that LSAT a little more, and you may be looking at Stanford or Yale, both of which may see the PhD as a significant soft factor

[bajamrock]

sorry guys, i didn't realize that 170 on lsat is actually low for harvard. just realized that after seeing 25th/median/75th.

i guess i will be shooting for 175+ to max my chances.

[bajamrock]

Sorry OP, didn't see the 3.9 gpa.

All I can offer then is to bump up that LSAT a little more, and you may be looking at Stanford or Yale, both of which may see the PhD as a significant soft factor

thanks...are you saying that S/Y will see it as a soft factor, and not Harvard? why would that be the case?

or, were you just saying that i should apply to all three to max my chances of getting into one.

[TheThriller]

Sorry OP, didn't see the 3.9 gpa.

All I can offer then is to bump up that LSAT a little more, and you may be looking at Stanford or Yale, both of which may see the PhD as a significant soft factor

thanks...are you saying that S/Y will see it as a soft factor, and not Harvard? why would that be the case?

or, were you just saying that i should apply to all three to max my chances of getting into one.

Both, to some extent. With a lsat in the high 170s you would be best to apply to all the T10 as a few may throw you money.

On the forums here Stanford is known for making arbitrary decisions between two statistically similar candidates and that PhD could be your ticket in. Yale states that their process takes a holistic approach.

With a 170+ you should be applying to all T14s

[Tiago Splitter]

With a 170 your chances might be better at Stanford than Harvard. If you score 173+, your chances at Harvard are better.

[bajamrock]

ok...thanks for your help! also thanks for the link to http://www.mylsn.info/. i didn't realize how competitive it is to get into yale.

[indo]

i am very suprise and dissapointed with the people answering Op question.
when do we start predicting without real LSAT score ?
It seems all of you have been blinded by Op PHD. ?
Op take test first and when you get the LSAT score we can talk about it.

[JamMasterJ]

173 will probably lock you in at HS (Y is a maybe at any number)

[09042014]

The big question is why would waste your PhD on EE on law school?

Tbf, I'd take a full ride scholarship at a lesser T14. HYS aren't going to increase your job prospects enough to turn down 150k.

[toothbrush]

x

[bajamrock]

i am very suprise and dissapointed with the people answering Op question.
when do we start predicting without real LSAT score ?
It seems all of you have been blinded by Op PHD. ?
Op take test first and when you get the LSAT score we can talk about it.

indo - i'm trying to decide whether or not to take the lsat and apply for law or not. it's a two-month time commitment so that's why i'm asking these questions now. also what do you mean when you say everyone's blinded by "op phd". i'm just trying to get a feel for things. and i'm happy with the help i've gotten in this post.

The big question is why would waste your PhD on EE on law school?

good question. i'd like to work somewhere in the intersection of engineering/law/economics. but i'm hazy on what i want to do with my career at the moment. i don't think i'd be wasting my phd by going to law school. two close friends of mine got their phds and are now in law school. the thing is, having both degrees opens up a lot of avenues - academia, patents, consulting, advising to large corporations, and govt/politics. having both degrees would enhance your profile in all those fields, i think.

[indo]

i am very suprise and dissapointed with the people answering Op question.
when do we start predicting without real LSAT score ?
It seems all of you have been blinded by Op PHD. ?
Op take test first and when you get the LSAT score we can talk about it.

indo - i'm trying to decide whether or not to take the lsat and apply for law or not. it's a two-month time commitment so that's why i'm asking these questions now. also what do you mean when you say everyone's blinded by "op phd". i'm just trying to get a feel for things. and i'm happy with the help i've gotten in this post.

The big question is why would waste your PhD on EE on law school?

good question. i'd like to work somewhere in the intersection of engineering/law/economics. but i'm hazy on what i want to do with my career at the moment. i don't think i'd be wasting my phd by going to law school. two close friends of mine got their phds and are now in law school. the thing is, having both degrees opens up a lot of avenues - academia, patents, consulting, advising to large corporations, and govt/politics. having both degrees would enhance your profile in all those fields, i think.

The law is not for everyone.

[09042014]

I'd really consider going to school on a full ride scholarship.

[JamMasterJ]

i am very suprise and dissapointed with the people answering Op question.
when do we start predicting without real LSAT score ?
It seems all of you have been blinded by Op PHD. ?
Op take test first and when you get the LSAT score we can talk about it.

Lol I was expecting something like this when I read the "assume I get a 170"


Good guy TLS today!

Usually we shoot down predicted score hypos with "enjoy lawschoolnumbers" but in this case, the OP's situation is significantly different enough to actually answer the question. For example, I would very rarely tell someone that they were close to a lock at S, even with great (actual) numbers, because of the school's unpredictability. But a PhD is a significant enough soft to not shut them down out of the gate.
TL;DR, no one's saying that he's right in making the prediction, but that the situation is different from the usual "what are my chances with hypo LSAT score" threads.

[09042014]

If the guy got a 3.9 in EE and is halfway decent at reading comprehension he'll get a 170 if he studies even a little.

[indo]

If the guy got a 3.9 in EE and is halfway decent at reading comprehension he'll get a 170 if he studies even a little.

NOT neccessary

[bajamrock]

again thanks for your help everyone. it looks like the general consensus is that with 173+ i have a case for H and possibly a better one for S. i really appreciate it. based on your inputs i'll probably take the lsat, and if i do well enough i will follow your advice and apply to some of the top schools.