What are the tiers?
-
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Sun May 28, 2017 3:43 pm
What are the tiers?
Like what are the tier cutoffs? Is tier 1 classified as 1-14, and tier two as 15-25, and so on orrr how does this work?
- stego
- Posts: 5302
- Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2015 3:23 am
Re: What are the tiers?
Tier 1 is the top 50 or so, tier 2 is 51-100, tier 3 is 101+. The rankings stop at 148, and tier 4 are the "rank not published" schools.
The rankings can mislead because they don't show the amount of separation between schools (the distance between 1 and 14 is much greater than the one between 81 and 94 for example). Also rankings are unimportant when comparing regional schools that serve different markets, it's a semi-useful heuristic but what you should actually pay attention to are the cost of attendance and employment data.
The rankings can mislead because they don't show the amount of separation between schools (the distance between 1 and 14 is much greater than the one between 81 and 94 for example). Also rankings are unimportant when comparing regional schools that serve different markets, it's a semi-useful heuristic but what you should actually pay attention to are the cost of attendance and employment data.
- chandhi
- Posts: 1899
- Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2016 4:29 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
They are the things that come out of your eyes on gray/grey day.
- magnum_law
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:32 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
When it comes to rankings, all that actually matters is the t13. Other schools should be decided upon based on a combination of employment outcomes, cost of attendance, and potentially regional concerns. Check out LST reports for all of the above.
- magnum_law
- Posts: 223
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:32 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
chandhi wrote:They are the things that come out of your eyes on gray/grey day.
TCR. Can be of joy or depression.
- Ferrisjso
- Posts: 2149
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:40 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
The rankings that matter the most are ranking the schools within a state or market. The following site's probably best for comparing the schools within a particular state in a vaccum.
http://law-schools.startclass.com/
http://law-schools.startclass.com/
-
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:26 am
Re: What are the tiers?
Ferrisjso wrote:The rankings that matter the most are ranking the schools within a state or market. The following site's probably best for comparing the schools within a particular state in a vaccum.
http://law-schools.startclass.com/
While your first statement is pretty much correct regarding schools outside the T14/13, the site you posted is certainly not the best for comparing schools in any sense. OP, I would recommend http://www.lstreports.com. It takes ABA reported employment numbers and presents them in an easily analyzed format. Use the compare tool to place employment statistics for schools side by side. You can choose to do this for schools within the same state, or not. And Stego's statement about employment being more important than tiers is TCR.
-
- Posts: 242
- Joined: Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:08 am
Re: What are the tiers?
Malarkey wrote:Ferrisjso wrote:The rankings that matter the most are ranking the schools within a state or market. The following site's probably best for comparing the schools within a particular state in a vaccum.
http://law-schools.startclass.com/
While your first statement is pretty much correct regarding schools outside the T14/13, the site you posted is certainly not the best for comparing schools in any sense. OP, I would recommend http://www.lstreports.com. It takes ABA reported employment numbers and presents them in an easily analyzed format. Use the compare tool to place employment statistics for schools side by side. You can choose to do this for schools within the same state, or not. And Stego's statement about employment being more important than tiers is TCR.
That startclass site ranks University of Wisconsin at number 16... two spots behind Penn at 14. No disrespect to Wisco, but come on now
-
- Posts: 4954
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:01 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
mrtux45 wrote:Malarkey wrote:Ferrisjso wrote:The rankings that matter the most are ranking the schools within a state or market. The following site's probably best for comparing the schools within a particular state in a vaccum.
http://law-schools.startclass.com/
While your first statement is pretty much correct regarding schools outside the T14/13, the site you posted is certainly not the best for comparing schools in any sense. OP, I would recommend http://www.lstreports.com. It takes ABA reported employment numbers and presents them in an easily analyzed format. Use the compare tool to place employment statistics for schools side by side. You can choose to do this for schools within the same state, or not. And Stego's statement about employment being more important than tiers is TCR.
That startclass site ranks University of Wisconsin at number 16... two spots behind Penn at 14. No disrespect to Wisco, but come on now
Yeah, what the fuck did I just look at? OP, if you're still actually around, look at employment numbers, not whatever the hell that site was using.
- guynourmin
- Posts: 3426
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:42 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
Ferrisjso wrote:The following site's probably best for comparing the schools within a particular state in a vaccum.
http://law-schools.startclass.com/
This website says USC is better than Berkeley. Is this site really better than USNWR? Why?
- Ferrisjso
- Posts: 2149
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:40 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
Insaid it was good for comparing schools in a state vaccum. I didnt say its national rankings werent an lol.
- UVA2B
- Posts: 3407
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2016 10:48 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
Ferrisjso wrote:Insaid it was good for comparing schools in a state vaccum. I didnt say its national rankings werent an lol.
But it's not even good at that.
- guynourmin
- Posts: 3426
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:42 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
Ferrisjso wrote:Insaid it was good for comparing schools in a state vaccum. I didnt say its national rankings werent an lol.
but its CA rankings are
1. Stanford
2. USC
3. ULCA
4. Berk
so how is it good at comparing schools in a state vacuum? There's not way you're saying USC is better than Berk if you want to work in Cali, right? If it can't even get the largest state's top school rankings right, why should someone trust it to accurately compare the possible 6th and 7th best schools in a smaller state?
- guynourmin
- Posts: 3426
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:42 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
and its NY rankings are
1. Cornell
2. Columbia
3. NYU
4. literally St. Johns is number 4, above Fordham, Dozo, etc
1. Cornell
2. Columbia
3. NYU
4. literally St. Johns is number 4, above Fordham, Dozo, etc
-
- Posts: 4954
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:01 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
guybourdin wrote:and its NY rankings are
1. Cornell
2. Columbia
3. NYU
4. literally St. Johns is number 4, above Fordham, Dozo, etc
JFC.
What are their criteria? I didn't spend much time looking, but I couldn't figure out what their methodology was.
- guynourmin
- Posts: 3426
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:42 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
cavalier1138 wrote:guybourdin wrote:and its NY rankings are
1. Cornell
2. Columbia
3. NYU
4. literally St. Johns is number 4, above Fordham, Dozo, etc
JFC.
What are their criteria? I didn't spend much time looking, but I couldn't figure out what their methodology was.

