Joint Degree Question

[JQuann]

Hi Lisa,

I'm posting this question on your board because your previous posts on joint degrees have been excellent.

I am applying for a JD/MBA at Harvard and Stanford. I was recently accepted at Harvard Law School. From your experience, does a law school acceptance increase (not ensure) my business school chances?

Law schools and business schools each insist that they make independent decisions as a matter of formal policy. But, informally, can a law school influence a business school, or vice versa? Thanks for any advice.

[Lisa Anderson]

Dear JQuann,

At some schools, being accepted to one of the joint degree programs can influence the other program to accept you. Unfortunately, I don't think either Harvard or Stanford is one of those schools. They have so many applicants to both their law and business schools, that they can be selective on their own right. Stay positive though--Harvard and Stanford are highly selective on both programs, so if you get into one, you must be competitive for the other (right?!?).

Best of luck,
Lisa