Does the name of my undergrad help me with admission? Forum

[JohniB]

I just graduated from the University of Buffalo and I would like to know if the name of my school helps me? I have been told by my counselor that the name of this school will help me and will make my Grade Point Average look better because my school is more rigorous than a no name state school. Is this true? Am in a better position than people who go to small schools that are not ranked at all? And other ranked school because of the prestige of my school? Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

[dowu]

I just graduated from the University of Buffalo and I would like to know if the name of my school helps me? I have been told by my counselor that the name of this school will help me and will make my Grade Point Average look better because my school is more rigorous than a no name state school. Is this true? Am in a better position than people who go to small schools that are not ranked at all? And other ranked school because of the prestige of my school? Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

No. Don't count anything from it because the name of your school is mostly negligible as far as adcoms are concerned. The exceptions are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and only a few others - but even then, still not anything to waste a glimmer of a thought on. As you'll find, LS admissions is primarily a numbers game (GPA and LSAT). The only other thing I can think of that would be more than marginally beneficial is being a URM.

Good luck!

[dowu]

Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

I'M BLINDED BY THE PREFTIGE

I take my previous statements back. I had no idea your school was so preftigious.

[Lawl Shcool]

This thread will not end well.

[rinkrat19]

I've never even heard of the University of Buffalo.

It will matter just slightly more than your astrological sign and your favorite color.

[JohniB]

Are you saying University of Buffalo would not be looked at a higher standard than the average state school? Because of our programs are seen as rigorous nationally, from what i have been told by my counselor; I am a Political Science major and my school has a minus system and that is a tough program at my school and my counselor and classmates told me it is looked at higher. For example, if I have a 3.3, my counselor said it would be looked at as a 3.4-3.5 at a regular state school, which may be easier because that school's reputation is not nationally recognized.

[Mal Reynolds]

My undergrad is ranked number 1 for best weather in the country. So I beat you in that regard OP.

Your 3.3 is going to get beaten by 3.4s in community colleges all over the country.

ETA: Also, stop listening to your advisor. He or she sounds terrible.

[marlo45]

I just graduated from the University of Buffalo and I would like to know if the name of my school helps me? I have been told by my counselor that the name of this school will help me and will make my Grade Point Average look better because my school is more rigorous than a no name state school. Is this true? Am in a better position than people who go to small schools that are not ranked at all? And other ranked school because of the prestige of my school? Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

There's a thread There are a lot of threads on here that addresses this. The general consensus is that it does not matter. One guy claimed to have had a conversation with a dean of admissions that told him they look at GPAs from prestigious schools differently than they do for, um, 'bumfuck' university i think someone else termed it. I don't think your school will put you over the edge.

edit: fixed for the obvious reason.

[snehpets]

Your counselor is probably wrong. Your 3.3 might be a 3.5 if it was a Princeton 3.3 but university of buffalo...

Also thanks to this thread I just checked and my undergrad is ranked like 30 higher than yours in public schools and people would lol pretty hard if I tried to claim it was prestigious.

[moneybagsphd]

I just graduated from the University of Buffalo and I would like to know if the name of my school helps me? I have been told by my counselor that the name of this school will help me and will make my Grade Point Average look better because my school is more rigorous than a no name state school. Is this true? Am in a better position than people who go to small schools that are not ranked at all? And other ranked school because of the prestige of my school? Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

No. Don't count anything from it because the name of your school is mostly negligible as far as adcoms are concerned. The exceptions are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and only a few others - but even then, still not anything to waste a glimmer of a thought on. As you'll find, LS admissions is primarily a numbers game (GPA and LSAT). The only other thing I can think of that would be more than marginally beneficial is being a URM.

Good luck!

This bit of TLS lore has always bothered me. HYP are generally prestigious schools, but LS adcomms probably also make exceptions for prestigious programs at other schools. A high GPA in Electrical Engineering from Berkeley, MIT, CalTech, or Stanford is a lot more meaningful than a high engineering GPA from HYP.
ETA: I realize btw that you left it open ended--"and only a few others." The general consensus seems to be HYP have an edge. I don't think that makes any sense.

[ringo]

I just graduated from the University of Buffalo and I would like to know if the name of my school helps me? I have been told by my counselor that the name of this school will help me and will make my Grade Point Average look better because my school is more rigorous than a no name state school. Is this true? Am in a better position than people who go to small schools that are not ranked at all? And other ranked school because of the prestige of my school? Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

To everyone outside of Buffalo, your school is a "no name state school." Your counselor is crazy.

Edit: tfleming beat me to it

[kwais]

Are you saying University of Buffalo would not be looked at a higher standard than the average state school? Because of our programs are seen as rigorous nationally, from what i have been told by my counselor; I am a Political Science major and my school has a minus system and that is a tough program at my school and my counselor and classmates told me it is looked at higher. For example, if I have a 3.3, my counselor said it would be looked at as a 3.4-3.5 at a regular state school, which may be easier because that school's reputation is not nationally recognized.

