Harvard Law c/o 2021 Applicants (2017-2018) Forum

[g-hj]

Checking in, JS2 this morning. Went complete Nov. 1, interviewed a few weeks later. 173, Superior (international), non-URM. 4 years out of undergrad.

[Llamas]

Hello everyone,

This past acceptance wave has caused a lot of stress for people who didn't get the call, so I just want to help provide a little perspective. It is way too early to start panicking. The first Dec wave is very small, and the first January wave is typically front loaded with sure fire candidates. Just because you didn't get in today doesn't mean you won't get in next month.

As for everyone who didn't get a JS1 yet, you also need not worry too much yet, even if you went complete on the first day the apps open. Apps close on February 1, and we are about the halfway point for JS1 waves. Sometimes I like to calm anxiety about not receiving a JS1 by imagining what it's like to work for HLS admissions committee.

Harvard receives about 6000 applications each year. We really have no idea how many JS1s go out, but if we go based on numbers from 2012, it should be about 1200. Let's say it's closer to 1400 now due to the increase in applications. If we assume an equal size per JS1 wave, that means only about 700 JS1s have gone out.

I have no idea how the process works, but I imagine if you're an adcom person, you assign each application a number based on LSAT and GPA. Then I'd imagine you sort your personal stack of applications (say approximately 1000), descending based on this index. So the first app on your pile is some dude with a 180/4.0. I'd spend like half an hour reading the PS and checking if there's any major red flags. Then if I feel good about the application, I'll flag the app for a JS1. Then I move onto the next application and do this literally all day for months.

Based on this made up scenario, it would make sense that people with lower stats, splitters, etc, get reviewed a little bit later, depending not only on your location of the pile you're in, but who's reviewing the pile. But that doesn't mean you won't get in. It could also be the case staff might do a really quick initial scan and offer JS1 to the amazing applicants with incredible diversity or other unique things they can offer.

Eventually, however, these cream of the crop applicants have all been reviewed. Then it's time to start reviewing some of the more "normal" applications.

Going off my application alone, I wouldn't expect myself to be in the top 50% of the most desirable law school applicants. I went complete sometime in Oct and have an LSAT greater than 175, but I'm not surprised I didn't get an invite yet since my GPA is less than their 25th. Likewise, I don't have an interesting story to tell.

HLS has a huge entering student body, and just remember: eventually they'll get to our application. Maybe they did an initial scan of our numbers and dedicided to hold off and instead focus on the child prodigy Olympian. While it's a bit disappointing I'm not considered the most desirable law school applicant, I'm not surprised by that either. All I have is a good standardized test score and a subpar GPA.

So congratulations to everyone who got in today, and everyone else try not to over think it!

[JosephFourier]

Yess any info on Tom

Yes, please.. any info on our main man Tom?

Also interviewed with Tom but havent heard a peep. Ranking this as about the most dissapointing day of my life.

My interviewer was also Tom, haven’t heard back — if you’re seeing this, Tom, we’re looking forward to hearing from you!!

Has anyone interviewed with Tom and gotten in today? Thats the real question

I interviewed with Tom but someone else called me today.

[etramak]

Hello everyone,

This past acceptance wave has caused a lot of stress for people who didn't get the call, so I just want to help provide a little perspective. It is way too early to start panicking. The first Dec wave is very small, and the first January wave is typically front loaded with sure fire candidates. Just because you didn't get in today doesn't mean you won't get in next month.

As for everyone who didn't get a JS1 yet, you also need not worry too much yet, even if you went complete on the first day the apps open. Apps close on February 1, and we are about the halfway point for JS1 waves. Sometimes I like to calm anxiety about not receiving a JS1 by imagining what it's like to work for HLS admissions committee.

Harvard receives about 6000 applications each year. We really have no idea how many JS1s go out, but if we go based on numbers from 2012, it should be about 1200. Let's say it's closer to 1400 now due to the increase in applications. If we assume an equal size per JS1 wave, that means only about 700 JS1s have gone out.

I have no idea how the process works, but I imagine if you're an adcom person, you assign each application a number based on LSAT and GPA. Then I'd imagine you sort your personal stack of applications (say approximately 1000), descending based on this index. So the first app on your pile is some dude with a 180/4.0. I'd spend like half an hour reading the PS and checking if there's any major red flags. Then if I feel good about the application, I'll flag the app for a JS1. Then I move onto the next application and do this literally all day for months.

