Transfer to prestigious school or graduate Forum

[howlery]

I've gathered that school prestige--barring HYPS--does not really give one a boost in LS admissions. However, since I'd like to do something else, even if it is related to the law, before LS would it make sense to transfer to a school with more recognition? I ask because I'll be graduating with a degree in Philosophy from a public school that isn't really respected in its state or known nationally. If I transferred to another school, say a "lower ivy" or other T25 school, would my employment prospects improve?

There are numerous job postings as well as posts on TLS that say top firms only hire paralegals (something I'm very interested in) who come from reputable schools with great GPAs, for example.

Also, not sure if this is in the proper forum. Feel free to shuffle it.

[dingbat]

I've gathered that school prestige--barring HYPS--does not really give one a boost in LS admissions. However, since I'd like to do something else, even if it is related to the law, before LS would it make sense to transfer to a school with more recognition? I ask because I'll be graduating with a degree in Philosophy from a public school that isn't really respected in its state or known nationally. If I transferred to another school, say a "lower ivy" or other T25 school, would my employment prospects improve?

There are numerous job postings as well as posts on TLS that say top firms only hire paralegals (something I'm very interested in) who come from reputable schools with great GPAs, for example.

Also, not sure if this is in the proper forum. Feel free to shuffle it.

Yes, going to a school with a better reputation improves your employment opportunities.
No one will ever look down on a degree from Notre Dame or Vanderbilt.

But, reputation can be regional, so if you plan on working in a particular region, make sure that the school is known there.
For example, Rutgers has a great reputation in Jersey, but I doubt it carries much weight in the bible-belt (correct me if I'm wrong, folks).

For undergrad, I'd always recommend a combination of the best reputation and the lowest price.

[Patriot1208]

You'll have vastly greater post-undergrad employment prospects at a school like Cornell, Brown, NU, ND, JHU, WUSTL, Emory, Vanderbilt, etc than you'd have at a "not very well respected state university". It, of course, will depend on what you want to do and what school you go to but if you just want to be a paralegal for a couple years before LS I probably wouldn't take on extra debt to transfer. But if for instance you'd like to get a Consulting job for a couple years before LS you'll likely need the transfer and it could be worth it financially as well.

[paratactical]

If you're looking for a paralegal gig in NYC biglaw, a 3.5 GPA with some shit on your resume (clubs, extracurricular stuff, part time jobs), will get you to real interviews. I went to art school and majored in publishing and radio and got the NYC gig easy. Be forewarned: lots of places want an informal commitment for two years, given the time they take to train you, and if you don't stay for two, some firms will remember and not look on you as favorably for post-JD employment. The seriousness of the commitment varies from firm to firm.

[MTal]

It's actually spelled PresTTTige.

[howlery]

You'll have vastly greater post-undergrad employment prospects at a school like Cornell, Brown, NU, ND, JHU, WUSTL, Emory, Vanderbilt, etc than you'd have at a "not very well respected state university". It, of course, will depend on what you want to do and what school you go to but if you just want to be a paralegal for a couple years before LS I probably wouldn't take on extra debt to transfer. But if for instance you'd like to get a Consulting job for a couple years before LS you'll likely need the transfer and it could be worth it financially as well.

Even with paralegal positions I imagine it would be close to impossible to get an interview with a big or mid law firm coming from my school. Especially since I plan to relocate after graduating.

I know this isn't College Confidential or anything, but can you all recommend some decent schools to apply to?

ETA: apparantly not, thats good to hear. I'd still like to GTFO.

[howlery]

Its too early to bump this, right? I've done some research and it looks like Vandy and Mich are the only top-ish schools with decent acceptance rates.

[FryBreadPower]

Its too early to bump this, right? I've done some research and it looks like Vandy and Mich are the only top-ish schools with decent acceptance rates.

My little brother just transferred to Michigan from UCI. Apparently there is a good number of transfer students there.

[laxbrah420]

I think it's worth noting that those schools will be more difficult

[howlery]

I think it's worth noting that those schools will be more difficult

I've considered that. It seems like I'd be sacrificing a lot by staying here, or rather putting up with a lot unnecessarily, all to marginally increase my chances at a decent law school in a few years. What if I don't even want to go to law school then?

[laxbrah420]

Oh, transfer.

[zettsscores40]

Its too early to bump this, right? I've done some research and it looks like Vandy and Mich are the only top-ish schools with decent acceptance rates.

What's your state of residency? Michigan OOS tuition is not worth it unless you're in engineering, Ross, or your parents are footing the bill and don't care. It might open up some doors through alumni connections in major cities like NYC, DC, and Chicago but you're looking at over $40,000 in tuition as an out of stater at Michigan.

http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/Abou ... dance.aspx

[howlery]

Its too early to bump this, right? I've done some research and it looks like Vandy and Mich are the only top-ish schools with decent acceptance rates.

What's your state of residency? Michigan OOS tuition is not worth it unless you're in engineering, Ross, or your parents are footing the bill and don't care. It might open up some doors through alumni connections in major cities like NYC, DC, and Chicago but you're looking at over $40,000 in tuition as an out of stater at Michigan.

http://www.finaid.umich.edu/TopNav/Abou ... dance.aspx

FL. I'll be footing the bill.

ETA: Is going to the state flagship TCR, even as a Philosophy major?

[howlery]

You'll have vastly greater post-undergrad employment prospects at a school like Cornell, Brown, NU, ND, JHU, WUSTL, Emory, Vanderbilt, etc than you'd have at a "not very well respected state university". It, of course, will depend on what you want to do and what school you go to but if you just want to be a paralegal for a couple years before LS I probably wouldn't take on extra debt to transfer. But if for instance you'd like to get a Consulting job for a couple years before LS you'll likely need the transfer and it could be worth it financially as well.

Even with paralegal positions I imagine it would be close to impossible to get an interview with a big or mid law firm coming from my school. Especially since I plan to relocate after graduating.

I know this isn't College Confidential or anything, but can you all recommend some decent schools to apply to?

[skers]

Are you taking on additional debt by doing this? Don't if so.

[Borhas]

It's actually spelled PresTTTige.

[howlery]

Er, yeah I decided to stay. I'll probably graduate with less than 5k in debt in 3 years. Will probably satiate my inner snob with law school.

/thread

[094320]

..

[howlery]

Some good schools have pretty good financial aid packages, but this only works if your parents don't make a lot of money. Also depends what year you are. I also would've put this in the Admissions forum or something. At least an on-topic forum.

Patriot's point about consulting is credited, but recruiting for consulting and finance jobs start up fall of Junior year for your Junior year internship. Transferring in as a junior might put you at a disadvantage. You can trade up, I know people who did, in your senior year, but you'd need a pretty decent Junior year internship to be able to really do it.

Are you considering philosophy for grad school, or just onwards to law school? If the former, then you want to be at a school that has small enough classes for you to forge good relationships with professors who can solidly recommend you. Or a school with professors who are big in the subarea you want to go into who can recommend you. If it's law school, disregard, that doesn't matter at all.

Thank you for the thoughtful response. I enjoy the subject but don't really see myself pursuing it any further. Someone above mentioned that I could get a decent paralegal position from my undergrad, which I didn't think would be possible in NYC, so I'm content.