{"id":790,"date":"2019-01-25T14:29:07","date_gmt":"2019-01-25T14:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hlsorgs3stg.wpenginepowered.com\/armed\/?page_id=790"},"modified":"2025-08-04T16:23:33","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T16:23:33","slug":"incoming-students","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/incoming-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Incoming Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/files\/2025\/01\/2024_8_21_1L-Move-In_TRinaldo_004-2048x1365-1.jpeg?resize=2048%2C1365&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Building with a Harvard Law School banner on it\" class=\"wp-image-1151\" style=\"width:400px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Congratulations<\/strong><em>\u00a0on admission to HLS! We\u2019re so excited you\u2019re thinking about spending your next three years in Cambridge. Below, you can find some common questions for incoming students that might be helpful to review. Our members will also be in touch shortly with more info.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">GI Bill<br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How does the GI Bill work at HLS?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Get your Certificate of Eligibility on the eBenefits website.\u00a0 To do this, navigate to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/education\/gi-bill\/post-9-11\/ch-33-benefit\">Post-9\/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits<\/a>\u00a0page and click on \u201cCheck Your GI Bill Benefits.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Send your digital Certificate of Eligibility to Student Financial Services (the POC will reach out to you).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you have specific questions, please reach out to Jill Barnhart at the HLS Student Financial Services office at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:jbarnhart@law.harvard.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jbarnhart@law.harvard.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What does the GI Bill cover at HLS?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The GI Bill combined with the HLS Yellow Ribbon Program covers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>100% tuition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your complete health insurance.\u00a0 It does\u00a0<em>not<\/em>\u00a0cover health insurance for spouses or dependents.\u00a0 The Harvard health insurance is through Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO.\u00a0 Some AFA members have been able to opt for surgeries and other procedures through specific doctors at Mass General Hospital.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A one-time textbook\/supplies stipend<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your monthly tax-free Military Housing Allowance, or MHA payment (equivalent to the E-5 With Dependents BAH Rate).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These payments occur\u00a0<strong>only while classes are ongoing<\/strong>, meaning you will receive pro-rated payments in September, December, January, and May and no payments in June, July, or August.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you do not have 100% of GI Bill eligibility, the monthly payment will be pro-rated accordingly. For example, if you are 60% eligible, you will receive 60% of the allowance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Please also note that, in order to receive\u00a0your<strong>\u00a0MHA payment, the VA must recognize that you are no longer on active duty.\u00a0<\/strong>In the past, some members who left active duty immediately prior to starting their 1L year were not automatically enrolled in the monthly MHA payment and had to receive backpay 2-3 months into the year. Please reach out to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:tcurio@law.harvard.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tcurio@law.harvard.edu<\/a>\u00a0if you have questions regarding your eligibility,\u00a0<strong>especially\u00a0<\/strong>if you were still on active duty in the spring\/summer prior to your 1L year!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When will I receive my first BAH payment?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re eligible for BAH, you should receive your first BAH deposit around August 31 \/ September 1.&nbsp; You will likely move into your apartment between August 1 \u2013 15 to prepare for 1L orientation, we recommend that you budget now for that first month of rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Will I receive BAH assistance continuously throughout the academic year?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your BAH assistance is pro-rated every month based on the number of days that Harvard says that you\u2019re enrolled in classes. So in a mid-semester month like November, you will receive BAH for the full month. However, in December, you will receive a pro-rated BAH for approximately 16-17 days out of the month, because the fall semester ends mid-month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How does Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&amp;E) Work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VR&amp;E&nbsp;(formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment), or Chapter 31, is a VA sponsored program that assists veterans with a service-connected disability to find meaningful employment. Veterans can get approved for law school funding (both tuition and 100% MHA) through this program as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To apply for&nbsp;VR&amp;E, applicants must not have received a dishonorable discharge&nbsp;and have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA. Unlike the G.I. Bill, which is guaranteed by meeting a service time commitment,&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;is a selective program that requires veterans to apply and get approved by a counselor. It is also possible, and common, for an applicant to start HLS on the G.I. Bill and switch over to&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;during their time in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An applicant may choose to apply for&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;for multiple reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, if an applicant does not have 100% G.I. Bill benefits. This happens often when service academy graduates come to HLS with less than eight years of total service, or if someone has already used their G.I. Bill for undergrad. If approved,&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;will work&nbsp;<strong>AS IF<\/strong>&nbsp;the veteran has 100% G.I. Bill. Meaning they will get full tuition and full MHA payment (equivalent to the E-5 with Dependents BAH Rate).