Harvard C/O 2019 Applicants Forum

[QuentonCassidy]

Then again - you were interviewed pretty recently, right? She probably told you that they're about to go on vacation and you wouldn't hear back till after because they weren't going to turn around your app from JS1 to JS2 in a week and therefore would end up after vacation? Unless she explicitly told you they were going on vacation monday

That's possible. I was interviewed Thursday. I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was something about how everyone in the office would be going on vacation for a few weeks, therefore ... There was no specific timeline or anything like that. Just a general impression.

Serious question - why don't they turn a JS1 into a JS2 in a week? Other top schools (granted not as top as Harvard but still) have fast turnarounds, and Stanford (and Yale?) doesn't even need an interview. Seems like they could sit down right after while the interviewer still remembers everything and say yes or no

In addition to tflan's andswer, after interviews everyone's file is sent to a faculty member to be reviewed. And I'm guessing law professors have enough on their plate that they don't want to be pressured to get through everyone's file <a week after they receive it.
If you'd like, check out what JS herself has to say about it on one of the "black box" blogs from last year. (It's in their blog archive)

[texasellewoods]

As to JS2s.

1L exams end this Friday; Upper level exams I believe a few days later. Profs (who are involved in the admissions process) will be on vacation/grading, I assume. I know my CivPro prof is going to miami until January... So they are not BSing you or anything.

JS1s? I dunno what the admissions peeps do, but I assume they will be taking some time off while school is out of session.

That makes more sense - thank you!!

[tflan19]

In addition to tflan's andswer, after interviews everyone's file is sent to a faculty member to be reviewed. And I'm guessing law professors have enough on their plate that they don't want to be pressured to get through everyone's file <a week after they receive it.
If you'd like, check out what JS herself has to say about it on one of the "black box" blogs from last year. (It's in their blog archive)

for other's reference - here is that blog http://hls.harvard.edu/inside-the-black ... s-process/

[QuentonCassidy]

In addition to tflan's andswer, after interviews everyone's file is sent to a faculty member to be reviewed. And I'm guessing law professors have enough on their plate that they don't want to be pressured to get through everyone's file <a week after they receive it.
If you'd like, check out what JS herself has to say about it on one of the "black box" blogs from last year. (It's in their blog archive)

for other's reference - here is that blog http://hls.harvard.edu/inside-the-black ... s-process/

^tflan da real MVP

[texasellewoods]

In addition to tflan's andswer, after interviews everyone's file is sent to a faculty member to be reviewed. And I'm guessing law professors have enough on their plate that they don't want to be pressured to get through everyone's file <a week after they receive it.
If you'd like, check out what JS herself has to say about it on one of the "black box" blogs from last year. (It's in their blog archive)

for other's reference - here is that blog http://hls.harvard.edu/inside-the-black ... s-process/

^tflan da real MVP

thanks y'all! very helpful

[jnwa]

Is it a bad idea for me to email Harvard telling them im writing the Feb LSAT to make my app more competitive but asking that they still consider my application using my Oct score(median).

Im worried that if they know im rewriting theyll just wait for the rewrite that way if i do better they can accept me and better their numbers rather than accept me before, in which case i wouldnt retake.

None of this matters if im not getting in which, considering the fact that my app went complete about a month ago and i havent got a js1, seems pretty likely. But i just wanna know if im being overly paranoid.

[cantorb]

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[Indifference]

Is it a bad idea for me to email Harvard telling them im writing the Feb LSAT to make my app more competitive but asking that they still consider my application using my Oct score(median).

Im worried that if they know im rewriting theyll just wait for the rewrite that way if i do better they can accept me and better their numbers rather than accept me before, in which case i wouldnt retake.

None of this matters if im not getting in which, considering the fact that my app went complete about a month ago and i havent got a js1, seems pretty likely. But i just wanna know if im being overly paranoid.

HLS doesn't take the Feb LSAT, so I don't think you need to worry about them holding up your application on that count.

When should I take the LSAT?
We recommend that you take the LSAT at the June, October or December administration in the calendar year prior to the year the class to which you are applying will enter (e.g., the June, October, or December 2013 LSAT administration for the class entering HLS in 2014). Results of the February LSAT normally will not be considered in the current application cycle (e.g., results of the February 2014 LSAT will normally not be considered for applicants to the class entering in 2014).

Source

[lunixer]

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[jnwa]

I applied last year to a number of schools, having not yet taken the LSAT at all. Before applying I emailed the schools and told them I would be taking in February. They almost all said as long as your app is in before our deadline, we'll consider whatever you send. After a 165 (feb) and a 170 (June) I ended up off the wait list at both NYU and Duke, so assuming that your scores improve enough, I think you probably could get accepted at Harvard off the wait list. I definitely think it can't hurt.

Of course, I still underperformed how I would have done with the same scores anyway (didn't even get wait listed at Georgetown, despite my GPA being good enough with the 165), and wanted to retake the test a third time (178!) which is why I'm reapplying this cycle.

I waitlist->in is what im hoping for...i definately underperformed in october(173), it was my first write but i was improving heading up to the test and since then ive gone 176, 177 in the two preptests ive written in another month and a half i feel like i could add a couple of points to that. Thanks, ill send an email in and cross my fingers for the js1.

[Theresa87]

This feels like a dumb question...but how do we know that our application is complete? I submitted on November 30th, and on the online status checker it says "application received" under current status. I haven't gotten an email saying it is complete, and I don't see anywhere on the status checker where it says complete.

