Everyone I ever met who went to Harvard Law School graduated from a college I've never heard of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I know HLS grads who went to Harvard undergrad. And I know HLS grads who went to undergrad at TCU and UK (as in, the University of Kentucky) and SCU. Oh, and Lake Forest College, though he was old (and kind of a jerk TBH).

There is a continuum. If your undergrad is in the top 100 ish, or is your state flagship, you are in good shape as far as undergrad institution. You don't need a top 30. You do need a high GPA.

If someone theoretically had a perfect GPA & LSAT and was at an undergrad ranked #300, I’m sure they’d have good law school options.

But not Harvard. And major would matter, too. A dance major from App State with a 4.0 is not going to Harvard Law.

Yes they are if they have a 179 LSAT.

No really, it’s not that simple. This is one of the big lies repeated on this board. They have a chance, yes. But stop telling people that a high lsat is all you need. Maybe this was true 20 or 40 years ago but it is absolutely not the case now.

I know a dual math and history major with a 4.0 in each degree, stellar recs, internships, ECs, leadership positions, and awards with a 175 who didn’t break top 10.

+1

Law school admissions post-2008 are way less competitive than they used to be.

This is completely wrong. Just google the blog by Mike Spivey, the biggest law school admissions counselor. Two years ago was one of the toughest ever, last year and this year only slightly less so.

A 175 LSAT is the new 170. Everyone has a 3.9 GPA thanks to grade inflation during Covid.

And 2008 has little to do with anything. 25-year-olds applying to law school this year were 10 years old in 2008. Most of them didn’t have mortgages back then

But there has been an overall drop in law school applications since the 08 financial meltdown. Of course, top law school admissions are still hypercompetitive, but lower tier law schools are fighting for survival. I heard an ABA approved law school in MN went bankrupt, the first ABA approved law school ever to go bankrupt. Others will follow. There was an article a few days ago saying that the legal profession is not attractive to Gen Z. Even those who went to Big Law and making bit $$$ (those are Ivys and top tier grads, many are law review editors and summa/magma/cum laudes), a majority of them don’t even want to make partner. They want to go in house, govt, public interest, or even out of law practice. Don’t laugh at it. Pretty soon we won’t have enough lawyers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this just means there are a lot of really great undergraduate programs you’ve never heard of.

I mean, just because you’ve never heard of Kenyon or Waterloo doesn’t mean anything about Harvard. It just says your world is pretty small.

You can see google this. Are these really unfamiliar names?


https://hls.harvard.edu/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/jdapplicants/hls-profile-and-facts/undergraduate-institutions/

Also, Creighton, multiple Cal State campuses, multiple CUNY campuses, Patrick Henry, Dillard…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know HLS grads who went to Harvard undergrad. And I know HLS grads who went to undergrad at TCU and UK (as in, the University of Kentucky) and SCU. Oh, and Lake Forest College, though he was old (and kind of a jerk TBH).

There is a continuum. If your undergrad is in the top 100 ish, or is your state flagship, you are in good shape as far as undergrad institution. You don't need a top 30. You do need a high GPA.

If someone theoretically had a perfect GPA & LSAT and was at an undergrad ranked #300, I’m sure they’d have good law school options.

But not Harvard. And major would matter, too. A dance major from App State with a 4.0 is not going to Harvard Law.

Yes they are if they have a 179 LSAT.

No really, it’s not that simple. This is one of the big lies repeated on this board. They have a chance, yes. But stop telling people that a high lsat is all you need. Maybe this was true 20 or 40 years ago but it is absolutely not the case now.

I know a dual math and history major with a 4.0 in each degree, stellar recs, internships, ECs, leadership positions, and awards with a 175 who didn’t break top 10.

+1

Law school admissions post-2008 are way less competitive than they used to be.

This is completely wrong. Just google the blog by Mike Spivey, the biggest law school admissions counselor. Two years ago was one of the toughest ever, last year and this year only slightly less so.

A 175 LSAT is the new 170. Everyone has a 3.9 GPA thanks to grade inflation during Covid.

And 2008 has little to do with anything. 25-year-olds applying to law school this year were 10 years old in 2008. Most of them didn’t have mortgages back then

I don’t think you know anything about the changes in the legal job market since 2008.

You’re right! But I’m not sure you know very much about the current state of law school admissions. Do you think fewer kids are applying to law school today because of changes in the hiring market? Unfortunately, that’s not the case

Here’s what the leading law school admissions consultant has to say:
https://www.spiveyconsulting.com/blog-post/thoughts-data-on-2020-2021-cycle/

[Anonymous]

HLS grad here. I graduated first in my class in the mid-90s from a tiny college nobody had heard of and did well on the LSAT. There were many others like me in my class. There were many Ivy grads too. I am sure this is still the case today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is that?

