Hi all,

Am new on the board - fresh from sending in my Harvard LLM application materials! =) Would have been great to have chanced upon the board earlier but no worries - will be keeping my fingers crossed that I've done enough (will be keeping my fingers crossed for you guys as well) =)

Anyhow, while I wait anxiously for any word from HLS, received information a few days ago on the admission process, information that prompted this post. I come from an East Asian country, and I've been told no more than six people from my country have ever been in Harvard doing an LLM at any one time. With that consideration in mind, would be very appreciative if anyone could assist me with clarifying the following:

(a) Does HLS adhere strictly to its geographical limits? Put in its appropriate context, is HLS likely to allow more than six people from my country entry into its LLM program?

(b) Last year, six people from my country were offered admission to HLS. Four accepted (and are currently doing the LLM this year) and two deferred for a year (i.e. to next year). On the assumption Harvard adheres strictly to its purported geographical limits, does that mean there would, in effect, only be four places for the rest of us to be fighting for (since 2 "slots" would, in effect, already have been taken up), or does Harvard consider a clean slate of six afresh, and in the process, disregards from its computation anyone who may have deferred their studies from earlier on?

(c) On the assumption I don't get in (and am not admitted via waiting list), is there any chance HLS would offer me deferred entry for the year after instead of next year? I heard some schools do that, in particular for JD applicants, but don't know whether the same prinicple applies to LLMs (esp vis-a-vis HLS). I do honestly believe that I've got a decent academic record (and am therefore confident HLS wouldn't mind having me as a matter of prinicple, just whether my record pales vis-a-vis other applicants), but so do the other applicants, so it's quite fair game and luck of the draw (in that sense).

(d) Does HLS correspond purely by email or does it correspond via snail mail as well? My email is somewhat wonky and I'm quite scared that if I get accepted, and an email is sent to me for which I have to respond, I fail to respond because I never received the mail.

I do realise many of my questions are in abstract and therefore difficult to answer - but I'm sitting here being quite a nervous wreck so any guidance (however slight) would be very much appreciated =) If you wish to contact me in private in relation to the matter, please feel free to PM me or email me at audreypwah@gmail.com .Thanks all and god bless!

Have a Merry X'mas and a happy new year!

Audrey

a) my guess is, it's not so much numbers, but as to whether or not they want you, regardless of where you are from.

b) i wonder where u got those numbers. see a).

c) there isn't a school i've ever heard of that would admit someone knowing that they would defer a year. why not just apply the next year? seems logical.

d) last year they sent out e-mail decisions and mail by post. if your e-mail is wonky you might think about getting a different one. (i'm not a huge fan of gmail.)

my friend gave me the best advice ever... you're either what they are looking for or you're not. don't sweat it.

[Post edited]

Take a break and relax... you're too anxious and I really can't see what sort of benefit you get from measuring the chances of success of your application in such an obsessive way. I am a current LLM at HLS. I'm from Western Europe and there were only five LLMs from my country in the History of the program. So your position seems to me odd. Six at the same time is a LOT! You're Chinese for sure. (Maybe from Taiwan, but China is my number 1 bet).

Don't think too much about the admission process.There is no gain. And no: you can't be refused this year and admitted for the next. I believe you can reach yourself the conclusion that such procedure would be, in general, completely absurd. It would require that the comitee would be in a position to compare next year's class with the class in the year after the next. That is obviously impossible.

Regards and GOOD LUCK!

Dude Gar willing to bet you are from PORTUGAL: I can just sense it....

Gar, you run the risk of appearing to be patronising with comments like that. Clearly, you were just as excited/nervous as Audry at that stage of the process, judging by your post in March 06: "What chances do you think I have?"

Perhaps you could more usefully contribute with some comments about your experience at HLS? I am sure they would be eagerly absorbed.

NZ

My two cents worth: NZ is spot-on on Gar, could seem a bit patronising with his comments, especially if he was in the same boat at some time...

Gar, count your Asians carefully. :P My rough count (I might be mixing up visiting researchers) is twelve mainland Chinese, seven Japanese, five Koreans, three Singaporeans, three Filipinos, three Taiwanese, two Thais and one Malaysian.

Gar, count your Asians carefully. :P My rough count (I might be mixing up visiting researchers) is twelve mainland Chinese, seven Japanese, five Koreans, three Singaporeans, three Filipinos, three Taiwanese, two Thais and one Malaysian.

Hi all,

So sorry to cause a big uproar over the matter. That was never the intention and I apologise. Gar 33, thanks for your comments - I will definitely take them in the right spirit.

As for Real McCoy, NZ, Lit, josepidal and Jacques Chirac (and anyone else I missed out), want to thank you guys as well for showing your concern as well as your insightful comments and useful views. If anyone else can help, please do post here or feel free to email me at audreypwah@gmail.com or PM me.

To end off, sorry for the trouble again and thanks all!

Audrey

I think there are five from France, although there's another who graduated from a French law school. Most of them are very nice and pleasant people, and one is one of four LLM reps.

I think there are five from France, although there's another who graduated from a French law school. Most of them are very nice and pleasant people, and one is one of four LLM reps.

"Most of them are very nice and pleasant people..."

What about the others?

;-))

Hi All!

I am from India and waiting with a relaxed mind for HLS!
Had waiting last year! But think to suceed this year!
Best wishes to all for results!

Regards
Prateek Maheshwari
Advocate

Gar, you run the risk of appearing to be patronising with comments like that. Clearly, you were just as excited/nervous as Audry at that stage of the process, judging by your post in March 06: "What chances do you think I have?"

NZ

I think there are five from France, although there's another who graduated from a French law school. Most of them are very nice and pleasant people, and one is one of four LLM reps.

Hi all,

So sorry to cause a big uproar over the matter. That was never the intention and I apologise. Gar 33, thanks for your comments - I will definitely take them in the right spirit.

As for Real McCoy, NZ, Lit, josepidal and Jacques Chirac (and anyone else I missed out), want to thank you guys as well for showing your concern as well as your insightful comments and useful views. If anyone else can help, please do post here or feel free to email me at audreypwah@gmail.com or PM me.

To end off, sorry for the trouble again and thanks all!

Audrey

Dude Gar willing to bet you are from PORTUGAL: I can just sense it....

My two cents worth: NZ is spot-on on Gar, could seem a bit patronising with his comments, especially if he was in the same boat at some time...

I think there are five from France, although there's another who graduated from a French law school. Most of them are very nice and pleasant people, and one is one of four LLM reps.

"Most of them" excludes at least one person... let me think 'Jose'... Ups... I AGREE!!