Harvard Class of 2017 Forum

(housing, friendships, future exams, all things 2017)
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HorseThief

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Harvard Class of 2017

Post by HorseThief » Tue Nov 26, 2013 2:40 pm

If you've been admitted to the HLS class of 2017, then this is the right place for you! Congratulations!


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Important Links
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1425793797636912
HLS Admitted Students Page: https://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective ... index.html (Requires Login)
Housing Info: http://www3.law.harvard.edu/dos/hlshousing/
Ask a HLS student (2010-present): http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 4&t=141188
Custom background for your Harvard e-mail (I can make more if folks want): http://imgur.com/jiU6zNf
HLS Admin Updates (Mostly course and RA related stuff, but mildly interesting): http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/adup/

Important Dates
2/15: Financial Aid forms can be submitted
3/8-3/10: Admitted Students Weekend 1 (Registration for both weekends opens in Feb.)
4/1: On-Campus Housing Application available
4/12-4/14: Admitted Students Weekend 2
4/30: On-Campus Housing Application due
5/1: Last day to apply for deferral
6/15: Transcripts, College Certifications, and Health Forms due
8/1: Pay HLS
8/25: Dorm move-in
8/26-29: Orientation
9/2: First Day of Classes

ASW Info
  • Register here
  • HLS’s recommendations for local accommodations: https://www.law.harvard.edu/prospective ... tions.html
  • Hotels in the area tend to be $200-$250. The Sheraton Commander has some sort of special deal for pre-paid rooms. Hotel Veritas had rooms around $200. There may also be b&b’s in Cambridge for ~$125-175/night.
  • Some posters recommend airbnb instead, as that tends to be much cheaper. Close to campus runs $80-$100. Further out will find $60/night.
  • HLS will provide reimbursement up to $300, but seems to be tied to need-based aid.
Should I Bring a Car?
There is a mixed impression. Most people say don’t bring a car because parking is a nightmare. However, if you really do want a car, the process of getting a Cambridge parking permit is apparently rather easy. You can usually get an uncovered parking spot near your off-campus residence for ~$150/month. Everett Street Garage (right next to campus) will cost you $2200/year (2011).

Housing Options

There are 3 types of options around HLS: dorms, Harvard apartments (HUH), and off-campus apartments.

Dorms
Note: All dorms come fully furnished. They are available for 9-month leases, no extra fees, all utilities included. More info here (LinkRemoved).

Gropius (~$770-$1,260) all singles, shared bathroom and kitchens. No AC, twin beds. Was recently renovated, so may be nicer than the photos suggest. In-depth TLS analysis of the buildings and rooms.
Hastings (~$1,185-$15,30) studios, 1BR and 2BR suites, shared bathroom and kitchens. No AC, twin beds.
North (~$1,230-$1,600) hotel-style singles and 2BR suites, private baths, shared kitchens. AC included. Will be renovated during the summer, so who knows what it will look like in the fall.
HLS Apartments (~$1,375-$2,000) studios and singles in houses, private and shared baths, shared kitchens.
Cronkhite Center ($1,140-1,450) Technically this is HUH, but the rooms are essentially dorm rooms like Gropius. These rooms are open to the entire university.

Harvard University Housing
Note: These rooms do not come furnished. They are available for 1-year leases, then 9-months when you’re a 3L. Subletting tends to be easy over the summer. No extra fees, all utilities included. More info here.

Terry Terrace (~$1,200-$2,100) Right across from the WCC, studios, 1BR and 2BR, private bathroom and kitchen.
29 Garden Street (~$1,000-$2,200) A few blocks west of the law campus, studios, 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR, private bathroom and kitchen.

There are many other options around the campus, but the above two are the closest and most popular among law students. More HUH apartments can be found here.

