Harvard Student(s) Answering Your Questions Forum

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[vanwinkle]

Not very encouraging. Isn't it a strength of Harvard that you have a number of different courses to choose from covering different ground?

"Isn't it a strength of minimum-security prison that you have more freedom on the grounds during your three-year stay than at other detention centers?"

Law school sucks. Harvard gives you more chances to choose your flavor of suck, but studying the law is horribly boring in general. (One true exception that I have greatly enjoyed is clinical work, which is more engaging and gives you practical experience that's generally useful even if you work in a field you'll never practice in.)

[splbagel]

Can anyone give me an idea of when I can expect my first loan disbursement for the fall? We haven't received any info about applying for loans yet, but I'm trying to plan my summer budget. Can I assume that I'm on my own until at least September 1?

[Confused7]

So I wasn't planning on buying any E&Es/hornbooks before 1L, but my friend who just finished 1L at another T-14 has offered to sell me her books for cheap. I know this has been asked ad nauseum before, but not sure if I ever came across it in this thread. Are there particular E&Es/hornbooks that you guys would recommend getting? I'm still debating whether I should wait until 1L starts before making any purchases. Thanks!

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[englawyer]

I apologize if this is a silly question, but is there any kind of social stratification that goes on amongst students who went to elite undergrads (i.e. Ivies, Stanford, UChicago, MIT, etc.) and those who didn't (state universities and obscure liberal arts colleges)? From the very brief impression I got at ASW, it did seem like there was a little bit of that going on where people self-segregate into groups they feel most comfortable/share the most in common with. If anybody can comment on that that'd be great.

not that I've noticed, though most of my close lawl friends went to elite schools, so i dunno.

students generally have a bond w/ those from their undergrad either just because or due to mutual friends, and that applies to both 1L-1L relations and 1L-2L/3L relations. the result is that people from elite schools seem more at home and thus likely to "jump right in" by participating in class, joining orgs, socializing. there is also an advantage in that 2L/3L's can give advice on outlines, classes, exam prep, etc. this sort of results in "social stratification" because elite undergrads are very over-represented. the most blatant example is Harvard, as H undergrads form roughly 10% of each class. By 2L, a lot of that goes away and social groups form for different reasons.

[englawyer]

Can anyone give me an idea of when I can expect my first loan disbursement for the fall? We haven't received any info about applying for loans yet, but I'm trying to plan my summer budget. Can I assume that I'm on my own until at least September 1?

it was a while ago but i believe checks were cut during orientation.

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[delusional]

Can anyone give me an idea of when I can expect my first loan disbursement for the fall? We haven't received any info about applying for loans yet, but I'm trying to plan my summer budget. Can I assume that I'm on my own until at least September 1?

it was a while ago but i believe checks were cut during orientation.

Yeah, it was part of the whole march around the room filling out various papers. One of the tables was the check dispensing table. If you had everything filled out and submitted as necessary, you could pick up a check.

[delusional]

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[slsorhls]

Anyone know someone who cross-registered at MIT?

[delusional]

hey guys, I'm already here (lawl) but does anyone know when we get our spring grades? I've been having shameful gunnery stress dreams and it's only been a week

In the fall, the last exam was on December 19th, and grades came out on January 26. Following the same timing, given that the last spring exam was on May 9th, we'd expect a grade release around June 16th.

Back in the day, grade release dates were on the academic calendar (LinkRemoved), and for an exam period ending on May 15th, expected release was June 17th.

Last year, they apparently came out on June 8th, and earlier in that topic, it was suggested that the year before, they came out on June 7th.

So my call is that this year grades will be released somewhere between June 6th and June 15th, probably earlier in that window (say, June 6th-8th).

Any further back-room chatter on grade delivery?

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[citydweller09]

If TomWatt's dates are right, in 2010 the last 1L exam was May 12 (Wednesday) and grade release was June 7(Monday) before noon EST--about 26 days. In 2011 the last 1L exam was May 11 (Wednesday) and grade release was June 8 (Wednesday)--28 days. Our last exam was May 9 (Wednesday) and today is 28 days. I'll be surprised if they aren't out by Fri. afternoon.

The 2008-2009 school year isn't relevant since that was from Harvard's old schedule when fall semester finals was after Christmas break, but before another break. The entire academic calendar for the entire university has changed since 2009-2010 and on, so we should be on that pattern.

