Find solution
How to get into Harvard?

How to get into Harvard?

  • I really want to go to Harvard Law school to become a lawyer. I'm only in 7th grade, so I still have all the high school years ahead of me. Any suggestions on how to get REALLY good grades so I can get into Harvard? I get really good grades now, but middle school is easy. Is it true that to get into Harvard you have to have a 4.0 GPA? Isn't that the highest you can get? Wouldn't you have to get all 100s? Please help, I know little about this stuff because I'm 12 :)

  • Answer:

    I'm a student at Harvard Law School now, so I'd be happy to help you with this. Let's see, where should I start... First, I should clarify that you can't go directly from high school to Harvard Law. You have to go to college first, and then to law school. So, some of the other posters here have given you good advice about "how to get into Harvard," but they're talking about Harvard College, not Harvard Law School. The admissions process is a little different even though they are part of the same university. From where you are now, the process you're looking at is: I. Finish 7th and 8th grade (1.5 years) II. High school (4 years) III. College (4 years) IV. Law school (3 years) So, you're looking at 12.5 years of education before you can be a lawyer. I know that feels like a long time, because I've been in your shoes before (I wanted to be a lawyer since middle school). But I made it through (I just have a few more semesters to go until I graduate from Harvard Law), so I hope I can help you do the same. I assume you already have middle school planned out, so I'll start with high school. Basically, what you need to do is: 1. Get good grades in high school (and extracurriculars) 2. Get into a good college (any good college will do--Harvard if you want it and can get in--but most people don't go to college and law school at the same school). 3. Get good grades in college (and extracurriculars) 4. Get into law school (and there are several excellent law schools, but if you're hoping for Harvard, that's the example I'll use). So, in high school, you'll need really good grades. You don't have to get straight A's, but you should get as many A's as you possibly can, and it's OK to get a few B's. You don't need 100% perfect grades to get into any college (not even Harvard College). Most colleges do not have a specific GPA cutoff; just do the best you can. Whoever told you that you must have a perfect 4.0 to get into Harvard College was mistaken. Be advised that it's possible to get a GPA higher than 4.0 at many high schools, because you can get bonus points (e.g. as high as 4.5 or 5.0) for taking honors or AP classes. But the point is, just do the best you can--your grades don't have to be perfect--and if you're getting really good grades now in middle school, you're on the right track. SATs and extracurricular activities (especially community service, leadership experience, and/or varsity sports) are also important for college admissions. For more details on the process of getting into a good college, see my answer to this question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj7AIZUvQhLx6Vzrqxo6xLvty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080126101405AAYvHne&show=7#profile-info-m9R9GSWnaa (I decided to link it rather than copying and pasting it all here because then this answer would get too long) Okay, now fast forward to college. You should probably go to the best college you can get into, because law schools do consider the reputation of your college when doing admissions. A GPA of 3.7 from School A will not be viewed as the same as a GPA of 3.7 from School B. Students from the college that has a better reputation for rigorous academics and/or a challenging curriculum will have an advantage in law school admissions. Now, if you get straight A's in college (3.9-4.0 GPA), you can get into Harvard Law no matter what college you went to (whether it's Harvard College, or Berkeley, or Florida State--a 3.9/4.0 average is universally strong). But if you get A's and B's in college (3.3-3.8 GPA), your chances of getting into Harvard Law will be better if you are got those A's and B's at a reputable/prestigious/top-ranked college, than if you are got them at an average college. When you finish college, you will have to apply to law school. The process is somewhat similar to the college admissions process, but not exactly the same. The key things about getting into law school: 1. Your college grades are extremely important. 2. The reputation of your undergraduate college helps the law school evaluate your grades. 3. The LSAT is extremely important, sometimes more important than your GPA (different law schools weight it differently, but it's always important). 4. Extracurricular activities--again, commitment and leadership. 5. Letters of recommendation from professors or TAs who know you well. 6. You'll need a good essay as well. 7. Most law schools do not interview applicants (so this is different from college admissions). Harvard recently started doing "phone interviews" of some applicants. But the other top law schools (Yale, Stanford, Columbia, etc.), still do not interview applicants; they decide on the basis of the paperwork alone. So make sure the paperwork is good! Okay, so that pretty much sums up how to get from middle school to law school. If you can get into Harvard Law, you're pretty much "set" because almost everyone (99%) who goes to Harvard Law can get a high-paying job ($160K starting salary) at a big firm after graduation, IF they want it. Some people choose not to take these jobs and instead work for smaller firms, nonprofits, or the government, where the pay is not as good (think $40K-$90K starting), but the work hours are usually better (less hours) and the work may be more interesting/rewarding (esp. if you like government and nonprofit work). I'd be happy to answer any follow-up questions if you have them. I would also recommend a book that I read when I was in middle school, which helped me plan my route to law school. The book is :'Going to Law School?' by Harry Castleman and Christopher Niewoehnher: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471149071/starbase280b

futurela... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

Was this solution helpful to you?

