Top Law Schools

pleasebehappy wrote: I would venture to add that undergrad matters a lot for borderline law school candidates. Of the 8 admitted to Harvard with less than a 173 LSAT that specified the type of school they attended, 2 went to public schools (no more description) and 6 went to top 25 schools (either public or private, 2 of the 6 went to one of HYP). I think that this shows that, as much as we hate to admit it, what undergrad one attends does factor into the equation (especially for borderline applicants).

Sorry! I really didn't mean to cause any trouble or argument.

agreed w/ your post, but like i said in mine, "for the most part" -- ugrad may factor in if you are a borderline applicant, but for the most part it does not

DoubleChecks wrote:

pleasebehappy wrote: I would venture to add that undergrad matters a lot for borderline law school candidates. Of the 8 admitted to Harvard with less than a 173 LSAT that specified the type of school they attended, 2 went to public schools (no more description) and 6 went to top 25 schools (either public or private, 2 of the 6 went to one of HYP). I think that this shows that, as much as we hate to admit it, what undergrad one attends does factor into the equation (especially for borderline applicants).

Sorry! I really didn't mean to cause any trouble or argument.

agreed w/ your post, but like i said in mine, "for the most part" -- ugrad may factor in if you are a borderline applicant, but for the most part it does not

Yes, but I imagine that over the course of the admissions cycle, H passes over many people with better stats (just speaking numbers) in order to admit those borderline applicants.

ylc wrote:

DoubleChecks wrote:

pleasebehappy wrote: I would venture to add that undergrad matters a lot for borderline law school candidates. Of the 8 admitted to Harvard with less than a 173 LSAT that specified the type of school they attended, 2 went to public schools (no more description) and 6 went to top 25 schools (either public or private, 2 of the 6 went to one of HYP). I think that this shows that, as much as we hate to admit it, what undergrad one attends does factor into the equation (especially for borderline applicants).

Sorry! I really didn't mean to cause any trouble or argument.

agreed w/ your post, but like i said in mine, "for the most part" -- ugrad may factor in if you are a borderline applicant, but for the most part it does not

Yes, but I imagine that over the course of the admissions cycle, H passes over many people with better stats (just speaking numbers) in order to admit those borderline applicants.

really? you think so? im not saying 'never' but many borderline applicants would get in just because they went to a better undergraduate institution but had inferior numbers to the other applicant? this is of course excluding HYP since we know they get a noticeable boost, i was really just comparing a T10 ugrad to a T50, or maybe even a T30 vs. a T100. assuming softs are the same, i dont see HLS passing up on many better number applicants in favor of someone w/ borderline numbers just because they went to a noticeably better ugrad institution, which is what i was talking about.

DoubleChecks wrote:
really? you think so? im not saying 'never' but many borderline applicants would get in just because they went to a better undergraduate institution but had inferior numbers to the other applicant? this is of course excluding HYP since we know they get a noticeable boost, i was really just comparing a T10 ugrad to a T50, or maybe even a T30 vs. a T100. assuming softs are the same, i dont see HLS passing up on many better number applicants in favor of someone w/ borderline numbers just because they went to a noticeably better ugrad institution, which is what i was talking about.

Hmm.. who knows, this is all my instinct. And I was thinking more about HYP. I mean, I've heard that something like 1/10th of the entering class at HLS is from Harvard undergrad. I guess I'm thinking about how overrepresentation of top schools must then limit the chances of others.

ylc wrote:

DoubleChecks wrote:
really? you think so? im not saying 'never' but many borderline applicants would get in just because they went to a better undergraduate institution but had inferior numbers to the other applicant? this is of course excluding HYP since we know they get a noticeable boost, i was really just comparing a T10 ugrad to a T50, or maybe even a T30 vs. a T100. assuming softs are the same, i dont see HLS passing up on many better number applicants in favor of someone w/ borderline numbers just because they went to a noticeably better ugrad institution, which is what i was talking about.

