hello stagista

could you tell us which country your are from ? and your fisrt TOEFL score ?
thank you

I've no problem to tell you that I'm Italian citizen and Italian-university educated. it was the 2nd time I took toefl, after a 91 score on 8/2007 that left me very disappointed, as well below my expectations and perhaps my skills. Anyway, nationality issue shouldn't matter you at all, unless you're Italian too...that's 'cause the diversity every school seeks in its own student body

hello stagista11

ok, i am from France. I think in Harvard they consider Europe as one block (and maybe eastern Europe as another block), so I think your application might go through yours ! lol
But we never know. I also have another concern, it is that my TOEFL score is 100 but I have 22 in my writing section and 24 in my reading section. I hope this will be okay...You're lucky HLS asked you to retake the TOEFL and resend your letters of recommendation because I think that if your application was not that good, they would just have skipped your application (since there are too many things were missing in your candidacy). What do you think about my TOEFL and the European block?

honestly I do not agree with your statement, and I should be able to give you all evidence that we'll be not considered as a whole block. Many schools' websites use to list the countries from which their students come, and you'll never find europe, but france, germany, italy, and so on. that said, diversity isn't just something about fairness and transparency in admissions, but also (and foremost) a way to promote their market and appeal to people worlwide...we should not forget that we're talking about the richest University-College-School-Scientific Foundation on earth, with a $ 34.9 B endowment...with regard to your toefl, I think that you're unlikely to be asked to retake it...at least you meet their overall requirement...lastly, with regard to my application file, I think they did for the exact opposite reason. I can tell you that I have an impressive resume, with scholarships, awards, workshops, study and work abroad... let's wait and see. so far we're just speculating...

yes that is what i was saying, it is because your application file is very impressive (i read your post about the work in the embassy and the EC), that they asked you to send all the missing documents or documents not properly provided.
So, if they accept you they do it properly.
Concerning the European countries, i am very happy that you think Italy, France, Spain or Germany are considered as different countries and not only a whole block. They usually take two students from France (per year), is it the same for Italian candidacies ?
About the TOEFL, did you send your application this year with your previous score and they asked you to retake it, or you just asked them if it was okay before giving your TOEFL report to them?
Thank you Stagista !

sorry I didn't get your point on the previous post. I don't know how many Italian they use to admit every academic year...if you can tell me they admit 2 french guys, you already know more than I do. about the toefl, yes I sent them my 2007 score, and only then 3 on 8 uni I've applied to asked me retake it (UC Berkeley, Harvard e Chicago). Yale, along with Duke, NW, Cornell and UVA, didn't...I have no certain explanation about the reason they didn't, expecially Yale, which got back to me in late October just to notify me that my application file was complete...

i think U Chicago, HLS and UC Berkeley might really be thinking about reviewing you application file, this is the reason why they asked you to retake it. Concerning Yale, i'm not sure, but maybe they consider it as a way to disqualify a candidacy. Concerning Duke, I think that if you meet their Toefl requirements it should be ok.
I 'va got another question : I've sent my transcripts through LSAc and on the website, you're supposed to see on your profile the law schools that asked for your report, I currently don't see any in the list. I've sent my applications en November 28 by Fedex, I guess it is normal, but I wonder when law schools ask LSAC for the transcripts. I'm afraid I should have done something more with LSAC after they have done the summary. Do you know anything about this ?
Thanks again

do not thank me causa I regret to say that I did use, despite all the warning spread all over their websites, the ancient, old and reliable paper application instead of the Lsac...so, I have actually no idea of what are you talking about and I can't help or advise you either. However, if you've also send a paper application as follow-up, I think this second will back up eventual gaps or missing items...sorry I can't tell you more

lol, no problem, i was saying thank you because you answer me quickly, even at 3:00 am ! ...unless you currently are in the US! I have sent a paper application too, but I used LSAC for my transcripts. Anyway, if anyone knows if there is anything to do after LSAC has done the summary, like contacting LSAC to tell them which school we are applying for. Let me know ! :)
I hope stagista, that everything will be fine with your HLS application.

I've been living in DC since January, so here it's only 9.30 pm...too early to go to sleep even after a busy day at work! I do work for the EC, but at its delegation to the US...and this allow me to be in touch almost daily with US professors. here is unveiled my little wisdom over US university system! thank you very much, and of course let me wish you the best of luck with your application. wish you to be one of those 2 talented french representatives!

Hi hopefor,

I guess no need for you to contact the LSAC. Once I submitted my applications, within 2 to 7 days, NYU, PENN, CORNELL, and NW have requested my LSAC Reports. Perhaps it's better to ask the university to request your LSAC report.

same for me, it took only a few days to schools to call up my reports.. however HLS is taking a bit longer... I contacted them and they told me they would request it once they review my file... which doesn't indicate much actually...

but anyways you don't have to do anything. Schools request the reports directly to LSAC

Hopefor, just out of curiosity, how do you know that HLS admits two French students per year? Is that always like that? i'm wondering, cuz, well, i'm French too :)

Thank you for your answers about LSAC.
Concerning french applicants : LLM'07 two french girls were admitted , I know that because I knew a french visiting scholar there during this year (but maye someone can confirm this information ?), LLM'08 : 6 french among 10 French-speaking, LLM'09 : 10 French-speaking (from France,Quebec, Switzerland and Belgium).

When I went to Fedex, I saw a lot of receipts with Harvard as recipient. I keep my fingers crossed. If you know anything about the number of French people who applied this year, maybe it could give us an idea, since HLS are looking for diversity first.

I didn't know they would admit up to 6 french people in a same year, that's a good sign, especially now you've told me that you saw a lot of Harvard receipts at fedex...
I don't know anything about the number of french applying this year. well you and me, that's all i know! :)

Do you know the English and Americain DEA (Muir Watt)? Many students from this master apply for all the top US law school. Anyways, I keep my fingers crossed ! Good luck !

yes I know that DEA (and especially H. Muir Watt), it's a very good one indeed.. Are you a student there? yes, let's hope we'll be amongst the 6 French this year!! :)

I did this DEA a long time ago, but there are at least five students from this DEA who want to do an LLM in the US, per year. What did you write for your career plan ? Are you in a PhD, did you have a lot of experience in big law firms ? I alos think that 6 students per year is a good since I don't think more than 15 or a little bit more apply per year, so it would be around 40% chances to enter this law school. But as Stagista said, we are just speculating !

thank you for acknowledging my broad wisdom of admissions process! if you already have a PhD is no good news for you, as they are likely to point out that a PhD (or SJD) is reasonably considered the end of your studying days...it would be difficult to be admitted, but for sure not impossible. I've already understood I'll be sorrounded by french fellows if admitted to HLS...let's try to avoid to speak of soccer in case...I do expect some feedback next week from Duke and/or NWestern...could be a great backplan in case HLS will not get back to me positively...

I've already understood I'll be sorrounded by french fellows if admitted to HLS...

Same for me, i know a guy admitted to HLS, who was a recent law graduate, and a girl who was finishing her PhD as well when she entered HLS LLM... i don't think it really matters to HLS, as anyways they're looking for diversity, i assume diversity of backgrounds as well...

I have no PhD, i graduated quite recently and ever since, i've been working
Hopefor, I hope you're good at math;), because 40 % of French applicants getting admitted is a great stat!!!!! :))))

May I ask you, hopefor, if you're a lawyer? maybe you can help me, is duke well known/appreciated by law firms in France? I mean, apart from HLS, what is the "trend" in law firms, do they consider CLS or NYU better than Duke? merci!