Importance of Undergrad Institution Forum

[WylieMorlan]

I am currently attending a school that is not exactly top ranked. I am hoping to attend a top 20 law school, but I do not know to what extent not attending a nationally recognized university is going to hurt me when I actually apply for law school. I'm considering transferring to a top-tier university, but before I do that, I wanted to know if anyone knew exactly how much that would help me. I'm one year out from graduation if I stay at my current school, but if I transfer, I will be set back about a year. I know I'm being pretty vague, but does anyone have any advice?

[Unitas]

I am currently attending a school that is not exactly top ranked. I am hoping to attend a top 20 law school, but I do not know to what extent not attending a nationally recognized university is going to hurt me when I actually apply for law school. I'm considering transferring to a top-tier university, but before I do that, I wanted to know if anyone knew exactly how much that would help me. I'm one year out from graduation if I stay at my current school, but if I transfer, I will be set back about a year. I know I'm being pretty vague, but does anyone have any advice?

Transfer. I had that choice (transfer to T30 UG) a year and a half ago and didn't take it, and now I regret it. It will only matter for the T14 or so and some won't care as much as others.

[KibblesAndVick]

The quality of your undergrad will not matter very much at all. If you were attending an elite university such as an Ivy it would look nice on your application. However, it will pale in comparison to the importance of the GPA you earn in college and the LSAT score you are able to get. You will easily be admitted into a top 20 program coming out of Bumblefuck State as long as you got good grades there and score highly on the LSATs.

[PoorOrpheus]

Consider how the transfer may impact your GPA. If you have a poor or mediocre GPA right now, getting an extra year to raise it could really change your admissions chances.

[TTH]

The quality of your undergrad will not matter very much at all. If you were attending an elite university such as an Ivy it would look nice on your application. However, it will pale in comparison to the importance of the GPA you earn in college and the LSAT score you are able to get. You will easily be admitted into a top 20 program coming out of Bumblefuck State as long as you got good grades there and score highly on the LSATs.

TITCR

Where you go to school for undergrad doesn't matter, what you do there does.

[blue5385]

Unless you're transferring to HYP, I don't think quality of undergrad institution will make much of a difference relative to how well you are doing at your current university. I went to a reputable T15 private school, and I almost wish I had saved on tuition and attended my state university (which itself has a good rep, but not nearly as good as my UG's) because UG prestige will make so little difference in the long run. Grades are what's important, not the name on your diploma.

[ze2151]

if your'e getting good grades, stay where you are. i guarantee you've never heard of my UG, but i was accepted at UVa ($$), Duke ($), Georgetown ($), Chicago, UCLA, USC ($$), and Emory ($$$). that's 35% of the top 20.

to be fair, i was waitlisted at CLS and Penn, and rejected at Yale. Still, if you have good grades and a great LSAT, you can be competitive.

[rolark]

Transfer if you feel the need to change schools, but it will mean little for your law school admissions. As a former student of a small, unknown, liberal arts college, I've been admitted to several T14 schools.

Remember that law admissions are almost exclusively based on LSAT and GPA. Other factors are incredibly minor in comparison. Schools will not interpret your undergraduate institution as anything more than a potential advertisement line that makes them look more fancy.

People might tell you it could matter if your numbers are on the edge and an admissions office is deciding between you and an identical another candidate. In reality, there will be no candidate that mirrors you in every fact other than undergraduate institution; any number of things on your resume could sway the decision makers - a school is worth little more than any other line.

If it's in your best interest, go ahead and transfer. If you're happier, you could get better grades; if you're around more resources, you could do more interesting things. But know that the school itself means very, very little in this process.

[jcl2]

Transferring won't do you any good from a law school admissions standpoint, but if you want to for some other reason, go for it I guess.

My advice: stay where you are at, ace the rest of your classes, and make studying for the LSAT your number one priority from now until you take the test (September?).

[09042014]

Undergrad institution will only help in a very limited set of circumstances. UChicago and Penn seem to give a slight boost to elite schools.

I think it might help a little to excuse a poor GPA, as long as you have an LSAT to back it up.

If you area high GPA/ low LSAT splitter, it might hurt if your school has no reputation.

But for the most part law school admissions are based on GPA and LSAT.