Harvard Student(s) Answering Your Questions Forum

[ph14]

Does anyone know how heavily grades are weighed (versus writing competition) in determining law review selection? i.e. is it the kind of thing where you probably shouldn't waste your time doing the competition if you got any P's fall semester?

A lot of spots are based purely on the basis of your score in the writing competition.

[az21833]

is it combo of grade on, write on and mix?

[ph14]

is it combo of grade on, write on and mix

14 grade ons 20 write ons 10 discretionary/diversity spots. 2 spots will be added somewhere.

[DoubleChecks]

Highly unlikely anyone knows the answer to this, but I thought, eh why the hell not ask. Anyone know what the magna and cum laude GPA cutoffs are? Maybe approximations from the last few yrs? Not published anywhere since we began using our current grading system -- so black box -- and I am sort of curious so I can gauge the appropriate effort level I should be pushing out my last semester lol.

[delusional]

Highly unlikely anyone knows the answer to this, but I thought, eh why the hell not ask. Anyone know what the magna and cum laude GPA cutoffs are? Maybe approximations from the last few yrs? Not published anywhere since we began using our current grading system -- so black box -- and I am sort of curious so I can gauge the appropriate effort level I should be pushing out my last semester lol.

I searched for this and apparently the sparse online consensus was 3.55-3.6 for Cum Laude and 3.9 for Magna. But I have nothing to back this up and the numbers match exactly what someone might pull out of a hat.

[Person1111]

Re: LR competition - I know people with 5-6 P's 1L year who got onto LR, and there's at least one person at HLS who missed out despite winning the Sears Prize. If you want to be on LR, do the competition, take it seriously, and pray to whatever higher power you believe in. Really good grades can help get you on, but less-good grades won't keep you off.

[justinp]

Re: LR competition - I know people with 5-6 P's 1L year who got onto LR, and there's at least one person at HLS who missed out despite winning the Sears Prize. If you want to be on LR, do the competition, take it seriously, and pray to whatever higher power you believe in. Really good grades can help get you on, but less-good grades won't keep you off.

How could someone not make LR if they got the Sears prize? There are 2 grade-on spots per section...

[delusional]

Re: LR competition - I know people with 5-6 P's 1L year who got onto LR, and there's at least one person at HLS who missed out despite winning the Sears Prize. If you want to be on LR, do the competition, take it seriously, and pray to whatever higher power you believe in. Really good grades can help get you on, but less-good grades won't keep you off.

How could someone not make LR if they got the Sears prize? There are 2 grade-on spots per section...

Maybe they didn't enter the competition, thinking that they would be judged by writing as well.

[ph14]

It's not pure grade on. Grade ons are 50% grades amd 50% writing scores. And remember to follow directions.

[holmes]

It's not pure grade on. Grade ons are 50% grades amd 50% writing scores. And remember to follow directions.

Not to be annoying, but is this really the formula? I had never seen actual weights for the two parts before, and I thought it was a secret.

[ph14]

It's not pure grade on. Grade ons are 50% grades amd 50% writing scores. And remember to follow directions.

Not to be annoying, but is this really the formula? I had never seen actual weights for the two parts before, and I thought it was a secret.

Yes really and it's not a secret. Write on spots are 100% writing competition scores.

[PMan99]

It's not pure grade on. Grade ons are 50% grades amd 50% writing scores. And remember to follow directions.

Not to be annoying, but is this really the formula? I had never seen actual weights for the two parts before, and I thought it was a secret.

Yes really and it's not a secret. Write on spots are 100% writing competition scores.

I've never heard that formula before. Everyone, including LR people, say good faith effort even if there is some "formula" that HLR is supposed to adhere to.

[ph14]

discloseolmes"]

It's not pure grade on. Grade ons are 50% grades amd 50% writing scores. And remember to follow directions.

Not to be annoying, but is this really the formula? I had never seen actual weights for the two parts before, and I thought it was a secret.

Yes really and it's not a secret. Write on spots are 100% writing competition scores.

I've never heard that formula before. Everyone, including LR people, say good faith effort even if there is some "formula" that HLR is supposed to adhere to.[/quote]

Well, that's the formula they disclose is used to calculate grade ons. I assume that they comply with that formula.

[DoubleChecks]

Highly unlikely anyone knows the answer to this, but I thought, eh why the hell not ask. Anyone know what the magna and cum laude GPA cutoffs are? Maybe approximations from the last few yrs? Not published anywhere since we began using our current grading system -- so black box -- and I am sort of curious so I can gauge the appropriate effort level I should be pushing out my last semester lol.

