Son Admitted From Harvard Waitlist. Need Help Deciding

[Anonymous]

Adding it’s really interesting to me that most posters here don’t understand that pretty much every university favors its own graduates in grad school admission. There is a large contingent of Harvard college kids, typically more than ten percent of the graduate school class, at both Harvard Med and Law (and another very large percentage of Harvard Med students get residency spots at the Harvard affiliated hospitals).

But it isn’t just an Ivy thing, schools like Georgetown and UVA do the same with their grad schools.

So yes, you can go to some random school and excel and maybe get into a prestigious graduate schools, but your odds are much much better coming from the home college. Further, certain colleges place better everywhere.

[Anonymous]

I would go Harvard. It is like being a part of history and I would just HAVE to. Boston is awesome!

[Anonymous]

Dc is graduating from Harvard this week. I would say the STEM majors have it tough. The rest breeze through - the cap in A’s is nothing to be scared of because he will get so much out of the school. Every kid gets something different.dome stick to academics and get the perfect 4.9, others do research, yet others are athletes, and so on….

If the only concern is gpa, I would not worry at all. DC does not have a perfect gpa, but did outstanding in terms of clubs and friendships. No accolades here, but I’ve seen some cards from other students and am so proud of the way in which DC made the most of the past 4 years. No other school could have given what H gave DC.

[Anonymous]

If you have trouble figuring this out, then Brown might be the better choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dc is graduating from Harvard this week. I would say the STEM majors have it tough. The rest breeze through - the cap in A’s is nothing to be scared of because he will get so much out of the school. Every kid gets something different.dome stick to academics and get the perfect 4.9, others do research, yet others are athletes, and so on….

If the only concern is gpa, I would not worry at all. DC does not have a perfect gpa, but did outstanding in terms of clubs and friendships. No accolades here, but I’ve seen some cards from other students and am so proud of the way in which DC made the most of the past 4 years. No other school could have given what H gave DC.

Sorry for the typos. Long day but I wanted to comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was recently admitted from the Harvard waitlist. He was all set to attend Brown. Normally, it would be an instant "yes," but the Harvard cap on A's has him hesitating. While he isn't entirely sure about his career path, he's considering law school and is worried that a lower GPA will hurt his post-grad chances. What does everyone think?

If your son is considering law school, you should pick Harvard because Harvard Law takes a large cohort of Harvard undergrads in each year, about 8 to 12%. So he will have a boost - and, Princeton doesn't have a law school. Of course, he would have to have top LSAT and top grades from undergrad to be one of those selected (classmates of mine went overseas to get a master's degree while studying for the LSAT and then reapplied and got in the second time).
The new policy doesn't start until fall 2027, and probably will be modified as Harvard compares it's grade readjustment plan to Yale's. , so your son have a year in the yard (a good thing) under the regular grading system.

HLS will know, of course, about the new grade system when it is implemented and will take that into consideration when looking at applications, just as any other good law school in the U.S., because everyone knows what is taking place.

To give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into Harvard Law, here are the stats at the 75th percentile: 4.0 GPA and a 176 LSAT. Even the median student has a GPA between 3.89 and 4.00 and an LSAT of 171 to 176. Many, many Harvard College undergrads go on to very fine law schools all over the nation.

Are you saying Harvard undergraduates will be competing with each other for those HLS spots?

[Anonymous]

i didn't read OP as asking about getting into Harvard law, just about law school in general.

It's true that law schools are weird about GPA, but there are easier classes everywhere, even at Harvard. And there have also been professors who cap or curve already, regardless of what the policy is. Your child should choose based on fit, they will thrive (and get better grades) where they feel they fit best.
-signed, someone who chose not to go to Harvard (twice)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was recently admitted from the Harvard waitlist. He was all set to attend Brown. Normally, it would be an instant "yes," but the Harvard cap on A's has him hesitating. While he isn't entirely sure about his career path, he's considering law school and is worried that a lower GPA will hurt his post-grad chances. What does everyone think?

