Chances at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, NYU? Forum

[karina]

What are my chances at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and NYU?

GPA: 3.86 (from a top5 school based on the us news ranking)
Major: Political Science (expected to graduate with honors)
LSAT: 173
no legal experience, but have had research positions in the fields of poli sci and econ
Asian Female, non-citizen

I also have a few questions:
1. Would my citizenship status hurt me in anyway in law-school admission? What about during the job application process?
2. I am interested in doing intellectual property law (trademark/copyright). I saw from some posts on this forum that although the overall level matters more in general, it's better in terms of alumni connection and job opportunities to go to schools that are ranked highly in your desired specialty. So in my case, should I look into schools like UC Berkeley since it's rated highly for IP, although it's lower in the overall ranking compared to the schools I am looking at right now?

Thanks so much!

[kaiser]

My hunch is that you get into both NYU and Columbia, but most likely out at Harvard and Stanford (though you are on the cusp).

[thederangedwang]

3 outa the 4 assuming decent personal statement and recs and applying early

[JamMasterJ]

3 outa the 4 assuming decent personal statement and recs and applying early

this or 2/4. The "out" is probably S, since you don't mention any strong softs. FWIW, I have a friend with virtually the same stats that got CCN, but not HYS

[ahnhub]

If you haven't already checked it out: http://www.lawschoolnumbers.com/

You can plug into your numbers for each school. You will get into NYU and probably Columbia. Harvard could go either way, and Stanford who knows--my guess is probably not unless they happen to really like something about your app.

You are also a strong contender for full rides at lower T-14. General TLS consensus is specialty rankings don't matter.

[thederangedwang]

3 outa the 4 assuming decent personal statement and recs and applying early

this or 2/4. The "out" is probably S, since you don't mention any strong softs. FWIW, I have a friend with virtually the same stats that got CCN, but not HYS

Basically yeah, the numbers will get you NYU and CLS.

But you have an unique opportunity here of making your personal statement actually worth something since you are on the fence for HLS and to a lesser extent, SLS. Write a good one, and then get good recs and apply early...I see you getting in HLS

[twenty]

While specialty ranks basically never matter, there is some exception to the rule when it comes to IP. If I was going for IP, I would for sure take Berkeley over MVP, etc, and maybe even over Chicago. On the other hand, even though GW is ranked higher than CCN, you should virtually never take GW over CCN. So it matters a little, but not a whole lot.

[Lovely Ludwig Van]

I think you'll get into H if you apply early and don't bomb the interview. A lot of the people with similar type stats who don't get into H are retakers. Assuming you are not a retaker, I think you have a good shot.

[karina]

Thanks a lot for your advice. I have another question- how early should I apply to Harvard then? Is sometime around the end of October early enough?

[thederangedwang]

Thanks a lot for your advice. I have another question- how early should I apply to Harvard then? Is sometime around the end of October early enough?

Thats considered the later part of the early cycle. So it is still early, but if I were you, I would go earlier than that.

[icpb]

What are my chances at Harvard, Stanford, Columbia and NYU?

GPA: 3.86 (from a top5 school based on the us news ranking)
Major: Political Science (expected to graduate with honors)
LSAT: 173
no legal experience, but have had research positions in the fields of poli sci and econ
Asian Female, non-citizen

I also have a few questions:
1. Would my citizenship status hurt me in anyway in law-school admission? What about during the job application process?
2. I am interested in doing intellectual property law (trademark/copyright). I saw from some posts on this forum that although the overall level matters more in general, it's better in terms of alumni connection and job opportunities to go to schools that are ranked highly in your desired specialty. So in my case, should I look into schools like UC Berkeley since it's rated highly for IP, although it's lower in the overall ranking compared to the schools I am looking at right now?

Thanks so much!

You have a decent shot at Harvard and Stanford if you attend HYPSM (especially HYS) for undergrad. I have seen stats at some of those schools. In at Columbia and NYU.

[lizaregina]

For what it's worth, my numbers are very similar to yours (my GPA is a little lower) and I got 3/4 (still waiting to hear from S).

[Lovely Ludwig Van]

Thanks a lot for your advice. I have another question- how early should I apply to Harvard then? Is sometime around the end of October early enough?

I'd apply around late-September/early-October. Last year I applied to H on 10/30 and got WL'd, this year I applied on 11/5 and got held before I got in. If you apply as soon as the application becomes available, there's no way they can miss reviewing your app along with the other first-batch apps (i.e. the batch with the highest proportion of admits). I spoke to an adcomm last year and she specifically mentioned there IS an advantage to applying early, as they have a lot more spots open at that point.

I truly believe that with the way LSAT takers are down and the scarcity of applicants with clean testing records (i.e. no retakes), you will get in as long as the rest of your app is solid.