Harvard Transfer Thread 2015 Forum

[valen]

This may be a dumb question, but does UG gpa or lsat matter when you transfer?

[zombie mcavoy]

Hypothetically. But everyone, at least on TLS, says transfer admissions are more of a pure numbers game (w/r/t 1L GPA & 1L school) than even 1L admissions are.

[valen]

Hypothetically. But everyone, at least on TLS, says transfer admissions are more of a pure numbers game (w/r/t 1L GPA & 1L school) than even 1L admissions are.

Thanks, so having a very low UG gpa isn't necessarily a deal breaker?

[Nebby]

Hypothetically. But everyone, at least on TLS, says transfer admissions are more of a pure numbers game (w/r/t 1L GPA & 1L school) than even 1L admissions are.

Thanks, so having a very low UG gpa isn't necessarily a deal breaker?

No.

[DCNTUA]

Checking in from Penn.

[MoreCowbell]

#1 at a TTT, 3.9 checking in.

May as well toss up a hail mary.

[bfc2013]

Any previous transfers have advice on the decision to do the HLR write-on competition? Let's say, hypothetically, it's the same week as my current T14's write-on...

[NoDayButToday]

.

[bfc2013]

^ thanks NoDay. Helpful info. I perused a sample HLR write-on packet and it's much more extensive than my current school's competition.

Unrelated question: The LSAC instructions indicate acceptance notifications will begin early-June. From what I've seen in past years it has been early/mid-July. Anyone know if this is new this year, or standard language?

[zippernicus]

^ thanks NoDay. Helpful info. I perused a sample HLR write-on packet and it's much more extensive than my current school's competition.

Unrelated question: The LSAC instructions indicate acceptance notifications will begin early-June. From what I've seen in past years it has been early/mid-July. Anyone know if this is new this year, or standard language?

Definitely helpful. I was wondering about the same type of things. My first week of my SA also is the week of HLS' write-on, so its kind of sounding like trying to do that might be impossible. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[juzam_djinn]

^ thanks NoDay. Helpful info. I perused a sample HLR write-on packet and it's much more extensive than my current school's competition.

Unrelated question: The LSAC instructions indicate acceptance notifications will begin early-June. From what I've seen in past years it has been early/mid-July. Anyone know if this is new this year, or standard language?

Definitely helpful. I was wondering about the same type of things. My first week of my SA also is the week of HLS' write-on, so its kind of sounding like trying to do that might be impossible. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I tried precisely this last year; it was not fun. If your SA is typical biglaw, then outside of the first day you will probably have a ton of after work social events during the first week that are essentially mandatory. I was at work 9-5 and then out for happy hour, dinner, etc. until 8 or 9, at which point I would put in another 4 hours or so of write-on work. It was incredibly exhausting, and considering how tired you will likely be after work and the social events, it will be very difficult to put in a strong effort on the competition.

I ended up not making LR and actually regret trying during that week. It was like attempting to get the best of both worlds and ending up suffering in both. Couldn't give my all for the LR competition, and couldn't enjoy the first week of my SA as much as I wanted to. I would strongly advise against trying, but if you want to gun for it I suggest pulling near all nighters the first two days you get the packet. IIRC it will be the weekend before your SA starts.

[zippernicus]

^ thanks NoDay. Helpful info. I perused a sample HLR write-on packet and it's much more extensive than my current school's competition.

Unrelated question: The LSAC instructions indicate acceptance notifications will begin early-June. From what I've seen in past years it has been early/mid-July. Anyone know if this is new this year, or standard language?

Definitely helpful. I was wondering about the same type of things. My first week of my SA also is the week of HLS' write-on, so its kind of sounding like trying to do that might be impossible. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I tried precisely this last year; it was not fun. If your SA is typical biglaw, then outside of the first day you will probably have a ton of after work social events during the first week that are essentially mandatory. I was at work 9-5 and then out for happy hour, dinner, etc. until 8 or 9, at which point I would put in another 4 hours or so of write-on work. It was incredibly exhausting, and considering how tired you will likely be after work and the social events, it will be very difficult to put in a strong effort on the competition.

I ended up not making LR and actually regret trying during that week. It was like attempting to get the best of both worlds and ending up suffering in both. Couldn't give my all for the LR competition, and couldn't enjoy the first week of my SA as much as I wanted to. I would strongly advise against trying, but if you want to gun for it I suggest pulling near all nighters the first two days you get the packet. IIRC it will be the weekend before your SA starts.

Thanks! This was super helpful!

