Transfer Student(s) Taking Questions Forum

[brotherdarkness]

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[echooo23]

Wow very helpful responses!

I think I'm with LisaVJ on this one. Using break to hone my drinking skills and letting my friends know I'm still alive is a good idea.

Winter Break has to be the best thing ever. I never truly appreciated how wonderful it is to be able to do anything you want all day.

Reading EE's over break is impressive. That's dedication. I might read Chemerinsky's Con Law supplement over break since I'm using his casebook next semester.

It's nice to know there is time to get Apps/PS's done after grades roll through.

It does sound like getting a head start won't hurt. But I feel like rolling admissions for transfers doesn't matter as much? I'm sure they have the luxury to wait and evaluate all the applicants before making decisions considering barely anyone applies to transfer?

Don't waste your time reading Chemerinsky's supplement during break. It's way long and you likely will not cover the entire Chemerinsky book in one semester, so at this point you don't know what to read and what not to read. If you really feel like you have to get your study on, I would recommend Mary Cheh's con law Sum & Substance, which is a little outdated but still really useful. That way you can study while you do dishes or work out or whatever.

Don't underestimate how fatigued you will be going hard for two semesters straight. Use your break to relax as much as you can. You don't want to be so fatigued come April that you lose all motivation near the finish line when it matters most.

[stillwater]

I was incredibly fatigued second semester. Dont do anything crazy other than what WORKED first semester. Your classmates won't get markedly better - which I think is one of the biggest flames perpetuated here- and just be a normal human. Having reserves and some mental resources to expend come finals second semester is, you know, important. Dont underestimate how much youll hate law school at that point.

[deebanger]

Wow very helpful responses!

I think I'm with LisaVJ on this one. Using break to hone my drinking skills and letting my friends know I'm still alive is a good idea.

Winter Break has to be the best thing ever. I never truly appreciated how wonderful it is to be able to do anything you want all day.

Reading EE's over break is impressive. That's dedication. I might read Chemerinsky's Con Law supplement over break since I'm using his casebook next semester.

It's nice to know there is time to get Apps/PS's done after grades roll through.

It does sound like getting a head start won't hurt. But I feel like rolling admissions for transfers doesn't matter as much? I'm sure they have the luxury to wait and evaluate all the applicants before making decisions considering barely anyone applies to transfer?

The reading E&E's over break was lame, but whatever. I figured that trading nine months of my life for a chance to make a solid six-figure salary upon graduation and set myself on track for an otherwise unattainable career was a worthwhile trade.

As for the admissions offices waiting to evaluate transfer applications, that's a huge gripe of mine. I applied to Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard. Berkeley admitted me fairly quickly and let me know that I needed to commit by the middle of July. Stanford and Harvard wouldn't give me a decision before then. I called their admissions offices and explained the situation, but I doubt they did more than shrug their shoulders and wonder what they were having for lunch that day. Berkeley said that it was understood that committing to them meant withdrawing other applications. They also said that they do not grant extensions on this deadline. I had a discussion with a number of others on TLS during this process and eventually decided to withdraw my applications from Stanford and Harvard before hearing back. I don't know what others did, but I wasn't comfortable with being dishonest or whatever you might like to call it. I did, however, take the time to meet with some staff at Berkeley's Law school and let them know that I thought their commitment deadline was designed specifically to put individuals like myself in that situation and that it was, well, a bullshit maneuver. I'm sure they don't care and will continue to do this, but it's something others should be aware of. I don't mean to make it seem as though I'm ungrateful for the opportunity I've been afforded (busting my ass for one year made up for pissing away my undergraduate years), I just don't like being toyed with.

Hey! is it always true that transfer students automatically have to pay sticker for two years?, If you dont mind me asking, did Berkely match the scholarship offer of your previous school? thanks!

[stillwater]

Hey! is it always true that transfer students automatically have to pay sticker for two years?, If you dont mind me asking, did Berkely match the scholarship offer of your previous school? thanks!

hey man, thanks for your Q, it is true that typically you must pay sticker. theres really no incentive to match. Yale, Harvard and Stanford however give need-based aid. so if you transfer to one of those you will get need-based aid in accordance with your need.

[brotherdarkness]

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[Blumpbeef]

Wow very helpful responses!

I think I'm with LisaVJ on this one. Using break to hone my drinking skills and letting my friends know I'm still alive is a good idea.

Winter Break has to be the best thing ever. I never truly appreciated how wonderful it is to be able to do anything you want all day.

Reading EE's over break is impressive. That's dedication. I might read Chemerinsky's Con Law supplement over break since I'm using his casebook next semester.

It's nice to know there is time to get Apps/PS's done after grades roll through.

It does sound like getting a head start won't hurt. But I feel like rolling admissions for transfers doesn't matter as much? I'm sure they have the luxury to wait and evaluate all the applicants before making decisions considering barely anyone applies to transfer?

