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Hey, I just got my LSAT and I'm looking at additional schools to apply to. I'm considering trying to get into somewhere like West Virginia or Seattle University and then attempt to transfer to Georgetown. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

enraged_thinker wrote:Hey, I just got my LSAT and I'm looking at additional schools to apply to. I'm considering trying to get into somewhere like West Virginia or Seattle University and then attempt to transfer to Georgetown. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

From what I understand it's pretty rare to transfer from a T2 to a T14 even if you're able to get STELLAR grades (i.e. top 10 not top 10% of your class), but let me just say that I have no hard numbers to back that up and it's all based on stuff I've read on TLS.

Let me guess, you plan on being one of the top 5% or so in your class and using that as a basis to transfer? What a fantastic plan! It only has a 95% chance of failure.

kalvano wrote:Let me guess, you plan on being one of the top 5% or so in your class and using that as a basis to transfer? What a fantastic plan! It only has a 95% chance of failure.

I plan on trying. My GPA is not actually indicative of my ability. I slacked a lot in college but I've managed to get my priorities straightened out. Now that I've started applying myself I'm more of a 3.8 student (It would be higher but Business Stats is just plain hard).

Don't go to a school you would not want to graduate from.

kalvano wrote:Don't go to a school you would not want to graduate from.

Haha, thanks. No plans for Cooley or Thomas Jefferson from me; even a 0L should know to avoid those schools.

I never mentioned those schools. All I'm saying is you have a 3.17 and a 158. I know plenty of people with far better numbers who are well into the bottom half of the class.

Don't go to West Virginia or Seattle unless you'd be happy graduating from there. Transferring is difficult even under the best of circumstances, and while it's cliched to say it, 90% of the class is not in the top 10%, which is vital for transferring. Think about that...from the very outset, before any other consideration at all, you have a 90% chance of failure. Would you fly in a plane that has a 90% chance of crashing?

kalvano wrote:Would you fly in a plane that has a 90% chance of crashing?

I'm a special snowflake, so yeah, why not.

enraged_thinker wrote:

kalvano wrote:Let me guess, you plan on being one of the top 5% or so in your class and using that as a basis to transfer? What a fantastic plan! It only has a 95% chance of failure.

I plan on trying. My GPA is not actually indicative of my ability. I slacked a lot in college but I've managed to get my priorities straightened out. Now that I've started applying myself I'm more of a 3.8 student (It would be higher but Business Stats is just plain hard).

Apply yourself for three months and get a good LSAT score, and then you can go to Georgetown.

I really don't understand all the transfer junkies who haven't taken the lsat multiple times; it's FARRRRR easier to score high on the LSAT than to do well at law school. And the amount of money a few more points on the LSAT can get you is enormous.

enraged_thinker wrote:

kalvano wrote:Let me guess, you plan on being one of the top 5% or so in your class and using that as a basis to transfer? What a fantastic plan! It only has a 95% chance of failure.

I plan on trying. My GPA is not actually indicative of my ability. I slacked a lot in college but I've managed to get my priorities straightened out. Now that I've started applying myself I'm more of a 3.8 student (It would be higher but Business Stats is just plain hard).

If you want to transfer, just remember that most or all of your classmates are just as hungry and capable as you are, and are gunning for the same thing. You should also note that 95% of the students who plan on being in the top-5% will be disappointed. (Note: I know this concept has already been stated above). It appears that you need a 170 on the LSAT.

Your undergraduate abilities don't really relate to your abilities/aptitude for law school work, they relate to your work ethic. Law school and undergrad are generally worlds apart in terms the type of critical thinking involved - with law school obviously requiring much deeper analytical abilities, more thoughtful written expression, better organization, etc.

Some people are more prepared for it because of certain courses they have taken, their personal circumstances, etc. There is no way to predict how well you will do in law school based on your undergraduate record. An LSAT score is theoretically supposed to determine whether you CAN do the work (I'm selling on this one for some applicants), while your UGPA determines whether you are WILLING to do the work. Hence, even if you actually had a 3.8 GPA, it wouldn't be probative of how you stack up against your competitors, only how likely you are to do all of your reading, etc.

If you want GULC, put yourself in position for admission there as a 1L. With your GPA, you need a 170 or so, depending on the nature and difficulty of your undergraduate curriculum, your grade trend, WE, LOR's, essays, etc.

retake

slsplease wrote:retake

or don't go

Borhas wrote:

slsplease wrote:retake

or don't go

credited

if you plan on putting in the hard work to transfer why not put in the hard work to study and retake? like theyve said before dont go to a school you wouldnt be happy graduating from

Retake. A year off is awesome. I retook, twice, and I am very happy. Even if your LSAT is not GT numbers, you can still improve it to the point that you will get into a school you would like to graduate from.

I love WVU. The job data is solid for a TT as it is the only law school in the state. Class of 2010 data is trickling out and there was a 70% offer rate pre-graduation here for them (which was higher than I expected).

I love the college here and do not regret going at all.

It is absolutely gorgeous out here. I had a blast going to Cheat Lake quite often during the warm months.

enraged_thinker wrote:

kalvano wrote:Let me guess, you plan on being one of the top 5% or so in your class and using that as a basis to transfer? What a fantastic plan! It only has a 95% chance of failure.

I plan on trying. My GPA is not actually indicative of my ability. I slacked a lot in college but I've managed to get my priorities straightened out. Now that I've started applying myself I'm more of a 3.8 student (It would be higher but Business Stats is just plain hard).

Point this upward trend out to the adcomms. I wish I had an upward trend because apparently they like that better than flat-lined grades.

Philosopher King wrote:

enraged_thinker wrote:

kalvano wrote:Let me guess, you plan on being one of the top 5% or so in your class and using that as a basis to transfer? What a fantastic plan! It only has a 95% chance of failure.

I plan on trying. My GPA is not actually indicative of my ability. I slacked a lot in college but I've managed to get my priorities straightened out. Now that I've started applying myself I'm more of a 3.8 student (It would be higher but Business Stats is just plain hard).

Point this upward trend out to the adcomms. I wish I had an upward trend because apparently they like that better than flat-lined grades.

I think its a small soft at best... best thing to do with a low GPA is to compensate with a great LSAT.

joncrooshal wrote:I love WVU. The job data is solid for a TT as it is the only law school in the state..

seems you havent improved on the LR skills that landed your lsat in wvu territory in the first place

YourCaptain wrote:

joncrooshal wrote:I love WVU. The job data is solid for a TT as it is the only law school in the state..

seems you havent improved on the LR skills that landed your lsat in wvu territory in the first place

Thankfully, you are here to correct my grammar. Douche.

American_in_China wrote:I really don't understand all the transfer junkies who haven't taken the lsat multiple times; it's FARRRRR easier to score high on the LSAT than to do well at law school. And the amount of money a few more points on the LSAT can get you is enormous.

Don't remind us.

nonsense answers. Georgetown offers a video addendum. Belt out a rendition of "What What in the butt", and youre golden!

Cheap state school or don't go. Get the idea that you can transfer out of your head. Maybe you'll have that chance, but odds are pretty clear that you won't. Going into law school banking on transferring is the stupidest thing of all time.

Also sweet necro.