right arrow
Make sure to check out our July Checklists for HS Juniors and HS Seniors. Consult these quick resources to get you started on the process this month.
GUEST STUDENT OF THE WEEK: ehales3 is a rising sophomore at Cornell University. As a high school student, she always thought that she wanted to study in a more urban environment, but has grown to love Ithaca and all that it offers. ASK HER ANYTHING!
As we work to adjust to the current reality, make sure to check out these dedicated COVID-19 resources: our directory of virtual campus tours, our directory of extended deadlines, as well as the list of schools going test optional this fall.

Whats are the best national awards for HLS admission?

Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
in Law School
HI guys, Does anyone know what is the best national awards for HLS admission? what national awards that impress the admission committees the most, and how can I join it?
24 replies
· Reply · Share
«1

Replies to: Whats are the best national awards for HLS admission?

  • bluebayoubluebayou 27992 replies204 threads Senior Member
    HLS is 95% two numbers: GPA+LSAT. Then, like all professional schools, HLS prefers a year or two of work experience.

    National awards not necessary for H. (EC's matter for Y & S, due to their small classes.)

    · Reply · Share
  • Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
    edited May 2019
    Thank you for that information. BTW, is there any Non-prof or Charities impress HLS the most? I will take a gap after I receive my bachelor degree. And I want to use the gap to join those groups for one or two years. My anticipation and gimmick are helping the development of youth preventing them from domestic violence and bullying from societies, school, and communities and giving all juniors equilibrium education opportunities. Any suggestions?
    edited May 2019
    · Reply · Share
  • bluebayoubluebayou 27992 replies204 threads Senior Member
    my suggestion is don't do something as a gimmick. Do it bcos you generally care. In such cases, it will become part of you.

    Again, EC's don't much matter. H is just not gonna are if you teach for TFA, join the military, tutor the underprivileged, work to reduce bullying, work to prevent domestic violence, or get a job working retail at Walmart. (you'd be surprised what you can learn about others while working retail.)

    As long as you do something important to you (while studying for the LSAT).
    · Reply · Share
  • Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
    Touché. thx again for such piercing ideas.
    · Reply · Share
  • Wje9164beWje9164be 1312 replies8 threads Senior Member
    Hank, my daughter is currently wait-listed at HLS. It is first, foremost, and almost 100% about the numbers. Focus your energy on getting a 173 or higher LSAT and getting your GPA up as high as possible. Spending energy pursuing "national awards" if you haven't first achieved a competitive LSAT/GPA is a waste of time
    · Reply · Share
  • Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
    Thank you there. I am still a sophomore at Berkeley. My "numbers" are unpredictable right now; However, I think that I could already start on doing some extra-curricular work now to enhance my profile. Congratulations to you and your daughter, even been wait-listed is kind of an honor. It presented the hard work and power your daughter has gained. HLS is my dream school, so Jealous. By the way, my potential GPA is like 3.8 for my bachelor's degree in English. What score I must have on my LSAT to be possibly admitted by HLS so far?
    · Reply · Share
  • boudersbouders 2665 replies185 threads Senior Member
    HLS doesn't like GPAs below 3.85, especially for students applying directly from undergrad. Work to get your GPA up as high as possible, preferably >3.9. Have a look at lawschoolnumbers.com.
    · Reply · Share
  • sorghumsorghum 3654 replies116 threads Senior Member
    OP, you are not a native English speaker, right?
    · Reply · Share
  • Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
    No, I am not. I am an ESL student, also an F-1 international student. Why are you asking this? Is that means I am screwed?
    · Reply · Share
  • Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
    Jesus, a 3.9 is literally impossible for me now. Am I dead to them?
    · Reply · Share
  • sorghumsorghum 3654 replies116 threads Senior Member
    I just mean it makes 3.8 or 3.9 in an English major at UCB a little harder. Are you generally a top 1% test taker, such as for SAT? I think working for a 175 LSAT is tough, but more controllable than hunting for a national award.
    · Reply · Share
  • Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
    No, I am not. I am not smart enough to be Top 1% all the time. T-T Why the world is taking so serious on your undergraduate GPA. I screwed a math class and a business class once. I mean can't we just let it go? My only wound is my GPA. I will totally slay LSAT. I mean, I will have two or three years to prepare for it. 175 on LSAT? absolutely!!.
    · Reply · Share
  • MaineLonghornMaineLonghorn 41953 replies2267 threads Super Moderator
    It doesn't matter if YOU don't place value on your GPA. It's what the admissions people think that matters.
    · Reply · Share
  • bluebayoubluebayou 27992 replies204 threads Senior Member
    Why the world is taking so serious on your undergraduate GPA.

    One word: rankings. (Hint: the main two drivers for USNews is GPA & LSAT. That is why almost nothing else matters.)
    · Reply · Share
  • cbreezecbreeze 4735 replies92 threads Senior Member
    @Wje9164be, our good friend's son was waitlisted by HLS and got off the waitlist after he contacted them to say he was still interested if he had a chance to get off the waitlist. Finally, they admitted him and he had to give up some merit aid at Columbia, find someone to take over his apt lease (he had started one week of classes at Columbia already) and left for Boston.
    Fast forward several years later, he now works at a big law firm in NYC and surrounded by Columbia grads as his colleagues. HLS isn't worth giving up merit aid.
    · Reply · Share
  • bluebayoubluebayou 27992 replies204 threads Senior Member
    ^^My son took the money from Northwestern a few years back and and he is now showing a his first year Associate from YLS the (NYC Big Law) ropes.
    · Reply · Share
  • lookingforwardlookingforward 35377 replies399 threads Senior Member
    edited May 2019
    OP is on the wrong track. Even asking what ECs hints he/she is not involved now. Suggesting a gimmick isn't even the sort of thinking. He/she seems kind of wide-eyed, doesn't seem activated.

    Maybe I'm wrong about that. But "dreams" aren't what gets you there. Or through a top LS. If you're so interested, talk to career folks at you college, look deeper at how top law schools admit.

    Get activated now. Genuinely. Not to game it. And find other programs, as well.
    edited May 2019
    · Reply · Share
  • HappyAlumnusHappyAlumnus 1177 replies46 threads Senior Member
    edited May 2019
    @lookingforward I agree with you.

    The OP should be doing what the OP loves, and excelling at it. (And that should include getting great grades and a top LSAT score.) Law school admissions will follow.

    I graduated from HLS. I never planned to go there; I just was super-focused on grades and the LSAT, and admissions just happened due to that. OP, do the same.
    edited May 2019
    · Reply · Share
  • Hank CHank C 11 replies2 threads New Member
    so [email protected]
    · Reply · Share
  • Wje9164beWje9164be 1312 replies8 threads Senior Member
    Daughter is staying on HLS wait list for now but the cost of attendance difference between Duke and HLS is so big she may or may not accept an offer at HLS if she gets the call. As her parents we'd like to be able to say that she goes to Harvard but I'm not sure being able to say that is worth the $160K delta between Duke with a scholarship and HLS at list price. She did send in a letter of continued interest

    Hank C, a very high percentage of undergraduates preparing for law school feel that they can score 175 on the LSAT or easily break 170. A 175 is at the 99.5 percentile or the top 1 score out of 200 folks taking the LSAT. About 100,000 applicants take the LSAT each year and many applicants take the LSAT more than once. There are between 200 and 300 applicants in total each year testing at this level. It is certainly possible that you might score this highly but it is not a slam dunk
    · Reply · Share
This discussion has been closed.

Recent Activity