AA Male 173, 3.58 -- Chances at Harvard -- Late Application Forum

[vulpixie]

My fiancé is an African American male. He was planning on applying next cycle, until he took the LSAT in October and got a 173. Now we are thinking that he should just go for it and apply this cycle since his LSAT makes him an auto-admit just about everywhere. However, he still has to ask for LORs and write a PS/DS, so he probably won't be able to get his application in until late December. My question is this: will applying so late (especially considering his lackluster GPA) hurt his chances at Harvard, or is he still essentially guaranteed admission? Should we just wait and apply next year like we had originally planned?

He is primarily only interested in Harvard for personal reasons (family in the area, my job, etc.)

Possibly relevant additional info:
~Upward grade trend (3.8+ every semester for the past three semesters). His GPA will almost certainly be a 3.6 after this semester.
~Double major (a BS and a BA)
~His LORs will be stellar but he has average softs

[tennisking88]

The earlier the better but as is, he's got a great chance, even with an application in mid-late December.

[unc0mm0n1]

My fiancé is an African American male. He was planning on applying next cycle, until he took the LSAT in October and got a 173. Now we are thinking that he should just go for it and apply this cycle since his LSAT makes him an auto-admit just about everywhere. However, he still has to ask for LORs and write a PS/DS, so he probably won't be able to get his application in until late December. My question is this: will applying so late (especially considering his lackluster GPA) hurt his chances at Harvard, or is he still essentially guaranteed admission? Should we just wait and apply next year like we had originally planned?

He is primarily only interested in Harvard for personal reasons (family in the area, my job, etc.)

Possibly relevant additional info:
~Upward grade trend (3.8+ every semester for the past three semesters). His GPA will almost certainly be a 3.6 after this semester.
~Double major (a BS and a BA)
~His LORs will be stellar but he has average softs

Tell him to apply. I applied in Feb as AA male with a lower LSAT (but higher GPA) and still got in. Also tell him to apply to Yale if he wants to go there, it's only a couple hours away. He has a good shot at both of them. Pm me if you have any questions.

[IAFG]

What was he planning to do with the year off? If it was interesting work, he might be happy to wait out the cycle to get a little perspective, contemplate his career goals, and be an even better candidate when OCI rolls around.

[vulpixie]

^ Nothing out of the ordinary. He'll just be working in the financial department of a small firm.

[unc0mm0n1]

What was he planning to do with the year off? If it was interesting work, he might be happy to wait out the cycle to get a little perspective, contemplate his career goals, and be an even better candidate when OCI rolls around.

Yeah you are right. I took time off and wouldn't trade it for the world. I think it also looks good to have some work experience to put on the old resume. But many people go straight through and do quite well and you get to start being a lawyer earlier. So I can see it from both sides.

[emkay625]

He should definitely apply this cycle! He still has a fantastic shot at HYS even with a later app.

[IAFG]

^ Nothing out of the ordinary. He'll just be working in the financial department of a small firm.

I'm a huge proponent of work experience. It sets you apart at OCI from people who just went straight through. It gives you perspective on what working is like -- even if you worked summers/as a student, it's just... different. I think having a good idea of what full-time works like matures you in a way that's immediately apparent to interviewers. I personally think it's invaluable. I don't think it will help him get into HLS because I think he's in either way, but I do think it will benefit him at OCI and in the future generally. For one thing, he'll know what it's like to do something other than be a lawyer.

Depending on what you mean by "finance" it might also help him decide on a practice area, which is actually a pretty useful thing to know going into OCI, both in terms of getting offers and also in knowing which one to accept.

[20121109]

He should definitely apply this cycle! He still has a fantastic shot at HYS even with a later app.

This.

Even if he has no softs, dude will be accepted to H. I send your fiance congrats in advance.

[vulpixie]

^ For sure?

[20121109]

^ For sure?

Oh yeah. Whether he decides to take a year off or not, he's in at the very least at H.

[baller]

Apply NOW! If you want to take a year off you can always defer a year.

Just make sure he doesn't call Harvard Yale or do something equally stupid in the PS and hes in.

[CanadianWolf]

After the app is complete, keep an eye out for the Harvard Law limo that the school is sure to send.