Most of the U.S. Supreme Court were pooled from Harvard.
Harvard, Yale and Stanford graduate, among them, only 1,000 law students a year. You can expect to face an acceptance rate of around 12% based on the 2006 enrollment year. To begin with, it's a numbers game of high grade point averages and Law School Acceptance Test scores. If you pull off getting into 2nd ranked Harvard, you will graduate at the top ten percent in the country.
College Degree and Grade Point Average
According to Harvard Law School admissions FAQ, the grade point average range for Harvard Law School class of 2008 was 3.74--3.95. Your grade point average, earned from your previous degree, is one of two main criterion for the next stage -- phone interviews. Harvard Law School recommends candidates have "a broad college education" and "a showing of thorough learning in a field of your choice, such as history, economics, government, philosophy, science, literature."
To wrap that up, pick a broad major, not judicial law, and be consistent in choosing minor subjects in the same field throughout your bachelor degree. Please note: Harvard Law School prefers theoretical subjects to vocational. If you have a high grade point average score, move onto the next stage: the Law School Acceptance Test.
Law School Acceptance Test
This is the big one. A high Law School Acceptance Test (LSAT) mark is the first criterion to progress from electronic application to personal correspondence with Harvard. Register with the Law School Acceptance Council (LSAC) and apply to sit the Law School Acceptance Test. For the 2011-12 academic season, test dates are October 2011,December 2011, February 2012. To prepare for the test, get yourself "The Official LSAT Superprep" and "The Official LSAT Handbook" at the LSAC shop. It's important to familiarize yourself with the question types. Harvard Admissions FAQ says scores from Harvard Law School class of 2008 ranged from 170 to 176 .
Two Letters of Recommendation
The Law School Acceptance Council offers a highly convenient recommendation and evaluation service accessible online. LSAC couriers letters between your chosen recommenders ( for example, college professors) and the law schools you are applying to. Your two recommenders will fill in a multiple choice evaluation questionnaire which asks them to tick "below average" to "truly exceptional" for statements such as, "Constructs logical, cogent arguments." Space is also provided for up to 3,000 words of freeform, candidate feedback.
Personal Statement
Your personal statement is your only chance of selling yourself, before the phone interview stage. Harvard Law School asks for two pages, 11-12 point font, 1-inch margins, and double spacing. Here, you can expand on your academic background, personal interests and work experience, painting a vivid picture on paper of not only your caliber but your personality. Harvard recommends submitting all your admissions criteria soon after September 15.
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