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harvard personal statement

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applicant2009

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 90
harvard personal statement
Mon Sep 15, 2008 08:42 PM
any suggestions on how to break up the word limit while addressing different parts of the question for the personal statement?
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GlasgowLaw

Joined: 05 Sep 2008
Posts: 21
harvard personal statement
Mon Sep 15, 2008 08:53 PM
Yo,

Im applying to Harv too (in vain hope probably), and was wondering the same thing.....
Also, are you handing your application in by November?
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applicant2009

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 90
harvard personal statement
Mon Sep 15, 2008 08:55 PM
i'm submitting it in on dec 1st...

i'm so stressed out!!! i'm having trouble writting on the application forms. have you been able to do that?
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GlasgowLaw

Joined: 05 Sep 2008
Posts: 21
harvard personal statement
Tue Sep 16, 2008 09:18 AM
Iv not even started the online application yet, im still trying to pull together the info for the LSAC credential service (applying from the U.K.) and my final year starts today too!

I guess to split the word limit in half is ok?????
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hjscotland

Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 133
harvard personal statement
Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:44 PM
split it 1000/500 in favour of the legal problem essay.
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Mercury Man

Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Posts: 6
harvard personal statement
Wed Sep 17, 2008 05:21 AM
I suggest allocating just enough words to write a concise and cogent legal essay, and using the remaining word count towards your personal essay. This is especially if you have strong grades or stellar qualifications from a well regarded University -- HLS is unlikely to question your academic ability in this case.

Also, the personal essay is extremely important as it gives the assessor a window into who you are as a person, your character, and how you can contribute to the diversity of the student body. All things being equal, I think that HLS will focus more on the personal essay rather than the legal essay if they have to pick between 2 candidates.

This is why it is crucial to pick a legal topic that you can deal with in 700-900 words. I would be careful about allocating more than 1,000 words for the legal essay. Be economical and selective in your words and get your points across succinctly. Your mileage may vary (as with all things, there is no right or wrong approach), but I find that 800 words for the legal essay is enough for me.
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Brightest

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 63
harvard personal statement
Thu Sep 25, 2008 07:16 AM
Dear GlasgowLaw

Iv not even started the online application yet, im still trying to pull together the info for the LSAC credential service (applying from the U.K.) and my final year starts today too!

I guess to split the word limit in half is ok?????


With regard to your post, I just needed to ask whether there is any online application for Harvard. As far as I know for HLS you have to submit a paper application.

And Dear all I just needed to ask one thing abt the mode of payment of fees for the Harvard LL.M course 2009.....

The application instructions states that the fees should be paid in the form of a money order or a check drawn on a bank with a U.S. branch indicated on the check and made out to “Harvard Law School,” must accompany each application.
Will a demand draft in US$ (also known as a banker's check) made out to “Harvard Law School" be acceptable?

Please suggest..

Brightest
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i_love_my_llm

Joined: 18 Sep 2008
Posts: 9
harvard personal statement
Fri Sep 26, 2008 03:24 AM
yes, a banker's check made out to harvard law school will be acceptable... it will be payable at new york, if you do it through a bank like stan chart/ citi/ deutsche, its the easiest because they have their us branches, and it will be payable at new york, though you dont have to tell the bank that.. they'l do it anyways

and hls does not have an online application.
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Brightest

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 63
harvard personal statement
Fri Sep 26, 2008 06:28 AM
Hey i_love_my_llm.....thanks a ton for ur reply.......u hv chosen an unusual name....but i could make out ur passion ofr ll.m.....are u doing it or u r planning to apply for it......and one more thing....its not related to harvard law school....rather NYU.....I'm stuck with one essay which requires "two contributions I can make towards NYU school of law if I get an admission"....I dont know wat kind of contribution they are asking for.....i mean if you can just suggest broadly wat they are asking for.......

brightest
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applicant2009

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 90
harvard personal statement
Fri Sep 26, 2008 04:07 PM
Guys,

Any suggestions on the Columbia persoanl statement? I'm lost. what do i need to right in academic interests? and in the reasons for doing so? i need help!
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i_love_my_llm

Joined: 18 Sep 2008
Posts: 9
harvard personal statement
Fri Sep 26, 2008 08:18 PM
hey brightest.. well, i actually love my llm, which is at harvard, and glad to help out... unfortunately nyu was the only college to deny me admission, so my suggestion may not be very fruitful, but the question is for the hauser, and i had written on how i could contribute to develpment of new thoughts on what i wanted to do my research on in law school... but go by someone who got it and not me. for columbia, i had basically shortened my harvard essay and focused more on the personal statement part and blended in with the legal essay to show my academic interest. bottomline, the essays for whichever college should sound academic and not totally about yourself, because remember this is a postgraduate level essay and your cv can vouch for how good you are and your achievements.
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applicant2009

Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 90
harvard personal statement
Fri Sep 26, 2008 08:35 PM
hey i_love_my_llm,

regarding the columbia PS, how much detail do we need to write about in the background part?
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Brightest

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 63
harvard personal statement
Sat Sep 27, 2008 06:58 AM
Dear i_love_my_ll.m....

