Harvard 2012 applicants (class of 2015) Forum

[Parmenides]

Held Friday, submitted late November.

[countercouper]

wow, I really didn't think this would happen.... JS1 just now. so stunned.

submit: 12/4, UR: 12/22, complete email: 1/12 (never held)

LSAT above 75th, GPA below 25th, non-URM

[mikeylikesit]

To the very few people who've had their JS1s already (with JS and not KB) - is there anything different to expect than what people were reporting from their experiences with KB? Same 3 or so main questions? I have one coming up and I am going back and forth from being totally excited to completely terrified. Any advice at all would be great.

Thanks. I love you.

[captainwasabi09]

wow, I really didn't think this would happen.... JS1 just now. so stunned.

submit: 12/4, UR: 12/22, complete email: 1/12 (never held)

LSAT above 75th, GPA below 25th, non-URM

Congrats! Show them how great you are!

[Elliott_Smith]

JS1!

[Curious1]

wow, I really didn't think this would happen.... JS1 just now. so stunned.

submit: 12/4, UR: 12/22, complete email: 1/12 (never held)

LSAT above 75th, GPA below 25th, non-URM

We have the same LSAT and my GPA was much lower than than (high 3.6) and I got the KB2. Be confident. Look around here for the questions they ask and be prepared.

Good luck! Hope to see you over by the in thread next week!

[Elliott_Smith]

In terms of preparing or the types of questions that are asked, is that information compiled anywhere or should I just trawl through this thread?

[Curious1]

In terms of preparing or the types of questions that are asked, is that information compiled anywhere or should I just trawl through this thread?

Why Harvard?

Why law school?

What are you up to?

What area of law are you interested in?

What do you want to do once you graduate?

Do you have and questions for me?

They should pick any 3 of those, plus followups.

[countercouper]

^ Thanks so much curious1. And congrats Elliott!

[FryBreadPower]

Elliot were you held before or no?

[yankees42789]

Congrats to the new JS1s!

Just want to pop in and say that as stressful as the interview might seem, it's almost certainly not going to be the thing that determines whether or not you're going to get in. I recall very few (if any?) people this cycle who thought their KB1s went well and a lot of people who thought theirs went poorly still got KB2s. As long as you're prepared, you should be fine - the interview is pretty informal and KB (and JS apparently) make it as easy and comfortable as possible.

[nametaken]

Congrats to the new JS1s!

Just want to pop in and say that as stressful as the interview might seem, it's almost certainly not going to be the thing that determines whether or not you're going to get in. I recall very few (if any?) people this cycle who thought their KB1s went well and a lot of people who thought theirs went poorly still got KB2s. As long as you're prepared, you should be fine - the interview is pretty informal and KB (and JS apparently) make it as easy and comfortable as possible.

+1. I was so nervous and stumbled over my words, but got a KB2 three days later. So don't stress, you will all do great! Congrats!

[LaCumparsita]

YAY! I remember being even more excited for the KB (JS) 1 than the KB 2... well, almost

[Curious1]

It's very informal, but don't think it's unimportant. Prep your answers so you have a couple of talking points for each questions so you don't meander.

Protip: bring up the clinics and practice groups, they love hearing about that stuff.

[snehpets]

It's very informal, but don't think it's unimportant. Prep your answers so you have a couple of talking points for each questions so you don't meander.

Protip: bring up the clinics and practice groups, they love hearing about that stuff.

lol, i'm not saying you're wrong, but how would you know what they do and do not enjoy hearing about?

[kulshan]

It's very informal, but don't think it's unimportant. Prep your answers so you have a couple of talking points for each questions so you don't meander.

Protip: bring up the clinics and practice groups, they love hearing about that stuff.

This is good advice.

Have some talking points; don't write out answers and read them verbatim; have a couple of things you like about HLS to bring up in case she asks (I asked about clerkship placement, brought up a clinic I liked, and mentioned the academic placement efforts they have... I also subtly implied that HLS was better than YLS in this regard, which KB seemed to enjoy ).

[Curious1]

It's very informal, but don't think it's unimportant. Prep your answers so you have a couple of talking points for each questions so you don't meander.

Protip: bring up the clinics and practice groups, they love hearing about that stuff.

lol, i'm not saying you're wrong, but how would you know what they do and do not enjoy hearing about?

Heard it from a current student who claims to have heard it from JR back in the day. Worked for me at least

[Elliott_Smith]

Thank you so much for all the help and advice, you guys are great.

Elliot were you held before or no?

Nope. Submitted in early January, right after Dec scores came out. I'm still pretty speechless, I don't really have HLS numbers.

^ Thanks so much curious1. And congrats Elliott!

You too!

[sailboat]

JS1!

congrats!!

[sharktankdean]

I'm very happy they have started interviewing jan submits. It means that they are getting through the auto admits and will soon start revisiting the held group.

[sailboat]

Oh also, for my two cents on the JS1/KB1s... I actually feel like I overprepared. I practiced answers to each of the questions, and I think I just had too much I wanted to say, and then I was a little thrown when she jumped in to ask follow up questions ("do you enjoy doing that, what are your favorite things you've done at [resume item]," etc). I think it would've been more natural if I just figured out some basic bullet points for each question (i.e., "want to go to Harvard because of X clinic/expertise area and the class size") and let it go from there. After all, I doubt they expect you to trawl TLS, know all expected questions, and have a prepared answer to each.

Of course, your mileage may vary...

I'm also one of those people where I thought my KB1 was not so hot - I'm sure it was OBVIOUS I was super nervous - but fortunately it wasn't bad enough to sink my application.

[JosephusMyer]

Thank you so much for all the help and advice, you guys are great.

Elliot were you held before or no?

Nope. Submitted in early January, right after Dec scores came out. I'm still pretty speechless, I don't really have HLS numbers.

^ Thanks so much curious1. And congrats Elliott!

You too!

When did you go complete?

[Elliott_Smith]

Oh also, for my two cents on the JS1/KB1s... I actually feel like I overprepared. I practiced answers to each of the questions, and I think I just had too much I wanted to say, and then I was a little thrown when she jumped in to ask follow up questions ("do you enjoy doing that, what are your favorite things you've done at [resume item]," etc). I think it would've been more natural if I just figured out some basic bullet points for each question (i.e., "want to go to Harvard because of X clinic/expertise area and the class size") and let it go from there. After all, I doubt they expect you to trawl TLS, know all expected questions, and have a prepared answer to each.

Of course, your mileage may vary...

I'm also one of those people where I thought my KB1 was not so hot - I'm sure it was OBVIOUS I was super nervous - but fortunately it wasn't bad enough to sink my application.

These are some of the exact same lines I'm thinking along, thanks a lot for the advice.

When did you go complete?

January 26

[Curious1]

Seriously. We REALLY REALLY want new people in the In group!!! KILL THOSE INTERVIEWS

[ScoutFinch]

Have any 12/22 UR people gotten rejected yet? I'm just waiting for the ax to drop!