Harvard Expedite Request--- Which Email?

81 151

Posted Mar 08, 2010 19:29

Of course. I'll let you know as soon as I hear. In fact, I'll text her now! It's 1:23pm in Boston. That means that they have 3hrs and 37mins (and then also all day tomorrow lol) to let her know! Stay tuned for details!

I'm interested to hear the disposition of your friend's inquiry. Again, I have not sought expedited consideration, but I suspect that HLS is adopting an across-the-board policy. I could, of course, be incorrect.

<blockquote>Of course. I'll let you know as soon as I hear. In fact, I'll text her now! It's 1:23pm in Boston. That means that they have 3hrs and 37mins (and then also all day tomorrow lol) to let her know! Stay tuned for details! </blockquote>

I'm interested to hear the disposition of your friend's inquiry. Again, I have not sought expedited consideration, but I suspect that HLS is adopting an across-the-board policy. I could, of course, be incorrect.

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nemo@nauti...

44 87

Posted Mar 08, 2010 21:54

but I suspect that HLS is adopting an across-the-board policy. I could, of course, be incorrect.

I don't think it's an across-the-board policy, a standard response they are giving us.
I also got the e-mail that has been circulating in this board and I'm pessimistic about it. (I'll try to reference the e-mail Harvard sent us as "common" message in the following text)

To the best of my searching skills, I've found that in previous years there were reports of people receiving messages just like the one we got after e-mailing HLS AND reports of people receiving some different treatment, even receiving early admission to Harvard. (I'll try to find the precise posts again and link them here afterwards, so that you can come up with your own interpretation, if an interpretation is really possible)

On top of indications that this "common" message is not a standard e-mail, another thing that is common throughout the years is to read that this message is an indication that you are not in a good position for acceptance at HLS: in other words, according to this line of thought, if you got this message and HLS did not try to rapidly keep you informed, calling you or sending you a different message, it means you are not so good in their eyes and will probably not be offered admission.
Consistently with this information, I haven't found (although by imperfect means) anyone who got this "common" message and was later admitted.

While one must not confuse causality and correlation and come to believe receiving the "common" message certainly implies a future rejection, there seems to be at least some sort of correlation to be acknowledged: people who received the message in previous years have not shown up in the forums later saying they were admitted.

I've given up hope on HLS.

DISCLAIMER: The following message's contents rest entirely on my interpretation of facts and I'm not known for being optimistic. Perhaps what I will write will be wrong and perhaps it will be just baselessly pessimistic on top of being wrong.

-------------------------

<blockquote>but I suspect that HLS is adopting an across-the-board policy. I could, of course, be incorrect.</blockquote>

I don't think it's an across-the-board policy, a standard response they are giving us.
I also got the e-mail that has been circulating in this board and I'm pessimistic about it. (I'll try to reference the e-mail Harvard sent us as "common" message in the following text)

To the best of my searching skills, I've found that in previous years there were reports of people receiving messages just like the one we got after e-mailing HLS AND reports of people receiving some different treatment, even receiving early admission to Harvard. (I'll try to find the precise posts again and link them here afterwards, so that you can come up with your own interpretation, if an interpretation is really possible)

On top of indications that this "common" message is not a standard e-mail, another thing that is common throughout the years is to read that this message is an indication that you are not in a good position for acceptance at HLS: in other words, according to this line of thought, if you got this message and HLS did not try to rapidly keep you informed, calling you or sending you a different message, it means you are not so good in their eyes and will probably not be offered admission.
Consistently with this information, I haven't found (although by imperfect means) anyone who got this "common" message and was later admitted.

While one must not confuse causality and correlation and come to believe receiving the "common" message certainly implies a future rejection, there seems to be at least some sort of correlation to be acknowledged: people who received the message in previous years have not shown up in the forums later saying they were admitted.

I've given up hope on HLS.

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togatoga=c...

86 172

Posted Mar 09, 2010 00:28

She still hasn't heard! They have until tomorrow! Otherwise I think it's safe to assume that the "common" message is not indicative of a cross the board policy!

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supranote1

81 151

Posted Mar 09, 2010 03:04

She still hasn't heard! They have until tomorrow! Otherwise I think it's safe to assume that the "common" message is not indicative of a cross the board policy!