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Second,&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;offers some flexibility and personalization that the G.I. Bill does not. Working with a&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;counselor can help pay for costs like computers and other implements that may be connected to your disability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally,&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;allows an applicant to preserve their G.I. Bill benefits. If an applicant desires to pass their G.I. Bill benefits to their dependents, or use them down the road for different schooling,&nbsp;VR&amp;E&nbsp;grants this flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Helpful Links:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VR&amp;E&nbsp;Info Page (VA)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/careers-employment\/vocational-rehabilitation\/\">https:\/\/www.va.gov\/careers-employment\/vocational-rehabilitation\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>VR&amp;E&nbsp;for Law School (YouTube)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7MwpfZP7EKk\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7MwpfZP7EKk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Academics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the term dates and exam dates?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The HLS Academic Calendar can be found&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/dept\/academics\/academic-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<br>The tentative exam schedule can be found&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/dept\/registrar\/examinations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>&nbsp;(scroll down to \u201cExam Schedules\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do I know what textbooks to buy?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s very frustrating when the first day of class inches closer but your professors still haven\u2019t posted their syllabi!&nbsp; Luckily, the textbook lists are posted well in advance on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/harvard-lawcoopbooks.bncollege.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/TBWizardView?storeId=57054&amp;catalogId=10001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Harvard Law COOP website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just fill out your course information (found on helios) and the COOP website will generate a list of required textbooks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Pro tip:<\/strong>&nbsp;copy the ISBN numbers from the COOP website and compare prices on Amazon or other online bookstores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Should I buy new or used textbooks?&nbsp; Should I rent?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>My first year I bought all new textbooks because I thought I\u2019d be distracted by a previous student\u2019s highlighting and I thought I\u2019d want to keep the textbooks.&nbsp; Since then, I\u2019ve bought used textbooks, and looked for copies that had minimal highlighting.&nbsp; This has saved me a LOT of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve also found that there was little point to keeping textbooks because when you study for the Bar Exam you will get all new study guides and materials that are specifically crafted for those exams.&nbsp; I\u2019ve sold my textbooks and found the \u201cbuy used, sell used\u201d system was better monetarily than renting textbooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where can I find outlines?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Outlines can be found on&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/hlsintel.com\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HLSIntel<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/toodope.org\/\">TooDope<\/a>&nbsp;(please note, you\u2019ll need a Harvard email account to access TooDope).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Where can I find old exams?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Old exam&nbsp;<strong>questions<\/strong>&nbsp;can be found&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/hls.harvard.edu\/dept\/registrar\/examinations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>&nbsp;(scroll down to \u201cExam Question Archives\u201d).<br><strong>Student answers<\/strong>&nbsp;to old exams (with self-reported grades attached) can be found on&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/hlsintel.com\/courses\">HLSIntel<\/a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/toodope.org\/\">TooDope<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What format are exams in?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>1L exams are either 3 hours or 8 hours long; they are currently all administered at home using Exam4 software on personal laptops.&nbsp; Exams generally consist of scenario-based, \u201cissue spotter\u201d essay questions and policy\/theme\/historical\/big picture analysis questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Law Review<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>When is the Harvard Law Review competition?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The Harvard Law Review is one of many fantastic opportunities for community, intellectual growth, and legal experience on campus.&nbsp; We are proud to have a veteran on HLR this year and encourage all of you to take the \u201cwrite-on\u201d competition during 1L spring!&nbsp; For planning purposes (so you don\u2019t schedule any summer drill during it, like some of us did last year), the competition usually starts on the&nbsp;<strong>Saturday after 1L spring exam period ends<\/strong>&nbsp;(see Academic Calendar above); you will pick up all materials between 10 am and 12 pm and drop them off&nbsp;<strong>the following Saturday between 10 am and 12 pm<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pro tip: plan to keep this week absolutely free and stay in Cambridge (the dorms stay open for students taking the competition)!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Congratulations\u00a0on admission to HLS! We\u2019re so excited you\u2019re thinking about spending your next three years in Cambridge. Below, you can find some common questions for incoming students that might be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1738,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"plain-container","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-790","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5BZbI-cK","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1738"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/790\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orgs.law.harvard.edu\/armedforces\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}