Hmm.. who knows, this is all my instinct. And I was thinking more about HYP. I mean, I've heard that something like 1/10th of the entering class at HLS is from Harvard undergrad. I guess I'm thinking about how overrepresentation of top schools must then limit the chances of others.

Yeah between HYP I think there are probably like 100 students or so.. I remember looking at the Yale chart for law applicants and over 50+ people got into HLS.

SolarWind wrote:

ylc wrote:

DoubleChecks wrote:
really? you think so? im not saying 'never' but many borderline applicants would get in just because they went to a better undergraduate institution but had inferior numbers to the other applicant? this is of course excluding HYP since we know they get a noticeable boost, i was really just comparing a T10 ugrad to a T50, or maybe even a T30 vs. a T100. assuming softs are the same, i dont see HLS passing up on many better number applicants in favor of someone w/ borderline numbers just because they went to a noticeably better ugrad institution, which is what i was talking about.

Hmm.. who knows, this is all my instinct. And I was thinking more about HYP. I mean, I've heard that something like 1/10th of the entering class at HLS is from Harvard undergrad. I guess I'm thinking about how overrepresentation of top schools must then limit the chances of others.

Yeah between HYP I think there are probably like 100 students or so.. I remember looking at the Yale chart for law applicants and over 50+ people got into HLS.

HYP seems to be unique in a sense that it gives a small bump to admissions, and i also heard HLS loves H ugrad or something. but at the same time...they do have a greater % of competitive applicants applying to law schools. They already go to HYP, im sure many of them will have very competitive numbers.

I've been reading for a while and never posting, but I have a completely off subject question. I've been accepted to Harvard, which has been my dream school forever, and I desperately want to go. However, my SO is a dedicated CA person, and he's also applying to grad schools. He thinks I should go to Berkeley (where I haven't yet been accepted), because that's where he wants to be with programs he wants to do. How do I explain to him that THIS IS HARVARD???? I mean, if I got in to Stanford, that would be a contender, but they haven't accepted me either, and most likely won't. How do I explain to him that you can't turn down HARVARD for Berkeley? I mean, Berkeley's a fantastic school, but this is HARVARD! Thoughts from others of you who have gotten in?

I've been reading for a while and never posting, but I have a completely off subject question. I've been accepted to Harvard, which has been my dream school forever, and I desperately want to go. However, my SO is a dedicated CA person, and he's also applying to grad schools. He thinks I should go to Berkeley (where I haven't yet been accepted), because that's where he wants to be with programs he wants to do. How do I explain to him that THIS IS HARVARD???? I mean, if I got in to Stanford, that would be a contender, but they haven't accepted me either, and most likely won't. How do I explain to him that you can't turn down HARVARD for Berkeley? I mean, Berkeley's a fantastic school, but this is HARVARD! Thoughts from others of you who have gotten in?

tell your SO to suck it up and apply to mit / harvard. i can't imagine there is much of a sacrifice in quality in any field at those two schools!

I've intentionally remained single so that I could follow my own will.

Or so I tell myself.

pleasepickme wrote:I've been reading for a while and never posting, but I have a completely off subject question. I've been accepted to Harvard, which has been my dream school forever, and I desperately want to go. However, my SO is a dedicated CA person, and he's also applying to grad schools. He thinks I should go to Berkeley (where I haven't yet been accepted), because that's where he wants to be with programs he wants to do. How do I explain to him that THIS IS HARVARD???? I mean, if I got in to Stanford, that would be a contender, but they haven't accepted me either, and most likely won't. How do I explain to him that you can't turn down HARVARD for Berkeley? I mean, Berkeley's a fantastic school, but this is HARVARD! Thoughts from others of you who have gotten in?

I think that he is very stubborn, over-possessive, and thoughtless to ignore Harvard's appeal to you. Perhaps you should consider how significant he really is, or should be, considering this unreasonable demand. But I'm not terribly qualified to answer, as a single-minded (and single) careerist. I have deliberately avoided serious relationships so as not to risk derailing myself from my professional goals.

