How to get into Harvard Law School (whether you have the highest scores or not)

Are you applying to elite law schools but feel lost and confused about how to craft your application and showcase your candidacy in the most compelling way possible?

The law school application process can feel daunting and intimidating, and the challenging odds of admission to the nation’s most elite law schools — Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia — can make the process feel even more nerve-wracking. 

And the stakes are high, because acceptance rates are low, but the benefits and connections you get from earning an elite law degree are vast. Indeed, new elite law school graduates can earn lucrative paydays of nearly $200,000 or more in their first year of law firm practice. That’s 4x the national household median income, potentially by the time you are 25 years old. An elite law degree can also open up a world of career path options — including law, finance, business, politics, non-profits, and more. 

So nailing your application and getting it right matter tremendously if you want to pursue a legal education.

Our law school admissions guideHow to get into Harvard Law School (whether you have the highest scores or not)” teaches you step-by-step strategy, technique, and mindset of the distinctive and successful Harvard Law School applicant. It differs from other law school admissions guides through its focus on:

  • The most elite, hardest-to-enter law schools in the country: specifically Harvard, and additionally Yale, Stanford, and Columbia
  • Admissions strategy for candidates without the highest scores or grades, and how to frame a compelling application story given those circumstances
  • Surprising insights about the mindset and motivations of elite law school admissions committees / reviewers
  • In-depth breakdown of each application component, how to showcase and strengthen it, and how it is evaluated and “scored” by elite admissions committees

We’re so confident our guide is packed with actionable, insightful tips and techniques that if you don’t find the material insightful or useful after reading it, just e-mail us within 5 days and we’ll give you a refund.

Read praise and testimonials for the e-book, preview the first chapter for free, and buy the guide today!

How to get into Harvard Law School ebook

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MY TRACK RECORD IN HELPING OTHERS GET INTO HARVARD AND OTHER ELITE LAW SCHOOLS

I was an unlikely candidate for admission to Harvard Law School, but I was accepted on my first attempt at applying and in the very first round of accepted students.

Combined with five years of experience as a law school admissions coach for Kaplan and for the Harvard University house system, I have helped hundreds of applicants win admission to literally every elite law school in the country — including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and others — by helping them refine and polish their applications, resumes, and personal statements.

Because of this experience, I decided to share every secret I know about the admissions process — everything from the admissions committee’s mindset and exactly what they are looking for, to the way your grades and track record are actually interpreted and evaluated, to tips on the Harvard admissions live interview.

My 75-page guide, “How to get into Harvard Law School (whether you have the highest scores or not),” is like a 10-hour personal coaching session where I sit down and tell you every secret I know about getting into the best law schools in the country.

What can you expect to learn in the guide? See the table of contents below!

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to get into Harvard Law School (whether you have the highest scores or not)

Read praise and testimonials for the guide here!

