Now this isn’t something that you can start to think about around the time you’re starting to fill out your law school applications.  It’s more about how you’ve spent the last few years.  Have you dedicated yourself to an extracurricular or cause?  Have you taken on a leadership role in a group or job that has allowed you to create significant change or have a meaningful impact?  There’s no one right answer here – the key is to use your application to let us know about situations where you’ve come in and changed things for the better. 

A big part of being at HLS is immersing yourself in a community of people who are dedicated to change and impact across a variety of fields.  A great way to convince us that you’ll be a positive addition to this community is to explain how you’re already doing this – I can’t wait to read about it. 

- Josh

I know that it can be easy to feel that you are somehow behind in the process, or that your results aren’t matching up with those of others. I figured that being a newly minted 1L, I am not that far removed from the process, and it might be helpful to talk about my experiences with the dreaded law school admissions cycle.

My trip to Harvard Law was pretty non-traditional. By May, I was still on the wait-list at HLS and had subsequently made arrangements to go to a different law school. I was quick to set up my housing and financial aid with that school because I knew that I was going to be be out of the country all summer doing volunteer work in South Africa. I left for my summer abroad in early June, assuming that there was little to no chance I was going to make it off the waitlist so late in the admissions game.

I arrived back in the US in late July and almost immediately received an email asking if I was still interested in a spot in the entering class at HLS. To put this in context, I had been in the country for less than a day and I was planning on leaving my home in less than a week to go to a different law school. Even if I were able to prepare for the phone interview, I would still need to divert all of my energies to going to a new law school, essentially accomplishing in a couple days the preparations that every other 1L had all summer to arrange. However, HLS was my dream school, and if I didn’t at least try to get in I would always wonder if I could have. I replied to the email and arranged to take my phone interview the following Monday.

I’m going to let you guys in on a secret about the HLS phone interviews. After your interview, you will feel that your performance was anywhere from “meh” to “terrible”. Personally, mine probably leaned towards terrible. I had planned on spending most of the time talking about my experiences that summer in South Africa. My rationale was that my application talked in detail about the things I had done while an undergraduate and my summer was something new that would add color to my application. However, when I got on the phone I think interview jitters seized me and I only spent about a minute talking about my summer before delving into the activities I had done in college. Every one of my answers seemed like an unhelpful rehash of things from my application. At the end, I was pretty certain that in an attempt to sound interested in the school (which I was) I asked too many questions and I came off as poorly researched about the school (which I wasn’t). When my mother called me that afternoon to ask how the interview went, I assured her that she didn’t need to worry about adding crimson to her wardrobe any time soon.

Assuming that whoever is reading this is aware of what website they are on, you probably also know how this story ends. The next morning I got a phone call offering me a spot in the entering class at HLS. In my excitement, I pumped my fists in the air so hard that I broke a ceiling tile in my basement.

I thought my story might be helpful for any potential applicants out there to hear. I know that it’s hard sometimes, but it is important not to stress about the process too much. I remember agonizing over what I was going to say in my phone interview, only to do something completely different in the actual interview. If you are relaxed and talk about yourself and your accomplishments honestly and openly, you will be fine. It is also important not to get freaked out if your application results aren’t matching up with the results you are hearing about from other people. I had heard all the message board chatter about how not getting off the waitlist by Date X was the death knell for my application. I also had a lot of friends and friends of friends that were getting into their dream schools (including HLS) while my application results were just trickling in. It’s easy to get discouraged with all of the activity going on around these applications. It is important to stay positive about your chances, because in the end you will almost certainly end up in a school that is a good fit for you.

- Anit

Each year, we invite many prospective students to have a 10-15 minute phone conversation.  The number of phone interviews varies from year to year – we try to do as many interviews as possible and every candidate offered admission will be interviewed.  Don’t worry if you aren’t invited to interview right away – our interviews continue through the spring and into the summer.  