Why would you be certain that you wouldn't get into SLS?

managamy wrote:

pleasepickme wrote:I've been reading for a while and never posting, but I have a completely off subject question. I've been accepted to Harvard, which has been my dream school forever, and I desperately want to go. However, my SO is a dedicated CA person, and he's also applying to grad schools. He thinks I should go to Berkeley (where I haven't yet been accepted), because that's where he wants to be with programs he wants to do. How do I explain to him that THIS IS HARVARD???? I mean, if I got in to Stanford, that would be a contender, but they haven't accepted me either, and most likely won't. How do I explain to him that you can't turn down HARVARD for Berkeley? I mean, Berkeley's a fantastic school, but this is HARVARD! Thoughts from others of you who have gotten in?

I think that he is very stubborn, over-possessive, and thoughtless to ignore Harvard's appeal to you. Perhaps you should consider how significant he really is, or should be, considering this unreasonable demand. But I'm not terribly qualified to answer, as a single-minded (and single) careerist. I have deliberately avoided serious relationships so as not to risk derailing myself from my professional goals.

Why would you be certain that you wouldn't get into SLS?

I'm not certain, I've got the scores, but my softs don't seem as strong as others I've heard of, and they're just really really really selective. It's hard because I'm a very relationship oriented person, and I've been with this guy for a couple of years, I thought he was the one, but this is making me question that. I almost wish I were more single minded, and I've never wished that! I just don't get how anyone doesn't understand that if you can go to Harvard, you go!!!

Wait until you hear from SLS before you put too much stress on the relationship. If you get an acceptance from them, you might want to think seriously about it, since it could be a way of having your cake and eating it too. Otherwise, you should make sure that he is really such an incredibly amazing guy before adjusting your career plans around him.

There is no such thing as "the one."

pleasepickme wrote:I've been reading for a while and never posting, but I have a completely off subject question. I've been accepted to Harvard, which has been my dream school forever, and I desperately want to go. However, my SO is a dedicated CA person, and he's also applying to grad schools. He thinks I should go to Berkeley (where I haven't yet been accepted), because that's where he wants to be with programs he wants to do. How do I explain to him that THIS IS HARVARD???? I mean, if I got in to Stanford, that would be a contender, but they haven't accepted me either, and most likely won't. How do I explain to him that you can't turn down HARVARD for Berkeley? I mean, Berkeley's a fantastic school, but this is HARVARD! Thoughts from others of you who have gotten in?

Theres 100 million guys in America. Theres one Harvard.

ilovelawapps wrote:

pleasepickme wrote:I've been reading for a while and never posting, but I have a completely off subject question. I've been accepted to Harvard, which has been my dream school forever, and I desperately want to go. However, my SO is a dedicated CA person, and he's also applying to grad schools. He thinks I should go to Berkeley (where I haven't yet been accepted), because that's where he wants to be with programs he wants to do. How do I explain to him that THIS IS HARVARD???? I mean, if I got in to Stanford, that would be a contender, but they haven't accepted me either, and most likely won't. How do I explain to him that you can't turn down HARVARD for Berkeley? I mean, Berkeley's a fantastic school, but this is HARVARD! Thoughts from others of you who have gotten in?

There are nearly 100 million law schools in America. There's only one Yale.

Much better.

Berkeley will suffice. Enjoy.

dutchstriker wrote:There is no such thing as "the one."

harvard

Lolz. Thanks. I will be thinking VERY seriously about Stanford if I get it, but it's good to hear from others that I'm not crazy for wanting Harvard over Berkeley. My friends here are all in favor of tossing Harvard because Berkeley's good too, and they don't get it.

ok ill be the first to actually throw in a diff perspective on this matter

im not really career-oriented. ive always wanted a family and ive always put family first, or starting one even. my SO is trying to go to Boston because i got into HLS, and i REALLY like HLS and think it is a GREAT fit...but she may end up in NYC instead. if so, id choose CLS over HLS most likely (assuming i get into CLS).

