Columbia v Chicago v Duke For A Transfer Forum

[Ohiobumpkin]

It's extremely difficult for a transfer without ties to get California big law—unless the transfer got into SLS or Boalt.

As for whether you should choose CLS or Chicago, don't you have a city preference? I'd make my choice based on where I wanted to live for two years (and possibly longer than that, given that your OCI opportunities are going to be affected least a bit by the city you're in, even at the CCN level).

I really like both Chicago and NY, so I really have no preference. I am a NY sports fan, though. When it comes to the places I'd like to end up, I'm really CA dreaming like I said before - but I understand it's a long shot. TX is in the mix due to low COL.

It seems like at CLS I would bid heavily NYC and have a fairly good shot. But let's say I go to UChi - do I bid Chicago or NY? I have no ties to Chicago itself but I do come from a small Midwestern secondary market and I went to a Big 10 school for undergrad. I understand the Chicago market is tough.

Basically, since I've been able to self-finance my first year and will probably be able to pick up some of the cost of 2L without loans, I'll be coming out of LS with minimal debt. If I can't break in to international work, I'd like to work in CA. If I can't work in CA, I just want to work for a few years, bank as much money as I can, and then GTFO and do whatever I want.

So basically the rough hierarchy for me is probably international work > CA > early retirement potential > everything else

If you're going to pick between U Chi and Columbia, go Columbia. I know I am reversing what I said earlier, but I didn't know Columbia had such good outcomes for transfers at OCI. I still think I would generally direct you to jbagelboy first post for general guidance.

[Paul Campos]

Transfers don't get merit aid, so I'd be looking at sticker at all of these.

This isn't true. Lots of transfers pay less than sticker these days. Remember, as a transfer the marginal cost to the school of your matriculation is close to zero, i.e., the tuition you pay is pretty much pure profit to the institution. Unlike 0L admissions, it doesn't even have to pay the indirect cost incurred by admitting people with lower than median LSAT and/or GPAs.

Two rules:

(1) Everything is negotiable

(2) Sticker is for suckers