Harvard Law School Class of 2018 Forum

[radio1nowhere]

I think deferring is vastly underrated. Not only does it help with finaid (as you get older, HLS looks at a smaller percentage of your parent's income when determining aid), but it might be your last chance to do something really crazy. I.e., unless you want to do international law or human rights, there's no good justification for going to Thailand for a year during or after law school. However, do it beforehand and no one will bat an eye. HLS opens up some doors, but those student loans sure do close others.

I don't know if "vastly underrated" is the right phrase, since fully 76% of HLS's class last year was not K-JD. Pretty solid majority.

I think taking time off can be, in some instances, overrated. I was pushed by several acquaintances to take a year off after undergrad, despite the fact that my biggest interest is to practice law. In my case, the main consequence of taking a year off would be putting off the repayment of that student debt by another year. That's unattractive, since I'd like to get out from under the student debt shadow as early in life as possible.

All in all, if you have a specific interest or opportunity that makes you consider deferring, definitely do it! But don't do it just because others are doing it.

[cc240]

I think deferring is vastly underrated. Not only does it help with finaid (as you get older, HLS looks at a smaller percentage of your parent's income when determining aid), but it might be your last chance to do something really crazy. I.e., unless you want to do international law or human rights, there's no good justification for going to Thailand for a year during or after law school. However, do it beforehand and no one will bat an eye. HLS opens up some doors, but those student loans sure do close others.

I don't know if "vastly underrated" is the right phrase, since fully 76% of HLS's class last year was not K-JD. Pretty solid majority.

I think taking time off can be, in some instances, overrated. I was pushed by several acquaintances to take a year off after undergrad, despite the fact that my biggest interest is to practice law. In my case, the main consequence of taking a year off would be putting off the repayment of that student debt by another year. That's unattractive, since I'd like to get out from under the student debt shadow as early in life as possible.

All in all, if you have a specific interest or opportunity that makes you consider deferring, definitely do it! But don't do it just because others are doing it.

I definitely understand what you are saying. I'm not sure about the other person's case but in my case, I had an interest in working with an organization where I would be a high-level director and have the opportunity to do something I would probably never be able to if I had went this year with the rest of co 2017.

Also, I wanted to be free of academic work for a year and wanted to do something that was outside of school for a bit since being in law school is academically rigorous.

[LSCHI]

Maybe it is just me, but I am interested in what school everyone would choose given their current situations if they did not choose HLS. New poll?

[HorseThief]

Maybe it is just me, but I am interested in what school everyone would choose given their current situations if they did not choose HLS. New poll?

Updated.

[Fawkes]

Does anyone have suggestions for good ways to get from NYC to Boston/Cambridge? Some people I've talked to have suggested Amtrak or Greyhound. Any opinions on these options? I've never used either, so feedback would be great.

[lashley]

Does anyone have suggestions for good ways to get from NYC to Boston/Cambridge? Some people I've talked to have suggested Amtrak or Greyhound. Any opinions on these options? I've never used either, so feedback would be great.

Amtrak is wonderful. Depending on how much you want to spend, it's probably more than Greyhound but I think the convenience is worth it.

[HorseThief]

Does anyone have suggestions for good ways to get from NYC to Boston/Cambridge? Some people I've talked to have suggested Amtrak or Greyhound. Any opinions on these options? I've never used either, so feedback would be great.

I have a friend who goes up every few weeks and he recommends Boltbus. Megabus can also be very cheap if you plan far in advance. My friend also says that the train is the most convenient, if you can afford it.

[ChemEng1642]

Does anyone have suggestions for good ways to get from NYC to Boston/Cambridge? Some people I've talked to have suggested Amtrak or Greyhound. Any opinions on these options? I've never used either, so feedback would be great.

Go Bus if you want to go to Alewife. Then there's Megabus, Greyhound, Boltbus, Lucky star, and Peter Pan that go to South Station. The Amtrak also goes to South Station.

I've taken Go Bus, Boltbus, and Megabus before and they're all reasonable. I don't know about the other ones. I think Lucky Star is like the Fung Wah that got shut down recently due to safety issues .

Never taken Amtrak before but if you're leaving Friday night the cheapest train you could get is $52 and it gets in at 12:30 am. Next cheapest is $74 but there are more times available.

A bus Friday night will run you about $30 - not sure why it's so expensive normally it's like $15-$20 one way. MegaBus and Boltbus sometimes do $1 deals if you are lucky enough to get one (I did once!). I don't know if the Amtrak is worth it considering it takes 4.5 hours regardless.

[yomisterd]

Does anyone have suggestions for good ways to get from NYC to Boston/Cambridge? Some people I've talked to have suggested Amtrak or Greyhound. Any opinions on these options? I've never used either, so feedback would be great.

Go Bus if you want to go to Alewife. Then there's Megabus, Greyhound, Boltbus, Lucky star, and Peter Pan that go to South Station. The Amtrak also goes to South Station.