I don't think that the amount of time delay between receipt of a request and furnishing a response is dispositive. There is no way that an institution would grant or decline an expedite request within a matter of a short period of time that would appear too dismissive. You have to realize that admissions decisions aren't made over the course of an extended period of time. Your application is likely reviewed individually by members of the committee and then discussed and voted on in one session. But the process is several months long to shield what could be a quick, arbitrary decision.

It is likely that your friend's expedite request is being held for a reasonable time and will be denied. Perhaps it will be granted. Either way, please keep us posted. It would be interesting to see if this is a "common" message that is universally applied or if that assumption is disproved.

<blockquote>She still hasn't heard! They have until tomorrow! Otherwise I think it's safe to assume that the "common" message is not indicative of a cross the board policy!</blockquote>

I don't think that the amount of time delay between receipt of a request and furnishing a response is dispositive. There is no way that an institution would grant or decline an expedite request within a matter of a short period of time that would appear too dismissive. You have to realize that admissions decisions aren't made over the course of an extended period of time. Your application is likely reviewed individually by members of the committee and then discussed and voted on in one session. But the process is several months long to shield what could be a quick, arbitrary decision.

It is likely that your friend's expedite request is being held for a reasonable time and will be denied. Perhaps it will be granted. Either way, please keep us posted. It would be interesting to see if this is a "common" message that is universally applied or if that assumption is disproved.

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longbright

1 1

Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:18

I received Harvard's reply re my request for expediting my decision on 3rd March. Again, their response is negative ( they replied after 4 working days).

Before posting on their reply, I need to explain my situation as my scenario is kind of different: I only applied for one LL.M. program that is Harvard and has been granted the admission to the Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at Fletcher School (very close to Harvard Law School historically and geographically) for fall 2010 enrolment a few months ago. I planed to do the MALD studies at Fletcher and wish to attend the summer school this May. However, if I have been admitted into HLS, I will defer my MALD studies to next year. In any case, I need to enter into U.S this May to enhance my English. I am a Chinese applicant with 4.5 years experiences at international law firms China offices and one year volunteer experience with the post-Sichuan earthquake rehabilitaion project. I do not have any other deadlines to accept offer, I just need to speed up my visa and financial planning before this May and see whether Harvard would finish the uncertain situation earlier for me.

Their reply are as follows: Thank you for your email and for your explanation of the situation. Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to give you an expedited admissions decision. Harvard Law School has a very rigorous admissions process requiring that each successful application be approved only after a careful evaluation process by a committee of experienced staff and faculty. Our admission decisions are generally made by late March.

If you are offered admission to the 2010-11 LL.M. Program, you may request a one-year deferral from Harvard Law School in order to complete the first year of your MALD studies.

Also, we would like to mention that if you plan to come to Boston in May to attend a summer program, you will need to make arrangements for a separate visa from the institution where you will be studying in the summer.

In other words, even if you are accepted to the Harvard Law School LL.M. Program, you will not be able to enter the U.S. in May on a Harvard visa. Therefore, there is no contingency between our admissions decision and your visa application for the summer program.

We hope this will help you make an informed decision. Whatever you decide, we wish you the best for the coming year.

Kind regards,

Graduate Admissions Committee

Harvard Law School Graduate Program
1557 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
tel: (617) 496-8214
fax: (617) 496-9179
email: gpquery@law.harvard.edu

Do you guys think that I should end up my imagination re acceptance to Harvard and start to plan my next steps for future MALD studies at Fletcher?

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supranote1

81 151

Posted Mar 10, 2010 14:21

Longbright,

I think they gave you much more information than was necessary, but they ensured that the status of your applicant remains uncertain to you. I would not recommend deferring for a year if you are admitted to HLS. My understanding, and it may only be with respect to American JDs, is that you basically have to reapply, there is no guaranteed admission. I could be wrong in that regard. Perhaps you should inquire once a decision is made.

Their refusal to expedite, though, also stems from the fact that you really have no deadline. Their explanation makes clear that the visa status for summer study is unrelated, so a refusal to expedite is consistent with the fact that you really have no competing offer. If you do, in fact, have a deadline from Tufts that expires before "late March," then I suggest you accept it and withdraw from HLS. But if you can wait, I would wait. See what happens. Good luck.

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