Should I Transfer Undergraduate Schools? Forum

[wolverine33]

I'm currently in my second year at the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a 3.9 GPA. I've been accepted as a transfer student to UM-AA. I have heard from friends who have transferred from Dearborn to Ann Arbor that Ann Arbor is significantly more difficult than Dearborn. I know that I want to go to law school, but would transferring to Ann Arbor help me in anyway for law school admissions? What about getting a job out of law school? Will the fact that my bachelor's degree came from Dearborn instead of Ann Arbor raise any eyebrows?

Thanks in advance.

[chem]

I'm currently in my second year at the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a 3.9 GPA. I've been accepted as a transfer student to UM-AA. I have heard from friends who have transferred from Dearborn to Ann Arbor that Ann Arbor is significantly more difficult than Dearborn. I know that I want to go to law school, but would transferring to Ann Arbor help me in anyway for law school admissions? What about getting a job out of law school? Will the fact that my bachelor's degree came from Dearborn instead of Ann Arbor raise any eyebrows?

Thanks in advance.

Admissions doesn't care about school

[nutella3000]

Admissions doesn't care about school

This. I wish this weren't true...

The potential drop in your gpa will be something you may come to regret come admissions season. It's the gpa without respect to institution that matters most.

If you transfer, take relatively easy classes. Take a light course load. Do the best you can, etc, etc.

[FryBreadPower]

On the flip side, if you decide further down the line that you don't want to go to Law School. You are probably going to be wishing you had originally transferred.

[theaether]

On the flip side, if you decide further down the line that you don't want to go to Law School. You are probably going to be wishing you had originally transferred.

and that you actually took tough classes that can lead to you getting hired (think math, engineering)

[Jaeger]

I'm currently in my second year at the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a 3.9 GPA. I've been accepted as a transfer student to UM-AA. I have heard from friends who have transferred from Dearborn to Ann Arbor that Ann Arbor is significantly more difficult than Dearborn. I know that I want to go to law school, but would transferring to Ann Arbor help me in anyway for law school admissions? What about getting a job out of law school? Will the fact that my bachelor's degree came from Dearborn instead of Ann Arbor raise any eyebrows?

Thanks in advance.

The only way I can see your school becoming significant is if you apply to the University of Michigan. I don't know how true this is in the T14, but in the the T20 and beyond this is often a favorable soft (they prefer in-staters and those that went to their school). But even then, it will never be a strong factor and will probably only help you in cases of a tie with a candidate with similar numbers.

[CanadianWolf]

Transferring to the main campus won't help with respect to law school admissions (unless admitted to Michigan's Honors College/Program & you maintain a 3.8 or higher GPA), but there is more to life than law school admissions.

[booboo]

Transferring to the main campus won't help with respect to law school admissions (unless admitted to Michigan's Honors College/Program & you maintain a 3.8 or higher GPA), but there is more to life than law school admissions.

You're on the wrong part of the Internet.

[CanadianWolf]

@booboo: What are you trying to say ? If you don't think that there's more to life than law school admissions, then you are likely to be very disappointed.

[lisjjen]

On the flip side, if you decide further down the line that you don't want to go to Law School. You are probably going to be wishing you had originally transferred.

and that you actually took tough classes that can lead to you getting hired (think math, engineering)

This. If you can't get into a top 20 school right now, it's not worth going.

[booboo]

@booboo: What are you trying to say ?

Sigh, now I've posted twice in this thread. I was just joking because this is law school admissions site and you act as if anything matters beyond that (even though you're right).

Since I've been useless thus far here, I'll add that most of the posters are right. Do things that will lead to have a successful career, law or not. If you can stay at Dearborn and put yourself in a good position to get a good job without going to law school, while maintaining that awesome GPA and scoring well on the LSAT, you'll be much better off than any GPA hit from going to Ann Arbor.

[chem]

I'm currently in my second year at the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a 3.9 GPA. I've been accepted as a transfer student to UM-AA. I have heard from friends who have transferred from Dearborn to Ann Arbor that Ann Arbor is significantly more difficult than Dearborn. I know that I want to go to law school, but would transferring to Ann Arbor help me in anyway for law school admissions? What about getting a job out of law school? Will the fact that my bachelor's degree came from Dearborn instead of Ann Arbor raise any eyebrows?

Thanks in advance.

Another important question is if you would take any any debt transferring to AA. I would also add that if you can hack engineering, do it. Majoring in engineering is probably in my top 5 best decisions of my life

[JamMasterJ]

I'm currently in my second year at the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a 3.9 GPA. I've been accepted as a transfer student to UM-AA. I have heard from friends who have transferred from Dearborn to Ann Arbor that Ann Arbor is significantly more difficult than Dearborn. I know that I want to go to law school, but would transferring to Ann Arbor help me in anyway for law school admissions? What about getting a job out of law school? Will the fact that my bachelor's degree came from Dearborn instead of Ann Arbor raise any eyebrows?