yeah harvard is harvard, but what is your goal in life? what is your main aim and focus? what matters to you the most? for me, my future family is the core and everything else is built around it. if i were in your shoes, id seriously consider berkeley over harvard, but we may have very different life goals. even job-wise, realistically, HLS and berkeley will not be immensely different. you wont go poor at either one.

of course there are other things to consider, like how he seems to refuse to apply to boston schools. thats selfish imo. if he were ALREADY going to a grad school in CA, i could see it more from his point of view, but if he just wants to stay in CA and will not even apply to Boston area schools for you...iunno thats different.

but hey, if you get into SLS, all problems (or surface ones) are solved eh?

DoubleChecks wrote:ok ill be the first to actually throw in a diff perspective on this matter

im not really career-oriented. ive always wanted a family and ive always put family first, or starting one even. my SO is trying to go to Boston because i got into HLS, and i REALLY like HLS and think it is a GREAT fit...but she may end up in NYC instead. if so, id choose CLS over HLS most likely (assuming i get into CLS).

yeah harvard is harvard, but what is your goal in life? what is your main aim and focus? what matters to you the most? for me, my future family is the core and everything else is built around it. if i were in your shoes, id seriously consider berkeley over harvard, but we may have very different life goals. even job-wise, realistically, HLS and berkeley will not be immensely different. you wont go poor at either one.

of course there are other things to consider, like how he seems to refuse to apply to boston schools. thats selfish imo. if he were ALREADY going to a grad school in CA, i could see it more from his point of view, but if he just wants to stay in CA and will not even apply to Boston area schools for you...iunno thats different.

but hey, if you get into SLS, all problems (or surface ones) are solved eh?

Thank you for articulating all the questions I've been muddling over. Dear Stanford, please let me in, cause life would get so much easier!

JR2 today! Really excited. Can't wait for more info/accepted student site!

rowlf wrote:JR2 today! Really excited. Can't wait for more info/accepted student site!

CONGRATULATIONS! You should also post this in Harvard 2010 thread so they know there's movement today. Enjoy your extra-happy holidays!

Am at my folks' away from mail and stuff, didn't bring anything with me. When is the ASW? Trying to think about coordinating that stuff at that time. Thanks. You can pm me if you want.

Regarding Harvard v. Georgetown, a friend of mine's older brother got a 180 on the LSAT and chose full ride Georgetown over Harvard. This friend said his brother's girlfriend lived in D.C. and so did her father, who is very wealthy and important. So that made sense to me.

However, don't pretend that the job prospects aren't very different between the lower and even mid-T14 and HYS. I know 2L's at T14 schools with varying ranks who struck out completely at OCI and don't have jobs lined up for the summer. The prospects of a Berkeley graduate are still great, especially in CA, but they're noticeably worse than those of a Harvard graduate. At a school like Georgetown they're much worse, whether you want Biglaw or government or something else.

As far as a relaxed attitude goes, you'd definitely want to choose Harvard over Georgetown. At Georgetown you'll be frantically trying to achieve a good class rank against others who are as stressed as you, while at Harvard you can finish at the bottom and still get the same job as someone who's maybe top 25% at Georgetown.

I've been under review now for a month so I'm pretty sure there's no shot, however one small hope is keeping me alive. I am currently living abroad and have no phone number on my applications because they can't contact me. What do they do in the case of JR1 and JR2 for people like me? I mean the chances of me being accepted are probably 3% but still I have been wondering about this and Berkeley because I have been under review for a while there too.

def2104 wrote:I've been under review now for a month so I'm pretty sure there's no shot, however one small hope is keeping me alive. I am currently living abroad and have no phone number on my applications because they can't contact me. What do they do in the case of JR1 and JR2 for people like me? I mean the chances of me being accepted are probably 3% but still I have been wondering about this and Berkeley because I have been under review for a while there too.

You'd probably still get some sort of email attempting to schedule an interview. You'd probably have to make special arrangements, but I don't think this would affect your JR1 email.