Harvard Law c/o 2020 Applicants (2016-2017) Forum

[Mackgal]

Anyone have any insight on what a "good interview" is compared to a "bad interview" (i.e. you're not getting in) ... I just had my interview, she asked me a lot of questions about my masters program and about why law school and then gave me time to ask questions. She also spent time talking about specific programs I would be interested in

I know there's probably no real insight on this kind of thing, I just hate the waiting process lol

It's my understanding that the interview is really meant to find out whether you're a personable (and thus employable) normal human being and to get more insight into why you want to go to law school and what you hope to accomplish. I think as long as you articulated your answers well, were affable, and had a solid reasoning for why law school, why Harvard, etc. then you have nothing to worry about.

The Harvard interview was my favorite of all the law schools because it was so friendly and a good flowing conversation. I think if you get the same feeling, that the conversation was good-natured and flowed well, then you've got a good shot

I agree with you. But 25% of the interviewees don't get the offer. It's hard for me to imagine there are so many people who can't carry on a good conversation or so...

Anyway I had my interview. Because of the technical issues, I was panic at the beginning and didn't answer the first two questions very well. But the rest went OK. And I believe I acted as a very personable person. I feel grateful to be granted the interview already. Shouldn't expect too much I guess.

Right? 25% of interviewees don't get the offer. That's a pretty decent chunk...

One of my mentors is an HLS alum and she put it this way -- the interview is to make sure you're personal/employable BUT it is only one factor of your admissions package. Don't go into the interview thinking you're already in, contingent on a great interview. You already in the top ~20%, but some part of your application might fall short compared to others so much so that even a good interview doesn't make up for it. She knows many boarderline awkward people with killer scores or resumes that got in, but she also knows some phenomenally personable people who interviewed but didn't get in because they had other shortcomings.

Long story short, the interview is an important part of the total package but not the only thing that matters when they're evaluating you.

I think that's a great way to put it! I mean after all when you look at the numbers (roughly speaking) they offer 1,200 interviews, 25% of those people do not get accepted, which means that approx. 300 people out of the 1,200 do not get accepted. So you have good odds of getting in, but still a fair chance of being denied as well

[call-me-bubbles]

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[addie1412]

Recently had my JS1 with a very nice lady, but I didn't catch her name and cannot for the life of me find out what each admissions officer looks like (no portraits on the website). Is it important to send a thank you note ASAP, or should I give up?

your stats give me a little bit of hope! congrats!

[MisterT]

Submitted my application on 9/12, went complete on 10/3, but indicated that I was retaking in December. Just got my score back, which is higher than my initial score on file. Since my status has been listed as "complete" for some time now and I haven't received a JS1, should I be concerned that they've already made a decision to WL/reject me? Or should I assume that they will still receive my updated LSAT score report and take that into consideration when making their decision?

On 10/3, immediately after getting notification that my file had gone complete, I sent an e-mail to Admissions to inquire as to whether or not they would hold my file and/or automatically receive my December score from LSAC. It's been just over three months now, and I never got any response, but I'm hesitant to bug them again.

Call them. It's a valid question they may be able to answer directly over the phone. And don't worry about bugging them just yet, 3 months is a long time for a reply in anyones book. Also, their lack of communication is not just a thing due to them being 'swamped' , I email and call up Stanford admissions practically every other day to see whats good. Jokes aside, they are much more prompt in their email responses than Harvard in my experience and when I do call them they are super friendly and always helpful. So get in touch with HLS if you like.

[Mackgal]

Submitted my application on 9/12, went complete on 10/3, but indicated that I was retaking in December. Just got my score back, which is higher than my initial score on file. Since my status has been listed as "complete" for some time now and I haven't received a JS1, should I be concerned that they've already made a decision to WL/reject me? Or should I assume that they will still receive my updated LSAT score report and take that into consideration when making their decision?

On 10/3, immediately after getting notification that my file had gone complete, I sent an e-mail to Admissions to inquire as to whether or not they would hold my file and/or automatically receive my December score from LSAC. It's been just over three months now, and I never got any response, but I'm hesitant to bug them again.

Call them. It's a valid question they may be able to answer directly over the phone. And don't worry about bugging them just yet, 3 months is a long time for a reply in anyones book. Also, their lack of communication is not just a thing due to them being 'swamped' , I email and call up Stanford admissions practically every other day to see whats good. Jokes aside, they are much more prompt in their email responses than Harvard in my experience and when I do call them they are super friendly and always helpful. So get in touch with HLS if you like.

I asked LSAC this exact question / someone asked it during one of the HLS open houses I went to. They said that any new information you send or LSAC sends them will be added to your filed and will be reviewed even after your file shows as complete (Same with transcripts). You don't have to personally send your scores to HLS, LSAC automatically sends updates of scores to all schools you've applied for, but if you're really worried I would suggest sending them an email with a screenshot of your new LSAT score just updating them on the change and informing them that they should be receiving an update from LSAC soon.

