Harvard Law c/o 2020 Applicants (2016-2017) Forum

[CPA-->JD]

Is anyone who submitted after the December LSAT came out complete yet?

Yep. Rec'd 1/5, Complete 1/12

Interesting. Received 1/5 as well but still not complete.

[GoBucks6612]

Analytics for the spreadsheet are completed if anybody would like them. I am creating the others now as well in the "2016-2017 Admissions Spreadsheets" forum. Please do not sort any of the information - download a copy for yourself if you would like to do so.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

[jonsie]

Analytics for the spreadsheet are completed if anybody would like them. I am creating the others now as well in the "2016-2017 Admissions Spreadsheets" forum. Please do not sort any of the information - download a copy for yourself if you would like to do so.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

What is WE?

[GoBucks6612]

Analytics for the spreadsheet are completed if anybody would like them. I am creating the others now as well in the "2016-2017 Admissions Spreadsheets" forum. Please do not sort any of the information - download a copy for yourself if you would like to do so.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

What is WE?

Work Experience (in years)

[sittykitty]

Me waiting for a JS1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy1lMICwr2U

[Daydreamer15]

Me waiting for a JS1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy1lMICwr2U

+1!

[notorious_mig]

What would y'all consider an actually "unique" soft to be?

Truman/Marshall/Rhodes
Olympic Medal
Scientific Discovery/Invention
Awe inspiring personal story?

Different question, how is the LS22 index calculated? Is it standard across all schools or specific to Harvard? I know schools usually use a different number to multiply against GPA/LSAT.

The LS22 Index was made up by LawSchool22 who made the original spreadsheets a few years back. I just used the same formula he had because Harvard does not have a published admissions index.

Re: quality of softs, I put "above average" for a Fulbright - but would that be more along the lines of "average" for the Harvard spreadsheet? Tryna #keep #it #real

[Future Ex-Engineer]

Also re: quality of softs

Hypothetically, where would a set of softs including these fall?
1) a master's in electrical engineering (class rank 1 both UG and G) with over a year of WE
2) summer research fellowship at MIT (also in engineering)
3) DoD security clearance

I hardly see these as average, but I also didn't stop world hunger or beat ISIS singlehandedly, so idk.

I just kinda doubt there are many applicants to H (or any schools outside of SLS maybe) with even remotely similar credentials that have an engineering background. I think that gives me uniqueness points, but not sure if that uniqueness will be enough to get my foot in the door.

[canafsa]

.

[sittykitty]

I feel as though TLS posters have many severe misconceptions about what constitutes an "average" or "weak" soft. I got into Stanford with middling credentials and what many people here would classify as "average" softs, I think in large part because I was able to demonstrate the meaningfulness of each experience. I told a compelling narrative, demonstrated my motivation, and offered a glimpse of my aspirations. In short, I spun "average" internships and work experiences into a part of a greater story.

I seriously have a hard time determining where the hyperbole ends and sincerity begins with some of you, but NO ONE has cured cancer or defeated ISIS, and maybe 0.001% of admits are olympians. You're competing against human beings, not demi-gods. I've met Harvard students - trust me when I say they aren't all Nobel Peace Prize winning war orphans (or even necessarily all that special by any metric, besides perhaps a decent LSAT).

+1 for actually keeping it real

[EnderWiggin]

I've met Harvard students - trust me when I say they aren't all Nobel Peace Prize winning war orphans (or even necessarily all that special by any metric, besides perhaps a decent LSAT).

HLS students don't show off their Nobel Peace Prizes until at least the third date.

[jjcorvino]

I feel as though TLS posters have many severe misconceptions about what constitutes an "average" or "weak" soft. I got into Stanford with middling credentials and what many people here would classify as "average" softs, I think in large part because I was able to demonstrate the meaningfulness of each experience. I told a compelling narrative, demonstrated my motivation, and offered a glimpse of my aspirations. In short, I spun "average" internships and work experiences into a part of a greater story.

I seriously have a hard time determining where the hyperbole ends and sincerity begins with some of you, but NO ONE has cured cancer or defeated ISIS, and maybe 0.001% of admits are olympians. You're competing against human beings, not demi-gods. I've met Harvard students - trust me when I say they aren't all Nobel Peace Prize winning war orphans (or even necessarily all that special by any metric, besides perhaps a decent LSAT).

Exactly, your average law school applicant is a few years removed from law school (so has a few years of work experience) in an average entry level job. They might have some awards in undergrad or did some sort of volunteering.

If you have a lot of years of work experience, or have some exceptional work experience (idk, assistant to the President or something for one year) I would consider that an above average soft. If you started a company from the ground up that is probably an above average soft.

A below average soft would be to K-JD with no internships.

An exceptional soft would be Olympian, etc.

[jjcorvino]

I think there is an issue with definitions. Are we comparing softs to other top applicants, or to your average applicant?