The interviews are meant to be relatively informal and give me a chance to learn more about you than I can from your paper application.  Typically we’ll discuss some of what you’re working on right now (in school or at work) and will talk about why law school makes sense for you.  I may also have a specific question or two to clarify something from your application.  I’ll also try to leave time in case you have any questions for me, but don’t feel any pressure here – it’s okay if you don’t have a question you want to ask. 

That’s it – no trick questions.  I promise. 

I look forward to speaking with many of you over the coming months. 

- Josh

6. Personal statement (what it should be):

First, your personal statement is a writing sample.  It should be well written and free of grammatical errors.  It is also your chance to tell us more about you in a way that is not reflected in the other elements of your application.  Let us know how your broad range of experiences, coursework, and extracurriculars fit together and suggest law school is the right next step.  Let your personality and writing style shine through and tell us what we should know about you.

7. Personal statement (what it should not be):

Because everyone is different, we do not suggest the use of  “successful admissions essays” type books.  Typically those essays were successful because they were a good fit for a particular applicant, in the context of their overall application.  Squeezing your experience and background into someone else’s structure is a bad idea – in addition to this tactic being easy to recognize, it also keeps you from figuring out how to best tell your story. 

Your personal statement should also not be a resume in prose.  We’ve seen what you have done; this is your opportunity to tell us how that experience changed you, how you were affected, how you grew, or what you learned.

8. Take time off (if you want):

If there is nothing else on the planet that you would rather do than go to law school right after you graduate, you may skip to #9; if you are even thinking about taking time off, read on.  Law school is a pretty serious commitment of your time, energy and money.  You’ll go to law school for three years and then you will work for 40-50 years.  We encourage you to get experience, travel and make sure that you want to go before applying.  This is the perfect time in your life to experience something different, explore your options and get ready for your next step.

9. Once admitted, visit schools: 

Most law schools, including HLS, will have programs for admitted students to visit the campus.  Take advantage of those opportunities to meet current students, faculty, and your potential future classmates.  Websites and pictures can provide a sense of a law school, but you’ll get a much better idea for the feeling of a school if you’re able to visit campus.

10. Be active on the waitlist

If you find yourself on the waitlist, you should update your file with fall or spring semester grades if you are still in school.  You should remove yourself from the waitlist if you have made plans to attend another law school.  If you are not admitted to your top choice and your interest in attending remains through your first year at another law school, consider applying as a transfer applicant.

Recently, I was asked to put together a “Top Ten” list of application tips for a student conference on the law school application process.  Since the tips are applicable to all of you as well, I figured I’d share some:

1. Start early and plan ahead

Take time to put together a well-crafted, thoughtful application.  Create a calendar of deadlines and all the application steps and work backwards to build a schedule. At HLS, and many other schools with rolling admissions, your chances will be better if you apply early.

2. Put your best foot forward

The most compelling applicants have a good sense of why they want to come to law school and can often cite specific experiences that they’ve had that make this move a logical next step.  Spend some time thinking about what you want to convey and how you can use all of your application materials together to get this message across.  It is OK if you are not really sure exactly what type of law you want to practice, but you should have a sensible reason for pursuing a law degree.

3. Use addenda wisely

Many students have something on their application that might raise a question for the reader.  Examples include large gaps of unaccounted for time, a “withdrawn” grade on a transcript, or multiple, widely varying LSAT scores.  The best way to handle any issue that might raise a red flag is to address it: simply, directly, and honestly.  A short addendum can go a long way in alleviating a reader’s concerns.  Keep in mind that while addenda are useful, you should focus your efforts on making your case within the contours of the required application. 

4. Choose the right recommenders

When choosing recommenders, be sure to pick people who know you well, not just who gave you an “A” in their course or a good performance review at work.  The key to a good recommendation is a recommender who can offer deep insight into who you are and what you can contribute, often by referencing specific examples.  Finding someone who knows you well, and reminding them of your interactions, often results in the most effective endorsement of your candidacy. 

5. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Your application is your best shot to make a good impression on the admissions office.  Given that, readers will assume that your application is your best work.  Any typos or spelling or grammatical errors suggest that either you’re not capable of producing error-free work or that you didn’t care enough to do it in this instance.  Neither impression is helpful to your chances for admission.  

