Admissions committees consider a number of factors when evaluating candidates for law school. Among the most important are the strength of an applicant’s academic record and the applicant’s score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). These indicators, with letters of recommendation and a personal statement, typically constitute what is required for a completed application.
Choosing a Concentration
Harvard offers many fields of concentration and there is no “right concentration" that is recommended for preparing for law school. Law schools are looking for a diverse group of students from a broad variety of backgrounds. They are interested in students who have selected courses that are academically challenging and that have cultivated and developed the student’s ability to make inferences, reason logically, and analyze and present complex information in a condensed and clear manner. The courses you take should also allow you to write extensively and practice research skills. For example, if you are interested in a law career that involves public policy or politics, you may consider a concentration in government or social studies or, if you are interested in working on issues related to the environment and working for the Environmental Protection Agency, then a concentration in one of the sciences may be the best preparation.
Your Academic Record
In the admissions process, your academic record is a very important element. Therefore, be sure to concentrate in a subject area that you enjoy and do well in. Admissions officers know from experience which departments have strong academic reputations and which courses have high and low curves. According to the Harvard Law School Admissions Office, academic success is important but other qualities that promote vitality, diversity, and excellence in the student body are also valued. As stated on its website, “The committee uses no computational methods for making decisions and no ‘cut-offs’ below which a candidate will not be considered. Each year we admit applicants who believed they didn't have a chance.” You don't have to fit a certain mold to fit in at a top law school.
Extra-curricular Activities
Admissions committees do consider extracurricular activities when reviewing a candidate’s application. This is generally a means of looking at the candidate as a whole and obtaining a complete and well-rounded picture of who they are reviewing. Things that law schools look for are leadership experience, work experience, research and publications, community activities and public service. Be sure to pick activities that interest you and that will provide the committee with a glimpse of what law you will be interested in practicing (if you know). However, do not sacrifice grades for extracurricular activities.