[canafsa]

.

[jjcorvino]

I think there is an issue with definitions. Are we comparing softs to other top applicants, or to your average applicant?

I don't see why anyone should be compelled to compare themselves to the top applicant. That seems silly. I'm perfectly content to compare myself to the first person on the wait list.

I meant the average law school applicant, not the average Harvard applicant.

[canafsa]

.

[Kaziende]

I think there is an issue with definitions. Are we comparing softs to other top applicants, or to your average applicant?

Applicant to top schools have high numbers, but I don't think people with high numbers are necessarily more likely to have strong softs.

[armc808]

I feel as though TLS posters have many severe misconceptions about what constitutes an "average" or "weak" soft. I got into Stanford with middling credentials and what many people here would classify as "average" softs, I think in large part because I was able to demonstrate the meaningfulness of each experience. I told a compelling narrative, demonstrated my motivation, and offered a glimpse of my aspirations. In short, I spun "average" internships and work experiences into a part of a greater story.

I seriously have a hard time determining where the hyperbole ends and sincerity begins with some of you, but NO ONE has cured cancer or defeated ISIS, and maybe 0.001% of admits are olympians. You're competing against human beings, not demi-gods. I've met Harvard students - trust me when I say they aren't all Nobel Peace Prize winning war orphans (or even necessarily all that special by any metric, besides perhaps a decent LSAT).

+++++1

[carlos_danger]

I feel as though TLS posters have many severe misconceptions about what constitutes an "average" or "weak" soft. I got into Stanford with middling credentials and what many people here would classify as "average" softs, I think in large part because I was able to demonstrate the meaningfulness of each experience. I told a compelling narrative, demonstrated my motivation, and offered a glimpse of my aspirations. In short, I spun "average" internships and work experiences into a part of a greater story.

I seriously have a hard time determining where the hyperbole ends and sincerity begins with some of you, but NO ONE has cured cancer or defeated ISIS, and maybe 0.001% of admits are olympians. You're competing against human beings, not demi-gods. I've met Harvard students - trust me when I say they aren't all Nobel Peace Prize winning war orphans (or even necessarily all that special by any metric, besides perhaps a decent LSAT).

Everyone knows all the Nobel Peace Prize-winning war orphans go to Yale

[pretzeltime]

Eh I think TLS drives the Nobel prize orphan theme home a lot to make sure people know that, no, their super special internship or masters degree is not going to help them outperform their numbers. Because so many people come on here thinking that initially. It's pretty important to tell people this.

Canafsa, IDK your exact numbers but I don't think you outperformed them per se. So yeah, there are plenty of applicants like that whose cycles go well. We don't know of too many right now cos it's early and all that.

The categorization of softs discussed here is for the spreadsheets.......and it's just not a very helpful thing because it's all relative and no one knows the difference between average/above average basically.

I for one have downgraded myself to average after seeing so many folks using above average. I think we may be abusing that designation........haha. No offense yall, I for one know you are v. special.

[Pozzo]

Eh I think TLS drives the Nobel prize orphan theme home a lot to make sure people know that, no, their super special internship or masters degree is not going to help them outperform their numbers.

This. I think it's easy to overcorrect and think that because you're not the Nobel prize orphan you will somehow underperform your numbers.

[hellohalo]

Analytics for the spreadsheet are completed if anybody would like them. I am creating the others now as well in the "2016-2017 Admissions Spreadsheets" forum. Please do not sort any of the information - download a copy for yourself if you would like to do so.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... edit#gid=0

Love your profile pic. I though about naming myself "legally black" if I get in HLS. my hair is black. haha

[addie1412]

"Average" softs = in exactly where numbers predict
"Above average" = JS1 with like a 170/3.85
"Highly unique" = that person who got into Yale with a 3.4

I went with average based on how my cycle's going so far

[airwrecka]

"Average" softs = in exactly where numbers predict
"Above average" = JS1 with like a 170/3.85
"Highly unique" = that person who got into Yale with a 3.4

I went with average based on how my cycle's going so far

based on your explanations of softs, I have "above average" although, I don't necessarily disagree

[quigleyest]

Hi everyone,

HLS hopeful but might have shot myself in the foot with my application strategy:

173/3.65 STEM gpa from t14 undergrad. Feb LSAT on the horizon (been scoring 175-180 on preptests, but realize it is hard to score that high regardless of preparation). My school mailed my transcript to LSAC last week. I realize that it could be a week or two before it is even processed...

That said, should I submit an application to HLS now before my transcript gets in? Would putting my application in the queue help at all? I know I do not have great chances at admission.

On the other hand, no harm in giving it all my best shot on Sept 1? As of right now, I only submitted 1 app to CCN and the CAS report hasn't been generated, because of my transcript

Your thoughts on this would be much appreciated! Thank you