Harvard 2012 applicants (class of 2015) Forum

[tomwatts]

Under a quarter is "very few," I think. Of all the people in my 80-person section, over 60 (by that percentage) are at least a year out.

This makes me wonder if my section is unrepresentative, because now that I try to pin down those maybe 18 or 19 people, I can't come up with anywhere near that many. But then, I don't know everyone's background in full detail.

[seanPtheB]

Yea was prolly just my pessimistic mind thinking "very few" would mean less than 24%, being in UG myself

[LawGuy321]

No it does not. Raj has a high GPA but a (relatively) low lsat. It is not at all surprising Raj got rejected from HLS but accepted at SLS (where there is heavy emphasis on GPA). So far, imho, the only applicant that has been rejected so far that is somewhat surprising is Hawkeye...other than that, I really see no surprises so far.

Deranged, I'm assuming you're just talking about people on TLS? Beause there's also a 176/3.81 on lsn that was dinged. They could of course have something else very detrimental to their app (and really they probably do).

I agree. It might have been a combo of very weak softs, maybe a bad LOR, no WE, horrible/awkward interview, poorly written essay with errors...and also KB seems to be really emphasizing GPA this year, huh? 3.81 is good but it's below the median. Everyone who has had a 3.9x and at least a 173 has been accepted so far on LSN.

Also, all of these numbers are self-reported too, so who knows?

Huh? There are 7 people on LSN who have 173's and 3.9+ who haven't been accepted. Four out of those seven applied on or before 10/27, so it appears as tho they have been passed up.

I miswrote. What i meant was no one with a 173+ AND a 3.9x has been rejected yet. that doesn't mean that there aren't a lot of 173+/3.9x that are still pending. time will tell. nevertheless, I think a very good sign that no one with those numbers combined has been rejcted yet. Closest to it has been high LSATs but 3.8x.

(ETA: Sorry the HTML got messed up here...)

[RainyDayPlay]

In fact, no one on LSN with a 171/3.9x or above has been dinged yet.

[LawGuy321]

In fact, no one on LSN with a 171/3.9x or above has been dinged yet.

Good observation, although a 3.89 is really close, ha. I bet the hundredths of a point start mattering even more with applicants around 171, though. A 3.95 starts weighing a lot more than a 3.90?

[Onthebrink]

In fact, no one on LSN with a 171/3.9x or above has been dinged yet.

Good observation, although a 3.89 is really close, ha. I bet the hundredths of a point start mattering even more with applicants around 171, though. A 3.95 starts weighing a lot more than a 3.90?

Well sitting with a 171 and 3.98 I sincerely hope you are correct haha.

[Nelson]

In fact, no one on LSN with a 171/3.9x or above has been dinged yet.

Good observation, although a 3.89 is really close, ha. I bet the hundredths of a point start mattering even more with applicants around 171, though. A 3.95 starts weighing a lot more than a 3.90?

Past cycles also suggest that 3.x9 folks do suffer a little in admissions at all schools just because they're short of the round number. It's probably not super significant but the gap between 3.89 and 3.90 is more important than 3.90 and 3.91. Same for 3.79.

Getting over the 75th or median is more important obviously. Really high over 75th GPAs seem especially helpful at H early in the past two cycles.

[WhiteGuy5]

Good luck tomorrow everyone!

[PKozi]

Any wild speculation on whether there will be any KB2s tomorrow?

Also, did anyone who had their KB1 on 1/5 sneak in a KB2 on Friday?

[LawGuy321]

In fact, no one on LSN with a 171/3.9x or above has been dinged yet.

Good observation, although a 3.89 is really close, ha. I bet the hundredths of a point start mattering even more with applicants around 171, though. A 3.95 starts weighing a lot more than a 3.90?

Well sitting with a 171 and 3.98 I sincerely hope you are correct haha.

Seems like you might be in good shape. When did you go complete? Gotten a KB1 yet? Maybe this is your week!

[LawGuy321]

Any wild speculation on whether there will be any KB2s tomorrow?

Also, did anyone who had their KB1 on 1/5 sneak in a KB2 on Friday?

Yes, someone did! I'm almost positive I saw this a few pages back, but there are other KB1s last week that did not get a KB2 call Friday...so I guess we'll find out what that means this week.

[Nelson]

Held this morning via email. Submitted early Sept, complete 10/27. 3.79/172. Pretty happy I didn't get dinged.

[KaleidoscopeEyes]

Held as well. 173/3.8x. EDIT: Also, complete in the first batch 10/13.

[calitodc]

Held. 169/3.8x

[icedflames]

Held this morning via email. Submitted early Sept, complete 10/27. 3.79/172. Pretty happy I didn't get dinged.

Same complete date with similar stats. I'm hoping for a hold as well instead of a ding

[quaker10]

Held as well. 173/3.8x. EDIT: Also, complete in the first batch 10/13.

