How should I prepare for Harvard law?

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I was initially planning on going to Harvard undergrad, but that didn't work out (waitlisted), so I was wondering if any of the great guys here could give me pointers on what to do in college that'll distinguish me from others.</p>

<p>I'm the first in my family going to college, so sorry if that question comes off as dumb and what not, but I really want to take the initiative and start at it my freshman year of college (I chose Berkeley over UChicago and Brown, if anyone is curious).</p>

<p>So could anyone give me pointers on what to do that'll get the attention of Harvard and give me the leg up against competition?</p>

<p>Thanks a bunch.</p>

2

<p>Most of the game is GPA & LSAT. You can get an idea of your competition here: lawschoolnumbers.com</p>

<p>Also, it’s unhealthy to be fixated on one school, or law school at all for that matter, especially so early in your academic career.</p>

3

<ol>
<li>Average an ‘A’ GPA, which is going to be extremely difficult at Berkeley.</li>
<li>Score a near perfect LSAT</li>
<li>Don’t screw up your phone interview with Toby.</li>
</ol>

4

<ol>
<li><p>You don’t need a 4.0 to get into HLS, but close to it. The median GPA for admitted students in 2009 was a 3.86.</p></li>
<li><p>A perfect LSAT is also unnecessary, though it certainly helps. The median LSAT for admitted students in 2009 was 172. That’s already the 99th percentile.</p></li>
<li><p>Sadly, phone interviews with Toby are a thing of the past. He announced a while ago that he would be leaving HLS to work at the American Enterprise Institute. A shame, though. Toby’s such a nice guy, and despite the pressure of the phone interview, it’s actually a pretty smooth process.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I would also second the point above about not getting fixated on one school, and for that matter, I think one shouldn’t become overly fixated on law school in general. Lots of things can change in college. The important thing to focus on is your grades, which will matter regardless of whether or not you still end up applying to law school. The LSAT isn’t something you’ll be worrying about until junior year at the earliest.</p>

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<p>A 3.86 is an ‘A’ average. A 172 is not so “near perfect”, but I think you’re using old numbers. LSAT inflation will bump that number up by the time OP applies anyways.</p>

<p>

I wonder if the guy taking over will continue the tradition?</p>

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<p>Score higher than 99% of all test takers on the LSAT. Also, maintain a near perfect GPA.</p>

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<p>What about extracurriculars? It doesn’t seem anyone mentioned those. What kinds of extracurricular activities should I be looking into that’ll help make me look like a better potential law student than others, or make up for my possibly not having a perfect GPA?</p>

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<p>Pick whatever you want for EC’s; the point is just to have something. Doesn’t matter what. At the end of the day you’ll either have the LSAT for HLS or you won’t.</p>

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<p>i know this is OT but…why Berkeley over Brown?</p>

<p>if you dont mind me asking.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>Sadly, LSD will have to abandon my terms “TS1” and “TS2.” I was so proud of them. Gr.</p>

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<p>

There is a new person doing the phone interviews, and it’s not a guy…

There’s now KB1 and KB2, so you can still be proud ;).</p>

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<p>Haha – wow, the terminology has jumped across various forums and has outlasted TS himself. I am feeling kind of proud of myself. =)</p>

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<p>

LSATs are easy. Redoing those 4 years of UGrad for that 3.9 is hard.</p>

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<p>HLS-eligible GPAs are much more common than HLS-eligible LSATs.</p>

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<p>

That’s cuz there are so many terrible undergrads in the country. The opposite is true if you look at kids applying from any decent school.</p>

<p>

what the ****?</p>

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<p>I don’t have any data to back this up, but my intuition is that even at elite schools, there are more 3.7+ GPAs than 173+ LSATs. Harvard undergrad’s mean LSAT is about 167, I think.</p>

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<p>Harvard’s range for applicants with no work experience is essentially 3.85+/175+.</p>

<p>[LSN</a> :: Harvard University - Admissions Graph](<a href=“http://harvard.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/?whichCycle=0809]LSN”>http://harvard.lawschoolnumbers.com/stats/?whichCycle=0809)</p>

<p>I’m EECS, and a 3.85 is unheard of.</p>

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<p>Well, I meant floors. So from the graph, it appears that 173 and 3.65 appear to be roughly the respective floors. (I had less than 3.85.)</p>

<p>In any case, taking your numbers as a given, I suspect that 3.85+ GPAs are more common than 175+ LSATs, even at Harvard undergrad. EECS is hardly typical.</p>

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<p>Didn’t click as well with me as Berkeley.</p>

<p>I know it seems strange that I say that and ask about how to prepare for Harvard Law, but honestly, any top college, even Cal Law would be great for me if I can enjoy my experiences over there.</p>

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<p>California law schools, unlike others, are very GPA-heavy. Of course they’re probably still more limited based on LSATs than GPA, but by comparison they place more emphasize on GPA.</p>