What is up with UCI? Forum

[Mrs. P]

They look extremely competitive and geared to wind up in the top 20, at least, but they haven't received accreditation. Is anyone applying there? How difficult do you think it will be to get in? When do you think they'll receive accreditation?

[Hannibal]

I'm going to apply there, but I wouldn't bet on it making top 20.

I like their approach. Chemerinsky said in his address that he's going to make sure you have an enjoyable time, pass the bar, and get a job. Also, the lowwww faculty-student ratio and great endowment are working in their favor. I'm pretty sure they'll receive accreditation around the time that the class of 2014 starts classes or earlier, so we wouldn't have to do the baby bar.

[Mrs. P]

nice! they look so competitive though! do you mind me asking your stats?

[im_blue]

Their first year class had medians of 3.61 / 167, which is comparable to T20 schools. They're applying for provisional accreditation this year (2010-11), and the earliest they can get full ABA accreditation is 2012-13, so they should debut in the 2014 US News rankings in April 2013.

[swilson215]

One of the reasons that their first class looked so competitive is that they offered full rides to the whole class...free tuition would def make a lot of people with high numbers think twice!

[20160810]

One of the reasons that their first class looked so competitive is that they offered full rides to the whole class...free tuition would def make a lot of people with high numbers think twice!

This. When the tab is the same as other UC law schools, they're not going to see a single person with Berkeley or UCLA numbers going to Irvine.

[ViP]

One of the reasons that their first class looked so competitive is that they offered full rides to the whole class...free tuition would def make a lot of people with high numbers think twice!

This. When the tab is the same as other UC law schools, they're not going to see a single person with Berkeley or UCLA numbers going to Irvine.

The classes will continue to look equally as competitive. This year, UCI will admit as many or as few students necessary to maintain or increase our stats. The university will give the law school any and every resource necessary to achieve our goals (words from the chancellor). Whether or not we rank top-20 upon our debut in US News (which Dean Chemerinsky and the board still wholeheartedly believe and are committed to achieving), our students and faculty will continue to have top-20 credentials.

Nobody thought our inaugural class would have top-20 numbers, even with the full tuition. They were proved wrong. Those same people said there's no way UCI could maintain those numbers once students have to pay. They too were proved wrong, as my class has only 50% scholarship over 3 years and yet boasts an undergraduate GPA of 3.38-3.79 (25th percentile-75th percentile) and an LSAT score of 163-169 (25th -75th percentile).

Moreover, the first year UCI faculty was ranked 10th in the nation by Brian Leiter in terms of scholarly impact. The disbelievers said "surely, like student quality, faculty quality will decline." In comes UCI's additional faculty and by our second year Leiter moved us to #9 in the nation.

We're confident in the school, we're happy, and we're having an amazing time so far.

[ViP]

They look extremely competitive and geared to wind up in the top 20, at least, but they haven't received accreditation. Is anyone applying there? How difficult do you think it will be to get in? When do you think they'll receive accreditation?

We should receive provisional accreditation by next summer, at which point we'll be eligible to take the bar (NOT the baby bar) in any state. Exactly 2 years later we'll receive full accreditation (assuming we pass all the tests, which even the most ardent naysayers don't doubt).

[ViP]

Latest news:

UC Irvine School of Law to Provide One-Third Tuition Scholarships for Next Class of Students

http://law.uci.edu/press_releases/10-21-10.html

[Danteshek]

The real question is how many students they are taking... A lot of those kids getting 1/3 offers from UCI will be looking at full rides at T2 schools.

[ViP]

The real question is how many students they are taking... A lot of those kids getting 1/3 offers from UCI will be looking at full rides at T2 schools.

Expect around 100 students.

Students in the first two classes also had substantial scholarship offers, not at T2s, but rather T1s.

[Danteshek]

I don't expect that to continue for very long.

[ViP]

I don't expect that to continue for very long.

I do, since after 2-3 years the school will have established itself as a strong program with quality students and quality faculty. The uncertainty of employment will continue to deter some students, but I think there will continue to be plenty of top-notch students intrigued by UCI and confident in its potential.

[KamaalTheAbstract]

One of the reasons that their first class looked so competitive is that they offered full rides to the whole class...free tuition would def make a lot of people with high numbers think twice!

This. When the tab is the same as other UC law schools, they're not going to see a single person with Berkeley or UCLA numbers going to Irvine.

