Harvard Student(s) Answering Your Questions Forum

[Transferthrowaway]

i got rejected at harvard and i feel sad, can you guys say some stuff to ease my pain?

You avoided the mistake of "dropp[ing] a hundred and fifty grand on a fuckin education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library."

[$1.99]

lol thank you i feel better

[oxsoulxo]

Hello,

I had what I hope's not too silly of a question about first year books When does the list of books we need come out, and how much does it really end up costing? Are there ways to get good copies for a cheaper price? My 1L friend from Boalt told me that 2Ls often passed down their textbooks, and this got me dreaming grand dreams.... haha

Thank you so much for your help!

[gilagarta]

As I recall, the book list for 1Ls will come out around the same time you get your section assignments (a few weeks before classes?) You can buy your books at the HLS bookstore, but they will cost a small fortune - I remember spending almost $900 on casebooks and supplements. Two recommendations: 1. if you have enough time to do so before classes start, buy your books online. You will save a ton even if you buy new (though I recommend used unless you are the type who must have new books, which I used to think I was, but no longer do due to the ridiculous prices!) If they don't come in time before classes start, you can buy the book at the bookstore and then return it - though be careful on the return policy (I think you can only return within a few days), and obviously this doesn't work for books that come shrinkwrapped. 2. DO NOT buy any of the supplements that the law school bookstore recommends, at least not initially. Wait until you get a sense for your classes and which ones you will need supplements for, and talk to other students about which ones are the best for each course/professor. The ones they recommend at the bookstore are not necessarily the best, and you can always buy the ones you want for cheaper online anyway.

As far as getting books handed down to you by 2Ls, that will probably only happen if you know generous 2Ls (who haven't already sold their books) before you start school.

...hope that helps!

[sarahh]

Is $360 a year reasonable for renters insurance? Any suggestions for who to get it with?

[gilagarta]

Is $360 a year reasonable for renters insurance? Any suggestions for who to get it with?

That seems kind of high. How big is your place? My 1 BR apt is around $150 a year through State Farm.

[sarahh]

Is $360 a year reasonable for renters insurance? Any suggestions for who to get it with?

That seems kind of high. How big is your place? My 1 BR apt is around $150 a year through State Farm.

About 700 square feet.

[sarahh]

State Farm says they are not issuing new policies in Massachussets. Any other suggestions? The $360 quote is from Geico.

[Calla Lily]

I have a policy through Liberty Mutual that is cheaper than that, so you could try them!

[oxsoulxo]

Thank you so much for your help with the books

[li89]

what's the likelihood of being able to come home for thanksgiving? I live on the west coast, so it's about a 5 hour direct flight. I'm on the end of the spectrum that takes vacations to see my fam whenever possible, but I've heard a lot of law student friends say that going home Wednesday-Sunday is out of the question unless I want to fall very far behind. Do people at hls take the time to go home over Tgiving, or not so much? I know it varies from person to person, but I wanted to get a general idea of whether or not I should get my hopes up.

thanks!

[DoubleChecks]

what's the likelihood of being able to come home for thanksgiving? I live on the west coast, so it's about a 5 hour direct flight. I'm on the end of the spectrum that takes vacations to see my fam whenever possible, but I've heard a lot of law student friends say that going home Wednesday-Sunday is out of the question unless I want to fall very far behind. Do people at hls take the time to go home over Tgiving, or not so much? I know it varies from person to person, but I wanted to get a general idea of whether or not I should get my hopes up.

thanks!

most of the 1Ls I knew went home for thxgiving, though most f them also happen to live in the NE. i live in TX and i did not go back home, but that was more due to me not feeling like the few days was worth the ticket and trip and not because of work. i think i did almost no work over thxgiving break and did not fall behind at all. i mean i did a few hrs here or there, but nothing out of the ordinary.

so yes, i think from a work perspective, at least from what ive seen (and what some of my closer friends have seen), you can fly back to the west coast if you are so inclined and not fall behind in work.

[smittytron3k]

what's the likelihood of being able to come home for thanksgiving? I live on the west coast, so it's about a 5 hour direct flight. I'm on the end of the spectrum that takes vacations to see my fam whenever possible, but I've heard a lot of law student friends say that going home Wednesday-Sunday is out of the question unless I want to fall very far behind. Do people at hls take the time to go home over Tgiving, or not so much? I know it varies from person to person, but I wanted to get a general idea of whether or not I should get my hopes up.

thanks!

