HLS only, GRE only (4.0, 338)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:00 pm
Hey folks of TLS,
JD/PhD hopeful here (PhD in Stats/CS) and recently stumbled on this forum. Here's my background (won't get into too many specifics as my background is unique enough that I'm easy to identify):
UGrad and M.S. GPA: both 4.0 (HYPSM) in applied math / stats
GRE: 338 (170V, 168Q)
LORs: assume these will be really solid, from people I've done 1-2 years of research with & won awards under
Work experience: very much geared towards my PhD research areas
I'm more committed to the PhD at the end of the day, but feel that the legal perspective would broaden / add substantially to my research (e.g. machine learning for policy, design and regulation of algorithms, etc.), with the goal being to pursue research / academia after the joint degree, and potentially at law schools.
So the questions I have are:
1. If we assume my chances at the PhD counterpart of the joint degree are solid, how do my chances for HLS look with only a GRE score? I'm hoping I fall into the bucket of non-traditional applicants that HLS is looking for by accepting the GRE, but I don't want to delude myself if not.
2. Should I apply simultaneously to the JD and PhD programs in the same cycle, or apply to the PhD program first, and then try for the JD? In other words, would my chances improve if I'm an "inside applicant," assuming success with the PhD application?
3. Are there any other strong joint degree programs I should be considering? I've already ruled out applying to Columbia and Yale as they do not have a corresponding PhD program that is a good research fit (e.g. Columbia restricts JD/PhDs to Econ + some humanities as the PhD field); Stanford doesn't take the GRE. Also on my radar is the potential to do a self-coordinated degree between MIT PhD / HLS, so my questions re GRE being sufficient for HLS also apply to that consideration.
I also want to say that I understand that the data are sparse w.r.t. the success of GRE-only applicants at HLS, and that if I were super serious about the JD, I should probably just study for & take the LSAT. I'd still appreciate thoughts on my chances in light of that.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts and criticisms!
JD/PhD hopeful here (PhD in Stats/CS) and recently stumbled on this forum. Here's my background (won't get into too many specifics as my background is unique enough that I'm easy to identify):
UGrad and M.S. GPA: both 4.0 (HYPSM) in applied math / stats
GRE: 338 (170V, 168Q)
LORs: assume these will be really solid, from people I've done 1-2 years of research with & won awards under
Work experience: very much geared towards my PhD research areas
I'm more committed to the PhD at the end of the day, but feel that the legal perspective would broaden / add substantially to my research (e.g. machine learning for policy, design and regulation of algorithms, etc.), with the goal being to pursue research / academia after the joint degree, and potentially at law schools.
So the questions I have are:
1. If we assume my chances at the PhD counterpart of the joint degree are solid, how do my chances for HLS look with only a GRE score? I'm hoping I fall into the bucket of non-traditional applicants that HLS is looking for by accepting the GRE, but I don't want to delude myself if not.
2. Should I apply simultaneously to the JD and PhD programs in the same cycle, or apply to the PhD program first, and then try for the JD? In other words, would my chances improve if I'm an "inside applicant," assuming success with the PhD application?
3. Are there any other strong joint degree programs I should be considering? I've already ruled out applying to Columbia and Yale as they do not have a corresponding PhD program that is a good research fit (e.g. Columbia restricts JD/PhDs to Econ + some humanities as the PhD field); Stanford doesn't take the GRE. Also on my radar is the potential to do a self-coordinated degree between MIT PhD / HLS, so my questions re GRE being sufficient for HLS also apply to that consideration.
I also want to say that I understand that the data are sparse w.r.t. the success of GRE-only applicants at HLS, and that if I were super serious about the JD, I should probably just study for & take the LSAT. I'd still appreciate thoughts on my chances in light of that.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts and criticisms!