HY Ugrads Have Advantage at T5 Law Schools?

<p>Okay So i know in general the consensus has been that ugrad "prestige/ranking" matters very little in the LS admit process and that it's basically entirely dependent on GPA/LSAT. </p>

<p>However, I've heard through the grapevine that Harvard ugrads had over 100+ admits to HLS last year... yale with something like 30 and Columbia with ~10. </p>

<p>Given that all three schools sport similar LSATS and average GPA's, how does one reconcile the discrepancy between the vastly greater amounts of H&Y students that get admits over other Ivies such as Columbia? Personally, as far as knowing students from all three schools I'd have to say the overall qualifications of an applicant applying to HYS Law school are more or less similar on average, and statistically (GPA/LSAT) this is also the case. Anyone wanna take a stab at this? Does going to H&Y specifically, confer a GREAT advantage over everyone else?</p>

<p><em>drumroll</em> Undergrads at a certain school are more likely to apply to their own law school and more likely to matriculate if they get in. <em>clang</em></p>

<p>Plus check your source. Those numbers sound fishy to me.</p>

<p>to add some anecdotal evidence, I know someone who just got into harvard, chicago, columbia and numerous other t14s, and is heading off to columbia. people are often loyal to their alma maters.</p>

<p>It makes sense. First, we know you probably like the location at least a little, since you agreed to go there for undergrad. Second, you're more likely to have a significant other or close friends around the school. Third, school pride usually extends university-wide, not just undergrad-wide. Fourth, the transition is just easier to make -- no need (often) to move, etc.</p>

<p>Penn had 32 students admitted to Harvard last year, with 24 matriculants. Given the similarity of the two schools, I don't see Columbia having only 10 students.</p>

<p>First of all, your numbers are definitely off. I don't know about numbers accepted, but in terms of those attending, last year there were 241 from Harvard, 113 from Yale and 48 from Columbia (80, 38 and 16 average per year). With that said, there's indeed a big difference. </p>

<p>However, LSATs aren't really that similar. Harvard is 166, Columbia is 163. In terms if the 174+ LSATs required (since most people from either school won't have 3.9+), the difference is probably even bigger than that would indicate, since Columbia students tend to be artificially compressed around the range that's not quite good enough for HY, while Harvard has literally the top students.</p>

<p>Strength of student body explains most of it, along with self-selection, but it seems true that HYPS get a boost and that Harvard gives an extra boost to its own UGs.</p>