Harvard c/o 2016 Applicants (2012-2013) Forum

[d330]

76 days. Not counting though. Just saying.

[matrim]

Team, would I be accurate in saying: at least as reflected on Law School Numbers graphs, Harvard, Stanford and Yale have not sent out many decisions at all?

Compare especially to Columbia (http://columbia.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213) and NYU (http://nyu.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213). Part of this is attributable to YHS lower number of applications, but would I be totally off-base to conclude that YHS still has a good number of decisions to make? FWIW I'm a NYU/Columbia/UVa/Penn hopeful, perhaps overly optimistically thinking that as YHS gives out more acceptances, spots will open up lower in the T14.

Not really... look at Regulus' spreadsheet about how many usually go out on LSN, the %s, and how many have gone out this year.

Yeah looks like we will still see about 25 more JS2s on LSN = about 140 more people (total) to be admitted to HLS before WLs etc.

[Lar-ties]

Team, would I be accurate in saying: at least as reflected on Law School Numbers graphs, Harvard, Stanford and Yale have not sent out many decisions at all?

Compare especially to Columbia (http://columbia.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213) and NYU (http://nyu.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/1213). Part of this is attributable to YHS lower number of applications, but would I be totally off-base to conclude that YHS still has a good number of decisions to make? FWIW I'm a NYU/Columbia/UVa/Penn hopeful, perhaps overly optimistically thinking that as YHS gives out more acceptances, spots will open up lower in the T14.

Not really... look at Regulus' spreadsheet about how many usually go out on LSN, the %s, and how many have gone out this year.

Yeah looks like we will still see about 25 more JS2s on LSN = about 140 more people (total) to be admitted to HLS before WLs etc.

If accurate, that sounds positive to me.

[Lavitz]

I think, for my personal application, this may have been the other side of the issue. I was asked why, if I was so academically inclined, I was a Criminal Justice major at a lowly state university. I had a good answer for the interview, but that obviously was not clear in my application.

Food for thought: you, elterrible and I all went to unprestigious undergrads and we're all underperforming our numbers. Just saying. I was also asked why I chose to attend my undergrad during my Chicago interview. In contrast to the TLS consensus, I think undergrad prestige starts to matter at the very top schools.

Also, because you were homeschooled, you weren't properly indoctrinated, so you represent a threat to the status quo.


I totally support homeschooling, by the way.

[TripTrip]

I think, for my personal application, this may have been the other side of the issue. I was asked why, if I was so academically inclined, I was a Criminal Justice major at a lowly state university. I had a good answer for the interview, but that obviously was not clear in my application.

Food for thought: you, elterrible and I all went to unprestigious undergrads and we're all underperforming our numbers. Just saying. I was also asked why I chose to attend my undergrad during my Chicago interview. In contrast to the TLS consensus, I think undergrad prestige starts to matter at the very top schools.

I can agree with that. If Cornell was concerned, you can bet Harvard was too.

That doesn't bug me though. If you would have asked me about Harvard eighteen months ago, I probably would have laughed at you. None of my classmates are thinking about going to a prestigious grad school.

Also, because you were homeschooled, you weren't properly indoctrinated, so you represent a threat to the status quo.

I'm not a part of your system! (This is also what I did with Harvard's hold email.)

[jym_dawg]

I think, for my personal application, this may have been the other side of the issue. I was asked why, if I was so academically inclined, I was a Criminal Justice major at a lowly state university. I had a good answer for the interview, but that obviously was not clear in my application.

Food for thought: you, elterrible and I all went to unprestigious undergrads and we're all underperforming our numbers. Just saying. I was also asked why I chose to attend my undergrad during my Chicago interview. In contrast to the TLS consensus, I think undergrad prestige starts to matter at the very top schools.

Also, because you were homeschooled, you weren't properly indoctrinated, so you represent a threat to the status quo.


I totally support homeschooling, by the way.

If you dig into the LSN data among marginal candidates (by which I mean the ones who are potential green dots in the seas of yellow) HLS seems to have a clear preference for its own undergrads and those from other Ivies. Unfortunate for us public school peeps.

