In at Harvard Forum

[Schola]

So is anybody else having a little bit of panic about cost of living?

I'm currently living in a city with very low cost of living - I split a small two-bedroom, two-bath house with a private yard and off-street parking for $800 (total). Looks like we're going to have to pay at least twice this for a small one-bedroom anywhere near campus, and probably get rid of at least one or both our cars.

The Harvard student budget estimates about $2000 per month just for room and board - that's more or less my entire post-tax monthly income right now.

I'm also enjoying incredibly low rent and CoL right now - but, honestly, I've known that I was enjoying it on a limited time span. I think it's pretty fair to say almost any school in the Top 6 will have high CoL, especially in New York City, and I've heard Palo Alto is fairly expensive as well. Mum posted a little while back about visiting and finding everything but rent to be reasonable, though I'm sure some current Harvard students would also have insight on this.

Cambridge, Manhattan, and Palo Alto all have ridiculous costs of living. I haven't done a comprehensive Craigslist search, but I would venture a guess that Cambridge might actually be the cheapest of the three, assuming you want to live fairly close to campus. I don't know Palo Alto at all, and of course you could live in Queens or Brookline instead of Manhattan and Cambridge, but in each case you then have the hassle of commuting in a large city.

New Haven, and those areas just outside of it, which are much more accessible than the areas just outside of Cambridge and Manhattan, are much, much more affordable than NYC, Cambridge, or PA. The South Side of Chicago, from my experience, is also quite affordable, perhaps comparable to New Haven

I, like all of you, am intimidated by the COL in Cambridge/Boston. Bracketing Yale, which unless you have a Rhodes or were a Super Bowl winning quarterback with a 3.95 undergrad GPA is really a crapshoot, I think it will be a very difficult choice for me if I happen to get a Rubenstein at UofC. It would be incredibly difficult to turn down Harvard, but the allure of the the significantly lower COL on the South Side of Chicago and having no tuition to pay might be enough to seduce me.

Yeah I've heard good things concerning the CoL in Hyde Park, but I'm not sure if you're also trading safety, I think there's some anecdotal debate and jokes thrown around about that on this forum. I try not to think so much about New Haven, because, well, I'm short on Rhodes scholarships and Super Bowl rings.

Not to come off as a partisan for UofC, which I haven't even been accepted to, but my wife and brother-in-law both went to UofC for undergrad, and both assure me that they never felt unsafe in Hyde Park. UofC has the largest private police force in the nation, and they do a good job keeping everyone safe down there. And Hyde Park, although it could never rival Cambridge, does have a pretty hip, intellectual feel to it.

[MumofCad]

COL can be relative, since its based on supply and demand and all. After visiting both Harvard and Yale this weekend...its pretty clear why COL would be so low in New Haven. Just saying...

I mean that first year is so consuming, it might not matter much, but I kept thinking "then what?"

[euskadi]

I feel so bloody fortunate to be officially checking in to this thread. I will very likely be seeing many of you in Cambridge next autumn, and I'm looking forward to some good banter here on TLS!

I don't think this has been directly answered already, but I apologize if it has - after your acceptance, how long did it take for the admissions packet to arrive?

ETA: This definitely had been answered. My apologies.

[MumofCad]

I feel so bloody fortunate to be officially checking in to this thread. I will very likely be seeing many of you in Cambridge next autumn, and I'm looking forward to some good banter here on TLS!

I don't think this has been directly answered already, but I apologize if it has - after your acceptance, how long did it take for the admissions packet to arrive?

3-4 Business Days for me. Not a lot there. More interesting is the post-admittance survey you fill out. They'll match you with profs, clinicals, associations, and a student to answer questions. I've found that to be very helpful! That email came about a week after the packet I think.

Anyone else amazed at how friendly the profs are? Its a big school, but they don't see to mind answering questions and what not.

[kulshan]

I feel so bloody fortunate to be officially checking in to this thread. I will very likely be seeing many of you in Cambridge next autumn, and I'm looking forward to some good banter here on TLS!

I don't think this has been directly answered already, but I apologize if it has - after your acceptance, how long did it take for the admissions packet to arrive?

3-4 Business Days for me. Not a lot there. More interesting is the post-admittance survey you fill out. They'll match you with profs, clinicals, associations, and a student to answer questions. I've found that to be very helpful! That email came about a week after the packet I think.

Anyone else amazed at how friendly the profs are? Its a big school, but they don't see to mind answering questions and what not.

Whoops, I haven't been checking the HLS email. Just filled out the survey!

[annyong]

I feel so bloody fortunate to be officially checking in to this thread. I will very likely be seeing many of you in Cambridge next autumn, and I'm looking forward to some good banter here on TLS!

I don't think this has been directly answered already, but I apologize if it has - after your acceptance, how long did it take for the admissions packet to arrive?

3-4 Business Days for me. Not a lot there. More interesting is the post-admittance survey you fill out. They'll match you with profs, clinicals, associations, and a student to answer questions. I've found that to be very helpful! That email came about a week after the packet I think.

Anyone else amazed at how friendly the profs are? Its a big school, but they don't see to mind answering questions and what not.

