Held at Harvard Law 2011 Forum

[WestOfTheRest]

I don't want to do this and come off as an asshole......but, if you want Harvard, you're going to have to retake. Your GPA is not high enough to make up for your LSAT. A fifth letter of rec is not going to help you at all.

Same advice for me?

You're in a bit of a different scenario from what I know of you. You are working on a masters degree? It may help your case a bit more. Plus your gpa is above their median. But lets be honest, if you don't get in, retaking is you best bet. But this is your second cycle, so you'd probably be hesitant to do so.

But like I said, your scenario is not even remotely the same as the other poster.

[WestOfTheRest]

I just wanted to add, the next email I get from Harvard is going to give me a heartattack. I will not want to open it.

[r6_philly]

I don't want to do this and come off as an asshole......but, if you want Harvard, you're going to have to retake. Your GPA is not high enough to make up for your LSAT. A fifth letter of rec is not going to help you at all.

Same advice for me?

You're in a bit of a different scenario from what I know of you. You are working on a masters degree? It may help your case a bit more. Plus your gpa is above their median. But lets be honest, if you don't get in, retaking is you best bet. But this is your second cycle, so you'd probably be hesitant to do so.

But like I said, your scenario is not even remotely the same as the other poster.

Thanks, I am content to take what I get this time around, just wondering since I didn't post/partake in any what are my chances threads this year.

[r6_philly]

I just wanted to add, the next email I get from Harvard is going to give me a heartattack. I will not want to open it.

It's either JR1, WL or Reject right? There shouldn't be anything else right?

[WestOfTheRest]

I just wanted to add, the next email I get from Harvard is going to give me a heartattack. I will not want to open it.

It's either JR1, WL or Reject right? There shouldn't be anything else right?

That's why it's going to be heartattack inducing. WL is a kiss of death at HLS, you have such a slim chance at getting off of it. So it's basically JR1 or ding/soft ding.

[r6_philly]

WL is a kiss of death at HLS, you have such a slim chance at getting off of it. So it's basically JR1 or ding/soft ding.

Is the WL hard to get off in all the previous years or just last year? We shouldn't use last year as a gauge since it was over enrolled just about everywhere.

[WestOfTheRest]

WL is a kiss of death at HLS, you have such a slim chance at getting off of it. So it's basically JR1 or ding/soft ding.

Is the WL hard to get off in all the previous years or just last year? We shouldn't use last year as a gauge since it was over enrolled just about everywhere.

From what I have seen it is hard to get off of every year. You have to think, they accept around 800 people for a target class of around 500. So even if everyone who goes to yale was accepted at harvard, that still doesnt make up for the difference. Their yield rate is so good that they don't need to draw on the waitlist all that much. I'm not saying its impossible, someone will come in here and bitch me out about how they got in off a waitlist, but it is extremely rare.

[7ED]

Does anyone know if a 5th letter of recommendation might actually help? I had 4 professors write me recommendations, and I can get one or two more. But I don't know how much new material it will contribute. I do however, have a practicing HLS alumni who im interning for... but im also considering just retaking the LSAT and reapplying next year and I don't want to use up all my chips. How many people actually get in off the holdlist, im a 171/3.83.

BTW, I got this e-mail reply back from Harvard admissions,

Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept letters of recommendation, updates or additions to your application via email or fax. Please mail your materials to us via the postal service and be sure to include your name and LSAC number. If you would like to receive confirmation that we have received the information, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard that we can return to you when your items arrive.



All transcript updates must be submitted via LSAC.

Our mailing address is below.

I don't want to do this and come off as an asshole......but, if you want Harvard, you're going to have to retake. Your GPA is not high enough to make up for your LSAT. A fifth letter of rec is not going to help you at all.

No problem at all. My cycle is not going well for my numbers, so I may have to reapply just to go to a law school. However, I don't really want to give up on this year just yet. I figure that if they put me on hold even with 25th percentile LSAT and GPA, when higher numbers have already been rejected, there must be something in my application that caught their eye.

*edit* I am definitely going to be sending in my graduate transcript and a LOCI though.

[forward]

Checking in here, too. 169/3.9, 3 years WE with a small army of good softs. The hold was a nice gesture... it'll soften the blow of the ding when it comes.

[WestOfTheRest]

Hey bud,

Do you want to take a quick look at my LOCI for me?

[123kl]

Checking in here, too. 169/3.9, 3 years WE with a small army of good softs. The hold was a nice gesture... it'll soften the blow of the ding when it comes.

Have faith!

[drummerboy]

In general, is there a difference between Hold Versus Waitlist?

[WestOfTheRest]

In general, is there a difference between Hold Versus Waitlist?

Yes and no. A waitlist is a little bit more exclusive, but you're less likely to get off of it. So if you are a qualified applicant, then you would be happier with a hold vs a waitlist, but if you don't have the numbers and softs then they are pretty much the same. I guess a waitlist would be more of a victory for less qualified applicants than a hold.

[jdstl]

In general, is there a difference between Hold Versus Waitlist?

Pretty substantial difference. Hold simply means "we're not ready to admit or deny you but it's been a long time since you applied so we want to update you on where you stand." Hold usually leads to waitlist/rejection but a fair amount get in straight from hold.

Waitlist means "we have admitted as many applicants as we plan to admit, and you are not admitted. If more of our admits than we expect choose to attend here, then we may admit more, and you may be one of those back-up admits."

Waitlist is a much worse place to be, though hold is often just a delay until you're officially waitlisted.

[jdstl]

It especially sucks waiting for those few of us who had JR1s but never got a JR2.

We may just be waiting on a reject/waitlist in April, but we could literally get a random JR2 on any given weekday. Ugh.

[egyptianprescription]

Got a JR1 email today. I'm a bit in shock after the hold on Monday.

[cardinals1989]

Got a JR1 email today. I'm a bit in shock after the hold on Monday.

WOAH! That was SO fast after a hold. Congratulations!

Also, did you update your app since Monday?

[WestOfTheRest]

Got a JR1 email today. I'm a bit in shock after the hold on Monday.

When did you submit?

[egyptianprescription]

Thanks! Submitted late October. Was planning to update but nothing's gone through yet.

[WestOfTheRest]

Thanks! Submitted late October. Was planning to update but nothing's gone through yet.

OMG, HOPE! You are an inspiration to us all.

Edit: Please let us know your number, or at least pm them to me.

[r6_philly]

Thanks! Submitted late October. Was planning to update but nothing's gone through yet.

OMG, HOPE! You are an inspiration to us all.

Edit: Please let us know your number, or at least pm them to me.

Congrats! But please don't be 175/3.9 lol

[4102011]

Thanks! Submitted late October. Was planning to update but nothing's gone through yet.

OMG, HOPE! You are an inspiration to us all.

Edit: Please let us know your number, or at least pm them to me.

+1

[hellome]

Thanks! Submitted late October. Was planning to update but nothing's gone through yet.

OMG, HOPE! You are an inspiration to us all.

Edit: Please let us know your number, or at least pm them to me.

+1

Yes, numbers please

[law_monkey]

Thanks! Submitted late October. Was planning to update but nothing's gone through yet.

OMG, HOPE! You are an inspiration to us all.

Edit: Please let us know your number, or at least pm them to me.

+1

Yes, numbers please

egyptianprescription wasn't the only one. A couple people in other threads reported a JR1 email today. I don't know if they were held though.

[egyptianprescription]

I have a high GPA and above-median LSAT but not auto admit #s. Still in undergrad as well.