CondemnedDiligentReindeer '23–'24 app cycle Class of 2027 class year

If you’re here to figure out how I got into Harvard…join the club. But I’ve got some guesses, hopefully they’ll help you.

LSAT: diagnostic 161, studied 10 weeks 25 hrs/wk. I only used some old PowerScore books and the law hub practice tests. If you can’t afford the $2k courses, consider something like this (I spent about $40 on the 3 bibles and whatever the premium LawHub thing cost, $70 or something I think).

LoRs: I had two professors who had very different classes and one person from my childhood (he used to be in local gov and I volunteered to help his ward when he needed it for storms/stuff like that) who is now a judge. I think having 3 people who had very different things to say about me probably gave the committee a wide perspective on who I am.

Personal Statement: I think if you really do want to go to law school, there’s a reason for it and you can talk about it. Maybe you haven’t articulated it before, but there are probably some common threads across work, school, volunteering, etc that come together and lead you to law. Find them, this is your chance. If you can’t, don’t dump 6 figures and 3 years down the drain. I think my statements were a big part that got my foot in the door on the waitlist.

LOCI: I knew my GPA was among the lowest on Harvard’s waitlist, so I felt I needed to raise some eyebrows to get my name on the interview list. I made fairly formulaic LOCIs for the other places I was waitlisted (how their programs connect with my interest, what I like about their location, what I want to do there, etc), but not Harvard’s. It’s been my top choice since day 1, and I wanted to show them beyond just saying “you’re my top choice”. If you see a way to stand out, do it. I won’t detail exactly what I said, but the two people in my personal life that read it both described it as “…bold.” I’m fully convinced that this is what got me an interview off the WL. From there, I could just tell them about my specific passions and experience, and here we are. If you have a top choice, go all out. Don’t just do what everyone else does and hope the dice fall your way. Best of luck.