Yep! I filled out the survey and got emails - I haven't asked any specific questions yet, did you? I wasn't sure if it was just an automized courtesy thing and they didn't actually expect us to respond or if it was a good opportunity to ask questions

[medialoop]

Checking in! This morning's KB2 was the best way EVER to wake up.

Can't wait to see some of you at ASW!

[ladybug89]

I feel so bloody fortunate to be officially checking in to this thread. I will very likely be seeing many of you in Cambridge next autumn, and I'm looking forward to some good banter here on TLS!

I don't think this has been directly answered already, but I apologize if it has - after your acceptance, how long did it take for the admissions packet to arrive?

3-4 Business Days for me. Not a lot there. More interesting is the post-admittance survey you fill out. They'll match you with profs, clinicals, associations, and a student to answer questions. I've found that to be very helpful! That email came about a week after the packet I think.

Anyone else amazed at how friendly the profs are? Its a big school, but they don't see to mind answering questions and what not.

I know this isn't the thread for this, but did you visit the East Rock neighborhood at all? Especially for someone with kids, it's quite nice. Not Cambridge of course, but New Haven kind of grows on ya.

[MumofCad]

Congrats medialoop! Welcome to the thread!

I feel so bloody fortunate to be officially checking in to this thread. I will very likely be seeing many of you in Cambridge next autumn, and I'm looking forward to some good banter here on TLS!

I don't think this has been directly answered already, but I apologize if it has - after your acceptance, how long did it take for the admissions packet to arrive?

3-4 Business Days for me. Not a lot there. More interesting is the post-admittance survey you fill out. They'll match you with profs, clinicals, associations, and a student to answer questions. I've found that to be very helpful! That email came about a week after the packet I think.

Anyone else amazed at how friendly the profs are? Its a big school, but they don't see to mind answering questions and what not.

Yep! I filled out the survey and got emails - I haven't asked any specific questions yet, did you? I wasn't sure if it was just an automized courtesy thing and they didn't actually expect us to respond or if it was a good opportunity to ask questions

Well I had already reached out to one of the Profs that runs the program in the subject area I am interested in since I was going up there and wanted to get a sense what she was going to be up to. She was overwhelmingly positive and welcoming. She cut out time in her day to meet with me and just was generally enthusiastic about all the things she had for someone with my interests. To be fair, I think I'm in a niche area for Harvard so that might have had something to do with it.

I asked my student contact about a question pertaining to his experience and he got back to me with a lengthy email the next day that was extremely helpful. He also asked a friend and provided additional information. One of the associations I had already met members of while at a bar near campus, so I just thanked them for being so welcoming. It was just a coincidence.

[MumofCad]

I feel so bloody fortunate to be officially checking in to this thread. I will very likely be seeing many of you in Cambridge next autumn, and I'm looking forward to some good banter here on TLS!

I don't think this has been directly answered already, but I apologize if it has - after your acceptance, how long did it take for the admissions packet to arrive?

3-4 Business Days for me. Not a lot there. More interesting is the post-admittance survey you fill out. They'll match you with profs, clinicals, associations, and a student to answer questions. I've found that to be very helpful! That email came about a week after the packet I think.

Anyone else amazed at how friendly the profs are? Its a big school, but they don't see to mind answering questions and what not.

I know this isn't the thread for this, but did you visit the East Rock neighborhood at all? Especially for someone with kids, it's quite nice. Not Cambridge of course, but New Haven kind of grows on ya.

There are some nice neighborhoods in New Haven, but its still a relatively small city. And I would have to send my kids to private schools, which would be very expensive on top of the cost of attending law school. And there are very few jobs in New Haven for my husband to be able to continue his own career path. Its complicated for sure. Whereas with a big city like Boston, you have the luxury of having lots of opportunities, some really great public schools, immersion programs for my kids to continue with their Chinese that will be right in our neighborhood, and clinical opportunities that are more broad and far-ranging in my niche interest area. If I went to Yale, I would have to live in Fairfield and commute in, while my husband commuted into NYC. I know people do it at Yale and I've even heard from a friend that people commute from NYC for three days of classes a week in the 2L year.....so its a matter of what you are most comfortable with and just planning ahead. I don't think I would live in New Haven for logistical personal reasons even if I went to Yale.

[ladybug89]

Yeah, I mean I see why NH is limiting and I think I prefer Cambridge myself. I was just sayin' - it gets a bad rap from people (though less so these days) so I feel like I gotta stick up for the less-visited/visible parts of the city.

H'okay, back to your regularly scheduled Harvard-excitement! For example:

Wahhhh I'm overseas and my parents aren't at my house to open my packet, but I really want my claim code so I can go to the admitted students website and fill out this survey!

[PopTorts13]

For those admitted in this thread, when did you send your materials, receive your phone interview, etc? Just curious about the time frame in which most of you fall. Thank you so much for any information. Take care and congratulations!

[splbagel]

For those admitted in this thread, when did you send your materials, receive your phone interview, etc? Just curious about the time frame in which most of you fall. Thank you so much for any information. Take care and congratulations!