Same complete, held as well 167/3.8x

Anyone with recommendations other than a LOCI? Does Harvard tend to hold a lot of people and do they get in?

[Nelson]

Held as well. 173/3.8x. EDIT: Also, complete in the first batch 10/13.

Same complete, held as well 167/3.8x

Anyone with recommendations other than a LOCI? Does Harvard tend to hold a lot of people and do they get in?

Harvard holds a lot of people and a few get in. It's not a total long shot but I'm not getting my hopes up either.

I'm not sure if a LOCI is worth the trouble or not. Given that "Why Harvard" is generally considered pointless, I'm not sure a LOCI is worth the time either.

[seanPtheB]

I think sending an LOCI is pretty pointless unless you have something to add to your app, like a new job you picked up or something.

Would someone mind posting their hold email? Just curious as to how it's phrased slash if it says anything about sending in LOCI's.

[addy11]

Held as well. 173/3.8x. EDIT: Also, complete in the first batch 10/13.

Same complete, held as well 167/3.8x

Anyone with recommendations other than a LOCI? Does Harvard tend to hold a lot of people and do they get in?

Harvard holds a lot of people and a few get in. It's not a total long shot but I'm not getting my hopes up either.

I'm not sure if a LOCI is worth the trouble or not. Given that "Why Harvard" is generally considered pointless, I'm not sure a LOCI is worth the time either.

Yeah. Even if it's somewhat arrogant, Harvard can assume that everyone it holds is pretty interested in it; I would bet that its yield rate on people getting held (who don't have to wait until like, August) is extraordinarily high (~95%), because those people typically aren't getting into Y, S (though I guess there are a few Stanford admits so far), or full scholarships at t10 schools.

So there's no point in saying "I would just like to reiterate that Harvard is a dream school for me." Use the LOCI for something that would make you stand out (and this is a Harvard stand out, so no "I was recently honored at an appreciation dinner")... apprising them of some major award or undertaking, compelling revelation, etc.

[Nelson]

Would someone mind posting their hold email? Just curious as to how it's phrased slash if it says anything about sending in LOCI's.

Relevant excerpt:

A hold decision provides you with the opportunity to update and supplement your file. For example, if you have received additional grades since submitting your transcripts to LSAC, please send these new grades to LSAC. If you have a special interest in attending Harvard, please feel free to tell us about that as well. Any new information that you feel might be helpful is appropriate.

I still don't think I'd send one without a relevant update to my app or a truly unique and compelling reason (though I'm not sure why something like that wouldn't be in your app to begin with).
ETA:

These decisions may be made at any time between now and late spring. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict the next decision on your application or the timing of that decision. If you are facing a deadline with another school, it may help to inform us, but we still may not be able to provide you with definitive information.

[crooked]

Held this morning. Can't believe they didn't flat-out reject me given last Friday's results.
ETA: In the 10/13 UR pile.

Here's the whole letter:
Dear crooked:

The Admissions Committee has reviewed your application and has decided to hold it for further review. Although we regret the immediate uncertainty this entails, the purpose of holding applications is to ensure that each application receives thorough and fair consideration. Once a larger portion of the applicant pool has been reviewed, the Committee will be able to provide you with a decision to admit, deny, or wait-list your application.

These decisions may be made at any time between now and late spring. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict the next decision on your application or the timing of that decision. If you are facing a deadline with another school, it may help to inform us, but we still may not be able to provide you with definitive information.

A hold decision provides you with the opportunity to update and supplement your file. For example, if you have received additional grades since submitting your transcripts to LSAC, please send these new grades to LSAC. If you have a special interest in attending Harvard, please feel free to tell us about that as well. Any new information that you feel might be helpful is appropriate. All correspondence to our office should include your LSAC registration number and be signed by you.

We will be unable to confirm with you over the phone if we have received any of the above information. If you would like to confirm receipt, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard with any correspondence and we will mail it back to you.

We will make final decisions as soon as possible. However, if you do not hear from us again before mid-April, you may want to reserve a place at another law school while awaiting Harvard's final decision. Thank you for your patience and your interest. We will contact you as soon as the next decision on your application has been made.

Sincerely,
Karen Buttenbaum
Director of Admissions

[46nyc]

Also held, am in the original 10/13 group

[boosk]

just held... don't know what to make of it at all. Puting together an updated resume/final transcripts/LOCI... sound right?

[snehpets]

Surprised at the numbers of the people getting held as compared to those rejected last week. Happy for you guys of course! But I do wonder what the reasoning was.

[crooked]

Surprised at the numbers of the people getting held as compared to those rejected last week. Happy for you guys of course! But I do wonder what the reasoning was.

Believe me, I'm surprised too.