Other answers

Sorry, I can't answer your question about how to get into Harvard, but there are many people who have higher than a 4.0gpa. I think it can go up to a 5.0, since AP classes gives an additional point for your gpa when it's calculated and if you were to ace every AP class you took, it would make your gpa higher than a 4.0. I know some people who have a 4.6 or 4.8. Some AP classes can be MUCH harder than a mainstream class, it often depends on how strict the teacher is on grading. So if you don't do well in an AP class, this would lower your gpa; meaning that your chances of getting a 4.0 or higher is less likely. (So in an AP class, a B would most likely be equivalent to an A.) AP classes (Advance Placement) is a college-level class, and it's often more difficult than a community college course. You only get college credit for it if you pass the exam for that certain topic, which costs a $90. (So it totally sucks if you don't get a passing score, but colleges say it's better to take it an get a 1 than to not take it at all.) If you pass the AP class and AP exam, you may get college credit if the college/university accepts it. (Even if you don't get the credit, it still looks good.) With community college courses, you get both high school and college credit, just by passing the class. I would advice you to only take ones you feel you can handle and don't let teachers pressure you into taking certain AP classes if you feel you won't do well. Some AP classes are A LOT of work, while others don't require so much effort. Things that good colleges like to see are extra curricular activities, such as mock trial, sports, musicals, clubs, jobs, etc. Some also like a lot of volunteering/ community service hours. They also want really high SATs/ACTs scores. The highest you can get on that is a 2400, and I know some people who got a 2200. I head the average score is 1500 or 1600. (The SATs costs around $35 and there are PSAT, mock SATs, SAT courses your school will probably povide. Most school also require at least 2 subject SATs in addition to the subject reasoning one.) In addition, you might want to try to get an assistant/ secretary job at a lawyer's office when you're in highschool, this will prove that you have more experiance in the field. Hope that helps! :)

Hello xoxo

Right now, there is really no point unless you know how to pay them. But grades count for everything and as long you have that, they will look at you as another typical smart student who gets straight A's in all his/her classes. You need something appealing like personality and interests. Plus you have to be sure you want to go to Harvard, because to me, it is overrated

Satanic Demonic Prometheus

Well, graduate from a VERY good college or University with a degree and high GPA and high SAT score and lots of extra-cirricular and extra mural things. Maybe a few published articles. Your picture in the papers. They like movers and shakers!

Earl D

Actually, im a sophmore in high school now and want to go to harvard too, so i've been looking it up. They keep saying over and over how there is no "one way" to get into harvard when you read up about it online. basically, you do have to have good grades and SAT/Act scores, but not a perfect student, you do have to be smart, but you don't have to be a genious they say they want you to take the most advanced classes offered in your school and really care about your education, not just take all PE classes in your senoir year, say, after you're done with your credits. after that, they just have to like you. You have to go to interveiws and write an essay and what they want to see is character, someone real. so just be confident in yourself and for clubs and stuff instead of being a member of a whole bunch of different clubs, really dedicate yourself to what you're into. you can look online too I don't know the exact site but look up harvard on google and it has interveiws of students too. good luck- maybe we'll see each other there

Jenny <3

Calm down!!! That's number one. Second of all, sure it would help, but you don't have to necessarily have a 4.0 GPA to go to Harvard. Even if you personally want that, you don't have to get all 100s. Most schools have 5.0 as the highest. Your gpa just has to avg. out as 4. Get good grades by focusing in your classes, do many extracurriculars like band/orch/chorus/sports. Also, get an SAT book and work through it straight a few times through. That you can start now. It's never too early!

I LOVE RB

To get into Harvard you have to not only get good grades, you have to be something special. I suggest right now you get involved in something that you are both interested in and good at. Try go as far as you can with it, enter competition/contests and try to win awards that would make you stand out. There are people with 4.0 gpas and perfect SAT scores who have been rejected from Harvard.

Turk

uh 4.0 is no longer the highest GPA. theres Ap classes that cna boost your GPA higher than a 4.0. of course you would need to get all 100s to get a high GPA. You're only in middle school. I think youshould get into high school before you even think about harvard or anything like that.

sellatieeat

In high school there classes called AP classes, advanced placement which are college classes but in high school and if you pass the test at the end of the year then you get college credit but not ever college will accept this credit. The highest GPA one can get is a 5.0 which is with honors and AP classes... so if you want a really high gpa you should take lots of AP and honors classes. Also you want a high SAT score of ACT with writing score... you might want to start taking them your freshman year... that way you can get a high score... also you want to have loads of extracurricular activities and have lots of volunteer hours... If you do this you should be able to get into harvard... o and you only need a high score on either the ACT or the SAT ... whichever test you get a higher score the will choose that one! So basically take lots of hard classes and try not to get any B's! Try to have a good class rank too and write well on your application essays! HARVARD COLLEGE HARVARD LAW SCHOOL ... WHATS THE DIFFERENCE... LOL JK well getting into a good unversity before graduate school is important

Dominic

Related Q & A:

Just Added Q & A:

Find solution

For every problem there is a solution! Proved by Solucija.

  • Got an issue and looking for advice?

  • Ask Solucija to search every corner of the Web for help.

  • Get workable solutions and helpful tips in a moment.

Just ask Solucija about an issue you face and immediately get a list of ready solutions, answers and tips from other Internet users. We always provide the most suitable and complete answer to your question at the top, along with a few good alternatives below.