If your son is considering law school, you should pick Harvard because Harvard Law takes a large cohort of Harvard undergrads in each year, about 8 to 12%. So he will have a boost - and, Princeton doesn't have a law school. Of course, he would have to have top LSAT and top grades from undergrad to be one of those selected (classmates of mine went overseas to get a master's degree while studying for the LSAT and then reapplied and got in the second time).
The new policy doesn't start until fall 2027, and probably will be modified as Harvard compares it's grade readjustment plan to Yale's. , so your son have a year in the yard (a good thing) under the regular grading system.

HLS will know, of course, about the new grade system when it is implemented and will take that into consideration when looking at applications, just as any other good law school in the U.S., because everyone knows what is taking place.

To give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into Harvard Law, here are the stats at the 75th percentile: 4.0 GPA and a 176 LSAT. Even the median student has a GPA between 3.89 and 4.00 and an LSAT of 171 to 176. Many, many Harvard College undergrads go on to very fine law schools all over the nation.

Are you saying Harvard undergraduates will be competing with each other for those HLS spots?

[b]

DP. Yes. Same at every university that has a law school. The benefit is that, say, UVA, will take in more UVA undergrad students compared to other student applicants (and bear in mind that UVA law is a public school) but, yes you are competing against other UVA grads for those slots. What makes the analysis more tricky is that 70% of undergrads, nationally, take time off before applying to law school. At Harvard it is 80%. So, when, you have taken off time to work for two years as a paralegal or were a Rhodes or Marshall Scholar, you apply competing against 3-4 years or more Harvard applicants for one year of HLS seats. Many of my undergraduate friends at Harvard tried right out of college, but, knowing they would likely be turned down, simultaneously tried for the Rhodes, Marshall, etc. If turned down for HLS, and not getting a Rhodes or Marshall, then they would enroll at LSE or other European schools and pick up a Masters degree, or work as a paralegal or on a political campaign and return to try again. Failing that, they were usually picked up quit fast by other T14 law schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was recently admitted from the Harvard waitlist. He was all set to attend Brown. Normally, it would be an instant "yes," but the Harvard cap on A's has him hesitating. While he isn't entirely sure about his career path, he's considering law school and is worried that a lower GPA will hurt his post-grad chances. What does everyone think?

If your son is considering law school, you should pick Harvard because Harvard Law takes a large cohort of Harvard undergrads in each year, about 8 to 12%. So he will have a boost - and, Princeton doesn't have a law school. Of course, he would have to have top LSAT and top grades from undergrad to be one of those selected (classmates of mine went overseas to get a master's degree while studying for the LSAT and then reapplied and got in the second time).
The new policy doesn't start until fall 2027, and probably will be modified as Harvard compares it's grade readjustment plan to Yale's. , so your son have a year in the yard (a good thing) under the regular grading system.

HLS will know, of course, about the new grade system when it is implemented and will take that into consideration when looking at applications, just as any other good law school in the U.S., because everyone knows what is taking place.

To give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into Harvard Law, here are the stats at the 75th percentile: 4.0 GPA and a 176 LSAT. Even the median student has a GPA between 3.89 and 4.00 and an LSAT of 171 to 176. Many, many Harvard College undergrads go on to very fine law schools all over the nation.

Are you saying Harvard undergraduates will be competing with each other for those HLS spots?

[b]

DP. Yes. Same at every university that has a law school. The benefit is that, say, UVA, will take in more UVA undergrad students compared to other student applicants (and bear in mind that UVA law is a public school) but, yes you are competing against other UVA grads for those slots. What makes the analysis more tricky is that 70% of undergrads, nationally, take time off before applying to law school. At Harvard it is 80%. So, when, you have taken off time to work for two years as a paralegal or were a Rhodes or Marshall Scholar, you apply competing against 3-4 years or more Harvard applicants for one year of HLS seats. Many of my undergraduate friends at Harvard tried right out of college, but, knowing they would likely be turned down, simultaneously tried for the Rhodes, Marshall, etc. If turned down for HLS, and not getting a Rhodes or Marshall, then they would enroll at LSE or other European schools and pick up a Masters degree, or work as a paralegal or on a political campaign and return to try again. Failing that, they were usually picked up quit fast by other T14 law schools.

+1. When I attended HLS, 30% of the class had gone to the undergraduate school. Now the figure is between 8 and 14% on any given year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was recently admitted from the Harvard waitlist. He was all set to attend Brown. Normally, it would be an instant "yes," but the Harvard cap on A's has him hesitating. While he isn't entirely sure about his career path, he's considering law school and is worried that a lower GPA will hurt his post-grad chances. What does everyone think?