Off-Campus
Here’s HLS’s summary of the neighborhoods around Cambridge.
  • Directly around campus: "Apartments around Harvard Square will be VERY expensive- $1600+ for a 1BR, $2400+ for a 2BR.” -jimbeam21
  • Porter Square: North of campus (13min by foot, 8min by train)
  • Davis Square: North of campus (24min by foot, 16min by train). "You can probably find a 1BR in Davis 5-10 min from the train around $1100; 2BR are even cheaper per room. Both areas are very student-dense, but very young-professional friendly.”-jimbeam21
  • Inman Square: East of campus (10-15min by foot, 20 by train).
  • Brighton: " while its cheap, you'll be stuck on the B train of the Green line- which is a nightmare. That area is also very student-dense, but in a trashy kind of way. The housing options are very run-down and it will be constantly loud.” -jimbeam21
  • Allston- SW of campus, across the river (30min by foot, 60 by train). “A cheaper option that is bus-accessible to Harvard, but prepare to be surrounded by undergrads and bars. If you're not bus-adverse and you have a family or a spouse that commutes outside the city, you might consider some parts of Arlington. It's a suburb just north of Somerville/North Cambridge but has a few major bus lines.”-delilah88

Note that in Boston, you will often have to pay the first and last month’s rent as a deposit, plus a broker fee equal to month’s rent. Leases are 1yr, tend to start 9/1, and not all landlords will allow you to sublet over the summer.

When to look: Late May, June, or July. If you want to live off-campus, you will probably want to get a broker whose fees will usually be equal to the first month of rent. Some of the best apartments seem to get signed during ASW, so if you find something you like, jump on it quickly.

What price is right: You probably won’t be able to find anything for less than $1000/month unless you want to live underground or get a roommate. However, the further from campus you go, the cheaper it will be.

Renter’s Insurance: Policies were around $150 in 2011 for a 1 BR apartment.

From what I’ve gathered, there are three ways to look for apartments:
  1. Walk around, try to get lucky. Is difficult, but often nets the best results.
  2. HLS List: Current students are posting their flats here. It’s flooded with summer sublets right now, but a few people are looking for roommates for next year.
  3. Craigslist: Lots of postings, just watch out for scams.

HOW TO FIND A ROOMMATE
Harvard has a multitude of ways to find roommates, so I’ll list a few here.
  • Post on TLS. Duh.
  • HRES Roommate Click: Extremely cumbersome, but has the widest reach of any roommate service. Run by Harvard, this is available to all university students. Law students have used it in the past to find roommates, and this option is especially good if you would prefer to live with a non-HLS students.
  • Roomie2Roomie I don’t have much info on this. It appears to be a new system set up by HBS students. Kind of like OkCupid for roommates. I’ll update this when they’ve sent me my matches.
Things to do over the summer Books to read (if you really want something slightly productive to do)
  • Getting to Maybe by Richard Fischl and Jeremy Paul
  • Impeccable Research, A Concise Guide to Mastering Legal Research Skills by Mark Osbeck
  • One L by Scott Turrow
  • The Five Types of Legal Argument by Wilson Huhn
  • DON'T READ BLUEBOOKS OR CASE STUDIES. Nobody recommends doing this.



Note: I compiled this information from the HLS website, the advice given in this thread, and in the 'Ask a HLS Student' thread. I did my best to be accurate, but shoot me a pm if anything seems wrong. As more info comes out, I'll continue to edit this post.
Last edited by HorseThief on Fri Aug 08, 2014 11:00 am, edited 32 times in total.

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The-Specs

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by The-Specs » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:11 pm

Yahoo!! Harvard Class of 2017. I never thought I would be able to say I was included in this group.

Congratualtions to all of us and to the future admits!

ETA: Horsethief, the reason it doesn't show up is because you can't post images until you have 100 posts. So..start posting!
Last edited by The-Specs on Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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HorseThief

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by HorseThief » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:15 pm

The-Specs wrote: ETA: Horsethief, the reason it doesn't show up is because you can't post images until you have 100 posts. So..start posting!
Ha, better start spamming. Like this one!