[Longtimecoming19]

I just want to reemphasize how badly you should not attempt the HLR write-on competition. I submitted a transfer app to HLS and was accepted (ended up not going). At the end of May, I did their write-on competition concurrently with my old school's. At my old school, they give you a week to do it so that you can relax, plan, sleep, put it aside for periods of time, and basically have a life. At HLS, they give you a week because it takes basically 168 hours to do. It is bigger and badder than anything your current school does, and it's virtually impossible to do both, even relative to the odds of being admitted to HLS. If you get into HLS, you'll have a fantastic credential on your resume; don't torpedo your odds of making LR at your old school, without actually increasing your odds of getting onto HLR virtually at all, by doing the HLR write-on.

[Ken Kesey]

I just want to reemphasize how badly you should not attempt the HLR write-on competition. I submitted a transfer app to HLS and was accepted (ended up not going)

Why did you not go?

[Longtimecoming19]

I just want to reemphasize how badly you should not attempt the HLR write-on competition. I submitted a transfer app to HLS and was accepted (ended up not going)

Why did you not go?

Got into Yale.

[sandwhich]

I just want to reemphasize how badly you should not attempt the HLR write-on competition. I submitted a transfer app to HLS and was accepted (ended up not going)

Why did you not go?

Got into Yale.

That'd do it lol

[townehall]

I am definitely not doing the write on. I am at a quarter school so I'm in finals until June 12.

In any case, do you know how to find out which firms/office locations recruit at Harvard OCI/EIP? I am only interested in west coast jobs, so I imagine it would be a little bit of a smaller pool.

[townehall]

I still see "no active term" for Yale on LSAC. I thought it was supposed to go live on May 1? Did I misread something in the instructions?

[deaclaw]

I still see "no active term" for Yale on LSAC. I thought it was supposed to go live on May 1? Did I misread something in the instructions?

Relax, it's not up for anyone else either.

They're probably just waiting in order to artificially inflate their demand. /s

[townehall]

What is this Education information section?

"1. Briefly describe any written work you’ve produced (e.g., college-level or higher papers, articles, theses, etc., with multiple revisions in response to feedback) under the supervision of an academic advisor or professional editor. (maximum characters 300)"

What are some examples of what they're looking for?

Same question on this. I did not do a thesis in undergrad, so I think I'll have to just do my 1L papers from writing class.

[crimson34]

I just want to reemphasize how badly you should not attempt the HLR write-on competition. I submitted a transfer app to HLS and was accepted (ended up not going). At the end of May, I did their write-on competition concurrently with my old school's. At my old school, they give you a week to do it so that you can relax, plan, sleep, put it aside for periods of time, and basically have a life. At HLS, they give you a week because it takes basically 168 hours to do. It is bigger and badder than anything your current school does, and it's virtually impossible to do both, even relative to the odds of being admitted to HLS. If you get into HLS, you'll have a fantastic credential on your resume; don't torpedo your odds of making LR at your old school, without actually increasing your odds of getting onto HLR virtually at all, by doing the HLR write-on.

Does the admissions office have any way of determining whether you took part in the write on or can it help/hurt your application chances?

[dagnygalt]

I just want to reemphasize how badly you should not attempt the HLR write-on competition. I submitted a transfer app to HLS and was accepted (ended up not going). At the end of May, I did their write-on competition concurrently with my old school's. At my old school, they give you a week to do it so that you can relax, plan, sleep, put it aside for periods of time, and basically have a life. At HLS, they give you a week because it takes basically 168 hours to do. It is bigger and badder than anything your current school does, and it's virtually impossible to do both, even relative to the odds of being admitted to HLS. If you get into HLS, you'll have a fantastic credential on your resume; don't torpedo your odds of making LR at your old school, without actually increasing your odds of getting onto HLR virtually at all, by doing the HLR write-on.

Does the admissions office have any way of determining whether you took part in the write on or can it help/hurt your application chances?

I transfered last year. I can't imagine that they would, but even if they did, I don't think it matters. Anecdotally, out of the 35 transfers last year I know at least 25 who didn't do the writing competition, and the one person I know who did didn't make it.

[zor]

I am also a transfer to HLS who did not do the write-on. I know in my year several people (I would say 5?) did it, regretted it, and I think one guy made it. I have only ever heard of that one person making it.

I personally chose to do the write-on for my own school because my thinking was, if I don't transfer, the LAST thing I want to do is not get on law review at my crappy school.

I will add that HLS has so many awesome journals that are not ridiculous like LR. My non-LR journal was wonderful, I met great friends, it wasn't insane or intense, and I had plenty to talk about on my interviews because of it. So don't stress too much about it.

[crimson34]

Thanks for the input. It is good to know that it doesn't seem to have any real negative effect.

[dagnygalt]

I will add that HLS has so many awesome journals that are not ridiculous like LR.

That's a great point. Just to clarify, all of the other journals are volunteer, so you will be able to work on any non-LR journal.