soft factors

<p>Hi, I'm a freshmen at stanford and so far my GPA is almost 4.0
Please, I really dont want to sound arrogant. I worked my headoff to earn that GPA
while many of my friends were partying and having a great time.
I worked hard because my goal is getting into Harvard Law. I will sacrifice whatever
to get there. I know I will work hard on my Lsat too when the time comes.
I need to know what soft factors will help me. I really didnt have time to join clubs this year. on this board not many are mentioning the soft factors. But for H i think applicants with almost same numbers need to differentiate themselves with soft factors. Is joing clubs at schools important? Like I will do intern and things like that during summer break but during school i like to just concentrate on my GPA. would that be OK?
Thanks</p>

<p>It’s a matter of GPA times LSAT score.</p>

<p>With lower tier schools, a good to great work history or ECs may make up a little for a poor GPA or poor LSAT. It is doubtful ECs or work experience make much difference at the higher tier schools.</p>

<p>One of my classmates at my lower tier law school had the year previous to our 1L year been a high-ranking White House staffer, yet there he was at my school. I had an especially lousy GPA (but great memories of UG school), and a great LSAT score, really good work experience (although I didn’t work at the White House), great recommendations, and great ECs. I, too, was at the lower tier school.</p>

<p>My advice: Focus on your GPA for the next three years and prepare for the LSAT with all your might when you get closer to it.</p>

<p>As the poster above mentioned, the LSAT should be your priority. Unless they are absolutely mind blowing, soft factors really only make a difference when you are on the bubble. That being said, the best soft factors are: prestigious scholarships (i.e. Rhodes, Marshall, to a lesser extent Fulbright), service programs like Peace Corps and TFA, military service, and published works. You should still join clubs, study abroad, intern, etc… just realize that most people gunning for top schools have done those things, and they will not make you stand out.</p>

<p>thanks alot for your comments. </p>

<p>So you think not joing any school clubs wont cause any concern to the admission officers at H law? Yes I will (try to) get great internship, study abroad programs intems of trying to differenciate myself from other applicants while at stanford but to keep up the GPA i would not have the time to get involved during school? I mean i could join clubs but that woulnt help me anyway for law school since i can not commit myself to a title (you would need a lot of time commitment for such position). Since many here are saying that it is the lsat and gpa I am going to do my best at this.
Plus is it true that getting into harvard isnt really like Yale Law where soft factors are so important So i like to ask again. Is it okay to just focus on my GPA and forget about getting involved in clubs at school for Harvard Law school?</p>

<p>thanks</p>

<p>sorry for unclear wording. i clicked the “post quick reply” without rechecking.</p>

<p>I disagree a bit with what others have said. 80% of LS admissions is about two numbers–gpa and LSAT. Of the other 20%, about half is about things you have little control over: URM or legacy status, state residence, development case, etc. The other soft factors do matter–not much, but some. If you do absolutely nothing for 4 years of college–have no ECs and don’t have other soft factors in the “beyond your control” category, you’re not going to get into Harvard Law. </p>

<p>If you really can do something mind boggling amazing during the summer or (more likely) for a few years after college, that might change that. But it would have to be really mind boggling amazing. Studying abroad or an internship is NOT mind boggling amazing. Doing these things is NOT going to differentiate you from all the other applicants. </p>

<p>Plus…remember there are two numbers at issue here–not just gpa. How confident are you that you can score a 180? If you end up with an excellent but not perfect LSAT score–say in the 170-174 range, then soft factors ARE going to matter. </p>

<p>Finally, you’re not going to want to listen to me, but…if you don’t participate in ECs, you’re missing half the fun of college AND you’re creating a situation in which it’s highly unlikely (minus personal connections) that you’ll ever be a “rainmaker.” Some of your Stanford classmates are going to end up in positions in which they can send business to an attorney. And they are going to send that business to people they KNEW in college. </p>

<p>You don’t need a 4.0 from Stanford to get into Harvard Law. So, don’t blow all the wonderful opportunities you have at Stanford by grinding away for the gpa.
Do SOMETHING in school–it doesn’t have to be amazing, but do SOMETHING.</p>

<p>hate to stir away from the OP but what soft factor is </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>^^ that means the admissions office thinks the student or his/her family will donate a lot of money if the student is admitted.</p>

<p>Harvard law school receives many many applications from students with extremely high GPAs and LSATs. How does Harvard distinguish between those applicants? As you said, it’s the soft factors. </p>

<p>I would suggest you find something that you are passionate about rather than just trying to find something that will look good on your application.</p>

<p>I think you are making a mistake by focusing so much on Harvard law school. There are many law schools which can provide you with the same level of education and enable you to have a wonderful successful life.</p>

<p>jonri and razorsharp thank you and thank you for you comments.
I am a social person. I play sports with many friends almost everyday! and I became good friends with so many of my classmates and upperclassmates. It’s just that
I didnt want to commit myself to any clubs especially if i couldnt get any positions . Looking through these threads I just got an idea that joining clubs really wasnt going to help with law school admission. So i thought then why not just focus on GPA and Lsat during school while still socializing(just without the commitment) and find some great interships to differenciate myself during summer:-)</p>

<p>Dew–</p>

<p>I’m not quite sure what you mean by “joining clubs.” I’m not advocating joining some group simply to pad your resume. If that’s the impression I left you with, that’s not what I meant. That won’t help you get into law school. </p>

<p>There are a LOT of things you can do. Do what is of sincere interest to you. You don’t have to be an elected officer for an activity to be meaningful.</p>

<p>jonri what I meant was i dont think it really helps(getting in to H Law) to participate in after school activities at Stanford like i did at HS. Esp, If I am not an elected officer or somthing. But I will and I know that I will get invloved with many great internships, scholarships or jobs during summer breaks where i would commit 100% of my time.
Its just during school I like to have more time focusing on my studies for the best GPA i can get.
I like to ask you IF you think H Law school would care about not having any school activities on the resume? thanks so much for your comments:-)</p>