Don't waste your time reading Chemerinsky's supplement during break. It's way long and you likely will not cover the entire Chemerinsky book in one semester, so at this point you don't know what to read and what not to read. If you really feel like you have to get your study on, I would recommend Mary Cheh's con law Sum & Substance, which is a little outdated but still really useful. That way you can study while you do dishes or work out or whatever.

Don't underestimate how fatigued you will be going hard for two semesters straight. Use your break to relax as much as you can. You don't want to be so fatigued come April that you lose all motivation near the finish line when it matters most.

I did chemerinksi last winter break. Holy shit what a waste of time. Dont do it, jusr take some time off and try to relax.

Also, fuck con law

[brotherdarkness]

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[sap]

Hey! is it always true that transfer students automatically have to pay sticker for two years?, If you dont mind me asking, did Berkely match the scholarship offer of your previous school? thanks!

Most of the schools claim that they have need-based aid available to transfers that is "abandoned" by people who were at the school 1L year and won't be there for 2L. I think this is a flame (outside of HYS). I have a friend here who transferred who would qualify for any need-based aid that exists, and they didn't get any.

RE: recs, my LWRA professor actually sat down with me and told me that I should transfer. I ended up RAing over the summer for one of my profs who was a recommender, who also helped me pick my SA position while I was agonizing about whether I wanted QOL or enough training to leave for my PI dreamjob as soon as my debt was paid off, who also called people about getting me the internship I had this semester. Profs are in it for the students with potential, not for boosting the employment numbers at the school. The good ones will be resources to students they clicked with wherever that student ends up.

[jameselroybaker]

Does anyone know what grade distribution looks like at Hastings after Fall semester? The won't give out rankings and I want to know if it is worth getting transfer applications ready.

[brotherdarkness]

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[shock259]

Just adding my name to this thread. I transferred from a small regional T50 to CLS. Graduating in May. I summered at a big firm in NYC, which is where I'll be going after graduation. Happy to answer any and all questions.

[Jchance]

Adding my name to the list, T50-70 transferred to non-t14 t20.

I'm interested to find out what other transfers' game plan is after they transfered. Anyone cares to answer? The more the merrier.

[brotherdarkness]

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[stillwater]

Adding my name to the list, T50-70 transfered to non-t14 t20.

I'm interested to find out what other transfers' game plan is after they transfered. Anyone care to answer? The more the merrier.

Game plan? I transferred for biglaw, so that's my only "plan." I'll be summering at a V5 and I'm hoping to be fortunate enough to return after graduation.

you will be so fortunate BD (unless you burn the office down).

[Jchance]

Adding my name to the list, T50-70 transfered to non-t14 t20.

I'm interested to find out what other transfers' game plan is after they transfered. Anyone care to answer? The more the merrier.

Game plan? I transferred for biglaw, so that's my only "plan." I'll be summering at a V5 and I'm hoping to be fortunate enough to return after graduation.

If the whole point of transferring is OCI, then one could just stay at their old school and do just as well, assuming s/he mass-mails like crazy. Transfers theoretically are only given a small bump at OCI, as they are compared to their peers at their old school by grades (or at most a median at their new school).

Anything else besides OCI?

[stillwater]

Adding my name to the list, T50-70 transfered to non-t14 t20.

I'm interested to find out what other transfers' game plan is after they transfered. Anyone care to answer? The more the merrier.

Game plan? I transferred for biglaw, so that's my only "plan." I'll be summering at a V5 and I'm hoping to be fortunate enough to return after graduation.

If the whole point of transferring is OCI, then one could just stay at their old school and do just as well, assuming s/he mass-mails like crazy. Transfers theoretically are only given a small bump at OCI, as they are compared to their peers at their old school by grades (or at most a median at their new school).

Anything else besides OCI?

there is probably benefit down the road with going in-house and doing other things. will also give you greater flexibility if your interests should change.

[brotherdarkness]

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[echooo23]

Adding my name to the list, T50-70 transfered to non-t14 t20.

I'm interested to find out what other transfers' game plan is after they transfered. Anyone care to answer? The more the merrier.

Game plan? I transferred for biglaw, so that's my only "plan." I'll be summering at a V5 and I'm hoping to be fortunate enough to return after graduation.

If the whole point of transferring is OCI, then one could just stay at their old school and do just as well, assuming s/he mass-mails like crazy. Transfers theoretically are only given a small bump at OCI, as they are compared to their peers at their old school by grades (or at most a median at their new school).

Anything else besides OCI?

It's about the opportunity to get in front of more employers. That counts for A LOT. Old school, 15 employers, pre-select, could get 0 screeners. New school, 175 employers, lottery, guaranteed at least 12 screeners (in actuality, 19).