All this info is available in the 2015 Harvard Applicants Thread.

[PopTorts13]

For those admitted in this thread, when did you send your materials, receive your phone interview, etc? Just curious about the time frame in which most of you fall. Thank you so much for any information. Take care and congratulations!

All this info is available in the 2015 Harvard Applicants Thread.

Thank you very much for the informative message.

[aperfectmap]

For those admitted in this thread, when did you send your materials, receive your phone interview, etc? Just curious about the time frame in which most of you fall. Thank you so much for any information. Take care and congratulations!

All this info is available in the 2015 Harvard Applicants Thread.

Thank you very much for the informative message.

So excellent.

[BlakcMajikc]

Thinking out loud:
Trying to decide for my housing how close is close enough to the law school... My brother (attending another Harvard Grad School) decided on Central Square. (I'm single and don't need family housing.) I'm thinking Somerville would be close enough, and probably the furthest I would look for housing.

[MumofCad]

Thinking out loud:
Trying to decide for my housing how close is close enough to the law school... My brother (attending another Harvard Grad School) decided on Central Square. (I'm single and don't need family housing.) I'm thinking Somerville would be close enough, and probably the furthest I would look for housing.

One of my friend's is living in lower Allston and rides her bike to school, about 10 minutes she said. I think Somerville is cheaper than Cambridge, but the student I talked to that lived there said that there are some areas that have gotten a little sketchy so to be careful about choosing (that's probably less of a concern for you obviously). She really liked living there though because of the cultural mix - lots of different ethnic food and events.

[splbagel]

For those admitted in this thread, when did you send your materials, receive your phone interview, etc? Just curious about the time frame in which most of you fall. Thank you so much for any information. Take care and congratulations!

All this info is available in the 2015 Harvard Applicants Thread.

Thank you very much for the informative message.

So excellent.

Sorry, wasn't trying to be flip. Just was hoping not to derail the conversation since most of us have already shared this information elsewhere. You can find the thread here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=162633

If you look at the last couple of pages, you can see that most people who were admitted posted all their stats (date of submission, date of complete email, date of KB1, date of KB2). For those who didn't post in a convenient format, you can easily go back and search their posts (or you can do so directly from this thread).

The short version: those of us who have been admitted so far submitted in early November at the latest. Some people who have been interviewed in the last week submitted in early September, though, so they're not going in strict chronological order. Almost everyone who has been interviewed so far was admitted within two weeks of the call.

[aperfectmap]

Sorry, wasn't trying to be flip. Just was hoping not to derail the conversation since most of us have already shared this information elsewhere. You can find the thread here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=162633

If you look at the last couple of pages, you can see that most people who were admitted posted all their stats (date of submission, date of complete email, date of KB1, date of KB2). For those who didn't post in a convenient format, you can easily go back and search their posts (or you can do so directly from this thread).

The short version: those of us who have been admitted so far submitted in early November at the latest. Some people who have been interviewed in the last week submitted in early September, though, so they're not going in strict chronological order. Almost everyone who has been interviewed so far was admitted within two weeks of the call.

My thoughts were in this order:

1. "Good old TLS"
and 2. "So, this is the kind of collegial environment we're going to have at Harvard, huh?

[tt102]

.

[euskadi]

I guess my question really boils down to: is there any reason to think that my admission to H. isn't a sure thing (I've already been accepted)? Do they ever rescind offers of admission for anything within the range of normal stuff? (I certainly plan to graduate, and I don't plan to have my grades fall off a cliff.)

You've received a KB2, and your status checker has updated to "Admitted". If this is the case, how could you have any reason to believe that your offer will be rescinded? Harvard isn't going to take your acceptance away. Unless, of course, something else comes into the equation that would preclude you from matriculating to any other law school as well - problems related to character and fitness, for example.

If you're dead-set on Harvard, I think it would be a good idea to withdraw from the others for reasons you mentioned. But if you've applied to Stanford/Yale, you could wait to hear from them and (perhaps - I don't know how well this has worked in the past) use their aid offers to leverage more money from H.

Congratulations, by the way!

[Elston Gunn]

Do you guys think it would be problematic at all to withdraw all of my other applications now (after being accepted at HLS)?

I mean, I only applied to a few schools, and Harvard is my first choice by a mile, so please don't worry about preferences changing. I also don't want to waste adcoms' time, and assuming I get into any of those other schools, I don't want them to make me an offer that otherwise would have gone to someone who really wants to go there.

I guess my question really boils down to: is there any reason to think that my admission to H. isn't a sure thing (I've already been accepted)? Do they ever rescind offers of admission for anything within the range of normal stuff? (I certainly plan to graduate, and I don't plan to have my grades fall off a cliff.)

Thanks.

I withdrew from everywhere I knew I wasn't going to go (UT, NYU, UM, Duke) already. I don't see any reason not to.

[spek]

.

[kulshan]

I suspect not, since it's all need-based. But I'd also like to know if this is not true.

[Elston Gunn]

I'm pretty sure only YS schollies can even conceivably be used for negotiation. Not positive though.