[bosmer88]

I think, for my personal application, this may have been the other side of the issue. I was asked why, if I was so academically inclined, I was a Criminal Justice major at a lowly state university. I had a good answer for the interview, but that obviously was not clear in my application.

Food for thought: you, elterrible and I all went to unprestigious undergrads and we're all underperforming our numbers. Just saying. I was also asked why I chose to attend my undergrad during my Chicago interview. In contrast to the TLS consensus, I think undergrad prestige starts to matter at the very top schools.

Also, because you were homeschooled, you weren't properly indoctrinated, so you represent a threat to the status quo.


I totally support homeschooling, by the way.

I take it Chicago asks about your undergrad if it is perceived to be unprestigious? I thought the person was just curious...

[Lavitz]

I take it Chicago asks about your undergrad if it is perceived to be unprestigious?

Not enough data to support this, but it was just the way she said it that made me feel that way.

If you dig into the LSN data among marginal candidates (by which I mean the ones who are potential green dots in the seas of yellow) HLS seems to have a clear preference for its own undergrads and those from other Ivies. Unfortunate for us public school peeps.

Well, I never attended a public school in my life, just obscure private schools

That doesn't bug me though. If you would have asked me about Harvard eighteen months ago, I probably would have laughed at you. None of my classmates are thinking about going to a prestigious grad school.

I definitely hear you. All my friends attend either Brooklyn, St. John's, NYLS or Pace. Everyone flips out when they hear I got into Cornell. It reminds me that I should be grateful for what I have.

[jbagelboy]

.

[bosmer88]

That's good to know.

[jbagelboy]

.

[LSATSCORES2012]

I think, for my personal application, this may have been the other side of the issue. I was asked why, if I was so academically inclined, I was a Criminal Justice major at a lowly state university. I had a good answer for the interview, but that obviously was not clear in my application.

Food for thought: you, elterrible and I all went to unprestigious undergrads and we're all underperforming our numbers. Just saying. I was also asked why I chose to attend my undergrad during my Chicago interview. In contrast to the TLS consensus, I think undergrad prestige starts to matter at the very top schools.

Also, because you were homeschooled, you weren't properly indoctrinated, so you represent a threat to the status quo.


I totally support homeschooling, by the way.

Just to add another datapoint, I attend a non-prestigious (though rather well known, I suppose) university, and I think I'm living up to what my numbers would predict for this cycle... and surpassing them with my acceptance to Chicago. Though I'm also gay, so that might be mixing things up a bit, and neither of my parents went to college/have held impressive jobs.

Although I also got the question from UChicago about why I chose my school, and I answered it truthfully: the scholarship and the closeness to home. (I also made sure to explain why being in Florida wasn't as important for me in law school.)

It probably matters, but I'd bet only at the extremes - the Harvard graduates will get a boost, and the Florida Keys Community College kids might be hurt a bit - and most people will probably be considered without much care for their undergraduate institution.

[Lavitz]

This is not true, at least not exclusively true. Myself and another friend in my class were asked about why we chose my college in our interviews, and I attended a top 5 prestigious lib arts private school. I think its in their normal roster of q's

You're right, and I do remember someone (maybe it was you) with a decent undergrad mentioning that they got this question, so then I knew that it wasn't just me. My point was that the tone she used made me feel like they were skeptical I could handle the rigor. Or maybe they were just skeptical I would move to Chicago. Or maybe I completely imagined the tone. I admit it's probably not something to read into much.

And I'm probably not the best case study for any of this since I can imagine a few other potential problems in my app. But since everyone who's read TripTrip's app has said it was stellar, and since the undergrad and the homeschooling seem to be the only weaknesses, I figured it was worth a mention.

Just to add another datapoint, I attend a non-prestigious (though rather well known, I suppose) university, and I think I'm living up to what my numbers would predict for this cycle... and surpassing them with my acceptance to Chicago. Though I'm also gay, so that might be mixing things up a bit, and neither of my parents went to college/have held impressive jobs.