And even for mass mails, just having the T14 on the resume gives an applicant a boost. Firm gets to put T14 on their website rather than rando regional TT.

I believe the bump is greater than you make it seem.

[shock259]

If the whole point of transferring is OCI, then one could just stay at their old school and do just as well, assuming s/he mass-mails like crazy. Transfers theoretically are only given a small bump at OCI, as they are compared to their peers at their old school by grades (or at most a median at their new school).

Anything else besides OCI?

This is true at some schools, but not true at a LOT of other schools. I came from a regional T50 school where the biglaw placement was atrocious (~3 students a year). I was close to the top of the class, but not high enough. Had I stayed, I would have gotten some screeners in the region but probably struck out. Outside of the region, I would have probably struck out too. Mass mailing is too easy for firms to ignore. I mass mailed like crazy from CLS (~300 NYC firms) and still heard mostly crickets. I can't imagine having any success if I only had my old school on my resume. Compare that to CLS, where I got to sit down with ~35 screeners, got 10+ CBs, offers to choose from, etc.

There's wiggle room as a transfer. You can be above the grade cutoffs for your T1 school for a firm, but still have no realistic chance of getting a screener/callback there without some extra push. That extra push can be networking, family friend, yada. But that's a gamble. If you transfer, though, you can circumvent this and sit down with a screener through a lottery system and already get over that first huge hurdle.

Counterfactuals can't really be proven, but seeing as how only 1 person at my old school got biglaw outside of the region (and she has a ridiculously well-connected family), I can almost be certain that I would have gotten nothing had I not transferred.

So, I transferred to get biglaw.

[sap]

Adding my name to the list, T50-70 transfered to non-t14 t20.

I'm interested to find out what other transfers' game plan is after they transfered. Anyone care to answer? The more the merrier.

Game plan? I transferred for biglaw, so that's my only "plan." I'll be summering at a V5 and I'm hoping to be fortunate enough to return after graduation.

If the whole point of transferring is OCI, then one could just stay at their old school and do just as well, assuming s/he mass-mails like crazy. Transfers theoretically are only given a small bump at OCI, as they are compared to their peers at their old school by grades (or at most a median at their new school).

Anything else besides OCI?

Like others have said, top grades at your old school don't mean the same thing as a transfer, but its not just about sitting down with employers (though this is a huge boost). My roommate is also a transfer. Before her acceptance was in hand, she was at a dinner party with the managing partner at the firm she's going to. He told her, very frankly, that while he thought she was a great girl with a lot of potential, unless she had a transfer secured, he wouldn't even bring her in for a screener. And this was someone that my roommate's family runs in social circles with, who later hired her once she was at the T14 we now attend.

[rambleon65]

My biggest thing is if I manage to transfer to Harvard, what will it do for me that top 5% at BU/BC wouldn't give me?
Honestly, i don't know that i care that much about V100 rankings as much as the people/culture/fit of the firm.

The only thing that I think about in transferring (assuming 2nd semester goes just as well) is lateral mobility in the next 5-10 years. I know employers do not care about your school grades once you land your first job, but i'd imagine there'd be a slight bump in lateral mobility coming out of Harvard?

[stillwater]

My biggest thing is if I manage to transfer to Harvard, what will it do for me that top 5% at BU/BC wouldn't give me?
Honestly, i don't know that i care that much about V100 rankings as much as the people/culture/fit of the firm.

The only thing that I think about in transferring (assuming 2nd semester goes just as well) is lateral mobility in the next 5-10 years. I know employers do not care about your school grades once you land your first job, but i'd imagine there'd be a slight bump in lateral mobility coming out of Harvard?

i think itll give you more flexibility to do something other than be a biglaw drone.

[brotherdarkness]

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[stillwater]

My biggest thing is if I manage to transfer to Harvard, what will it do for me that top 5% at BU/BC wouldn't give me?
Honestly, i don't know that i care that much about V100 rankings as much as the people/culture/fit of the firm.

The only thing that I think about in transferring (assuming 2nd semester goes just as well) is lateral mobility in the next 5-10 years. I know employers do not care about your school grades once you land your first job, but i'd imagine there'd be a slight bump in lateral mobility coming out of Harvard?

i think itll give you more flexibility to do something other than be a biglaw drone.

Agreed on the flexibility point. Additionally, though you may not care much about how far up the Vault rankings you go, if you care about people/culture/fit, you're going to want to have as many options as possible when choosing a firm to summer at. If you only have one offer but hate the people/culture/fit, you're not really in a position to turn it down. Transferring to Harvard will very likely increase your odds at being able to choose amongst several firms.

+1 on this. V5 is definitely attainable from BU/BC. However, it is likely the smaller class-size firms and interesting firms at the margins that will be more available to you at HLS. Also, don't discount the advantage of having all the employers come to you.