If your son is considering law school, you should pick Harvard because Harvard Law takes a large cohort of Harvard undergrads in each year, about 8 to 12%. So he will have a boost - and, Princeton doesn't have a law school. Of course, he would have to have top LSAT and top grades from undergrad to be one of those selected (classmates of mine went overseas to get a master's degree while studying for the LSAT and then reapplied and got in the second time).
The new policy doesn't start until fall 2027, and probably will be modified as Harvard compares it's grade readjustment plan to Yale's. , so your son have a year in the yard (a good thing) under the regular grading system.

HLS will know, of course, about the new grade system when it is implemented and will take that into consideration when looking at applications, just as any other good law school in the U.S., because everyone knows what is taking place.

To give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into Harvard Law, here are the stats at the 75th percentile: 4.0 GPA and a 176 LSAT. Even the median student has a GPA between 3.89 and 4.00 and an LSAT of 171 to 176. Many, many Harvard College undergrads go on to very fine law schools all over the nation.

Are you saying Harvard undergraduates will be competing with each other for those HLS spots?

[b]

DP. Yes. Same at every university that has a law school. The benefit is that, say, UVA, will take in more UVA undergrad students compared to other student applicants (and bear in mind that UVA law is a public school) but, yes you are competing against other UVA grads for those slots. What makes the analysis more tricky is that 70% of undergrads, nationally, take time off before applying to law school. At Harvard it is 80%. So, when, you have taken off time to work for two years as a paralegal or were a Rhodes or Marshall Scholar, you apply competing against 3-4 years or more Harvard applicants for one year of HLS seats. Many of my undergraduate friends at Harvard tried right out of college, but, knowing they would likely be turned down, simultaneously tried for the Rhodes, Marshall, etc. If turned down for HLS, and not getting a Rhodes or Marshall, then they would enroll at LSE or other European schools and pick up a Masters degree, or work as a paralegal or on a political campaign and return to try again. Failing that, they were usually picked up quit fast by other T14 law schools.

Wow. I never thought about it that way. I slid right in from a SLAC so for my DCs, I never consider whether a school has grad programs/law schools/med schools etc. I also know plenty of other law school classmates who came from no name undergrads. Everyone gets there some how - no need to think so deeply about it at 18.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband had a recent grad from Brown who graduated Summa and was so incompetent he had to fire her after six months. Getting A's isn't always the best thing for a student.

Really, because getting A's typically means you have mastered the material for the course. But it says nothing else about common sense, EQ, ability to work with others, etc.

[Anonymous]

Just say “no” already. If the WL calls, my son needs zero deliberation. He’s accepting H on the spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was recently admitted from the Harvard waitlist. He was all set to attend Brown. Normally, it would be an instant "yes," but the Harvard cap on A's has him hesitating. While he isn't entirely sure about his career path, he's considering law school and is worried that a lower GPA will hurt his post-grad chances. What does everyone think?

If your son is considering law school, you should pick Harvard because Harvard Law takes a large cohort of Harvard undergrads in each year, about 8 to 12%. So he will have a boost - and, Princeton doesn't have a law school. Of course, he would have to have top LSAT and top grades from undergrad to be one of those selected (classmates of mine went overseas to get a master's degree while studying for the LSAT and then reapplied and got in the second time).
The new policy doesn't start until fall 2027, and probably will be modified as Harvard compares it's grade readjustment plan to Yale's. , so your son have a year in the yard (a good thing) under the regular grading system.

HLS will know, of course, about the new grade system when it is implemented and will take that into consideration when looking at applications, just as any other good law school in the U.S., because everyone knows what is taking place.

To give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into Harvard Law, here are the stats at the 75th percentile: 4.0 GPA and a 176 LSAT. Even the median student has a GPA between 3.89 and 4.00 and an LSAT of 171 to 176. Many, many Harvard College undergrads go on to very fine law schools all over the nation.

Are you saying Harvard undergraduates will be competing with each other for those HLS spots?

