Transferring Law Schools Forum

[Total Litigator]

This site is so informative, and I was wondering if someone could help me with some advice on my current situation.

I recently got accepted into a T3 school - Southwestern, and a T4 - Whittier. My undergrad grades were my weak point (3.15 GPA - due to a very particular situation I explained in an addendum), but I did well on the LSAT, with a 166. My goal is to get excellent grades in first year and transfer in my second year to a better school. I am offered a large scholarship at Whittier (T4), but no scholarship at Southwestern (T3). Would starting off at Southwestern improve my chances of transfer, or would they only consider my class rank if it's between a T3 and T4? I'm trying to decide if it's worth taking out a sizable loan over.

Any information would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

I am quite confused here as well... with a 3.15, 166, you should have gotten into some T1's and absolutely some T2's... Did you apply late? I would wait another cycle and reapply. Try and get some good softs for now (volunteer if you can't get a job), and maybe even try to take the LSAT again if you can get your practice test scores up. With a 169+ you would have an very good chance at a T30.
Even with a 3.15 and a 166, there is no guarantee that you would even break the top 1/3 in your class and thus you could be stuck there. Your numbers aren't bad. Your GPA is low, but you haven't descended below the dreaded 3.0.
Don't do yourself a disservice. Wait another cycle.

[rynabrius]

OOPS wrong thread. *edited

[A'nold]

UW takes like 3 kids a year. You better have a very very good reason for not being able to drive to Seattle U and needing to attend the U of W.

Anyone know the chances of transferring from Seattle U. to University of Washington? Both in Seattle...UW's ranked in the 30s and SU dropped to the 80s.

Less than 10 percent chance.

I would actually say more like 30%. Those two schools have their own little clique going on in Seattle. Plus, I know there are people that go from my school to UW every year.

Dude, I have no idea where you would get such a number. I would say top 10% at a MINIMUM and still unlikely. There are like 75 applicants for like less than 5 spots.

[Danteshek]

In addition to top grades, you probably need a compelling reason to transfer to UW.

FTR: applied to Loyola LA, USC and GW. Dinged at USC and GW. Attending Loyola.

Stats: top 20% at T3 + LR. SEC 1L Summer Honors (DC) + Federal Judicial externship.

[bwv812]

.

[A'nold]

I would actually say more like 30%. Those two schools have their own little clique going on in Seattle. Plus, I know there are people that go from my school to UW every year.

Dude, I have no idea where you would get such a number. I would say top 10% at a MINIMUM and still unlikely. There are like 75 applicants for like less than 5 spots.

Says they guy who got UW with top 15% from a TTT.

Who are you? I'm so happy I set you up for so many 1 line zingers. Glad I could be of service.

Anyway, my top 14% was a very unique top 14%, for reasons discussed and also reasons I cannot say. My situation was very unique and, needless to say, I was EXTREMELY lucky to get into UW. Just take a look at my 0 for 12 cycle before UW came along. Schools like Minnesota, that are known to accept top 1/4 t3'ers outright rejected me. UW is one of the hardest schools in the country to transfer into. If the transferapps website is any indication, I should have been accepted to Emory, WUSTL, Minnesota, etc. well before I should ever have gotten into UW.

[Danteshek]

Dude, a 5 % difference at his school is probably no more than 5 people.

[A'nold]

Dude, a 5 % difference at his school is probably no more than 5 people.

You, sir, would be correct, haha.

[bwv812]

.

[Danteshek]

bitter much? life isn't fair

in any event, it is highly unlikely that anyone at Seattle U. has a compelling need to transfer to UW.

[dresden doll]

bitter much? life isn't fair

Far as I know, that poster goes to GULC, in which case I sincerely doubt he'd have any reason to be bitter about A'nold's transfer.

[A'nold]

bitter much? life isn't fair

Far as I know, that poster goes to GULC, in which case I sincerely doubt he'd have any reason to be bitter about A'nold's transfer.

No, but that poster expresses open hostility towards me and after hearing the reasons why, I think the poster is a little off base with his/her assumptions. Not to mention, whether true in reality, bwv's post did sound angry or bitter so I don't think dante's response was over the top by any stretch.

