Harvard C/O 2019 Applicants Forum

[cannonballer]

I interviewed today and I have to say it was an extremely pleasant experience. Good luck to everyone who's been waiting far longer than I have - hopefully interview days don't preclude JS2s?

[Schneidersbetter]

That said, this waiting makes me nervous. I'm hovering right between 25th and 50th on the LSAT scale, so any movement towards pickiness means I have to rely more on a pretty good GPA and WE to carry the day.

I feel you there. My LSAT is between 50th and 75th and my GPA is between 25th and 50th and I have WE BUT my softs are a bit meh so the longer we wait the more I worry they won't need my LSAT to help their spread.

Similar. GPA above 75th but LSAT below 25th. Decent softs, some work experience but not a ton

It also seems possible that because of the increase in high LSAT applicants that LSAT will be LESS of a factor in admitting people this cycle, as it will be easier to keep the LSAT numbers up

[mdnyc]

That said, this waiting makes me nervous. I'm hovering right between 25th and 50th on the LSAT scale, so any movement towards pickiness means I have to rely more on a pretty good GPA and WE to carry the day.

I feel you there. My LSAT is between 50th and 75th and my GPA is between 25th and 50th and I have WE BUT my softs are a bit meh so the longer we wait the more I worry they won't need my LSAT to help their spread.

Similar. GPA above 75th but LSAT below 25th. Decent softs, some work experience but not a ton

It also seems possible that because of the increase in high LSAT applicants that LSAT will be LESS of a factor in admitting people this cycle, as it will be easier to keep the LSAT numbers up

Let's go with this interpretation. I'm a fan.

[oliverotis]

That said, this waiting makes me nervous. I'm hovering right between 25th and 50th on the LSAT scale, so any movement towards pickiness means I have to rely more on a pretty good GPA and WE to carry the day.

I feel you there. My LSAT is between 50th and 75th and my GPA is between 25th and 50th and I have WE BUT my softs are a bit meh so the longer we wait the more I worry they won't need my LSAT to help their spread.

Similar. GPA above 75th but LSAT below 25th. Decent softs, some work experience but not a ton

It also seems possible that because of the increase in high LSAT applicants that LSAT will be LESS of a factor in admitting people this cycle, as it will be easier to keep the LSAT numbers up

Yeah, 20% increase in high LSAT scorers as of 1/29/16. Source: http://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/2015-1 ... ata-as-of/

80% more 178s! Yikes.

[Li'l Sebastian]

You guys are reading way too much into the LSAT
increase.

[harvardorbust2016]

You know, I like all these "Higher LSAT scores means it's less of a factor!" ideas. Let us keep them coming so my hopes can be properly dashed when HLS finally dings me.

[Schneidersbetter]

That said, this waiting makes me nervous. I'm hovering right between 25th and 50th on the LSAT scale, so any movement towards pickiness means I have to rely more on a pretty good GPA and WE to carry the day.

I feel you there. My LSAT is between 50th and 75th and my GPA is between 25th and 50th and I have WE BUT my softs are a bit meh so the longer we wait the more I worry they won't need my LSAT to help their spread.

Similar. GPA above 75th but LSAT below 25th. Decent softs, some work experience but not a ton

It also seems possible that because of the increase in high LSAT applicants that LSAT will be LESS of a factor in admitting people this cycle, as it will be easier to keep the LSAT numbers up

Let's go with this interpretation. I'm a fan.

Hmm. I on the other hand, am relying on my LSAT to get me in. And as I haven't heard back from Columbia or NYU either, I am absolutely not a fan

[schocolate]

Hmm. I on the other hand, am relying on my LSAT to get me in.

+1

[mdnyc]

You guys are reading way too much into the LSAT increase.

Given that it's the only new data we have (well that and the later JS2s), it's the only thing we can read into. However, I am willing to entertain theories that consider the fact that the Sun is in Aquarius right now. Also, theories involving new avatar trends.

[Timantha]

Yeah, 20% increase in high LSAT scorers as of 1/29/16. Source: http://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/2015-1 ... ata-as-of/

80% more 178s! Yikes.

Hmm, do you guys think/know that if, hypothetically, LSAT scores start to form a consistent trend of increasing year-over-year, then will LSAC start making the test more difficult as to control the percentiles?

