Harvard Transfer Thread 2015 Forum

[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.

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?

HLR says that they notify the admissions office if a transfer candidate gets on. Given how ridiculously rare that is (I too have only ever heard of one transfer in recent history making it), I imagine that writing onto HLR as a transfer candidate may very well = automatic admission. However, at least last year, HLR decisions came out after transfer decisions were already made, meaning that getting onto HLR couldn't help your transfer odds.

[lavarman84]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

[Nebby]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

[Ken Kesey]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

Ehh I wouldn't say it's a lock. Anything could happen. What if a large chunk in the 1% of 30-40 apply?

It's still a good shot though.

[juzam_djinn]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

Ehh I wouldn't say it's a lock. Anything could happen. What if a large chunk in the 1% of 30-40 apply?

It's still a good shot though.

yeah, don't listen to anyone who tells you "you'll get in everywhere you apply!" it only sets you up for disappointment

You have a good shot, but the only "locks" for H are probably top 1-2% at a T14, and those people should not be transferring outside of personal reasons

[Nebby]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

Ehh I wouldn't say it's a lock. Anything could happen. What if a large chunk in the 1% of 30-40 apply?

It's still a good shot though.

That won't happen. And, I've never seen someone with those stats rejected in the past few HLS threads.

[lavarman84]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

Ehh I wouldn't say it's a lock. Anything could happen. What if a large chunk in the 1% of 30-40 apply?

It's still a good shot though.

yeah, don't listen to anyone who tells you "you'll get in everywhere you apply!" it only sets you up for disappointment

You have a good shot, but the only "locks" for H are probably top 1-2% at a T14, and those people should not be transferring outside of personal reasons

I'm not concerned. If I don't get in somewhere, I don't get in. I'm happy where I'm at but I figure it's worth exploring my options. I don't think anything could disappoint me after the pleasant surprise of my 1L grades.

Just trying to get everything together in time. Probably gonna apply to all of HYS. Figure I have a good shot at Harvard and the other two are probably like a 25% or so chance.

[juzam_djinn]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

Ehh I wouldn't say it's a lock. Anything could happen. What if a large chunk in the 1% of 30-40 apply?

It's still a good shot though.

That won't happen. And, I've never seen someone with those stats rejected in the past few HLS threads.

you're much more likely to see admits than rejects post on these types of threads

[juzam_djinn]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

Ehh I wouldn't say it's a lock. Anything could happen. What if a large chunk in the 1% of 30-40 apply?

It's still a good shot though.

yeah, don't listen to anyone who tells you "you'll get in everywhere you apply!" it only sets you up for disappointment

You have a good shot, but the only "locks" for H are probably top 1-2% at a T14, and those people should not be transferring outside of personal reasons

I'm not concerned. If I don't get in somewhere, I don't get in. I'm happy where I'm at but I figure it's worth exploring my options. I don't think anything could disappoint me after the pleasant surprise of my 1L grades.

Just trying to get everything together in time. Probably gonna apply to all of HYS. Figure I have a good shot at Harvard and the other two are probably like a 25% or so chance.

yeah I'd say that's a reasonable estimate

[Anonymous User]

Dumb questions here but I don't know the answers so I'm asking.

For the dean's certification, we have to send the Dean the form, which they fill out, sign, send to us, then we mail it to H? Seems like a lot of steps. Also I guess I have to send the Dean an extra envelope/postage to get it back to me? Also no guarantee he will get it/return it in time

As to law school transcripts it seems as if H is cool with just a photocopy of grades for now. That right ?

Again, sorry if this is dumb, but I'm just trying to figure it all out.

[Nebby]

Dumb questions here but I don't know the answers so I'm asking.

For the dean's certification, we have to send the Dean the form, which they fill out, sign, send to us, then we mail it to H? Seems like a lot of steps. Also I guess I have to send the Dean an extra envelope/postage to get it back to me? Also no guarantee he will get it/return it in time

As to law school transcripts it seems as if H is cool with just a photocopy of grades for now. That right ?

Again, sorry if this is dumb, but I'm just trying to figure it all out.

Typically the dean has delegated those certificates to someone lower in the office, i.e., the registrar or an administrator in the dean's office. Just email (attach certificate) your college's dean's office (or if there is none, then the registrar/registration office) and tell them that you need that filled out and mailed to Harvard. Schools fill these things out all of the time, and they know the roll. You don't need to provide postage or an envelope.

[Lawskoolnurd]

My school doesn't give out rankings, but if I were to guess I'm in the top 5% at a top 25 school. Finished with a 4.0 Spring semester. Oh and 5 years WE.

Do I have a shot?

[lavarman84]

Dumb questions here but I don't know the answers so I'm asking.

For the dean's certification, we have to send the Dean the form, which they fill out, sign, send to us, then we mail it to H? Seems like a lot of steps. Also I guess I have to send the Dean an extra envelope/postage to get it back to me? Also no guarantee he will get it/return it in time

As to law school transcripts it seems as if H is cool with just a photocopy of grades for now. That right ?

Again, sorry if this is dumb, but I'm just trying to figure it all out.

It's definitely not dumb. I had the same question when I was reading over everything this morning.

[juzam_djinn]

My school doesn't give out rankings, but if I were to guess I'm in the top 5% at a top 25 school. Finished with a 4.0 Spring semester. Oh and 5 years WE.

Do I have a shot?

I'd say you have a shot where it's worth it to apply. the WE will help too; the administration's been pushing for applicants to get some WE before applying

[Lawskoolnurd]

Does anyone have any idea if you can get out of ED at U of C to go to Harvard?

[juzam_djinn]

Does anyone have any idea if you can get out of ED at U of C to go to Harvard?

even if you could, that'd be a shitty thing to do

[Nebby]

Does anyone have any idea if you can get out of ED at U of C to go to Harvard?

You made your bed.

[Ken Kesey]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Do it. You'll get in.

Ehh I wouldn't say it's a lock. Anything could happen. What if a large chunk in the 1% of 30-40 apply?

It's still a good shot though.

That won't happen. And, I've never seen someone with those stats rejected in the past few HLS threads.

I guess i was projecting my own insecurities then. On pens and needles here at currently top 1-2% at T20 School waiting for spring grades.

[lavarman84]

Strongly considering putting in an application. Hadn't thought about it until grades dropped a couple days ago. Should be around top 1% in my class at a low end Tier 1 school (40-50).

Misremembered my rank. May not be top 1%. But should be top 2%. Could be in the top 1-2% range. Was ranked top 3% (8 out of 305) after fall semester (with a ~3.8 ) and got a 4.0 GPA in the spring. But I have no idea how the people ahead of me did. I'm hoping I'll get in. Was leaning more towards staying last week but this week, after doing research, I'm leaning more towards going if I get in.

[Ken Kesey]

Has anyone got a confirmation email stating their certifications letters have been received? It's been over 2 weeks since my letters should have been mailed.

[lavarman84]

Has anyone got a confirmation email stating their certifications letters have been received? It's been over 2 weeks since my letters should have been mailed.

Mine were just mailed today. I might just email or call them if you're concerned.

[Hudsonbayco]

So I thought HLS said in instructions that review in may, admit in June.....anyone under review?

[Longtimecoming19]

So I thought HLS said in instructions that review in may, admit in June.....anyone under review?

That can't be right, most students haven't gotten all/any of their grades by the end of May. Last year when I applied, the application wasn't even until the middle of June, and I didn't receive my decision until July 7.

[NoDayButToday]

.

[AT9]

Can someone with transfer experience tell me if an app to Harvard is worth it with top 5-8% at a 30's-40's school?