Have a great weekend!  See you next Friday…

Matthew Perault: (10:44)

Q: What made you want to transfer to HLS and why?

A: I wanted to transfer because employment prospects as an HLS graduate are far superior to those available to graduates of my former school, especially on the West Coast, where I hope to end up. Also, HLS has an amazing faculty and clinical programs, which were important to me as I moved beyond my first year.

Q: How was the transition to HLS?

A: Almost effortless.  The faculty is first-rate and the students are of a caliber really unparalleled.

Q: What do you think of the school so far? Do you have a favorite element?

A: I’d say the faculty. The facilities and student body are excellent, but the faculty is what makes HLS unique.

Q: What advice do you have for those students currently at other schools
looking to transfer to HLS?

A: If you are willing to sacrifice the comfortable social relationships built during your first year, then transferring is a great option. You can experience a totally new academic and indeed geographic environment, and you can learn certain elements of the law among the most capable and enthusiastic of peers.

“I wanted to transfer law schools after my 1L year because I was really interested in studying international legal issues, and the school I was attending did not offer a very comprehensive international law program.’

“I set my sights on HLS because I knew that they had one of the top international law programs in the country. Of course, I was not deterred by HLS’s impressive reputation and incredible career opportunities.  The application process was fairly painless. I found it quite easy to compose a personal statement convincing the admissions committee of my desire to go to Harvard!’

“While HLS offers a challenging and rigorous academic schedule, I have not once regretted my decision to transfer here. My favorite thing about being a member of the HLS community is that I am constantly receiving invitations to lectures or panel discussions involving some of the most notable intellectuals of our time. I was very pleased to attend a lecture by Amartya Sen, whose works I had read in almost every undergraduate class, in my first month at Harvard. A few weeks later I was sitting in on a talk given by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Before attending HLS I could only dream of the opportunity to see these greats in the flesh.’

“My best advice to other students looking to transfer to HLS is to let your personality shine through your application.  While your 1L grades are definitely important, the personal statement should not be overlooked– it is a great place to standout.”

“Looking back over the last three years since my decision to transfer to HLS, and reflecting on the various wonderful personal, academic and professional experiences that HLS made available to me over these years, I cannot imagine having done things differently, and I highly recommend making the transfer to HLS to anyone considering doing so.’

“After growing up in central New Jersey and going to college in New York City, I felt a need to see a bit more of the world beyond the northeastern US, and ended up spending a year teaching English and studying Spanish in Madrid. In addition to developing my interest in foreign languages, I was captivated by the international atmosphere and world view that I was exposed to in Europe, and I decided that I wanted to do something with an international focus in my legal career.’

“After my first year of law school, I was still committed to doing something international, however I was still unsure of the specifics. My academic and professional interests had always been broad, and my college majors in Economics and Political Science, as well as several humanities courses that I took, had only widened my interests. This became a principal factor in my interest in transferring to HLS.’

“Because I was still figuring out what I wanted to do, I felt that HLS would offer me a wide variety of options, and also that the various departments and programs were among the best in each of their respective areas. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine a richer array of options than those offered at HLS, with its long list of top professors in all fields of study, various clinical programs, and dynamic campus life revolving around the many student organizations and journals, run by intelligent and inspiring students, all of whom bring amazing experiences to share with one another.’

“With all of these options, HLS makes the task of exploring one’s interests easy and rewarding for anyone willing to commit the effort to their own personal and professional development. Personally, I am amazed and humbled by the various academic and professional opportunities that I was offered during my two years after transferring, from a three-week internship working with a judge in Peru (during HLS’ month-long Winter Term), to my experience working on two of the various specialty journals, to two different internships working in microfinance with organizations in the Boston/Cambridge area, to my 2L summer, which I split working at a New York City law firm and then at a New York City microfinance/urban development organization, to fascinating courses in diverse areas such as Human Rights, International Finance, and Law and Public Health, as well as a course on the world history of legal thought from 1850-2000, a seminar on the writings of Freud and Nietzsche, a reading group on the city of Mumbai, and language courses in French and Portuguese at Harvard undergrad. HLS’ training and reputation also helped me to get two papers that I wrote as part of my coursework accepted for publication in law journals. Currently, I am working at a Brazilian law firm in São Paulo, practicing international corporate law. Living and working in Brazil has been a fascinating experience thus far. Another advantage of HLS is that when you travel to other countries everyone knows Harvard, which is good from both a professional as well as a social standpoint, since HLS is a good conversation starter, which is nice even when the questions people ask you are about Legally Blonde.’

