Harvard Class of 2012 Forum

[bgc]

Another option would be to take the T then take a cab. You could take the silver line from the airport and switch to the redline, getting off at Harvard. From Harvard Square you could take a cab to the hotel. Taxis are plentiful, they line up near the Harvard T exit. The downside is that there'd be several legs to your travel (silver line--red line--taxi), which can be annoying. The upside is that it's much cheaper than cabbing directly from Logan to the hotel.

If you're doing the hybrid, I would recommend just taking the silver line to South Station and cabbing it from there. Getting to mainland boston will be the biggest chunk of change. The difference between Harvard to hotel and S. Station to hotel is probably not worth the hassle of the red line.

[Currie84]

Another option would be to take the T then take a cab. You could take the silver line from the airport and switch to the redline, getting off at Harvard. From Harvard Square you could take a cab to the hotel. Taxis are plentiful, they line up near the Harvard T exit. The downside is that there'd be several legs to your travel (silver line--red line--taxi), which can be annoying. The upside is that it's much cheaper than cabbing directly from Logan to the hotel.

If you're doing the hybrid, I would recommend just taking the silver line to South Station and cabbing it from there. Getting to mainland boston will be the biggest chunk of change. The difference between Harvard to hotel and S. Station to hotel is probably not worth the hassle of the red line.

Good point.

[Harvard1L]

Can you apply to HKS in your first year at HLS? What is the app process like?

You can apply during your first year at HLS. The application is all online and is pretty simple: 3 short essays, a resume, some personal info, and 3 letters of recommendation. (As mentioned before, the LSAT counts in lieu of the GRE.) The application is due in early January, which used to be right in the middle of 1L finals, but will be in the middle of winter term for incoming 1Ls. (They moved the 1L finals for 2012 and subsequent classes to December.)

Actually, you can even apply to HKS during your 2L year, if you are careful about how many HLS credits you take and are on track to meet graduation requirements.

Hope this helps.

[Pumpkin]

hey guys, so is the initial Harvard financial aid form working for you? got all the links to start this process in an email from the fin. aid office but the form won't actually download yet. is it too early?

[excitedutterance]

hey guys, so is the initial Harvard financial aid form working for you? got all the links to start this process in an email from the fin. aid office but the form won't actually download yet. is it too early?

I've completed the initial form and have my documents list already. So it should work. Though, after seeing the documents list, I'm beginning to wish it hadn't.

[Marmolada]

Are any other prospective HLSers starting to get annoyed at the number of professors leaving for the Obama administration? I think this may have a considerable impact on the school, both in terms of its standing in the rankings and of the quality of the student experience.

[JackieTreehorn]

Are any other prospective HLSers starting to get annoyed at the number of professors leaving for the Obama administration? I think this may have a considerable impact on the school, both in terms of its standing in the rankings and of the quality of the student experience.

I'm slightly annoyed because I won't have the opportunity to take classes with them, but I doubt it'll have a significant impact on perceptions of the school--if anything, it will elevate them.

EDIT: the other effect it might have would be to benefit students trying to secure competitive positions with government agencies.

[Pumpkin]

Sorry if i'm the only moron who is incapable of filling out the financial aid forms... but what are they talking about in the initial form when they ask you if you expect to receive any forms of funding outside non-HLS? Does this mean loans like Grad plus? and if so, then how do you answer the next question about amount and source? or do they mean really outside loans like personal loans? thanks!

[Harvard1L]

Sorry if i'm the only moron who is incapable of filling out the financial aid forms... but what are they talking about in the initial form when they ask you if you expect to receive any forms of funding outside non-HLS? Does this mean loans like Grad plus? and if so, then how do you answer the next question about amount and source? or do they mean really outside loans like personal loans? thanks!

I had a lot of success chatting online with the financial aid representatives at the aid website. Give it a shot--it was quick and easy.

[excitedutterance]

Sorry if i'm the only moron who is incapable of filling out the financial aid forms... but what are they talking about in the initial form when they ask you if you expect to receive any forms of funding outside non-HLS? Does this mean loans like Grad plus? and if so, then how do you answer the next question about amount and source? or do they mean really outside loans like personal loans? thanks!

I had a lot of success chatting online with the financial aid representatives at the aid website. Give it a shot--it was quick and easy.

That's probably a good idea. I said "no" because I figured that, like at most schools, federal loans will be arranged by, and received through, HLS Financial Aid and thus considered part of the package. I sent an email to double-check that one, though.

[Objection]

Sorry if i'm the only moron who is incapable of filling out the financial aid forms... but what are they talking about in the initial form when they ask you if you expect to receive any forms of funding outside non-HLS? Does this mean loans like Grad plus? and if so, then how do you answer the next question about amount and source? or do they mean really outside loans like personal loans? thanks!

I had a lot of success chatting online with the financial aid representatives at the aid website. Give it a shot--it was quick and easy.

That's probably a good idea. I said "no" because I figured that, like at most schools, federal loans will be arranged by, and received through, HLS Financial Aid and thus considered part of the package. I sent an email to double-check that one, though.

Let me know when you guys find out the answer!

[Pumpkin]

i just called and the woman said to answer "no" unless you are getting stuff like random outside scholarships or loans from relatives whatever. Loans like Stafford and GradPlus will still go through Harvard..

[FrenchiePatootie]

awesome do you guys know the link?
i looked around the website but couldn't find it...

https://mymail.law.harvard.edu

your username is 1st initial + last name.jd12 (e.g. jharvard.jd12); your password is your lsac acct number (LXXXXXXXX).

Congratulations!

i never said thanks for that link so thanks!

