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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Yale not Harvard for law school but I would not that the people from lesser known undergrads were usually top ranked in their class with high lsat and outstanding teacher recommendations; former military (YLs really wants veterans in every class); or had other really unique or interesting life experience (eg was a community activist, acclaimed author, etc.)

Some of the military admits went to undergrad rotc programs that are lesser known names outside of military/defense circles but are known in those and known to law school admissions for having very rigorous rotc programs—Norwich, embry riddle, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really? I know a lot of HLS grads. They want to Harvard, Yale, Amherst and Swarthmore undergrad.

And had politicians write their letters of recommendations. It’s wildly elitist unless you have a sob story to tell.

[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.

+1

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[mastodon]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is probably more about your familiarity with colleges than about Harvard law admissions.

+1 OP, name the schools you’ve never heard of. DH is a HLS alum, and he went to Williams. His closest law school friends went to UNC, Michigan, Yale, Carleton, Swarthmore, and Harvard undergrad. All well known schools for those who are familiar with top colleges.

Harvard law draws from about 174 different undergrads institutions. Quite possible someone not familiar with all the schools on the list. https://hls.harvard.edu/jdadmissions/apply-to-harvard-law-school/jdapplicants/hls-profile-and-facts/undergraduate-institutions/

Nor is this unique. Look up any other elite law school and they will draw from around 100 colleges on up to the Harvard range, depending on size of the class.

They have one person from the no name schools and dozens from Harvard and dozens from Yale though.

I went to a T5 law school (then and now, according to US News) and there were 7 kids from Harvard, no other school had more than 4, and most were the lone representative from their college. Law schools value diversity of backgrounds more than dcum thinks they do.

Eh. They prefer you answer the phone for a Senator for four weeks than have a job for three years. One of these requires financial help. But if you don’t seem poor, they don’t value working a real job. They’re not as aware as they say.

I think the exception is if that real job is military officer.

[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.

Something is very wrong with this story. And no I am not relying on dated information about admissions.

[Anonymous]

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.

Something is very wrong with this story. And no I am not relying on dated information about admissions.

Agree… maybe they were lying about the 175? I would not be surprised if Yale and/or Stanford rejected them because of their small class size and selectivity but I would expect they’d get into a least one if not more of the bigger schools in the top 10.

[Anonymous]

I know how many people love lawyer jokes, but the sad part is that fewer young people want to be lawyers—especially Gen Z after 2008.

[Anonymous]

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.

Something is very wrong with this story. And no I am not relying on dated information about admissions.

Agree… maybe they were lying about the 175? I would not be surprised if Yale and/or Stanford rejected them because of their small class size and selectivity but I would expect they’d get into a least one if not more of the bigger schools in the top 10.

I’d expect multiple schools in the t10 with a 4.0/175

[Anonymous]

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.

Something is very wrong with this story. And no I am not relying on dated information about admissions.

Agree… maybe they were lying about the 175? I would not be surprised if Yale and/or Stanford rejected them because of their small class size and selectivity but I would expect they’d get into a least one if not more of the bigger schools in the top 10.

I’d expect multiple schools in the t10 with a 4.0/175

You’d be wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really? I know a lot of HLS grads. They want to Harvard, Yale, Amherst and Swarthmore undergrad.

And had politicians write their letters of recommendations. It’s wildly elitist unless you have a sob story to tell.

Oh please.

For most it's just GPA and LSAT score.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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/

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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!).