Finally done! Best of luck to everyone else :)

Quick questions for anyone in the know - the email from Harvard acknowledging receipt of the application says that faculty members and senior administrators review the applications. Any idea which faculty members? Also - is there anyone here who has applied for an LLM that is not listed as one of the LLM concentrations? Are candidates who don't apply for the LLM concentrations at a disadvantage?

Hi everyone,

I have a funny/tragic relationship with the TOEFL test.

The first time I took it, without any previous focused preparation whatsoever, I have scored: R25, L28, S23, W24 (total: 100);
After some Youtube classes for speaking and writing, I took the test again and:
R24, L28, S26, W24 (total: 102);
Then I decided to study hard in order to get top grades, but what happened was:
R24, L30, S23, W28 (total: 105).

Notice that I have got at least 100 all the times I took the test, but none of it was at least 25 in each section. My doubt is whether I should use just the last one, even though I don't have enough on reading and speaking or I should send all the three tests, since if I am combining the scores, I would have everything above 25.

The problem is that maybe they can consider that I am not fluent enough because I needed to take the test several times.

Could you guys help me with that? Thank you very much!

I had similar issues with LSAC - My recommendation is to call them and push it. LSAC had my transcript for three weeks and I was about to miss a deadline because of the wait on AACRAO verifications. I emailed LSAC and called and spoke to someone who was sympathetic but said she couldn't do anything. However, a day later, it was all done! I don't know if it was a coincidence but it is definitely worth a shot.

Hi everyone,

I have a funny/tragic relationship with the TOEFL test.

The first time I took it, without any previous focused preparation whatsoever, I have scored: R25, L28, S23, W24 (total: 100);
After some Youtube classes for speaking and writing, I took the test again and:
R24, L28, S26, W24 (total: 102);
Then I decided to study hard in order to get top grades, but what happened was:
R24, L30, S23, W28 (total: 105).

Notice that I have got at least 100 all the times I took the test, but none of it was at least 25 in each section. My doubt is whether I should use just the last one, even though I don't have enough on reading and speaking or I should send all the three tests, since if I am combining the scores, I would have everything above 25.

The problem is that maybe they can consider that I am not fluent enough because I needed to take the test several times.

Could you guys help me with that? Thank you very much!

Given that our applications are all out, I think is ok to ask now: What was your PS' Part A about? Was it related to your concentration area, or was just a current legal issue in your region?

Given that our applications are all out, I think is ok to ask now: What was your PS' Part A about? Was it related to your concentration area, or was just a current legal issue in your region?

Given that our applications are all out, I think is ok to ask now: What was your PS' Part A about? Was it related to your concentration area, or was just a current legal issue in your region?

It was related to my concentration area. I figured writing about a completely different topic that is at odds with your PS or subjects of interest would not tie in well with the rest of the application. Plus it demonstrates that you think critically about your own area of interest.

HI, guys! First of all, good luck to you all!

I’ve applied through LSAC and on my status page (HLS) the LSAC report is shown as received but my transcripts are as not received. Did that happened to any of you? I’ve sent an email to LSAC already but I got no answer.

HI, guys! First of all, good luck to you all!

I’ve applied through LSAC and on my status page (HLS) the LSAC report is shown as received but my transcripts are as not received. Did that happened to any of you? I’ve sent an email to LSAC already but I got no answer.

HI, guys! First of all, good luck to you all!

I’ve applied through LSAC and on my status page (HLS) the LSAC report is shown as received but my transcripts are as not received. Did that happened to any of you? I’ve sent an email to LSAC already but I got no answer.

Hi Mariana - Do not worry about that. It's the same for me. The application status page says that for people who have applied through LSAC, their report would show up as received much earlier than the transcript status can be updated.

I'm nervous too! Does anyone know what the chances of admission are like if you don't apply for the listed concentrations?

Does anybody face the following problem: My status page says that Harvard has already received my LSAC report. However, the Transcripts sections say "Awaiting".

Do you think that will be a problem?

Does anybody face the following problem: My status page says that Harvard has already received my LSAC report. However, the Transcripts sections say "Awaiting".

Do you think that will be a problem?

Does anybody face the following problem: My status page says that Harvard has already received my LSAC report. However, the Transcripts sections say "Awaiting".

Do you think that will be a problem?

Does anybody face the following problem: My status page says that Harvard has already received my LSAC report. However, the Transcripts sections say "Awaiting".

Do you think that will be a problem?

I recommend that you don't write to them. This was contained in their email acknowledging receipt of the application:

LSAC CAS users: Your LSAC Report likely will be marked as received on your checklist long before your transcripts (and TOEFL score, if applicable) can be processed and individually marked as received. If your LSAC Report has been marked as received, you should not contact the Graduate Program to ask why your transcript or TOEFL scores have not been marked as received.

Does anybody face the following problem: My status page says that Harvard has already received my LSAC report. However, the Transcripts sections say "Awaiting".

Do you think that will be a problem?

I recommend that you don't write to them. This was contained in their email acknowledging receipt of the application:

LSAC CAS users: Your LSAC Report likely will be marked as received on your checklist long before your transcripts (and TOEFL score, if applicable) can be processed and individually marked as received. If your LSAC Report has been marked as received, you should not contact the Graduate Program to ask why your transcript or TOEFL scores have not been marked as received.

Thank you so much for your helpful advice! :)

[Edited by MV20178 on Dec 29, 2017]

I recommend that you don't write to them. This was contained in their email acknowledging receipt of the application:

LSAC CAS users: Your LSAC Report likely will be marked as received on your checklist long before your transcripts (and TOEFL score, if applicable) can be processed and individually marked as received. If your LSAC Report has been marked as received, you should not contact the Graduate Program to ask why your transcript or TOEFL scores have not been marked as received.

Thank you so much for your helpful advice! :)

JJM5, don`t worry.
I`ve also submitted my transcripts/TOELF through LSAC and had the same issue. However, the Admissions Office processed my documents a few days ago. Everything is complete im my application at this moment.
Just a small detail, while my application indicated that my transcripts and TOELF were missing, it did show my "LSAC documents" as requested and received.

Good luck to you!

The wait is killing me. I'm a slightly older applicant (I'm 30) and I'm wondering if this is a disadvantage for HLS? Does anyone know the median age of accepted candidates?

Thank you so much for your helpful advice! :)

JJM5, don`t worry.
I`ve also submitted my transcripts/TOELF through LSAC and had the same issue. However, the Admissions Office processed my documents a few days ago. Everything is complete im my application at this moment.
Just a small detail, while my application indicated that my transcripts and TOELF were missing, it did show my "LSAC documents" as requested and received.

Good luck to you!

Many thanks! :) Good luck! :)