They were tentatively scheduled to be released today, per the calendar OCS created for rising 3Ls applying for clerkships, but have apparently been delayed. According to HELIOS and yesterday's post from Kirsten on the clerkship blog, grades will be posted in "mid-June."

[delusional]

If TomWatt's dates are right, in 2010 the last 1L exam was May 12 (Wednesday) and grade release was June 7(Monday) before noon EST--about 26 days. In 2011 the last 1L exam was May 11 (Wednesday) and grade release was June 8 (Wednesday)--28 days. Our last exam was May 9 (Wednesday) and today is 28 days. I'll be surprised if they aren't out by Fri. afternoon.

The 2008-2009 school year isn't relevant since that was from Harvard's old schedule when fall semester finals was after Christmas break, but before another break. The entire academic calendar for the entire university has changed since 2009-2010 and on, so we should be on that pattern.

They were tentatively scheduled to be released today, per the calendar OCS created for rising 3Ls applying for clerkships, but have apparently been delayed. According to HELIOS and yesterday's post from Kirsten on the clerkship blog, grades will be posted in "mid-June."

Good info, but damn!

[094320]

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[delusional]

If TomWatt's dates are right, in 2010 the last 1L exam was May 12 (Wednesday) and grade release was June 7(Monday) before noon EST--about 26 days. In 2011 the last 1L exam was May 11 (Wednesday) and grade release was June 8 (Wednesday)--28 days. Our last exam was May 9 (Wednesday) and today is 28 days. I'll be surprised if they aren't out by Fri. afternoon.

The 2008-2009 school year isn't relevant since that was from Harvard's old schedule when fall semester finals was after Christmas break, but before another break. The entire academic calendar for the entire university has changed since 2009-2010 and on, so we should be on that pattern.

They were tentatively scheduled to be released today, per the calendar OCS created for rising 3Ls applying for clerkships, but have apparently been delayed. According to HELIOS and yesterday's post from Kirsten on the clerkship blog, grades will be posted in "mid-June."

Nice to know that I was correct minus a weird delay. I wonder what delays it.

A careful reading of the blog post shows that there wasn't necessarily a delay; rather the date was tentative, and the registrar is not giving specific dates. If there was a delay, it was probably for the same reason as all grades are delayed, made worse by the simultaneous release.

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[delusional]

A careful reading of the blog post shows that there wasn't necessarily a delay; rather the date was tentative, and the registrar is not giving specific dates. If there was a delay, it was probably for the same reason as all grades are delayed, made worse by the simultaneous release.

Eh to me having a "tentative" release date and then not releasing it that day is a "delay". I mean I assume that profs delay grade release, but I have also heard that some profs just give out their grades weeks after the simultaneous release, so there must be some point at which they just go ahead without some.

Yeah, the email last semester implied that some grades come later. But I can't imagine that's the case with 1L courses. It must be seminars with sketchy paper requirements that end up getting extended a bunch of times.

[094320]

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[delusional]

A careful reading of the blog post shows that there wasn't necessarily a delay; rather the date was tentative, and the registrar is not giving specific dates. If there was a delay, it was probably for the same reason as all grades are delayed, made worse by the simultaneous release.

Eh to me having a "tentative" release date and then not releasing it that day is a "delay". I mean I assume that profs delay grade release, but I have also heard that some profs just give out their grades weeks after the simultaneous release, so there must be some point at which they just go ahead without some.

Yeah, the email last semester implied that some grades come later. But I can't imagine that's the case with 1L courses. It must be seminars with sketchy paper requirements that end up getting extended a bunch of times.

I've heard that one 1L crim law prof has done it 2 semesters in a row (release a couple weeks after the simultaneous release date).

NOOOOOooooooo!!!!! Which one?

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[jbs017]

Are there any courses (other than the 1L classes) that are essentially required or so strongly recommended that everyone basically takes them? A friend at another T-14 says there are several courses like this (Evidence and Tax I think were examples).

[delusional]

Are there any courses (other than the 1L classes) that are essentially required or so strongly recommended that everyone basically takes them? A friend at another T-14 says there are several courses like this (Evidence and Tax I think were examples).

Most people probably take some version of Con Law, which is not a required course. I don't know that Harvard is different though - tax and evidence are important no matter where you are.

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