[b]

DP. Yes. Same at every university that has a law school. The benefit is that, say, UVA, will take in more UVA undergrad students compared to other student applicants (and bear in mind that UVA law is a public school) but, yes you are competing against other UVA grads for those slots. What makes the analysis more tricky is that 70% of undergrads, nationally, take time off before applying to law school. At Harvard it is 80%. So, when, you have taken off time to work for two years as a paralegal or were a Rhodes or Marshall Scholar, you apply competing against 3-4 years or more Harvard applicants for one year of HLS seats. Many of my undergraduate friends at Harvard tried right out of college, but, knowing they would likely be turned down, simultaneously tried for the Rhodes, Marshall, etc. If turned down for HLS, and not getting a Rhodes or Marshall, then they would enroll at LSE or other European schools and pick up a Masters degree, or work as a paralegal or on a political campaign and return to try again. Failing that, they were usually picked up quit fast by other T14 law schools.

Wow. I never thought about it that way. I slid right in from a SLAC so for my DCs, I never consider whether a school has grad programs/law schools/med schools etc. I also know plenty of other law school classmates who came from no name undergrads. Everyone gets there some how - no need to think so deeply about it at 18.

But the odds are better from some places than others. It's worthy of consideration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The GPA for law school issue is real. A little research will reveal that the top law schools all have median undergraduate GPAs of over 3.9. It’s highly likely that law schools will adjust to the Harvard change, but no one can guarantee it. I wouldn’t reject Harvard on that issue alone. Your son should go where he’s most comfortable and thus most likely to succeed.

The LSAT is important and the law schools know that Harvard isn’t just handing out As to every student just for showing up.

But they were handing out As to the majority and most likely A-s to the rest. Hence the cap on As.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son was recently admitted from the Harvard waitlist. He was all set to attend Brown. Normally, it would be an instant "yes," but the Harvard cap on A's has him hesitating. While he isn't entirely sure about his career path, he's considering law school and is worried that a lower GPA will hurt his post-grad chances. What does everyone think?

If your son is considering law school, you should pick Harvard because Harvard Law takes a large cohort of Harvard undergrads in each year, about 8 to 12%. So he will have a boost - and, Princeton doesn't have a law school. Of course, he would have to have top LSAT and top grades from undergrad to be one of those selected (classmates of mine went overseas to get a master's degree while studying for the LSAT and then reapplied and got in the second time).
The new policy doesn't start until fall 2027, and probably will be modified as Harvard compares it's grade readjustment plan to Yale's. , so your son have a year in the yard (a good thing) under the regular grading system.

HLS will know, of course, about the new grade system when it is implemented and will take that into consideration when looking at applications, just as any other good law school in the U.S., because everyone knows what is taking place.

To give you an idea of how difficult it is to get into Harvard Law, here are the stats at the 75th percentile: 4.0 GPA and a 176 LSAT. Even the median student has a GPA between 3.89 and 4.00 and an LSAT of 171 to 176. Many, many Harvard College undergrads go on to very fine law schools all over the nation.

Are you saying Harvard undergraduates will be competing with each other for those HLS spots?

DP. Yes. Same at every university that has a law school. The benefit is that, say, UVA, will take in more UVA undergrad students compared to other student applicants (and bear in mind that UVA law is a public school) but, yes you are competing against other UVA grads for those slots. What makes the analysis more tricky is that 70% of undergrads, nationally, take time off before applying to law school. At Harvard it is 80%. So, when, you have taken off time to work for two years as a paralegal or were a Rhodes or Marshall Scholar, you apply competing against 3-4 years or more Harvard applicants for one year of HLS seats. Many of my undergraduate friends at Harvard tried right out of college, but, knowing they would likely be turned down, simultaneously tried for the Rhodes, Marshall, etc. If turned down for HLS, and not getting a Rhodes or Marshall, then they would enroll at LSE or other European schools and pick up a Masters degree, or work as a paralegal or on a political campaign and return to try again. Failing that, they were usually picked up quit fast by other T14 law schools.

Wow. I never thought about it that way. I slid right in from a SLAC so for my DCs, I never consider whether a school has grad programs/law schools/med schools etc. I also know plenty of other law school classmates who came from no name undergrads. Everyone gets there some how - [b]no need to think so deeply about it at 18.

But OP is a mother asking for guidance for their child with this decision to make.