  • Forward (PREVIEW THIS CHAPTER FOR FREE!)
    • My background (pp. 5-6)
    • What this guide contains (p. 6)
  • What this guide focuses on
    • Getting into Harvard Law School specifically (pp. 7-8)
    • Broader application techniques for getting into the most prestigious US law schools (Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Columbia) (p. 8 )
  • My background before Harvard
    • Five reasons the odds were stacked against me (pp. 8-10)
    • Four things I had going in my favor (pp. 10-11)
  • What Harvard looks for in applicants
    • The single biggest thing they are looking for (and why it’s important) (pp. 11-12)
    • Other things: People who can handle, and thrive in, the academic and extracurricular pressure (and what that means specifically at Harvard)
      • Academic ability (p. 13)
      • Intelligent adaptability (pp.13-14)
      • Interdisciplinary ability (pp. 14-15)
    • People who can write well (and why it’s important) (p. 15)
    • Why a pre-law background is not critical (pp. 15-17)
  • How they screen for it
    • What is the mindset of a Harvard admissions officer?
      • What are her goals? (pp. 17-20)
      • In this context, your goal is to… (p. 20)
  • Breaking apart the application, and examining how each component is assessed
    • Grades
      • Why they are important (pp. 21-22)
      • What you need (p. 22)
      • What is a dealbreaker (pp. 22-23)
      • How important is the trend of your grades (p. 23)
    • Major of study (p. 23)
      • Pros and cons of the liberal arts (p. 24)
      • Pros and cons of the natural sciences (pp.24-25)
      • What about multiple majors? (pp. 25-26)
      • How to deal with switched majors (pp. 26-27)
      • What if you were a transfer student in undergrad? (p. 27)
    • LSAT
      • Why it is important (p. 28)
      • What you need (pp. 28-29)
      • When do score differences become significant in terms of application outcomes? (p. 29)
      • What is considered a low score (and when is it a dealbreaker)? (pp. 29-30)
      • What can you do about it? And what to do with multiple test scores (i.e., from taking the test more than once) (pp. 30-31)
      • Trends in how the LSAT has been evaluated over time (pp. 31-32)
      • The right mindset for the LSAT (pp. 32-33)
    • Recommendations (p. 33)
      • How many are required? How many are ideal? What’s too much? (p. 34)
      • Who should write your recommendations? (p. 35)
        • The pros and cons of…
          • Professors – Do they have to be tenured professors? What about adjunct or lecturing faculty? (p. 36)
          • What about full-time work supervisors? Past internship supervisors? (p. 37)
          • Extracurricular activity supervisors? (pp. 37-38)
        • What’s the optimal balance between a “lesser” recommendation from a “brand-name” recommender vs. a stunning recommendation from a non-brand name recommender? (p. 38)
      • What ideally should your recommendations say? (pp. 38-39)
      • How should your recommenders evaluate you vs. other students from your year? What about vs. students from the recommender’s entire career? (pp. 39-40)
      • Who should recommendations be addressed to? How long should they be? (p. 41)
      • When should your recommenders write their recommendations – shortly after they have interacted with you or shortly before you apply to law school? (pp. 41-42)
    • Personal Statement
      • Why is it important? How long should it be? (pp. 42-43)
      • What should you write about? (Don’t assume it’s “why I want to go to law school.”) (pp. 43-44)
      • When should I start? How should I start? (pp. 44-45)
      • How important is the actual prose (i.e., my writing quality) for admission? (p. 45)
    • Extracurriculars (pp. 46-47)
      • How substantive was the activity?
      • What was the extent of your involvement?
      • What leadership roles did you have?
      • What impact, change, and track record did you leave behind?
    • Interviews
      • What are they, who gets them, and how they work at Harvard (pp. 47-48)
      • What they ask you (pp. 48-49)
      • Can you prepare? How to prepare? (pp. 49-50)
    • Affirmative action and how it’s evaluated at Harvard (pp. 50-51)
  • The decision
    • What happens when you’re admitted
      • Happiness (pp. 51-52)
      • Financial aid (p. 52)
      • Admit weekend (p. 52)
    • What happens if you’re rejected (p. 53)
    • What happens if you’re waitlisted (p. 53)
  • What the day-to-day Harvard Law School experience is like
    • Overall (p. 54)
    • 1st year (pp. 54-55)
    • 2nd year (pp. 55-57)
    • 3rd year (pp. 57-58)
    • Summers and full-time work (pp. 58-59)
  • What Harvard Law School is good at teaching (and what it is not) (pp. 59-61)
  • The right mindset for applying to Harvard Law School
    • Why you shouldn’t assume it will help you “keep your options open” (p. 61)
    • Why you should treat it as a liberal arts education (not a technical legal education) (p. 62)
    • Why it’s important to see Harvard Law School within the broader context of Harvard University (pp. 62-63)
  • Life beyond Harvard
    • Careers
      • Law (pp. 63-64)
      • Business (pp. 64-65)
      • Banking / finance (pp. 65-67)
      • Government / policy (pp. 67-68)
      • Social Sector (pp. 68-69)
      • Academia (pp. 69-70)
    • The Harvard alumni network (pp. 70-71)

How to get into Harvard Law School ebook

Buy the guide today for only $49!