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HorseThief

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by HorseThief » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:16 pm

Specs, you are a lovely person. Did you know that?

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djfududeman

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by djfududeman » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:17 pm

Super pumped to be on here, and with Specs too! He's basically a celebrity in these parts 8)

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The-Specs

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by The-Specs » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:27 pm

HorseThief wrote:Specs, you are a lovely person. Did you know that?
I didn't, but thank you for saying so. :)
djfududeman wrote:Super pumped to be on here, and with Specs too! He's basically a celebrity in these parts 8)
Me?!? I think you both must be refering to someone else.

All of that aside, this is going to be great. :)
Last edited by The-Specs on Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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OVOXO

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by OVOXO » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:28 pm

ya’ll are amazing. Hope to join you guys in Feb

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t-14orbust

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by t-14orbust » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:29 pm

:roll:

edit: JK I love you guys. Specs Robin Samurai and Cyanides are the homies
Last edited by t-14orbust on Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Sourrudedude

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by Sourrudedude » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:29 pm

So does Harvard include any neat gifts in the acceptance packets?

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t-14orbust

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by t-14orbust » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:30 pm

Sourrudedude wrote:So does Harvard include any neat gifts in the acceptance packets?
Idk about the packets but as deposit deadlines near I believe they send out signed books.

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Sourrudedude

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by Sourrudedude » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:32 pm

t-14orbust wrote:
Sourrudedude wrote:So does Harvard include any neat gifts in the acceptance packets?
Idk about the packets but as deposit deadlines near I believe they send out signed books.
I just want to be wined and dined.

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t-14orbust

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by t-14orbust » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:33 pm

Sourrudedude wrote:
t-14orbust wrote:
Sourrudedude wrote:So does Harvard include any neat gifts in the acceptance packets?
Idk about the packets but as deposit deadlines near I believe they send out signed books.
I just want to be wined and dined.
That's what ASW is for

untitled2005

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by untitled2005 » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:36 pm

Hi classmates,

Just want to drop by and say hello. And welcome to Boston/Cambridge!

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The-Specs

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by The-Specs » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:37 pm

t-14orbust wrote:
Sourrudedude wrote:So does Harvard include any neat gifts in the acceptance packets?
Idk about the packets but as deposit deadlines near I believe they send out signed books.
I don't know about gifts or signed books but it look like there won't be any deposit this year: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/ ... s-deposit/

Looks like the gifts start early this year. :)

HYS123

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by HYS123 » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:42 pm

Checking in.

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charlie.black

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by charlie.black » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:57 pm

Checking in. Congrats all :D

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HarvardHopeful

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by HarvardHopeful » Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:26 pm

Checking In. I'm so excited that I'll be staying in Massachusetts for law school. You are all going to love Cambridge and Boston! :D

Can't wait to meet you all at ASW !

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cway

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by cway » Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:40 pm

Checking in. Congrats everyone!

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codyoneill

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by codyoneill » Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:49 pm

Checking in as well.

Congratulations, everyone!

I'm certain that I'll choose HLS for the fall. I'm excited for ASW and just so relieved that the pressure of the admissions cycle is all over for me. I was getting pretty antsy hearing about JS2s being imminent, and I'm relieved it was all over and all positive so quickly.

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Vursz

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by Vursz » Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:59 pm

Checking in. Thrilled to be (most likely) attending HLS, and excited to meet all of you at ASW!

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thewaves

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by thewaves » Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:26 pm

Checking in 8)

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

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Cowboy25

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by Cowboy25 » Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:37 pm

Checking in!

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djfududeman

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by djfududeman » Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:40 pm

Haha this is such a happy place!! I hope the JS2 afterglow is treating everybody well :mrgreen:

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AvatarEyes08

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by AvatarEyes08 » Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:41 pm

Ecstatic to be able to check in here. Dream come true.

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codyoneill

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Re: Harvard Class of 2017

Post by codyoneill » Tue Nov 26, 2013 5:42 pm

Such a good day, everyone. Savor this moment. :)

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


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