Based on this made up scenario, it would make sense that people with lower stats, splitters, etc, get reviewed a little bit later, depending not only on your location of the pile you're in, but who's reviewing the pile. But that doesn't mean you won't get in. It could also be the case staff might do a really quick initial scan and offer JS1 to the amazing applicants with incredible diversity or other unique things they can offer.

Eventually, however, these cream of the crop applicants have all been reviewed. Then it's time to start reviewing some of the more "normal" applications.

Going off my application alone, I wouldn't expect myself to be in the top 50% of the most desirable law school applicants. I went complete sometime in Oct and have an LSAT greater than 175, but I'm not surprised I didn't get an invite yet since my GPA is less than their 25th. Likewise, I don't have an interesting story to tell.

HLS has a huge entering student body, and just remember: eventually they'll get to our application. Maybe they did an initial scan of our numbers and dedicided to hold off and instead focus on the child prodigy Olympian. While it's a bit disappointing I'm not considered the most desirable law school applicant, I'm not surprised by that either. All I have is a good standardized test score and a subpar GPA.

So congratulations to everyone who got in today, and everyone else try not to over think it!

This is calming but won't prevent me from picking apart the minor flaws in my interview (awkward pauses, answering "why law" to "why law NOW," likes and ums).

[MonicaYoung_LOL]

Yess any info on Tom

Yes, please.. any info on our main man Tom?

Also interviewed with Tom but havent heard a peep. Ranking this as about the most dissapointing day of my life.

My interviewer was also Tom, haven’t heard back — if you’re seeing this, Tom, we’re looking forward to hearing from you!!

Has anyone interviewed with Tom and gotten in today? Thats the real question

I interviewed with Tom but someone else called me today.

+1, same here! Also interviewed with Tom but was called by someone else today!

[staggeringelephant]

If you received a JS2, when do they email/mail the official notification?

[hhwang]

Anyone else who had their JS1 the first week of Jan but didn't receive JS2 today

[InterLaw]

Congrats to everyone who got in today!!

[sanesatsuma]

Anyone else who had their JS1 the first week of Jan but didn't receive JS2 today

me. in class and so so miserable.

[etramak]

Anyone else who had their JS1 the first week of Jan but didn't receive JS2 today

me. in class and so so miserable.

Yes. But I think unless your app really wows them/you're a shoe-in it isn't that bad to get passed over in the first wave

[MonicaYoung_LOL]

Anyone else who had their JS1 the first week of Jan but didn't receive JS2 today

me. in class and so so miserable.

If it makes you feel any better, my JS1 was on 11/21 and I only had my JS2 today. So I think it takes a bit of time.

[rideagain]

Anyone else who had their JS1 the first week of Jan but didn't receive JS2 today

me. in class and so so miserable.

You might not even be out of faculty review yet. 0 reason to be worried.

[prufrocklaw]

If you received a JS2, when do they email/mail the official notification?

following. Really need to see this in writing to believe it

[undercover_bark]

JS2 today! JS1 in the first wave. Felt like forever and a day waiting but so so worth it when that call came in.

[spectacles]

.

[forumls]

Did anyone interview in the first two weeks of January and get a JS2?

Got in! Interviewed first week of January.

Who was the interviewer? coast?

[calvinna]

In at 11:30 EST! Submitted in October interviewed in November, around both medians, KJD. Missed the call because I was on the phone with family after getting into Stanford. Man what a good day.

[JamesBlahDeBlah]

.

[forumls]

True that only those who interviewed with Soto, nefyn, or Tom got call today?

[prufrocklaw]

True that only those who interviewed with Soto, nefyn, or Tom got call today?

Interviewed with Alex and got accepted today

[april_ludgate]

True that only those who interviewed with Soto, nefyn, or Tom got call today?

I don’t think you’re going to find a pattern like this, sorry

[forumls]

True that only those who interviewed with Soto, nefyn, or Tom got call today?

Interviewed with Alex and got accepted today

Dates, stats?

[hellosunshine2017]

A little late to the party here, but also got a JS2 today!!! Any idea when the status checker update/email is supposed to arrive? Starting to think it may have been a prank call...

[hcw1995]

A little late to the party here, but also got a JS2 today!!! Any idea when the status checker update/email is supposed to arrive? Starting to think it may have been a prank call...

Lol in the same boat, ya gotta believe!

[#gobroncos]

If you received a JS2, when do they email/mail the official notification?

following. Really need to see this in writing to believe it

In my JS2, the admissions officer said tomorrow probably for the official email. Agreed on wanting to see it in writing. Plus I need to like forward the email to my grandma and my middle school bully. You know, the folks who really need to see it.