[QuentonCassidy]

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Here are my two cents:

I honestly think that the weirdness of this cycle for Harvard is not so much based on their applicant pool as it is on anomalous, extraneous factors, and for once I actually think I have solid evidence as opposed to the baseless speculation that I am usually all too happy to engage in.

First, JS and one of the other admissions directors both had extended periods of leave earlier in the cycle. The information about JS was publicized on this board in December and I trust that information, and the information about the other person was told to me by someone that I trust, but also there is further evidence that there has been a shakeup in the admissions office: One of the people in their "black box" blog post about the admissions team is completely new this year, and I looked at this person's professional website and it turns out that they are normally employed by the graduate school of education at Harvard and is currently the "Interim Admissions Office Manager" at the Law School. Listed under their duties is "Managed busy office during peak application review cycle while Assistant Dean and Director were on leave." This gives further evidence that not only were JS and someone else on leave, but also that it was significant enough that it called for bringing in outside help. In light of this information, it seems quite natural that their cycle would be quite delayed this year.

As a bit of extra evidence, if the change in cycle timing were because of the applicant pool, we would likely see a change in most all of the T-14s which does not appear to be the case, as the other schools seem to be operating as usual, and in fact Ender pointed out yesterday that the Stanford thread (arguably Harvard's single most "peer" school) has already reported more acceptances than it had through the entirety of last year's cycle.

Anyway, feel free to draw your own inferences or tell me why I'm totally off base (hopefully constructively); I think this (especially the calling in of an "Interim Office Manager") is pretty solid evidence for some weird stuff happening in the office that doesn't necessarily reflect the applicant pool or our chances of admission.

Source for my quote can be found http://www.trobinson.org/resume/experience.html <-there

[gamerish]

Yeah, 20% increase in high LSAT scorers as of 1/29/16. Source: http://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/2015-1 ... ata-as-of/

80% more 178s! Yikes.

Hmm, do you guys think/know that if, hypothetically, LSAT scores start to form a consistent trend of increasing year-over-year, then will LSAC start making the test more difficult as to control the percentiles?

Probably not "more difficult" but I could see them changing a little something here and there, like the introduction of the comparative RC passages or more misc game types.

[mdnyc]

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Here are my two cents:

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Awesome catch, QC! I think you're right that this explains much of the variation. Next question is how much we'll be delayed because of these circumstances. I'd guess the folks who were out would want to read through many if not all of the applications before decisions are made. Hopefully that doesn't take too long! But maybe a delay of two weeks (i.e., next week) makes the most sense in this case. Again. I hope I'm wrong.

[oliverotis]

Yeah, 20% increase in high LSAT scorers as of 1/29/16. Source: http://blog.spiveyconsulting.com/2015-1 ... ata-as-of/

80% more 178s! Yikes.

Hmm, do you guys think/know that if, hypothetically, LSAT scores start to form a consistent trend of increasing year-over-year, then will LSAC start making the test more difficult as to control the percentiles?

Probably not "more difficult" but I could see them changing a little something here and there, like the introduction of the comparative RC passages or more misc game types.

TCR is that they have made the test significantly harder over the past 20 years

[QuentonCassidy]

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Here are my two cents:

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Awesome catch, QC! I think you're right that this explains much of the variation. Next question is how much we'll be delayed because of these circumstances. I'd guess the folks who were out would want to read through many if not all of the applications before decisions are made. Hopefully that doesn't take too long! But maybe a delay of two weeks (i.e., next week) makes the most sense in this case. Again. I hope I'm wrong.

Thanks md! I'm just slowly trying to add enough value to the thread to make up for my incessant posting of useless stuff haha. And I'm in agreement with you; optimism aside I truly believe we will see another round of JS2s by early next week, and hopefully by the end of this week.
*retreats back into normal character* I MEAN WE SHOULD SEE ANOTHER ROUND BY THE END OF THE DAY!

[OtterLaw]

Who needs all of this analytics bullcrap. QC has a fortune cookie!

[clovis]

...

...

...

Here are my two cents:

I honestly think that the weirdness of this cycle for Harvard is not so much based on their applicant pool as it is on anomalous, extraneous factors, and for once I actually think I have solid evidence as opposed to the baseless speculation that I am usually all too happy to engage in.

