It is a difficult choice. The position I have applied for carries a lot of responsibility and vacancies appear once in 2-3 years, sometimes more. Unlike a law firm which could easily hire from the market if I leave later for HLS, these people will not be too pleased; conversely they will certainly reject me if I inform them about my Harvard plans. Therefore if I do get a call for an interview in Feb and thereafter receive an offer, I am out of this year's HLS race.

For me therefore it makes sense asking HLS by say Feb 22 (thats when the interview might be held). No doubt there is an element of uncertainty in both (job interview versus HLS feeling I'm insincere) but to be honest HLS is less predictable.

Shit!! Just checked into my app to check something I wrote on my personal statement, and in comments to applicant it says:

We are not in receipt of the transcripts from [uni name]. Please contact the institution and have them send us a copy as soon as possible.

They have my law school transcript. The university they are asking about was one I attended for a scholarship program as a non degree-seeking, visiting student. It states this clearly in my application in two separate places (in the list of institutions I attended and the personal statement). I don't even know if I can get a full transcript from the university given that I was doing a special program.

In the event that I can't get a proper transcript, do you think it would be a good idea to get the university to send them a letter confirming I attended as part of the special program? I could probably get an additional recommendation from one of my profs there I am still in contact with. It hadn't even occurred to me that they would be interested in some random, non-law related classes I took during a gap year before starting my undergraduate degree. And I can't believe I didn't get an email telling me to check the application tracker :( the request for more info was made on 20th Jan :(

Maybe a good idea to explain this to HLS too - just to save time. Send them an email and thereafter ask this gap school of yours to send a letter.

Will the online line status reflect the decision?

@ lextra; if it is any consolation, i have a similar request for one of my transcripts. I didn't think they wld need it either. My tracker was updated on January 13th and I found out by logging in on the 26th. Was so mad that I didn't receive any email requesting it especially as I had received the completion email from Harvard earlier. I just hope this delay does not affect my chances.

Got an email confirming everything is in order and they need nothing else from me, now waiting for March when they get back.
BEST OF LUCK EVERYONE!

Got an email confirming everything is in order and they need nothing else from me, now waiting for March when they get back.
BEST OF LUCK EVERYONE!

Argh, that's the only one I've had as well. I guess they don't consider my application 'complete' either without my visiting student transcripts. I didn't get anything from them alerting me to the transcript request, though...

I'm going to contact the institution in question and get them to send an immediate confirmation of enrollment and unofficial transcript. I can't get the official one to HLS as quickly as I'd like because I am not in the same country and they require the request in writing, with signature, and international money order.

I'm really bummed because I imagine they are properly considering applications now. I really hope mine isn't languishing in an incomplete pile for want of a transcript from something I did in my gap year ... :S

ETA: Applicant2010, have you had a similar transcript request from the other schools you've applied to? (I've not, the others went complete with no extra information needed)

Nothing changed in my status since December...
It would be nice to get some info confirming everything is in order.

well guys, when I call them on Monday to clarify the situation with the transcript request I'll ask about the main application status changing from 'received' to 'complete'.

I'm worried it's going to take me at least a week and a half to get any sort of official transcript from the university in question...I don't even know my student number or anything. Am hoping the program administrators haven't changed so they can stick a letter in with the transcript explaining it (otherwise it just looks like a random year of taking classes for no credit! which, to be fair, it was...but for the love of learning, I suppose?!)

I think Harvard LLM Application Status Updates is very awful! They do not update their site regularly. it takes long times and stress is killing me. I sent both my transcripts in one package for them, now, one of them is received and one hols the titel"no current status"yet, even after 2 months, when I ask them for explanation, they simply emailed please do not ask us which documents received or not received, instead, use track your status bottom!! I dont know what to do,
does anybody have similar situation?

Got an email confirming everything is in order and they need nothing else from me, now waiting for March when they get back.
BEST OF LUCK EVERYONE!

What e-mail is that?
I guess I haven't received it...
The last I heard from them was around December. It began: "Thank you for submitting your LL.M. application to the Graduate Program at Harvard Law School. We are in the process of reviewing your file.We encourage you to use the Track your status feature to check periodically for updated information on the status of your application."

@ Econrights: please when did u receive this email?

@ Econrights: please when did u receive this email?

thanks :-))

very helpful.

Got an email confirming everything is in order and they need nothing else from me, now waiting for March when they get back.
BEST OF LUCK EVERYONE!

What e-mail is that?
I guess I haven't received it...
The last I heard from them was around December. It began: "Thank you for submitting your LL.M. application to the Graduate Program at Harvard Law School. We are in the process of reviewing your file.We encourage you to use the Track your status feature to check periodically for updated information on the status of your application."

It reads: "The Graduate Program Admissions staff has reviewed your file and has determined that it is complete....."
They go on to explain: "......Admission decisions will be made by late March 2010; you will be notified of your decision via the mailing address for all correspondence that you have provided on your application. If your preferred address should change between now and the time of admissions decisions, please reply to this e-mail with your preferred address".
Hope that helps...

The last communication I received was in early December, which indicated that the committee was in the process of reviewing the application. Not a word since, which seems to be the general situation. I hope nothing should be read into this....

Hooray - just 28 more darned days to live through!

28 days!!! Just thinking about it makes me queasy... :O