<p>Hey I was wondering what are my chances in getting into Harvard Law?</p>
<p>I just graduated from Tulane University with a Master's in Finance degree (a one year program that takes MBA level finance classes only). My GPA was a 3.8 but since english is my second language I'm afraid that I won't be able to get a 170+ on my LSAT.</p>
<p>You’ll need to be an underrepresented minority or you’ll have to break 170 – and probably more like 174 – on the LSAT.</p>
<p>How you did in the MBA program is almost irrelevant. It’s your undergraduate GPA that matters. So, if the 3.8 you mention in your post is your gpa in the grad program, it really doesn’t matter. It’s your undergrad gpa–even if you attended a college abroad–which matters.</p>
<p>I guess my chances are not that great since the reason why I got my master’s was to improve my undergrad gpa (3.3). I am Puerto Rican but I don’t know if they are underrepresented at Harvard. I’m confident that I can get a 165 but things are looking completely different now. </p>
<p>Thanks guys!</p>
<p>Yes, you are a URM at Harvard. However, I doubt a 3.3 and 165 will be good enough. If you’ve got amazing soft factors, that can help. It would help a lot more if you could pull a 170+ on the LSAT.</p>
<p>Would you give me an example of some soft factors that you would consider important? Would upward trending grades in undergrad would help (I got a 3.9 on my junior and senior year)</p>
<p>That’s a very mild help. Significant soft factors would be along the lines of having a book published or working on int’l human rights or something.</p>
<p>…or spending two years with the Peace Corps or Teach for America or serving in the military, etc.</p>
<p>I think the comment about the MBA being irrelevant is incorrect. I have talked to many admissions people and ALL of them say that a post undergrad degree helps out a lot when applying to law school especially if you didn’t do so well undergrad. I’m not completely sure what type of MBA program you did, but it does help. Since you are a URM, if you can get a 165+ and have a really strong LOR, and PS, then I think you have a fair chance of getting in. By fair I mean, you might be considered with the average students applying, leaving the entire admission process up to chance. I’m sure you would have better luck at other T14 schools.</p>
<p>I think UGA is being absurdly optimistic. Not all URMs are treated similarly, and Puerto Ricans are not the ones that get the largest boost. For Harvard Law school to admit a 3.3/165, that person is going to need a LOT more than an MBA.</p>
<p>A LOT more.</p>
<p>I concur with Mike.</p>
<p>You’ve got some good accomplishments under your belt, but you really should look at some Law programs other than Harvard. I assume you’ve looked at lawschoolnumbers.com.</p>
<p>You’ll get a good idea about match and reach schools there.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>