 

REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS FOR “HOW TO GET INTO HARVARD LAW SCHOOL” ADMISSIONS GUIDE

“I have read quite a few books and forums in regards to law school application process and Andrew’s book definitely provides some unique insights. I find his personal account of how the application process should be approached helpful especially for those that do not have the highest scores or the highest credentials. Reading the book definitely allowed me to shift my mindset and look at my application more analytically and understanding where my weak spots are. Personally, my biggest obstacle is writing a personal statement that not only connects personally with me but convey the qualities I would like the reader to know. Andrew’s book definitely gave good tips as to what law schools are looking for and how to brainstorm for an effective personal statement. Although still in the process of applying, Andrew’s advice thus far (from his book and e-mails) are definitely worthwhile.”

– Jolie, UVA scholarship law student, graduate of the Ohio State University

 

“This e-book provided me with a knowledgeable person’s perspective on aspects of the application that I was feeling ambivalent about. It even dispelled some misconceptions I had about the application process, and has given me more confidence and direction as I prepare to apply to schools this cycle. I will be referring back to the book often as I write and polish my essays. Thank you again!”

– Sarah, graduate of the University of California at Berkeley

 

“As a middle aged surgeon, I come to the law school application process from a non-traditional vantage point, and I found this book immensely helpful in developing a strategy for crafting an effective application. While I very successfully navigated the medical school process decades ago, the law school process is a completely different animal in many ways. Andrew gives very helpful insights regarding all aspects of the process, from grades to LSAT to personal statement to letters of recommendation, and beyond. It is particularly helpful for those aspiring to elite schools, as he gives many concrete suggestions regarding how to best differentiate oneself in an extremely competitive environment. I have aggressively scoured the internet for quite some time looking for available and relevant resources – I have found Andrew’s e-book to be, BY FAR, the most engaging and constructive document I have encountered. It is well worth the investment.”

– Cris, graduate of Haverford College and NYU School of Medicine; board-certified in general surgery and in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery

 

“This ebook does a wonderful job at piecing together all the necessary advice you will need, in an easy-to-read, confidence-inspiring format. Andrew really tackles the task at hand in a successful manner, all the while identifying with you and supporting you.”

– Jorge, enrolled at Harvard Law School, graduate of Georgetown University

 

“The tips you gave were awesome, totally helped me reframe how to think about each part of the application. Will definitely be recommending this to other people who are applying to law school.”

– Luke, enrolled at Yale Law School, graduate of the University of Texas at Austin

 

“I love the advice about how to turn your application into a story. I never thought about it that way before, how to make all the parts of the application relate to each other. Thanks for the great advice!”

– Elizabeth, enrolled at Harvard Law School, graduate of the University of California at Berkeley

 

“Hands down the best report I’ve read about getting into a great law school. It really helps you see the world through the eyes of the admissions reader. I’m definitely going to use this as a checklist when I apply.”

– Eric, enrolled at Columbia Law School, graduate of the University of California at Davis

 

“Thanks for all the insights on what makes a great application. The tips on how to tell your story were powerful and will be really helpful when I put together my applications for law school next year.”

– Jillian, enrolled at University of Chicago Law School, graduate of the Ohio State University

 

“Thanks for sharing this with me! I thought this e-book was incredibly helpful, especially the parts about about the personal essay and the faculty recommendations letters. I read your guide last minute but it really helped me understand how to polish my application, and I’ve already gotten into 3 great law schools so far. 3 down 5 to go!”

– Karen, enrolled at Georgetown Law Center, graduate of LSU

 

How to get into Harvard Law School provides useful insight for atypical applicants with interesting stories and unconventional experiences on how to market their unique qualities in the perceived ‘numbers game’ environment. The book offers helpful advice on what admissions officers are looking for, how best to tailor reference letters and personal statements, and the importance of knowing why and whether law school is genuinely the right choice. Reflecting on these components has helped me put together a more holistic and provocative application.”

– James, enrolled at NYU School of Law, graduate of the University of Toronto

 

“I just got through your e-book and I can say that it was more informative than I thought it would be; I’ve read a lot of law school admissions literature recently, and this was by far the best to the extent that it provided tangible advice and direction and at the same time maintained an uplifting tone. Very well written, many thanks!”