First, JS and one of the other admissions directors both had extended periods of leave earlier in the cycle. The information about JS was publicized on this board in December and I trust that information, and the information about the other person was told to me by someone that I trust, but also there is further evidence that there has been a shakeup in the admissions office: One of the people in their "black box" blog post about the admissions team is completely new this year, and I looked at this person's professional website and it turns out that they are normally employed by the graduate school of education at Harvard and is currently the "Interim Admissions Office Manager" at the Law School. Listed under their duties is "Managed busy office during peak application review cycle while Assistant Dean and Director were on leave." This gives further evidence that not only were JS and someone else on leave, but also that it was significant enough that it called for bringing in outside help. In light of this information, it seems quite natural that their cycle would be quite delayed this year.

As a bit of extra evidence, if the change in cycle timing were because of the applicant pool, we would likely see a change in most all of the T-14s which does not appear to be the case, as the other schools seem to be operating as usual, and in fact Ender pointed out yesterday that the Stanford thread (arguably Harvard's single most "peer" school) has already reported more acceptances than it had through the entirety of last year's cycle.

Anyway, feel free to draw your own inferences or tell me why I'm totally off base (hopefully constructively); I think this (especially the calling in of an "Interim Office Manager") is pretty solid evidence for some weird stuff happening in the office that doesn't necessarily reflect the applicant pool or our chances of admission.

Source for my quote can be found http://www.trobinson.org/resume/experience.html <-there

I believe the bit you found about the person who was interim office manager was referring to last cycle. Note that in the Black Box post, he is now listed as Director of Admissions. What probably happened is that he was interim office manager last cycle, proved himself during the absences--including the absence of the "Director," so obviously he can't be both Director and filling in for the Director--and was hired to his current job as Director sometime before the beginning of this cycle (and has just not updated his professional site). Also note that he planned and executed ASW, so it must have been last cycle (if not before).

Was there any other evidence about JS and someone else going on leave during this cycle?

[sanibella]

I could be wrong, QC, but I found something online that indicates he has been the director of admissions at HLS Admissions since at least June 2015. He is also listed as that, not interim admissions office manager, on the HLS website. It also looks from the website you posted that he was the interim admissions office manager from 12/11 to 6/12. I browsed for less than two minutes though, so I could be completely wrong.

ETA: scooped by clovis

[clovis]

I could be wrong, QC, but I found something online that indicates he has been the director of admissions at HLS Admissions since at least June 2015. He is also listed as that, not interim admissions office manager, on the HLS website. It also looks from the website you posted that he was the interim admissions office manager from 12/11 to 6/12. I browsed for less than two minutes though, so I could be completely wrong.

ETA: scooped by clovis

Oh yeah you're right sanibella. Linkedin confirms that he was interim office manager in 11/12.

[mdnyc]

I could be wrong, QC, but I found something online that indicates he has been the director of admissions at HLS Admissions since at least June 2015. He is also listed as that, not interim admissions office manager, on the HLS website. It also looks from the website you posted that he was the interim admissions office manager from 12/11 to 6/12. I browsed for less than two minutes though, so I could be completely wrong.

ETA: scooped by clovis

Oh, yeah, you both are right (verified on LinkedIn). We do have the information from earlier ITT, though, that at least some of the office was on leave this winter, so maybe the same story holds true.

So, final word on JS2 release data is: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Li'l Sebastian]

Who needs all of this analytics bullcrap. QC has a fortune cookie!

All hail the cookie!

[clovis]

I just to make clear to any JD admissions staff reading this: we are stalking because we love you. (And we want you to love us. And we want to know when you will show your love for us. But those are the only reasons.)

[lurkin_hard]

Hmm. I on the other hand, am relying on my LSAT to get me in.

+1

.

I fear that the reduced LSAT weight theory might be spot on.

[mdnyc]

Welp, window is just about open, for what it's worth. Fingers crossed!

[QuentonCassidy]

I just to make clear to any JD admissions staff reading this: we are stalking because we love you. (And we want you to love us. And we want to know when you will show your love for us. But those are the only reasons.)

So much this. And good job on the snooping guys; I just didn't stalk hard enough haha. However, it is interesting to me that he wasn't listed as being part of the admissions team on their black box post from last year http://hls.harvard.edu/inside-the-black ... ions-team/, making it appear like this is his first year being in the office. Anyway, I still think it's just a weird cycle from Harvard with the info on JS going on leave and the other schools behaving normally.

ETA: Checked the linkedin profile and now realize that since he started in May of 2015, this is his first year in the office; confusion remedied, carry on.