I searched for this and apparently the sparse online consensus was 3.55-3.6 for Cum Laude and 3.9 for Magna. But I have nothing to back this up and the numbers match exactly what someone might pull out of a hat.

From looking into this a bit in the past, I thought the answer was around there. sigh* kinda hoped it would have been lower or higher to make my decision easier lol. thanks for the reply though!

[BelugaWhale]

HLR now expanding affirmative action to include women

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/ ... ve-action/

[Spritzpiggy]

I have to admit that, as a female, the dearth of women on the law review is actually the single thing that most concerns me about attending Harvard. I am worried it is a reflection on the academic culture as a whole. But now I am torn, because I am not a fan of any policies that give any group an advantage over another solely because of their genetic characteristics (even in this instance, where I stand to benefit). In general, what is the attitude towards women at H? I read a disappointing study that they received lower grades overall and so forth.

[AllTheLawz]

I have to admit that, as a female, the dearth of women on the law review is actually the single thing that most concerns me about attending Harvard. I am worried it is a reflection on the academic culture as a whole. But now I am torn, because I am not a fan of any policies that give any group an advantage over another solely because of their genetic characteristics (even in this instance, where I stand to benefit). In general, what is the attitude towards women at H? I read a disappointing study that they received lower grades overall and so forth.

It doesn't reflect on the academic culture at H. There is no attitude towards women at H.

I am not going to get myself into trouble by speculating on why the differences exist but I can guarantee you that it is not due to a difference that is uniquely present at H. Just because a difference exists does not mean that it is because of some institutional bias.

[Spritzpiggy]

I will have to find that study because it does show that H has somewhere around half the number of females on its LR as other top schools. That's why I was concerned it was something institutionalized at the school. I wonder what other reasons for this disparity would be. Anyways, I know from chatting with you before that I respect your view Allthelawz so thanks for your feedback.

Edit: I can't find the study on my phone so all I can remember is that Michigan has good female representation. I did find the research on female experiences at H which is here in case anyone else is interested (on phone so hopefully this works): http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/exp ... Report.pdf

[ph14]

The real answer is that no one knows exactly why women are underrepresented on HLR.

[Spritzpiggy]

Here's a gem I found: In 1997, the Law Review did a major survey of the entire law school student body to find out what was going on. It turned out that the women and men who actually applied to be on Law Review were admitted at equal rates. The problem was that fewer women applied.

Hopefully this will keep anyone from being concerned as I previously was. Obviously not an institutional bias if less apply in general. This actually makes me upset that H took the current step - I wish there were an opt out (not that I will actually be on it regardless but still - I would hate to think I got there thanks to ladyparts lol)

[ph14]

Here's a gem I found: In 1997, the Law Review did a major survey of the entire law school student body to find out what was going on. It turned out that the women and men who actually applied to be on Law Review were admitted at equal rates. The problem was that fewer women applied.

Hopefully this will keep anyone from being concerned as I previously was. Obviously not an institutional bias if less apply in general. This actually makes me upset that H took the current step - I wish there were an opt out (not that I will actually be on it regardless but still - I would hate to think I got there thanks to ladyparts lol)

There is an opt out. And today men and women take the writing competition roughly proportionate to the student body.

[delusional]

The real answer is that no one knows exactly why women are underrepresented on HLR.

Given that as you say, men and women apply in equal proportions, and the admissions process is anonymous, "exactly why" has a very specific meaning.

[ph14]

The real answer is that no one knows exactly why women are underrepresented on HLR.

Given that as you say, men and women apply in equal proportions, and the admissions process is anonymous, "exactly why" has a very specific meaning.

Huh?

[Spritzpiggy]

To ph14 post: First part = awesome. Second part, less so. Now I'm back to wondering what's up and taking the findings of the recent study on women at H with more weight. Oh well.

Anyways, to change topic, how realistic is it to work 1L year? Thinking 10 hrs a week or so and I don't anticipate this being overwhelming but if anyone has had the experience and can share I would appreciate it.

[ph14]

To ph14 post: First part = awesome. Second part, less so. Now I'm back to wondering what's up and taking the findings of the recent study on women at H with more weight. Oh well.

Anyways, to change topic, how realistic is it to work 1L year? Thinking 10 hrs a week or so and I don't anticipate this being overwhelming but if anyone has had the experience and can share I would appreciate it.

Not realistic unless we are talking RA work or something. It would be a bad idea though.