thanks for your valuable suggestions......I'll surely keep them in mind....harvard is grt n better than NYU i suppose....which concentration do u have in ur ll.m.????????

brightest
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i_love_my_llm

Joined: 18 Sep 2008
Posts: 9
harvard personal statement
Sat Sep 27, 2008 04:47 PM
hi brigtest, i have no problem with nyu rejecting me, since i have no doubt that i am doing a far better program. i am doing a mixture of corporate and constitution law courses, and they are all amazing. i would suggest if you are interested in corporate to consider hls, cls and sls as your top 3 choices, followed by nyu, chicago, upenn
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Brightest

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 63
harvard personal statement
Mon Sep 29, 2008 06:16 AM
hey thanks for the advice.....did u applied for the financial assistance?????...i'm applying for it but the financial aid form is quite technical....i mean i dont have much resources to apply for HLS....and do u think with the disclosure of such small resources they will consider me????????.....wat is the best way to go abt it?????

Brightest
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i_love_my_llm

Joined: 18 Sep 2008
Posts: 9
harvard personal statement
Wed Oct 01, 2008 05:35 AM
harvard will give you very good aid if you get in.. and the admissions is need-blind, one of the few schools which is like that, so entry is on merit 100%, and the aid application will be processed separately and you will know 3 weeks later about your aid

so be honest and write what resources you have, they will likely look at tht 8 page thing only once you get an admissions offers.. if u have the merit to get into HLS, they will ensure to take care to get you to boston
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Brightest

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 63
harvard personal statement
Wed Oct 01, 2008 05:53 AM
hey thanks i_love_my_ll.m.....I'm concentrating on my personal statements dese days but really confused abt the legal essay....i hv written it but the topic is not very talked abt types....so i fear if the selection commitee finds it little boring.......

wats ur real name (if u r comfortable) and which country u belong to???????....
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DGML84

Joined: 27 Oct 2008
Posts: 2
harvard personal statement
Tue Oct 28, 2008 04:19 AM
Does anyone have a personal statement from a succesful applicant?

[Edited 28 Oct 2008 by DGML84]
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Brightest

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 63
harvard personal statement
Tue Nov 04, 2008 09:49 AM
Dear All,

I just discovered that HLS also accepts online credit card payment of the application money...........has anyone used that service??????

Just wanted to know that whether the payment shd be made first and then the application material be dispatched or can the payment be made after dat also???????...i mean will they give any email confirmation of the payment made which has to be enclosed with the application material?????????
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Nokina

Joined: 28 Oct 2008
Posts: 35
harvard personal statement
Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:03 AM
Hi Brightest,

Where from did you discover HLS accepts online credit card payment as well? It would be very convenient if we could pay by credit card but I wonder how it works when they don't have online application system. Any additional info would be appreciated.
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Brightest

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 63
harvard personal statement
Tue Nov 04, 2008 10:17 AM
Dear Nokina,

Visit the link given below and this I found on the application instructions given on HLS' website under the application fee subhead....

www.events.harvard.edu/profile/form/index.cfm?PKfo…

I am happy that I helped at least somebody on the LLM thing, otherwise I have been just seeking info. and unable to provide any for all these months.........anyways if u submit online tell me how it went.........all d best.........
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MyLLM_Rio

Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 2
harvard personal statement
Tue Nov 04, 2008 01:51 PM
Dear All, This post is being very useful.
I noticed that Harvard now has the electronic application process.
Do you think they prefer this system? Or do you think it is better to apply using the paper application?

Thanks to all!
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Nokina

Joined: 28 Oct 2008
Posts: 35
harvard personal statement
Tue Nov 04, 2008 08:03 PM
Dear Brightest,

Thank you so much for your link! I haven't been on their website for so long as I downloaded every form required a few months ago. So I didn't know they now have online application system. Now I think I'll apply online.


Dear MyLLM_Rio,

This post in very useful indeed. Harvard doesn't say they prefer online application system so I think it's totally up to you. If you already prepared your documents in paper format, you should continue that. But if you are like me (haven't done anything yet :p ), I think it's easier to fill in their electronic application form.

In any case, good luck to you all!!
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MyLLM_Rio

Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 2
harvard personal statement
Tue Nov 04, 2008 08:13 PM
Dear Nokina,

Thanks a lot for this information!
I decided that I will apply online.
Are you going to use LSAC? Do you think Harvard prefers us to send our transcripts directly to them (in sealed envelopes)?
Good luck to you also!
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Nokina

Joined: 28 Oct 2008
Posts: 35
harvard personal statement
Tue Nov 04, 2008 08:31 PM
Dear MyLLM_Rio,

I don't use LSAC. I still don't see why I should pay 185 USD (which is a lot of money for me) to LSAC instead of paying 17 USD each to ETS to get extra official score report and only a small amount of fee (about 2 USD each) to my universities to get additional official transcripts. I paid about 95 USD altogether for 5 universities. But if the fee for obtaining official transcripts is high in your country, you should consider LSAC.

Cheers
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