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Chances of getting to Harvard from UCD (Law)

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  • 07-07-2009 9:53pm
    #1
    the_wheel_turns
    Closed Accounts Posts: 102 ✭✭


    Hey all,

    Just going into my final year of the BCL in UCD this year. I'd like to think I'm a pretty good Law student, I'm most likely going to get first-class honours, unless something disastrous happens!

    I'm wondering if I stand any chance of getting to Harvard Law for their LL.M. programme with a degree from UCD.

    I personally know two people who got the LL.M from Harvard, but both of them graduated with a first-class honours LL.B. from Trinity. I know that a rake of UCDers go on to Cambride and Oxford, but I haven't heard of any going on to Harvard.

    Any thoughts?!


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    #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Only thing really that I can think about is to talk to the lecturers in UCD in the area you're looking to specialise in. They'll be able to give you good advice on what's involved, and what the history of people going to Harvard from UCD is too.


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    #3
    cerebus
    Registered Users Posts: 447 ✭✭cerebus


    the_wheel_turns wrote: »
    Hey all,

    Just going into my final year of the BCL in UCD this year. I'd like to think I'm a pretty good Law student, I'm most likely going to get first-class honours, unless something disastrous happens!

    I'm wondering if I stand any chance of getting to Harvard Law for their LL.M. programme with a degree from UCD.

    I personally know two people who got the LL.M from Harvard, but both of them graduated with a first-class honours LL.B. from Trinity. I know that a rake of UCDers go on to Cambride and Oxford, but I haven't heard of any going on to Harvard.

    Any thoughts?!

    I can guarantee that your chances are zero if you don't apply!

    I'm sure you know all about the percentage of successful applicants being quite low (and that is from a self-selecting group already), but if you think you have a shot go for it. Stellar academics and some form of USP/differentiation (i.e. why admit the_wheel_turns instead of a zillion other high achievers?) will probably be required. I think they make you answer a couple of essay-style application questions that should allow you to make your case effectively. Do you need to sit the LSAT or some other standardized test for the LL.M.? If so, figure out what kind of scores you need to be competitive and make sure you hit those targets.

    Also, it might be useful to think about the way a Harvard LL.M. fits into your career path and make that clear, always helps to show an admissions committee why the program is right for you. Why does the US/Harvard experience make sense based on where you have been and where you want to go?

    Why Harvard over Yale, out of interest? If you're attracted by the prestige, Yale Law is ranked above Harvard Law as far as I know...

    Just some thoughts, hope they help. I went through a similar process for business school, and having a degree from NUIG was not an issue.

    Best of luck, hope it goes well!


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