Not sure -- everyone at my biglaw firmt hat went to Harvard went to Ivy or top shelf state flagship. Maybe each of our samples is too small?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know HLS grads who went to Harvard undergrad. And I know HLS grads who went to undergrad at TCU and UK (as in, the University of Kentucky) and SCU. Oh, and Lake Forest College, though he was old (and kind of a jerk TBH).

There is a continuum. If your undergrad is in the top 100 ish, or is your state flagship, you are in good shape as far as undergrad institution. You don't need a top 30. You do need a high GPA.

If someone theoretically had a perfect GPA & LSAT and was at an undergrad ranked #300, I’m sure they’d have good law school options.

But not Harvard. And major would matter, too. A dance major from App State with a 4.0 is not going to Harvard Law.

Yes they are if they have a 179 LSAT.

No really, it’s not that simple. This is one of the big lies repeated on this board. They have a chance, yes. But stop telling people that a high lsat is all you need. Maybe this was true 20 or 40 years ago but it is absolutely not the case now.

I know a dual math and history major with a 4.0 in each degree, stellar recs, internships, ECs, leadership positions, and awards with a 175 who didn’t break top 10.

+1

Law school admissions post-2008 are way less competitive than they used to be.

This is completely wrong. Just google the blog by Mike Spivey, the biggest law school admissions counselor. Two years ago was one of the toughest ever, last year and this year only slightly less so.

A 175 LSAT is the new 170. Everyone has a 3.9 GPA thanks to grade inflation during Covid.

And 2008 has little to do with anything. 25-year-olds applying to law school this year were 10 years old in 2008. Most of them didn’t have mortgages back then

I don’t think you know anything about the changes in the legal job market since 2008.

You’re right! But I’m not sure you know very much about the current state of law school admissions. Do you think fewer kids are applying to law school today because of changes in the hiring market? Unfortunately, that’s not the case

Here’s what the leading law school admissions consultant has to say:
https://www.spiveyconsulting.com/blog-post/thoughts-data-on-2020-2021-cycle/

Not pp but there was indeed a big dip in apps from 2008-2019.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HLS grad here. I graduated first in my class in the mid-90s from a tiny college nobody had heard of and did well on the LSAT. There were many others like me in my class. There were many Ivy grads too. I am sure this is still the case today.

Same here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this just means there are a lot of really great undergraduate programs you’ve never heard of.

I mean, just because you’ve never heard of Kenyon or Waterloo doesn’t mean anything about Harvard. It just says your world is pretty small.

You can see google this. Are these really unfamiliar names?


https://hls.harvard.edu/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/jdapplicants/hls-profile-and-facts/undergraduate-institutions/

I think OP is talking about places like Austin College & Bloomsburg University (my aunt went there!).

I get not knowing a college or two. I certainly knew Creighton and CUNY as a midwestern kid, but I grant this. But to say "everyone I ever met... graduated from a college I've never heard of"? Cmon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elite professional schools love to brag about how they have students from 200 different colleges all over the US. What they don’t say is that the majority of their student bodies attended elite undergraduate schools.

+1 The above post is 100% correct. (I suspect that OP is engaging in wishful thinking rather than accepting reality.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are basically telling us you don’t know many Harvard law school grads…good to know

Agree. OP is also revealing that he/she is too lazy to engage in a simple google search.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know HLS grads who went to Harvard undergrad. And I know HLS grads who went to undergrad at TCU and UK (as in, the University of Kentucky) and SCU. Oh, and Lake Forest College, though he was old (and kind of a jerk TBH).

There is a continuum. If your undergrad is in the top 100 ish, or is your state flagship, you are in good shape as far as undergrad institution. You don't need a top 30. You do need a high GPA.

If someone theoretically had a perfect GPA & LSAT and was at an undergrad ranked #300, I’m sure they’d have good law school options.

But not Harvard. And major would matter, too. A dance major from App State with a 4.0 is not going to Harvard Law.

Yes they are if they have a 179 LSAT.

No really, it’s not that simple. This is one of the big lies repeated on this board. They have a chance, yes. But stop telling people that a high lsat is all you need. Maybe this was true 20 or 40 years ago but it is absolutely not the case now.

I know a dual math and history major with a 4.0 in each degree, stellar recs, internships, ECs, leadership positions, and awards with a 175 who didn’t break top 10.