I've taken Go Bus, Boltbus, and Megabus before and they're all reasonable. I don't know about the other ones. I think Lucky Star is like the Fung Wah that got shut down recently due to safety issues .

Never taken Amtrak before but if you're leaving Friday night the cheapest train you could get is $52 and it gets in at 12:30 am. Next cheapest is $74 but there are more times available.

A bus Friday night will run you about $30 - not sure why it's so expensive normally it's like $15-$20 one way. MegaBus and Boltbus sometimes do $1 deals if you are lucky enough to get one (I did once!). I don't know if the Amtrak is worth it considering it takes 4.5 hours regardless.

Go Bus is both me and my SOs preferred option for bus. She commutes almost every weekend up to Boston and has loved that bus.

[ChemEng1642]

Does anyone have suggestions for good ways to get from NYC to Boston/Cambridge? Some people I've talked to have suggested Amtrak or Greyhound. Any opinions on these options? I've never used either, so feedback would be great.

Go Bus if you want to go to Alewife. Then there's Megabus, Greyhound, Boltbus, Lucky star, and Peter Pan that go to South Station. The Amtrak also goes to South Station.

I've taken Go Bus, Boltbus, and Megabus before and they're all reasonable. I don't know about the other ones. I think Lucky Star is like the Fung Wah that got shut down recently due to safety issues .

Never taken Amtrak before but if you're leaving Friday night the cheapest train you could get is $52 and it gets in at 12:30 am. Next cheapest is $74 but there are more times available.

A bus Friday night will run you about $30 - not sure why it's so expensive normally it's like $15-$20 one way. MegaBus and Boltbus sometimes do $1 deals if you are lucky enough to get one (I did once!). I don't know if the Amtrak is worth it considering it takes 4.5 hours regardless.

Go Bus is both me and my SOs preferred option for bus. She commutes almost every weekend up to Boston and has loved that bus.

That's my preferred bus too

[strugglebus]

Never taken Amtrak before but if you're leaving Friday night the cheapest train you could get is $52 and it gets in at 12:30 am.

This is what I'm doing, in part because I forgot buses exist.

[ChemEng1642]

Never taken Amtrak before but if you're leaving Friday night the cheapest train you could get is $52 and it gets in at 12:30 am.

This is what I'm doing, in part because I forgot buses exist.

Ironic because of your username

[strugglebus]

Never taken Amtrak before but if you're leaving Friday night the cheapest train you could get is $52 and it gets in at 12:30 am.

This is what I'm doing, in part because I forgot buses exist.

Ironic because of your username

Quite an egregious oversight

[cc240]

Never taken Amtrak before but if you're leaving Friday night the cheapest train you could get is $52 and it gets in at 12:30 am.

This is what I'm doing, in part because I forgot buses exist.

Ironic because of your username

Quite an egregious oversight

I literally laughed out loud reading that especially since your icon is a cat in a bus.

[heythatslife]

Does anyone have suggestions for good ways to get from NYC to Boston/Cambridge? Some people I've talked to have suggested Amtrak or Greyhound. Any opinions on these options? I've never used either, so feedback would be great.

I go with Amtrak if I know at least a couple of weeks in advance that I'll be traveling. At around $50 for early reservations, it's not the cheapest option but definitely more comfortable than buses (after 90 minutes of constant lurching in NY traffic, I usually don't feel like eating anything until the next day) and more predictable.

[morimoto1991]

just wondering, do people attend all sessions at the ASW?

[HorseThief]

just wondering, do people attend all sessions at the ASW?

Nope! Most are helpful, but you definitely don't need to go to all.

[ChemEng1642]

Also FYI

Someone from around that area told me that the MBTA is doing "limited service" or something for the next month?? Is that true?

[taks7]

Just wondering: has anyone from the 2/2 wave received their admissions package yet?

[LSCHI]

Just wondering: has anyone from the 2/2 wave received their admissions package yet?

I have not. I don't think they have even mailed them... at least according to the status checker

[radio1nowhere]

Just wondering: has anyone from the 2/2 wave received their admissions package yet?

Nope and I check every day

[compass]

Also FYI

Someone from around that area told me that the MBTA is doing "limited service" or something for the next month?? Is that true?

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/0 ... story.html

I just tried to get on a train to get to an appointment after work. I say "tried" because the train was too full for me to get on.

ETA: The article does mention that the 30-day estimate to get things fully up and running should be the upper limit of what it takes.

[taks7]

Just wondering: has anyone from the 2/2 wave received their admissions package yet?

I have not. I don't think they have even mailed them... at least according to the status checker

Thanks! I'll keep my eye on the status checker.

[taks7]

Just wondering: has anyone from the 2/2 wave received their admissions package yet?

Nope and I check every day

Glad to know I'm not the only one :p

[Fawkes]

Thanks for the helpful input, everyone! It seems like all but the 2 am Amtrak train doesn't allow checked baggage on the 7th, so I guess I'll be using a bus.