[notorious_mig]

Anyone know what time they stop sending out JS1s for a wave? Like for today is it pretty much done?

No, no one knows.

I haven't seen any reports that the JS1s are wildly apart though. Like, if people start getting them at 9 am, there won't be people getting it at 4 pm.

I'm betting it's done though, and pretty disappointed for today tbh. It seemed like they were just getting to the KJD mild reverse splitters in Dec, and I was so sure I'd be in this one.

I'm URM, LSAT at the 25th and 25 < GPA < 75. The other posters seem to be in a very similar boat, so I'm thinking they just knocked out the non-auto-admit URMs today.

Ooooooh yep ok I'm also a URM with LSAT at the 25th and GPA < 25th so when I got the JS1 today I was like "??????????who made this clerical error" but now ~it all makes sense~

[Kinch08]

Out of curiosity (I haven't applied yet) does anyone have any idea when the last JS1's go out? How long can the process take? Also, what's the shortest possible wait?

[carlos_danger]

Out of curiosity (I haven't applied yet) does anyone have any idea when the last JS1's go out? How long can the process take? Also, what's the shortest possible wait?

Last JS1 wave last year was in March, but according to Spivey June applicants have been accepted before so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Kinch08]

Yo, if I did the same thing two summers in a row, how would you guys handle it in the "Employment" section of the app? Would you put June 2013 to August 2014, or would you make two identical entries with one being 2013 and one being 2014?

[dc_diva]

Yo, if I did the same thing two summers in a row, how would you guys handle it in the "Employment" section of the app? Would you put June 2013 to August 2014, or would you make two identical entries with one being 2013 and one being 2014?

Unless you don't have anything else to take up room on your resume I would not do two identical entries. It's a little bit misleading to say you worked for two full years (June 2013 - August 2014). If you're going to keep that then I would make sure it says something like "Summer Internship Position" in the title. Otherwise I would list the dates as "Summer 2013; Summer 2014."

[MisterT]

Yo, if I did the same thing two summers in a row, how would you guys handle it in the "Employment" section of the app? Would you put June 2013 to August 2014, or would you make two identical entries with one being 2013 and one being 2014?

Unless you don't have anything else to take up room on your resume I would not do two identical entries. It's a little bit misleading to say you worked for two full years (June 2013 - August 2014). If you're going to keep that then I would make sure it says something like "Summer Internship Position" in the title. Otherwise I would list the dates as "Summer 2013; Summer 2014."

I did a few courses over two summers and although I listed the dates July 2013 - August 2014 I made it clear in the bullet points and the title of the entry that the courses were taken in the summer only. Two seperate entries are overkill IMO, just make it clear enough that you only worked in the summer, and you can enter the dates how you like.

[Mackgal]

Recently had my JS1 with a very nice lady, but I didn't catch her name and cannot for the life of me find out what each admissions officer looks like (no portraits on the website). Is it important to send a thank you note ASAP, or should I give up?

your stats give me a little bit of hope! congrats!

I found their photos on LinkedIn !

[Dr.Degrees_Cr.Cash]

Yo, if I did the same thing two summers in a row, how would you guys handle it in the "Employment" section of the app? Would you put June 2013 to August 2014, or would you make two identical entries with one being 2013 and one being 2014?

Organization Name ------------> Location

Summer associate 2014 ----> June-august 2014
Summer associate 2015 ----> June-Augist 2015

Body of job responsibilities.

That's my professional opinion of it. I would treat similarly to being promoted with largely the same responsibilities. Make two title lines, put the lengths of each. Then bullet the responsibility as one

[Mackgal]

If you're going to send a thank you note after your interview should you send it to the general HLS JD admissions emails address or should you try to send it directly to your interviewer?

[NotAGolfer]

If you're going to send a thank you note after your interview should you send it to the general HLS JD admissions emails address or should you try to send it directly to your interviewer?

Maybe try to send it to your interviewer and cc the general admissions address?

[airwrecka]

Just had my interview with Anne Taylor. Very nice lady Unfortunately my Skype decided to mute her and we couldn't figure out how to fix it, so she called me and we talked on the phone while Skyping (so we could both see & hear each other). A little weird, but no biggie.

I think the interview went really well, but I still feel anxious about it probably because Harvard is my biggest reach and I just really want to get it in

Two questiosn I was asked that I hadn't seen before in here:

--"Describe a challenging conversation you have had." (challenging meaning talking to someone who you disagree with strongly). Luckily (?) for me, my dad and I tend to disagree with each other on a LOT of things and we've had many challenging conversations, so I had a good answer haha.
--"What role do you fill in group work?"

Here's to hoping I will hear back sooner rather than April!

[Kinch08]

Yo, if I did the same thing two summers in a row, how would you guys handle it in the "Employment" section of the app? Would you put June 2013 to August 2014, or would you make two identical entries with one being 2013 and one being 2014?