Have you actually seen this individual's GPA and LSAT score ?

Did this individual actually apply to the top 10 law schools ?

If yes, then there is something unusual that impacted his/her law school application.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is that?

Maybe because you live in a country that few of us have ever heard of ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know HLS grads who went to Harvard undergrad. And I know HLS grads who went to undergrad at TCU and UK (as in, the University of Kentucky) and SCU. Oh, and Lake Forest College, though he was old (and kind of a jerk TBH).

There is a continuum. If your undergrad is in the top 100 ish, or is your state flagship, you are in good shape as far as undergrad institution. You don't need a top 30. You do need a high GPA.

If someone theoretically had a perfect GPA & LSAT and was at an undergrad ranked #300, I’m sure they’d have good law school options.

But not Harvard. And major would matter, too. A dance major from App State with a 4.0 is not going to Harvard Law.

Yes they are if they have a 179 LSAT.

No really, it’s not that simple. This is one of the big lies repeated on this board. They have a chance, yes. But stop telling people that a high lsat is all you need. Maybe this was true 20 or 40 years ago but it is absolutely not the case now.

I know a dual math and history major with a 4.0 in each degree, stellar recs, internships, ECs, leadership positions, and awards with a 175 who didn’t break top 10.

+1

Law school admissions post-2008 are way less competitive than they used to be.

This is completely wrong. Just google the blog by Mike Spivey, the biggest law school admissions counselor. Two years ago was one of the toughest ever, last year and this year only slightly less so.

A 175 LSAT is the new 170. Everyone has a 3.9 GPA thanks to grade inflation during Covid.

And 2008 has little to do with anything. 25-year-olds applying to law school this year were 10 years old in 2008. Most of them didn’t have mortgages back then

I don’t think you know anything about the changes in the legal job market since 2008.

You’re right! But I’m not sure you know very much about the current state of law school admissions. Do you think fewer kids are applying to law school today because of changes in the hiring market? Unfortunately, that’s not the case

Here’s what the leading law school admissions consultant has to say:
https://www.spiveyconsulting.com/blog-post/thoughts-data-on-2020-2021-cycle/

Not pp but there was indeed a big dip in apps from 2008-2019.

But a huge surge during covid. New grads couldn't find jobs to applied to law school en masse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know HLS grads who went to Harvard undergrad. And I know HLS grads who went to undergrad at TCU and UK (as in, the University of Kentucky) and SCU. Oh, and Lake Forest College, though he was old (and kind of a jerk TBH).

There is a continuum. If your undergrad is in the top 100 ish, or is your state flagship, you are in good shape as far as undergrad institution. You don't need a top 30. You do need a high GPA.

If someone theoretically had a perfect GPA & LSAT and was at an undergrad ranked #300, I’m sure they’d have good law school options.

But not Harvard. And major would matter, too. A dance major from App State with a 4.0 is not going to Harvard Law.

Yes they are if they have a 179 LSAT.

No really, it’s not that simple. This is one of the big lies repeated on this board. They have a chance, yes. But stop telling people that a high lsat is all you need. Maybe this was true 20 or 40 years ago but it is absolutely not the case now.

I know a dual math and history major with a 4.0 in each degree, stellar recs, internships, ECs, leadership positions, and awards with a 175 who didn’t break top 10.

+1

Law school admissions post-2008 are way less competitive than they used to be.

This is completely wrong. Just google the blog by Mike Spivey, the biggest law school admissions counselor. Two years ago was one of the toughest ever, last year and this year only slightly less so.

A 175 LSAT is the new 170. Everyone has a 3.9 GPA thanks to grade inflation during Covid.

And 2008 has little to do with anything. 25-year-olds applying to law school this year were 10 years old in 2008. Most of them didn’t have mortgages back then

I don’t think you know anything about the changes in the legal job market since 2008.

You’re right! But I’m not sure you know very much about the current state of law school admissions. Do you think fewer kids are applying to law school today because of changes in the hiring market? Unfortunately, that’s not the case

Here’s what the leading law school admissions consultant has to say:
https://www.spiveyconsulting.com/blog-post/thoughts-data-on-2020-2021-cycle/

Not pp but there was indeed a big dip in apps from 2008-2019.

But a huge surge during covid. New grads couldn't find jobs to applied to law school en masse.

+1. There is expected to be drop-off this fall. A lot of my DC's undergrad class (two-three years back) couldn't find work in their fields due to covid so applied to law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know two Harvard law grads. One got his bachelors at Harvard, the other at Loyola Chicago.

Ditto. Harvard undergrad. Purdue undergrad.