[transplantedbuckeye]

for the record, I said 30% chance because the poster wants to transfer from Seattle U

[A'nold]

for the record, I said 30% chance because the poster wants to transfer from Seattle U

Yeah but to UW. UW is already hard enough. I would bet that it is even harder to transfer into UW from SU with top 10% than it is from a distant school where the applicant has a good reason for needing to be in Seattle.

[bagosian]

Forget Seattle U to UW, I'd be happy getting from my T3 to Seattle U!

Seattle didn't like my 163, so here's to busting my butt to make the top 15% and hope I get in on transfer...

[Aston2412]

Thoughts on GW to Columbia?

[vanwinkle]

Thoughts on GW to Columbia?

Top 10% or better 1L GPA, solid LORs, and a good PS.

[jenspen21]

How likely is it to transfer to a school that you originally got accepted to and is lower ranked than where you currently go? (transferring from Berkeley to Texas? And I did undergrad at Texas)

[vanwinkle]

How likely is it to transfer to a school that you originally got accepted to and is lower ranked than where you currently go? (transferring from Berkeley to Texas? And I did undergrad at Texas)

It seems a lot more likely, but that begs the question, why?

[jenspen21]

How likely is it to transfer to a school that you originally got accepted to and is lower ranked than where you currently go? (transferring from Berkeley to Texas? And I did undergrad at Texas)

It seems a lot more likely, but that begs the question, why?

I want to live/practice in Texas. Would I have more access of jobs by being at UT?

[vanwinkle]

I want to live/practice in Texas. Would I have more access of jobs by being at UT?

You did undergrad at Texas. I'm presuming you lived in-state before going? (Due to the top 10% rule there's nearly no spots left at the school for out-of-state kids.) If you've got strong ties to Texas you should do fine staying where you are. They'll probably ask you why you chose Berkeley, but you can explain that as trying to get the best legal education you could get, and they'll very likely accept that.

[jenspen21]

I want to live/practice in Texas. Would I have more access of jobs by being at UT?

You did undergrad at Texas. I'm presuming you lived in-state before going? (Due to the top 10% rule there's nearly no spots left at the school for out-of-state kids.) If you've got strong ties to Texas you should do fine staying where you are. They'll probably ask you why you chose Berkeley, but you can explain that as trying to get the best legal education you could get, and they'll very likely accept that.

Actually no I am not a TX resident, just lived there for undergrad. I chose Berkeley for IP reasons.

[vanwinkle]

Actually no I am not a TX resident, just lived there for undergrad. I chose Berkeley for IP reasons.

Well, then, you still have a compelling reason for why you chose it when firms ask.

[apper123]

Thought I'd let you guys know I transferred from a T2 where I was ~top 5% to a T14. I struck out completely at OCI, and I'm definitely a good interviewer. I have various theories why, and I may have shot myself in the foot with how I worded/structured some things on my resume (indicating a non-interest in BigLaw, which wouldn't really be accurate), but that's simply the truth.

However, after speaking to people at my old school and seeing how they fared, there's pretty much no doubt in my mind that I would have struck out there too, as their OCI was an absolute bloodbath.

[lovelaw27]

Thought I'd let you guys know I transferred from a T2 where I was ~top 5% to a T14. I struck out completely at OCI, and I'm definitely a good interviewer. I have various theories why, and I may have shot myself in the foot with how I worded/structured some things on my resume (indicating a non-interest in BigLaw, which wouldn't really be accurate), but that's simply the truth.

However, after speaking to people at my old school and seeing how they fared, there's pretty much no doubt in my mind that I would have struck out there too, as their OCI was an absolute bloodbath.

Sorry to hear that. Did you focus on DC? Do you think the law firms had a difficult time comparing you to other students at your new school because your class rank was at another school? I am sure you will find something decent outside of OCI. I am thinking about transferring this spring. I think it would help a lot if I get new grades at the school I transfer too (assuming I do decent) before going through 2L OCI. Let us know how everything goes.