Unless you don't have anything else to take up room on your resume I would not do two identical entries. It's a little bit misleading to say you worked for two full years (June 2013 - August 2014). If you're going to keep that then I would make sure it says something like "Summer Internship Position" in the title. Otherwise I would list the dates as "Summer 2013; Summer 2014."

Not on the resume, on the "Employment" section in the online HLS application that you do in LSAC. It doesn't let you put "Summer," you have to indicate months.

[The_Pluviophile]

Just had my interview with Anne Taylor. Very nice lady Unfortunately my Skype decided to mute her and we couldn't figure out how to fix it, so she called me and we talked on the phone while Skyping (so we could both see & hear each other). A little weird, but no biggie.

I think the interview went really well, but I still feel anxious about it probably because Harvard is my biggest reach and I just really want to get it in

Two questiosn I was asked that I hadn't seen before in here:

--"Describe a challenging conversation you have had." (challenging meaning talking to someone who you disagree with strongly). Luckily (?) for me, my dad and I tend to disagree with each other on a LOT of things and we've had many challenging conversations, so I had a good answer haha.
--"What role do you fill in group work?"

Here's to hoping I will hear back sooner rather than April!

Also had my interview with her a few hours ago. My internet decided to stop working or something (I'm abroad, the building I live in is like two hundred years old, who knows), so we had to do it entirely over the phone. I was super bummed, and the tech issues at the beginning kind of threw me off but I guess it still went well. Hearing your story, though, I think I'm glad it just ended up being a phone call and not some strange mix of the two haha.

Best of luck moving forward!

[taxman14]

Just had my interview with Anne Taylor. Very nice lady Unfortunately my Skype decided to mute her and we couldn't figure out how to fix it, so she called me and we talked on the phone while Skyping (so we could both see & hear each other). A little weird, but no biggie.

I think the interview went really well, but I still feel anxious about it probably because Harvard is my biggest reach and I just really want to get it in

Two questiosn I was asked that I hadn't seen before in here:

--"Describe a challenging conversation you have had." (challenging meaning talking to someone who you disagree with strongly). Luckily (?) for me, my dad and I tend to disagree with each other on a LOT of things and we've had many challenging conversations, so I had a good answer haha.
--"What role do you fill in group work?"

Here's to hoping I will hear back sooner rather than April!

Also had my interview with her a few hours ago. My internet decided to stop working or something (I'm abroad, the building I live in is like two hundred years old, who knows), so we had to do it entirely over the phone. I was super bummed, and the tech issues at the beginning kind of threw me off but I guess it still went well. Hearing your story, though, I think I'm glad it just ended up being a phone call and not some strange mix of the two haha.

Best of luck moving forward!

Wow that's odd - my questions were SO much more simplified/dumbed down. Not sure what to make of that, but it seemed incredibly casual and didn't even feel like an interview. No curveballs whatsoever

[Pozzo]

Late to the party, applied last night.

[airwrecka]

Just had my interview with Anne Taylor. Very nice lady Unfortunately my Skype decided to mute her and we couldn't figure out how to fix it, so she called me and we talked on the phone while Skyping (so we could both see & hear each other). A little weird, but no biggie.

I think the interview went really well, but I still feel anxious about it probably because Harvard is my biggest reach and I just really want to get it in

Two questiosn I was asked that I hadn't seen before in here:

--"Describe a challenging conversation you have had." (challenging meaning talking to someone who you disagree with strongly). Luckily (?) for me, my dad and I tend to disagree with each other on a LOT of things and we've had many challenging conversations, so I had a good answer haha.
--"What role do you fill in group work?"

Here's to hoping I will hear back sooner rather than April!

Also had my interview with her a few hours ago. My internet decided to stop working or something (I'm abroad, the building I live in is like two hundred years old, who knows), so we had to do it entirely over the phone. I was super bummed, and the tech issues at the beginning kind of threw me off but I guess it still went well. Hearing your story, though, I think I'm glad it just ended up being a phone call and not some strange mix of the two haha.

Best of luck moving forward!

Wow that's odd - my questions were SO much more simplified/dumbed down. Not sure what to make of that, but it seemed incredibly casual and didn't even feel like an interview. No curveballs whatsoever

Maybe it's because my numbers are much lower, so they wanted me to work for it more--whereas someone with much higher numbers (like yourself), they already know they want to admit you but interviewing is a formality lol.

[J-E-T-S]

What a boring Wildcard Weekend. Outside of Giants/Packers the rest of the games are just awful!

[SybillAnnDorsett]

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[Assasindowntheavenue]

What a boring Wildcard Weekend. Outside of Giants/Packers the rest of the games are just awful!

You can say that again. I am looking forward to Raiders getting knocked out though.

[J-E-T-S]

What a boring Wildcard Weekend. Outside of Giants/Packers the rest of the games are just awful!

You can say that again. I am looking forward to Raiders getting knocked out though.

You cruel man