“Finally, and perhaps most importantly, in terms of the transition to HLS there was (and, I believe, continues to be) an excellent organizational effort among the 3L transfers to hold events and get-togethers so that the relatively large group of transfer students from both classes could all meet each other. The 3Ls were also readily available and extremely helpful in answering all of our questions about academic and student life, which further served to ease the transition process. I quickly acquired a group of friends among the transfer students during the transfer orientation, and eventually, with the help of classes, student groups, journals, etc, my close friends consisted of both transfers and non-transfers, and also included 1Ls, 3Ls, and members of the large LLM class, in addition to my fellow 2Ls. Indeed, the reason why much of this post is not specifically about my transfer experience is that, after a certain point in my experience, I stopped noticing the transfer/non-transfer distinction and just thought of myself as a normal HLS student.’

“In all, I can say that my transfer to HLS helped me tremendously in my personal and professional development. In my first year out of law school, it is difficult and a bit daunting to predict exactly what the future will hold in terms of my career, but I can be certain that my background at HLS, and the many different academic and professional experiences that I was able to take advantage of during my time there, will serve me well as my career path continues to develop.”

What is the public interest auction?
The public interest auction is a fundraiser run entirely by the 1L class that raises money to support students who do public interest work over the summer. We solicit donations from faculty, staff, alumni, parents, students, firms, and local businesses. Some donate money and some donate things to auction off. We receive all sorts of donations – things like Red Sox tickets, gift certificates to restaurants and salons, lunches and fishing trips with professors, cookies and brownies made by the librarians, and a tour of the Northwest Corner Construction project. The auction is one of the biggest social events of the year. Every year the auction has a theme, and we decorate Austin Hall accordingly. This year the theme was “Bright Lights: Bid City” and so the different rooms were decorated as different big cities – London, Paris, and New York.

What has gone into preparing for this event and what have you gotten out of the experience as a co-chair?
Almost all of the 1L class helps out with the auction. We divide the students up by committees and committees mostly help out either by asking for donations, calling alumni and asking them to donate, emailing firms, going door to door in Cambridge, or by helping process the donations and get them ready to sell, or by helping out on the night of the auction. As one of the auction co-chairs, I had the opportunity to work with a group of amazing people to try to plan and coordinate this huge event – it was definitely a  challenging experience for all of us. From coordinating hundreds of student volunteers to keeping track of hundreds of donations, to making sure everything comes together on the night of the auction, being a co-chair was a lot of work, but it was extremely rewarding. It was also a good opportunity to meet new students.

The event is always a lot of fun for students, faculty and staff. What was your favorite part of the evening? Did anything surprise you?
The event was a huge success. My favorite part of the evening was the live auction. Our auctioneers – this year Professors Elizabeth Warren and Jonathan Zittrain – were auctioning off the “right to be – or not be – in the 2010 parody.” The first bidder was the Dean of Students because they gave her a hard time this year in the parody, but then Professor Mann, who bought this item last year, got in a bidding war with Professor Warren and everyone was laughing so hard!

Why should admitted and prospective students seeking a strong public interest community choose Harvard? Why did you?
I think that students looking for a strong public interest community should choose Harvard because they can go anywhere and do anything with a degree from Harvard Law. We are a bigger law school, but as a result, we have so many more options to pick from than other law schools. Good public interest law jobs are really competitive – and since I want one, I’m glad I chose Harvard. I know that the connections and friends that I will make here, with professors and fellow students, will be of benefit for the rest of my life.