[lunixer]

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[Theresa87]

This feels like a dumb question...but how do we know that our application is complete? I submitted on November 30th, and on the online status checker it says "application received" under current status. I haven't gotten an email saying it is complete, and I don't see anywhere on the status checker where it says complete.

You receive an email. For me it took 9 days.

Oh my. I just double-checked and it was actually November 29th. So it has been 15 days. I hope that is just normal for it being a later submit.

[curious bobcat]

Oh my. I just double-checked and it was actually November 29th. So it has been 15 days. I hope that is just normal for it being a later submit.

The HLS blog linked above (Inside the Blackbox 2) states that complete dates are 100% independent of your chances of admission. It means nothing--don't worry.

[obxt]

i went complete early november and no JS 1 yet, and i'm under both medians... is this the point i pretty much give up on the tiny shred of hope that led me to apply to H in the first place?

[4thand9]

i went complete early november and no JS 1 yet, and i'm under both medians... is this the point i pretty much give up on the tiny shred of hope that led me to apply to H in the first place?

Not at all. TLS is quite unrepresentative of the actual applicant pool. Many, many applicants most likely have not heard back regarding JS1's or may not have even submitted applications. Of course, there are splitters, but not everyone can or has to be above medians. No one cares in the long run, or perhaps should care, whether they are the first admit or the last admit to a place like Harvard

[JamesMadison2015]

Long time lurker with JS2 as of last Tuesday! Wanted to post because I totally used this forum to deal with waiting anxiety and appreciate everybody who posted.

I got into Yale though on Saturday so will not be considering Harvard. HLS is amazing, though, and fingers crossed for everybody waiting to hear.

My stats were 175/3.95 if that helps anybody. See y'all at Harvard-Yale Go Bulldogs

[nicknar]

Long time lurker with JS2 as of last Tuesday! Wanted to post because I totally used this forum to deal with waiting anxiety and appreciate everybody who posted.

I got into Yale though on Saturday so will not be considering Harvard. HLS is amazing, though, and fingers crossed for everybody waiting to hear.

My stats were 175/3.95 if that helps anybody. See y'all at Harvard-Yale Go Bulldogs

Reading this just slaughtered me with envy. Congratulations!

[curious bobcat]

Anyone want to put odds on another wave of JS2 this week? 1:3?

[cantorb]

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[Indifference]

I'd have done Yale in a heartbeat for nothing other than the 1L grading. Exams suck. So hard.

[Li'l Sebastian]

Long time lurker with JS2 as of last Tuesday! Wanted to post because I totally used this forum to deal with waiting anxiety and appreciate everybody who posted.

I got into Yale though on Saturday so will not be considering Harvard. HLS is amazing, though, and fingers crossed for everybody waiting to hear.

My stats were 175/3.95 if that helps anybody. See y'all at Harvard-Yale Go Bulldogs

Congratulations on a tremendous cycle, but just to throw my two cents in - don't be so quick to dismiss Harvard (unless you have personal reasons for preferring Yale). Yale is clearly the better law school, but many TLSers grossly overestimate the prestige factor. Yale definitely has an advantage in opportunities available during and immediately after school, but down the road it's pretty even, and from various BigLaw partners I've spoken to it seems like Harvard is actually the better name to have on your resume long-term (especially for future executive or political positions, or any position that's not inherently legal).

I'm not just saying this because it's Harvard's thread or because I'm butthurt over not getting into Yale. I actually haven't applied to Yale even though my numbers should make me competitive (178/3.86) because as of now I would go to Harvard anyway - mainly because of Harvard's diverse student body, a strong preference for Boston over New Haven, and the fact that for future career options Harvard probably has the edge (I don't care about clerkships).

For me Harvard's size and $36 billion endowment are incredible draws. (Also I've been visiting the ruins of Cambridge in Fallout 4)

Is this true that the Harvard name is more prestigious outside of the legal field/internationally?

EDIT: http://www.thebestschools.org/features/ ... rld-today/

Harvard Hype

[QuentonCassidy]

Long time lurker with JS2 as of last Tuesday! Wanted to post because I totally used this forum to deal with waiting anxiety and appreciate everybody who posted.

I got into Yale though on Saturday so will not be considering Harvard. HLS is amazing, though, and fingers crossed for everybody waiting to hear.

My stats were 175/3.95 if that helps anybody. See y'all at Harvard-Yale Go Bulldogs

Congratulations on a tremendous cycle, but just to throw my two cents in - don't be so quick to dismiss Harvard (unless you have personal reasons for preferring Yale). Yale is clearly the better law school, but many TLSers grossly overestimate the prestige factor. Yale definitely has an advantage in opportunities available during and immediately after school, but down the road it's pretty even, and from various BigLaw partners I've spoken to it seems like Harvard is actually the better name to have on your resume long-term (especially for future executive or political positions, or any position that's not inherently legal).

I'm not just saying this because it's Harvard's thread or because I'm butthurt over not getting into Yale. I actually haven't applied to Yale even though my numbers should make me competitive (178/3.86) because as of now I would go to Harvard anyway - mainly because of Harvard's diverse student body, a strong preference for Boston over New Haven, and the fact that for future career options Harvard probably has the edge (I don't care about clerkships).

And cantorb is now officially one of my favorite TLSers

[lunixer]

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[clarf]

Went complete 12/4. No interview request. RIP Harvard dream.