The classes will continue to look equally as competitive. This year, UCI will admit as many or as few students necessary to maintain or increase our stats. The university will give the law school any and every resource necessary to achieve our goals (words from the chancellor). Whether or not we rank top-20 upon our debut in US News (which Dean Chemerinsky and the board still wholeheartedly believe and are committed to achieving), our students and faculty will continue to have top-20 credentials.

Nobody thought our inaugural class would have top-20 numbers, even with the full tuition. They were proved wrong. Those same people said there's no way UCI could maintain those numbers once students have to pay. They too were proved wrong, as my class has only 50% scholarship over 3 years and yet boasts an undergraduate GPA of 3.38-3.79 (25th percentile-75th percentile) and an LSAT score of 163-169 (25th -75th percentile).

Moreover, the first year UCI faculty was ranked 10th in the nation by Brian Leiter in terms of scholarly impact. The disbelievers said "surely, like student quality, faculty quality will decline." In comes UCI's additional faculty and by our second year Leiter moved us to #9 in the nation.

We're confident in the school, we're happy, and we're having an amazing time so far.

Being a T20 isn't really a good thing these days.

[Grizz]

Being a T20 isn't really a good thing these days.

Yeah T20 isn't really a meaningful distinction.

[ViP]

One of the reasons that their first class looked so competitive is that they offered full rides to the whole class...free tuition would def make a lot of people with high numbers think twice!

This. When the tab is the same as other UC law schools, they're not going to see a single person with Berkeley or UCLA numbers going to Irvine.

The classes will continue to look equally as competitive. This year, UCI will admit as many or as few students necessary to maintain or increase our stats. The university will give the law school any and every resource necessary to achieve our goals (words from the chancellor). Whether or not we rank top-20 upon our debut in US News (which Dean Chemerinsky and the board still wholeheartedly believe and are committed to achieving), our students and faculty will continue to have top-20 credentials.

Nobody thought our inaugural class would have top-20 numbers, even with the full tuition. They were proved wrong. Those same people said there's no way UCI could maintain those numbers once students have to pay. They too were proved wrong, as my class has only 50% scholarship over 3 years and yet boasts an undergraduate GPA of 3.38-3.79 (25th percentile-75th percentile) and an LSAT score of 163-169 (25th -75th percentile).

Moreover, the first year UCI faculty was ranked 10th in the nation by Brian Leiter in terms of scholarly impact. The disbelievers said "surely, like student quality, faculty quality will decline." In comes UCI's additional faculty and by our second year Leiter moved us to #9 in the nation.

We're confident in the school, we're happy, and we're having an amazing time so far.

Being a T20 isn't really a good thing these days.

I was only responding to the T20 references in earlier posts.

[Danteshek]

I don't expect that to continue for very long.

I do, since after 2-3 years the school will have established itself as a strong program with quality students and quality faculty. The uncertainty of employment will continue to deter some students, but I think there will continue to be plenty of top-notch students intrigued by UCI and confident in its potential.

How many upper division coures is UCI actually offering? I can't imagine there are enough students (or faculty) for all the upper division classes they claim to offer.

[KamaalTheAbstract]

I'm just saying that is probably going to be just another school with a lot of un/underemployed graduates. So don't get all excited about how Brian Leiter views your professors.

[CGI Fridays]

Being a T20 isn't really a good thing these days.

Yeah T20 isn't really a meaningful distinction.

I think it's pretty fucking baller to make your debut that way as a new school in an established environment.
If it actually happens, I'll give serious props (& they'll care, too).

[uci2013]

Latest news:

UC Irvine School of Law to Provide One-Third Tuition Scholarships for Next Class of Students

http://law.uci.edu/press_releases/10-21-10.html

Keep in mind some students may get more than a 1/3 scholarship. There are some full-rides in the class of 2013 (I am aware of 3, and for all I know there may be more). I am sure UCI is aware that there will be some candidates who will need and will be deserving of more than a 1/3 ride to make the decision to come to UCI. The 1/3 scholarship is guaranteed to all accepted candidates, and if it is like the last two years, the only condition will be to remain in good academic standing.

[Tuyarp]

What is UCI's transfer policy?

[im_blue]

What is UCI's transfer policy?

UCI 1Ls generally can't transfer out because they're not ABA accredited yet. UCI accepts transfer students, but only from ABA-accredited law schools.

[Tuyarp]

UCI 1Ls generally can't transfer out because they're not ABA accredited yet. UCI accepts transfer students, but only from ABA-accredited law schools.

Their website says applicants who are top 10-15% from their schools will be considered. Do you think that's a bit high? Considering that top 10% people might have a shot at more established schools.