– Paul, graduate of Montclair State University

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Will this guide really help me apply successfully to Harvard and other elite law schools?

A huge part of what makes a successful law school application is understanding the mindset of your application reviewer, and understanding how to craft your story to answer the key questions in her mind — all within the 5-7 minutes of her reading attention you have before she moves to the next application.

Our law school admissions guide reveals the core mindset and questions that elite admissions reviewers have while reading your application. We show you step-by-step how to present your story in the most compelling way possible, and we also show you how to think strategically about how the key components of your application fit together to tell a single unified story.

Our readers consistently give us feedback about how valuable they find the insights in our law school admissions guide, and how it strengthened their applications and helped them win admission to the top law schools in the country. See our customer testimonials here.

 

Q. Is it worth it to pay $49 for the guide?

We feel strongly that our law school admissions guide offers tremendous value for law school applicants.

The stakes for crafting a winning law school application are significant because the school where you finish your formal education is considered the most important educational credential in your career.

The difference in job options and connections between a local law school vs. an elite national law school are substantial. New graduates of elite law schools can expect to earn nearly $200,000 or more in their very first year of law firm practice. That’s 4x the national household median income, potentially by the time you are 25 years old. By contrast, often graduates of local law schools struggle to find employment. Over a longer period, the career opportunities and networks you develop as a graduate of a top law school continue to pay compounding dividends which can lead to diverse and interesting job opportunities, greater career fulfillment, and higher pay. 

Investing in yourself by purchasing our law school admissions guide can pay off many hundreds of times over just in your first year of legal practice, and it only goes up over time when you look at your earnings over the years.

That makes the risk of not crafting the strongest, most compelling possible law school application costly, because it could mean delaying or even missing your opportunity to attend a top law school — and all the career benefits that come with it. 

How worthwhile is it to risk not getting the law school acceptances you want, and potentially delaying your legal career by needing to wait a year or longer to re-apply — or even settling for a different career path entirely? 

By contrast, how much is it worth it to invest in yourself by purchasing our law school admissions guide and potentially winning admission to a top law school that can change your career trajectory?

 

Q. Why is this guide better than other law school admissions guides out there?

Many law school admissions guides are actually written by professional writers or journalists who research the process and summarize interviews with a hodgepodge of admissions officers. The problem is they haven’t been in the trenches themselves. They haven’t actually thought through and crafted a winning Harvard Law School application themselves or intensively and repeatedly coached other applicants successfully through the process. At best, they are writing second-hand summaries that are basically glorified research reports. The insights in these reports are generic and vague because they lack the visceral detail of someone who has actually been in the trenches and thought about and practiced key strategies and techniques first-hand.

By contrast, our law school admissions guide is written directly from both personal experience successfully winning admission to Harvard Law School as well as from years of coaching hundreds of other successful applicants to gaining admission at every elite law school in the country. This first-hand perspective is what sets us apart from other law school admissions guides. We provide very concrete, actionable advice that is grounded in actual knowledge of, and experience with, the elite law school application process. Because of this, our insights are much more tangibly relevant to law school applicants who need tactical coaching on how to nail their applications.

 

Q. How does the refund guarantee work?

A. Simple. If after reading it you don’t feel the law school admissions guide is insightful or helpful, just e-mail us within 5 days of receiving your guide and we’ll refund your payment, less PayPal’s nominal transaction fee (which PayPal no longer refunds per its updated Nov. 2019 policy).

 

How to get into Harvard Law School ebook

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In just a short while, you’ll be reading every secret we know about the law school admissions process — from the admissions reviewer’s mindset, to the way your grades and track record are evaluated, to a step-by-step walkthrough of every component of the application.

 

VIDEO: Interview on Ivy League Admissions

Many readers have asked for coaching and advice on elite graduate school admissions.

As a direct response to this, check out my interview on “How to get into an Ivy League school” with Stephan Park from the Online School for Unconventional Academics.

 

How to get into Harvard Law School ebook

Buy the guide today for only $49!