Although I also got the question from UChicago about why I chose my school, and I answered it truthfully: the scholarship and the closeness to home. (I also made sure to explain why being in Florida wasn't as important for me in law school.)

It probably matters, but I'd bet only at the extremes - the Harvard graduates will get a boost, and the Florida Keys Community College kids might be hurt a bit - and most people will probably be considered without much care for their undergraduate institution.

You're also a master of data and if the same skills you used to create and run mylsn.com were in any way reflected in your app, I'm sure Chicago must have loved you.

But yeah, I'm not saying the undergrad will determine everything. But I do think it matters somewhat and maybe only at certain schools--I'm just not sure to what degree.

And I think TripTrip's app raises that question of how much it matters.

[wannabelawstudent]

Wut up Harvard friends?

[sinfiery]

Also went to a very TTT undergrad for what it's worth.

[wert3813]

Without speaking to much for someone else's app I think Trip tried to allude to the fact that it is a weak undergrad, home schooled, and a few other things combined.

[Lavitz]

Without speaking to much for someone else's app I think Trip tried to allude to the fact that it is a weak undergrad, home schooled, and a few other things combined.

Fair enough, I would say the same about my app in that case (minus the homeschooling part).

[CyanIdes Of March]

I'm applying this coming Fall and I've got to say... this thread has killed all the optimism I once had. Considering I have practically no ECs, borderline scores, and not from an Ivy it might be best to just lower my expectations.

[wert3813]

I'm applying this coming Fall and I've got to say... this thread has killed all the optimism I once had. Considering I have practically no ECs, borderline scores, and not from an Ivy it might be best to just lower my expectations.

Apply early.

Not to toot my own horn but I cannot express, and Trip's cycle is further evidence, how strongly I believe that your ability to market a cohesive narrative about yourself matters. You commented on this thread so maybe you read it but if not:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&start=50

[CyanIdes Of March]

I'm applying this coming Fall and I've got to say... this thread has killed all the optimism I once had. Considering I have practically no ECs, borderline scores, and not from an Ivy it might be best to just lower my expectations.

Apply early.

Not to toot my own horn but I cannot express, and Trip's cycle is further evidence, how strongly I believe that your ability to market a cohesive narrative about yourself matters. You commented on this thread so maybe you read it but if not:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 1&start=50

Assuming I take the plunge and apply this year my app will be right in their face the minute they open the flood gates.

Also, I did read that thread. I'm trying that whole narrative thing but its hard to do convincingly without post-grad work experience.

EDIT: How weird would it be in JD or KB posted in this/these threads under an anonymous name, posing as an applicant. I can't speak for them, but that sounds like something I'd at least do.

[az21833]

they are way too busy for games like that

[TripTrip]

Not to toot my own horn but I cannot express, and Trip's cycle is further evidence, how strongly I believe that your ability to market a cohesive narrative about yourself matters.

+1

I think I gained a false sense of security. I had different proofreaders for each part of my application. Each part individually was fairly strong, but (in hindsight) they don't fit together very well.

[Searchparty]

I'm applying this coming Fall and I've got to say... this thread has killed all the optimism I once had. Considering I have practically no ECs, borderline scores, and not from an Ivy it might be best to just lower my expectations.

Make all parts of your application fit together. I had my PS tie together every part of my life (growing up, work experience, school) all to point to: this is what I want to do and that means I want to go to law school. Obviously I don't think PS need to say "why law," but I think having a career path explained with the exp to back it up made it that much more compelling.

[04102014]

I'm applying this coming Fall and I've got to say... this thread has killed all the optimism I once had. Considering I have practically no ECs, borderline scores, and not from an Ivy it might be best to just lower my expectations.

Make all parts of your application fit together. I had my PS tie together every part of my life together (growing up, work experience, school) all to point to: this is what I want to do and that means I want to go to law school. Obviously I don't think PS need to say "why law," but I think having a career path explained with the exp to back it up made it that much more compelling.

Agreed. I think schools value this much more than people realize, and I'm willing to bet that this is why H held me when my numbers should have put me in the autoreject pile.

[d330]

Held. JS1 - 1/9. Held a minute ago.