- Nonconsecutive
- Posts: 2398
- Joined: Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:58 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
guybourdin wrote:and its NY rankings are
1. Cornell
2. Columbia
3. NYU
4. literally St. Johns is number 4, above Fordham, Dozo, etc
Gawt dayum.
-
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:26 am
Re: What are the tiers?
guybourdin wrote:The smart rank uses statistical data to determine an overall indication of the school's quality. This includes admissions selectivity, bar exam performance, employment rate, financial aid, student-faculty ratio, and attrition.
As opposed to non-statistical data, of course.
- guynourmin
- Posts: 3426
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:42 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
Figured out why he likes those rankings: QU is ranked higher than UConn.
- Ferrisjso
- Posts: 2149
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:40 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
guybourdin wrote:Ferrisjso wrote:Insaid it was good for comparing schools in a state vaccum. I didnt say its national rankings werent an lol.
but its CA rankings are
1. Stanford
2. USC
3. ULCA
4. Berk
so how is it good at comparing schools in a state vacuum? There's not way you're saying USC is better than Berk if you want to work in Cali, right? If it can't even get the largest state's top school rankings right, why should someone trust it to accurately compare the possible 6th and 7th best schools in a smaller state?
Havent looked at it in awhile maybe it changed,wtf. I cant see it currently cause its anti ad block.
- UVA2B
- Posts: 3407
- Joined: Sun May 22, 2016 10:48 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
guybourdin wrote:Figured out why he likes those rankings: QU is ranked higher than UConn.

- Ferrisjso
- Posts: 2149
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:40 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
guybourdin wrote:Figured out why he likes those rankings: QU is ranked higher than UConn.
QU was not ranked higher than UCONN.
Edit-checked on my phone and yeah the rankings are all out of fucking wack. I withdraw the recommendation it was from previous experience with the site.
Last edited by Ferrisjso on Thu Jun 29, 2017 2:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- guynourmin
- Posts: 3426
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 11:42 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
Ferrisjso wrote:guybourdin wrote:Figured out why he likes those rankings: QU is ranked higher than UConn.
QU was not ranked higher than UCONN.
well, it is now

- Ferrisjso
- Posts: 2149
- Joined: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:40 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
guybourdin wrote:Ferrisjso wrote:guybourdin wrote:Figured out why he likes those rankings: QU is ranked higher than UConn.
QU was not ranked higher than UCONN.
well, it is now
Yes I can see that, that is incorrect and I do not agree. Tbf though it still could be a useful tool if you just click the median LSAT button(which sorts schools accordingly).
-
- Posts: 4954
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 8:01 pm
Re: What are the tiers?
Ferrisjso wrote:Yes I can see that, that is incorrect and I do not agree. Tbf though it still could be a useful tool if you just click the median LSAT button(which sorts schools accordingly).
Yes, that would be useful for sorting schools by their median LSAT. Sorting them by their employment numbers might make more sense...
Return to “Law School Admissions Forum�
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests