Harvard c/o 2016 Applicants (2012-2013) Forum

[Mr. Elshal]

JS1 is a 15 minute interview. It is necessary but not sufficient for admission (I think about 1000 students will be interviewed this year, about 800 will be accepted). JS2 is just the congratulatory phone call telling you you're in.

Wow, so if you get far enough for JS1 you basically have an 8/10 chance of admission?

What is JS1 for? Just to make sure you have decent social skills or what?

And what does "JS" stand for?


I appreciate the response.

Karen Buttenbaum (Director of Admissions) spoke at my school recently and she said it's just another way of getting to know the applicant. For example, there's your numbers (GPA, LSAT), then your application gives a better idea of who you are behind the number, and then your interview gives them a better idea of who you are in a more personal sense.

If you make it to the interview, that means they liked your application enough that they're interested in accepting you. JS1 is just like a way for them to double-check that. I wouldn't be surprised at all if your odds of admission, given that you were granted an interview, were that high.

Also, JS1 just stands for Jessica Soban 1st phone call. She used to be the one (might still be one of the ones) making the calls, so JS1 is just an abbreviation for that.

[Kionaltski]

JS1 is a 15 minute interview. It is necessary but not sufficient for admission (I think about 1000 students will be interviewed this year, about 800 will be accepted). JS2 is just the congratulatory phone call telling you you're in.

Wow, so if you get far enough for JS1 you basically have an 8/10 chance of admission?

What is JS1 for? Just to make sure you have decent social skills or what?

And what does "JS" stand for?


I appreciate the response.

JS stands for Jessica Soban, Chief Admissions Officer, who usually conducts the interview, though this year Karen Buttenbaum, Director of Admissions, will also conduct interviews. Also, in the past Harvard did around 1000 interviews for 800 offers, but this year they are aiming to have more like 1200, so its more like 2/3 chance of admissions, not 4/5.
For more info, see
http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... sica-soban
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/admissions ... g-process/

[JedBartlett]

JS1 is a 15 minute interview. It is necessary but not sufficient for admission (I think about 1000 students will be interviewed this year, about 800 will be accepted). JS2 is just the congratulatory phone call telling you you're in.

Wow, so if you get far enough for JS1 you basically have an 8/10 chance of admission?

What is JS1 for? Just to make sure you have decent social skills or what?

And what does "JS" stand for?


I appreciate the response.

JS stands for Jessica Soban, Chief Admissions Officer, who usually conducts the interview, though this year Karen Buttenbaum, Director of Admissions, will also conduct interviews. Also, in the past Harvard did around 1000 interviews for 800 offers, but this year they are aiming to have more like 1200, so its more like 2/3 chance of admissions, not 4/5.
For more info, see
http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... sica-soban
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/admissions ... g-process/

You are all gentlemen and scholars of the highest possible sort.

Sincere thanks.

[WhiteyCakes]

You are all gentlemen and scholars of the highest possible sort.

Sincere thanks.

The "real" Jed Bartlett never talked like this...

[JedBartlett]

You are all gentlemen and scholars of the highest possible sort.

Sincere thanks.

The "real" Jed Bartlett never talked like this...

The "real" Jed Bartlet's name is spelled "Jed BartleT." I am not he; I am Bartlett, mind you.

[WhiteyCakes]

You are all gentlemen and scholars of the highest possible sort.

Sincere thanks.

The "real" Jed Bartlett never talked like this...

The "real" Jed Bartlet's name is spelled "Jed BartleT." I am not he; I am Bartlett, mind you.

Got me.

[JedBartlett]

You are all gentlemen and scholars of the highest possible sort.

Sincere thanks.

The "real" Jed Bartlett never talked like this...

The "real" Jed Bartlet's name is spelled "Jed BartleT." I am not he; I am Bartlett, mind you.

Got me.

Whitey is always wrong in the end!

[WhiteyCakes]

Whitey is always wrong in the end!

Man enough to admit it when I am

[JedBartlett]

Whitey is always wrong in the end!

Man enough to admit it when I am

Just like Bartlet.

[Lavitz]

JS1 is a 15 minute interview. It is necessary but not sufficient for admission (I think about 1000 students will be interviewed this year, about 800 will be accepted). JS2 is just the congratulatory phone call telling you you're in.

Wow, so if you get far enough for JS1 you basically have an 8/10 chance of admission?

What is JS1 for? Just to make sure you have decent social skills or what?

And what does "JS" stand for?


I appreciate the response.