I took a full week off (missed 2 days of class Thanksgiving week), spent that week in San Diego, did no work, and ended up fine. From what I'm told lots of other people also headed home for Thanksgiving (you can take DoubleChecks' word on this, as he was in my section; I can't really verify it because I was hanging out at the beach).

[nihilism is key]

What is the purpose of the break from 1L classes October 5-7th?

[GeePee]

What is the purpose of the break from 1L classes October 5-7th?

That used to be your make-up for flyout week. This year, I'm not sure why you have that. Do 1L classes start on the 12th as well?

[ebeth]

What is the purpose of the break from 1L classes October 5-7th?

That used to be your make-up for flyout week. This year, I'm not sure why you have that. Do 1L classes start on the 12th as well?

Nope, August 31st.

[GeePee]

What is the purpose of the break from 1L classes October 5-7th?

That used to be your make-up for flyout week. This year, I'm not sure why you have that. Do 1L classes start on the 12th as well?

Nope, August 31st.

Oh, that makes sense then. That's why.

[DoubleChecks]

well since this is HLS students answering questions...I have a question for 2Ls/3Ls!

now that we start 9/12 and 1Ls start 8/31...if you're on a journal, will the introductory meeting take place before 9/12?! i....dont plan on being up till 9/9 or 9/10...but i dont think it is good for board members to miss journal info sessions/recruitment...right? or will that all happen 2 weeks after school...i dont remember how it worked for us -- it seems like such a long time ago....

[oxsoulxo]

Do all 1Ls have classes over the winter term, meaning we actually have to be back by January 3rd?

About the October break, from the Dean of Students office: "From what I understand, the administrative rationale behind giving 1Ls a couple of extra days off is simply to provide a brief mid-semester break to help offset the fact that 1Ls begin classes earlier than returning students and to help counterbalance the week 2 and 3Ls used to have off for flyout week in years past. Although the academic calendar and scheduling has changed since that time, even from last year to this year, there is still a strong feeling among administrators that a short, extra break in the fall semester is benefitial for 1Ls. "

[nihilism is key]

Do all 1Ls have classes over the winter term, meaning we actually have to be back by January 3rd?

About the October break, from the Dean of Students office: "From what I understand, the administrative rationale behind giving 1Ls a couple of extra days off is simply to provide a brief mid-semester break to help offset the fact that 1Ls begin classes earlier than returning students and to help counterbalance the week 2 and 3Ls used to have off for flyout week in years past. Although the academic calendar and scheduling has changed since that time, even from last year to this year, there is still a strong feeling among administrators that a short, extra break in the fall semester is benefitial for 1Ls. "

very helpful! thanks.

[DoubleChecks]

Do all 1Ls have classes over the winter term, meaning we actually have to be back by January 3rd?

yes. very short winter breaks. 1Ls have mandatory winter term.

[hulahoop]

How necessary is it to have your own printer? I half-heartedly attempted to find out if printing is free in the library, but even so would it be simpler/more convenient to have one at home (I know it was in undergrad)? I have heard people saying it is more cost effective to get a laser printer because of the amount you will be printing, any real truth to this?

[Glock]

How necessary is it to have your own printer? I half-heartedly attempted to find out if printing is free in the library, but even so would it be simpler/more convenient to have one at home (I know it was in undergrad)? I have heard people saying it is more cost effective to get a laser printer because of the amount you will be printing, any real truth to this?

I regret nothing: http://www.amazon.com/Brother-HL-5340D- ... B001XUQP9G

[DoubleChecks]

How necessary is it to have your own printer? I half-heartedly attempted to find out if printing is free in the library, but even so would it be simpler/more convenient to have one at home (I know it was in undergrad)? I have heard people saying it is more cost effective to get a laser printer because of the amount you will be printing, any real truth to this?

i think we get 100 pages free or something like that for printing at the library or Hauser comp lab...iunno, i got a printer.

that being said, i dont think a laser is necessary...i never printed that much. what did these people even say they were printing? besides your LRW briefs (which you'd print at the library), i dont know what would be so paper intensive.

[smittytron3k]

we got 1k pages for the year at the library and i used them all up. i also owned a laser printer and went through 2 toner cartridges. your printing habits may vary.