Thanks in advance.

3.9 at Dearborn >>>> 3.85 at AA
3.9 at AA > 3.9 at Dearborn
Obviously, this only counts for law school admissions. In virtually anything else, transferring is TCR

[AreJay711]

You should probably transfer. It won't help your for law school admissions but 1) it probably isn't that much harder, your friends just want to make excuses why you get better grades 2) you should get professional experience before law school for which U of M -- AA would be better and 3) Ann Arbor is probably a better place to spend 1-3 years.

[Br3v]

LS does bot care about where the gpa is from.

I would transfer however being that, I feel you would enjoy yourself more being able to have the whole university experience at Michigan. Then again I do not know you I am just a stranger on the internet.

Also as another poster mentioned, if don't go law, job prospects prob better if transfer. Just keep gpa up, kill the LSAT, and Yale bound

[CanadianWolf]

I wrote above about maintaining a 3.8 GPA at Michigan undergrad because Michigan Ann Arbor has a special admit program to its law school for Michigan undergrads with a 3.8 or higher GPA. Not sure if this applies only to Michigan Ann Arbor Honors College/ Program students or if transfers from within the UMichigan system can also qualify. This program admits Michigan undergrads to Michigan's law school without requiring that one sit for the LSAT.

[lisjjen]

I transferred to a harder but better school and my GPA went up. Don't forget that you'll have better professors.

"Better" in the context of professors means that they make the information more accessible. Since you are not on a curve, your grades are based on your performance without regard to your peers.

[Samara]

You should probably transfer. It won't help your for law school admissions but 1) it probably isn't that much harder, your friends just want to make excuses why you get better grades 2) you should get professional experience before law school for which U of M -- AA would be better and 3) Ann Arbor is probably a better place to spend 1-3 years.

I agree with all of this. Especially the first part. It's still a huge state school and UG is, to an extent, as difficult or easy as you make it.

[theaether]

I wrote above about maintaining a 3.8 GPA at Michigan undergrad because Michigan Ann Arbor has a special admit program to its law school for Michigan undergrads with a 3.8 or higher GPA. Not sure if this applies only to Michigan Ann Arbor Honors College/ Program students or if transfers from within the UMichigan system can also qualify. This program admits Michigan undergrads to Michigan's law school without requiring that one sit for the LSAT.

if you're referring to the wolverine scholars program, it was discontinued in 2011.
possibly due to controversies regarding gaming rankings

[PDaddy]

It's a judgment call. Admissions doesn't care (AS MUCH) about your UG school if you have above a 3.75. Though UMichAA is a large public school, it's one of the top-3 best public universities in the country, so its prestige certainly raises eyebrows, especially if you can keep your grades up. Additionally, UMichAA financial resources are going to allow for more opportunities in general, such as study abroad, internships, jobs and community service, research assistance, etc.

On the flip, there are compelling arguments for staying put. Familiarity and comfort contributes as much as anything to academic success, and you have obviously hit the ground running. My philosophy has always been "if it ain't broke [sic] don't fix it". Your choice of UG won't matter as much if you can maintain your performance as your courses get tougher.

I would give the following advice no matter what:

If you're undeclared, consider a hard-science major (biology, chem, astronomy, botany, etc.), mathematics, history, English, economics, philosophy, musicology, engineering, journalism, or classics - whether you transfer or not. If your major is generally considered to be less demanding that's ok, as long as you take additional courses from the disciplines I mentioned above, and in which you have a strong interest and thus do well. Your actual course load matters more than your "major" per se.

[JamMasterJ]

Don't forget that a lot of top schools grade inflate. Also, IMO, getting a high gpa seems easier later on in college. You get into your comfort zone, learn study habits, and are a bit more mature after Freshman year. I really think that if you got a 3.9 and aren't in something like engineering, keeping your gpa up at UM-AA isn't going to be prohibitively difficult

[laxbrah420]

also, hotter chicks, better parties, and sports happen at the better school.
also, better professors so you'll become more smart.

[Gail]

biggest mistake i ever made was not transferring when i should have.

learn from my mistake. transfer.


not for law school either. just for the fact that being at non-flagship state school sucks.

[wolverine33]

If it makes any difference, I have a full ride to Dearborn right now so I'll graduate without any debt from Dearborn, but i probably will if I go to Michigan.

[howlery]

If it makes any difference, I have a full ride to Dearborn right now so I'll graduate without any debt from Dearborn, but i probably will if I go to Michigan.

Then you should stay.