[excitedutterance]

awesome do you guys know the link?
i looked around the website but couldn't find it...

https://mymail.law.harvard.edu

your username is 1st initial + last name.jd12 (e.g. jharvard.jd12); your password is your lsac acct number (LXXXXXXXX).

Congratulations!

i never said thanks for that link so thanks!

welcome!

[Objection]

What do 1Ls have the option of doing during the winter term? Every clinic is reserved to 2Ls and/or 3Ls.

Is that when we will take the Problems & Theories class?

[Krswmact]

my understanding is that 1Ls take that problem solving class that is now required. does this sound right?

[Objection]

Yeah, it seems you are correct.

That class is "Problems & Theories," correct?

[Krswmact]

yes.

[iagolives]

About this "Problems and Theories" class-- it's my understanding you do it intensively during the winter term and then finish it during the spring term. Is that correct?

Also, is anyone else worried about how much harder it might be to prepare for this course? While I think its a great addition to the curriculum, from reading up on "Curriculum B" classes at Georgetown, it seems that there is a lot of anxiety over the lack of study aids and other supplementary materials for the more holistic classes.

[ender04]

About this "Problems and Theories" class-- it's my understanding you do it intensively during the winter term and then finish it during the spring term. Is that correct?

Yes, that's my impression from the link below:

--LinkRemoved--

I kind of find this novel curriculum a bit of a turn-off, to tell you the truth. I don't really like how Harvard doesn't have a 1L Con Law class. I also don't like that they're decreasing the credit for all of the required classes to just 4 hours. Does that mean we won't be learning important material? Or, does it just mean we'll have to do the same amount of work for less credit?

Also, is anyone else worried about how much harder it might be to prepare for this course? While I think its a great addition to the curriculum, from reading up on "Curriculum B" classes at Georgetown, it seems that there is a lot of anxiety over the lack of study aids and other supplementary materials for the more holistic classes.

I do think that a course like this will be a lot more subjective than a typical law school class, so it might be harder to prepare for. Also, I'm not terribly into team projects when it comes to classes. While I'm sure the caliber of students is much higher at Harvard Law than at my undergrad institution, my experience with team projects from elementary school up through college is that there is often a free rider problem. Regardless of how hard individual students would normally work, once you put them in a team, they'll try to do the bare minimum.

[Harvard1L]

About this "Problems and Theories" class-- it's my understanding you do it intensively during the winter term and then finish it during the spring term. Is that correct?

Yes, that's my impression from the link below:

--LinkRemoved--

I kind of find this novel curriculum a bit of a turn-off, to tell you the truth. I don't really like how Harvard doesn't have a 1L Con Law class. I also don't like that they're decreasing the credit for all of the required classes to just 4 hours. Does that mean we won't be learning important material? Or, does it just mean we'll have to do the same amount of work for less credit?

Also, is anyone else worried about how much harder it might be to prepare for this course? While I think its a great addition to the curriculum, from reading up on "Curriculum B" classes at Georgetown, it seems that there is a lot of anxiety over the lack of study aids and other supplementary materials for the more holistic classes.

I do think that a course like this will be a lot more subjective than a typical law school class, so it might be harder to prepare for. Also, I'm not terribly into team projects when it comes to classes. While I'm sure the caliber of students is much higher at Harvard Law than at my undergrad institution, my experience with team projects from elementary school up through college is that there is often a free rider problem. Regardless of how hard individual students would normally work, once you put them in a team, they'll try to do the bare minimum.

To comment on changing the 1L curriculum--I think it is fantastic. I wouldn't worry at all about not learning as much due to the fact that the courses are 4 rather than 5 credits. 1L classes provide you with a foundational way of thinking rather than giving you expertise. As a result, your classes will only cover major doctrinal points and areas of the law that are particularly tricky. Most of what you learn will be, in substance, largely irrelevant to your future career. What is most important in 1L classes is the legal structure, theory, and analysis, and not so much the "material" itself, which will have to be relearned for the Bar in the jurisdiction where you plan to practice, anyway.

I love Legislation and Regulation (which is basically a class on statutory interpretation), and I can't believe that most law schools don't teach it to 1Ls. It seems extremely relevant. My International Law elective is also fantastic. It may be the single most interesting class I have ever taken.

Not talking Constitutional Law as a 1L isn't a big deal. You have plenty of time to take it later on in law school, and doing so won't put you at any disadvantage. Harvard has the most impressive collection of Constitutional Law faculty anywhere in the country, and Constitutional Law itself is taught in a more in-depth manner. It's split into two courses: one on the First Amendment, and another on Separation of Powers, Federalism, and the Fourteenth Amendment.

I can't comment on the Problems and Theories class, because it hasn't been implemented yet. As you all have said, I guess it will be during the winter term, which the 1Ls have not had up until now.

[iagolives]

Yeah, since I'm more public law/government oriented anyway, I think the course sounds like a good one, I just hate being the "guinea pig" class...

Oh well, someone's got to do it, right?

[Pumpkin]

how does the scheduling work with this winter term? does that mean a longer academic year? is that really unusual among law schools?

[iagolives]

No, the year isn't longer, winter break is just really short (2009-2010: Dec 21-Jan 1). It's a similar time frame to that which Harvard 2L/3L have been using for a long time. The one upside as I see it, though, is you don't have finals after the break so the time you have off can be REAL vacation, not "I should be studying" guilt time off.

--LinkRemoved--

[Krswmact]

I asked the student who emailed me about the problems class. She knows people who have taken it (it has previously been offered as an elective) and loved it. She was planning on talking it this winter term. So it isnt a completely new class, just a new requirement.