to what degree does undergraduate institution matter at HYS? Forum

[High_Hopes]

I keep getting mixed signals on here. Some say is only matters at Yale but recently i've seen people say it matters at all 3.

[$1.99]

it matters at all 3 i promise. it gives the most boost at harvard, then stanford, then yale.

[OGR3]

Princeton Law only accepts Princeton and Yale undergrads.

Once you let in a couple of those Harvard kids, the riffraff from Brown and Dartmouth are going to want their share too.

[High_Hopes]

it matters at all 3 i promise. it gives the most boost at harvard, then stanford, then yale.

so does going to a prestigious ug institution only give you a boost or is it that going to a lowly state school can hurt you?


sorry for the poor wording

Princeton Law only accepts Princeton and Yale undergrads.

Once you let in a couple of those Harvard kids, the riffraff from Brown and Dartmouth are going to want their share too.

riveting tale chap.

[The Real Jack McCoy]

It matters at all three. For instance, the very low GPAs on Harvard's LSN graph are very often Harvard undergrads, whereas a good number of the high number waitlists are applicants from schools outside the top 20-50. I don't think this can be explained away by sample bias.

But you can't really look at in isolation. For instance, if you are coming straight from undergrad and it isn't a good one, yes, it will be harder to break into YS(and sometimes H) even with very high numbers. But if you've been out of undergrad for a few years and did something impressive, or are younger but have a compelling story, where you went to school is going to be less of a factor. Conversely, if you are a pretty vanilla candidate in all other categories, and are relying upon your "numbers," strength of undergrad is going to matter a lot more--your application is riding on your GPA more than someone with something else to their application package, so how you got the GPA will be taken more into account (however cursorily). All this, of course, takes place within the context of a 170-180/3.75-4.00 numbers spectrum (yes, I know the numbers are rough, but you get the point).

[$1.99]

jack mccoy is from yale

[The Real Jack McCoy]

I'm actually a Yale adcomm trolling the boards.

[High_Hopes]

It matters at all three. For instance, the very low GPAs on Harvard's LSN graph are very often Harvard undergrads, whereas a good number of the high number waitlists are applicants from schools outside the top 20-50. I don't think this can be explained away by sample bias.

But you can't really look at in isolation. For instance, if you are coming straight from undergrad and it isn't a good one, yes, it will be harder to break into YS(and sometimes H) even with very high numbers. But if you've been out of undergrad for a few years and did something impressive, or are younger but have a compelling story, where you went to school is going to be less of a factor. Conversely, if you are a pretty vanilla candidate in all other categories, and are relying upon your "numbers," strength of undergrad is going to matter a lot more--your application is riding on your GPA more than someone with something else to their application package, so how you got the GPA will be taken more into account (however cursorily). All this, of course, takes place within the context of a 170-180/3.75-4.00 numbers spectrum (yes, I know the numbers are rough, but you get the point).

ahh my school is in the 125-150 range. I'm honestly freaking out.

I looked on my school's pre-law page and there is one person from my school at Harvard so I guess there is a light of hope.

[BrownBears09]

Once you let in a couple of those Harvard kids, the riffraff from Brown and Dartmouth are going to want their share too.

Woah woah brah, slow ya roll.

[The Real Jack McCoy]

It matters at all three. For instance, the very low GPAs on Harvard's LSN graph are very often Harvard undergrads, whereas a good number of the high number waitlists are applicants from schools outside the top 20-50. I don't think this can be explained away by sample bias.

But you can't really look at in isolation. For instance, if you are coming straight from undergrad and it isn't a good one, yes, it will be harder to break into YS(and sometimes H) even with very high numbers. But if you've been out of undergrad for a few years and did something impressive, or are younger but have a compelling story, where you went to school is going to be less of a factor. Conversely, if you are a pretty vanilla candidate in all other categories, and are relying upon your "numbers," strength of undergrad is going to matter a lot more--your application is riding on your GPA more than someone with something else to their application package, so how you got the GPA will be taken more into account (however cursorily). All this, of course, takes place within the context of a 170-180/3.75-4.00 numbers spectrum (yes, I know the numbers are rough, but you get the point).

ahh my school is in the 125-150 range. I'm honestly freaking out.

I looked on my school's pre-law page and there is one person from my school at Harvard so I guess there is a light of hope.

Plenty of people get into Harvard from schools outside the top 100--it certainly isn't a deal breaker. All I mean to suggest is that where you went for undergrad isn't irrelevant. It is one factor among many.

Also: everyone knows I went to NYU.

[High_Hopes]

Plenty of people get into Harvard from schools outside the top 100--it certainly isn't a deal breaker. All I mean to suggest is that where you went for undergrad isn't irrelevant. It is one factor among many.

Also: everyone knows I went to NYU.

got it. thanks for the help!