JS stands for Jessica Soban, Chief Admissions Officer, who usually conducts the interview, though this year Karen Buttenbaum, Director of Admissions, will also conduct interviews. Also, in the past Harvard did around 1000 interviews for 800 offers, but this year they are aiming to have more like 1200, so its more like 2/3 chance of admissions, not 4/5.
For more info, see
http://www.admissionsdean.com/researchi ... sica-soban
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/admissions ... g-process/

Just to add some historical context and alleviate any apprehension, Karen also performed roughly half of the phone interviews last cycle, as Jessica actually wasn't hired until a few months into the cycle. Karen was responsible for the early interviews, then went on maternity leave when Jessica took over. Then Jessica also went on maternity leave and Karen returned and did a few more interviews until Jessica returned to wrap up the cycle. The consensus on TLS seemed to be that both women were extremely nice and the conversations were very pleasant.

One interesting thing to note is that Jessica has been known to ask K-JDs whether they ever considered taking time off to gain work experience. So you may want to think of response to that one if it applies to you.

[Lawlschool2015]

checking in!

[helix23]

Then Jessica also went on maternity leave and Karen returned and did a few more interviews until Jessica returned to wrap up the cycle.

lol how do you know all this...

[Lavitz]

Then Jessica also went on maternity leave and Karen returned and did a few more interviews until Jessica returned to wrap up the cycle.

lol how do you know all this...

I work for the CIA...

Nah, j/k. I just spent a few weeks over the summer reading the entire 2015 applicants thread during my commutes. It's all discussed there.

[thelawschoolproject]

Then Jessica also went on maternity leave and Karen returned and did a few more interviews until Jessica returned to wrap up the cycle.

lol how do you know all this...

I work for the CIA...

Nah, j/k. I just spent a few weeks over the summer reading the entire 2015 applicants thread during my commutes. It's all discussed there.

Yeah, this is what happened to us last year. They both ended up doing WL interviews/acceptances into the summer.

[kulshan]

My interview was with KB, but JS was in charge by ASW. Both are very nice! Good luck, everyone. I'm a deferral from last year, so I'm excited to see who will be joining me next year! Yay!

[Mdenis1]

Then Jessica also went on maternity leave and Karen returned and did a few more interviews until Jessica returned to wrap up the cycle.

lol how do you know all this...

They had an admission blog on HLS website last year and they told applicants over there!

Still nothing guys? I was hoping we'd see the first batch of interviews this week!

[Kionaltski]

[quote="Mdenis1"]Still nothing guys? I was hoping we'd see the first batch of interviews this week![/quote
I think we're not going to see anything until November. like last year

[Yukos]

Still nothing guys? I was hoping we'd see the first batch of interviews this week![/quote
I think we're not going to see anything until November. like last year

JS said that the schedule should be more like two years ago than last year (last year they were slowed down by the search for a new dean of admissions). I'm not sure what two years ago looked like though...

[Lavitz]

Still nothing guys? I was hoping we'd see the first batch of interviews this week!

I think we're not going to see anything until November. like last year

JS said that the schedule should be more like two years ago than last year (last year they were slowed down by the search for a new dean of admissions). I'm not sure what two years ago looked like though...

Two years ago, the first JR1 invites went out on [Edit: October 14th] with the actual interviews occurring just a few days later. Though they say they won't start interviews until November, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw invites go out before the end of the month, especially if they want to give applicants extra time to prepare for the new interview format.

[spicyyoda17]

Still nothing guys? I was hoping we'd see the first batch of interviews this week!

I think we're not going to see anything until November. like last year

JS said that the schedule should be more like two years ago than last year (last year they were slowed down by the search for a new dean of admissions). I'm not sure what two years ago looked like though...

Two years ago, the first JR1 invites went out on November 1st with the actual interviews occurring just a few days later. However, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw invites go out before the end of the month, especially if they want to give applicants extra time to prepare for the new interview format while still beginning the actual interviews in the first week of November.

I believe 2 years ago the interviews actually began in mid-October, but actual acceptances weren't until the week of Thanksgiving.

[Mr. Elshal]

I believe 2 years ago the interviews actually began in mid-October, but actual acceptances weren't until the week of Thanksgiving.

Was that for ED or Regular?

[spicyyoda17]

I believe 2 years ago the interviews actually began in mid-October, but actual acceptances weren't until the week of Thanksgiving.

Was that for ED or Regular?

Harvard doesn't offer an ED option

[Lavitz]

I believe 2 years ago the interviews actually began in mid-October, but actual acceptances weren't until the week of Thanksgiving.

You're right; that's what I get for skipping the first 10 pages of the c/o 2014 thread. But based on the statements made in the admissions blog, it still appears that they won't be starting any actual interviews until November this cycle.

[JedBartlett]

How long do we generally have to prepare for these interviews? I know that I'm going to be singularly focused on the interview if I am lucky enough to get one.

[Kionaltski]

How long do we generally have to prepare for these interviews? I know that I'm going to be singularly focused on the interview if I am lucky enough to get one.

Usually just a couple of days. I wouldn't be too worried though-just know the answers to why law school, why Harvard, and give them a sense of what your passions are.