There are few people on earth who know less about LS admissions than undergrad counselors. There is no question that UBuffalo is a non-factor. Also, do yourself a favor and don't tell too many people outside your school that you think you went to an above average school. This is not the case. Good luck

[Mr. Pancakes]

I just graduated from the University of Buffalo and I would like to know if the name of my school helps me? I have been told by my counselor that the name of this school will help me and will make my Grade Point Average look better because my school is more rigorous than a no name state school. Is this true? Am in a better position than people who go to small schools that are not ranked at all? And other ranked school because of the prestige of my school? Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

I know that the chicks at Buffalo are fucking sluts when the come to south florida.

[JohniB]

Are you saying University of Buffalo would not be looked at a higher standard than the average state school?

lol Buffalo is the average state school brah

No, I am comparing it to let's say X University that is not even a research school or have any PH.d Programs, or just have a low ranking (a regular no name state school). For example, I would have a better shot with lower grades than less say Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.

[Mr. Pancakes]

Are you saying University of Buffalo would not be looked at a higher standard than the average state school?

lol Buffalo is the average state school brah

No, I am comparing it to let's say X University that is not even a research school or have any PH.d Programs, or just have a low ranking. For example, I would have a better shot with lower grades than less say Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.

same thing.

[rad lulz]

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[sunynp]

You might want to run any other advice your counselor has given you by the people in this forum. It sounds like they don't know anything about admissions. Law schools primarily care about GPA and LSAT scores.

[moneybagsphd]

Are you saying University of Buffalo would not be looked at a higher standard than the average state school?

lol Buffalo is the average state school brah

No, I am comparing it to let's say X University that is not even a research school or have any PH.d Programs, or just have a low ranking. For example, I would have a better shot with lower grades than less say Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.

It's lucky for you that UG prestige isn't a factor in LS admissions. Because you'll be going up against kids who went to Berkeley, UVA, Michigan, UCLA, etc (just to name public schools). You will also be applying with people who went to Ivies, Stanford, Duke, U Chicago, etc. There are a fuckload of prestigious colleges in the US, and yours isn't one of them.

[JohniB]

Are you saying University of Buffalo would not be looked at a higher standard than the average state school?

lol Buffalo is the average state school brah

No, I am comparing it to let's say X University that is not even a research school or have any PH.d Programs, or just have a low ranking. For example, I would have a better shot with lower grades than less say Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.

same thing.

So are you saying that I have the same chances from Buffalo, a nationally ranked school, as some kid from Columbus State University (has no ranking at all)? And if I have a 3.3 from University of Buffalo, and he has a 3.4-3.5 from Columbus State University that he has a better shot than I do applying to law schools?

[law2015]

This guy is clearly a flame, I can't believe people actually responded seriously.

[Mr. Pancakes]

And if I have a 3.3 from University of Buffalo, and he has a 3.4-3.5 from Columbus State University that he has a better shot than I do applying to law schools?

yes. his GPA is higher.

[IAFG]

I just graduated from the University of Buffalo and I would like to know if the name of my school helps me? I have been told by my counselor that the name of this school will help me and will make my Grade Point Average look better because my school is more rigorous than a no name state school. Is this true? Am in a better position than people who go to small schools that are not ranked at all? And other ranked school because of the prestige of my school? Also, my school is ranked 111th in the best colleges in the United States and 54th in best public schools in the United States. Those are just a couple of the rankings.

No. Don't count anything from it because the name of your school is mostly negligible as far as adcoms are concerned. The exceptions are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and only a few others - but even then, still not anything to waste a glimmer of a thought on. As you'll find, LS admissions is primarily a numbers game (GPA and LSAT). The only other thing I can think of that would be more than marginally beneficial is being a URM.

Good luck!

This bit of TLS lore has always bothered me. HYP are generally prestigious schools, but LS adcomms probably also make exceptions for prestigious programs at other schools. A high GPA in Electrical Engineering from Berkeley, MIT, CalTech, or Stanford is a lot more meaningful than a high engineering GPA from HYP.
ETA: I realize btw that you left it open ended--"and only a few others." The general consensus seems to be HYP have an edge. I don't think that makes any sense.

It may not make sense to you, but with years of LSN, the CW has enough evidence to get this right. Schools don't evaluate candidates the way you think they should.

[soj]

KURSTED

Oh thank god, I miss Kurst in the on-topics.

[Mr. Pancakes]

This guy is clearly a flame, I can't believe people actually responded seriously.

[JohniB]

No, I am comparing it to let's say X University that is not even a research school or have any PH.d Programs, or just have a low ranking (a regular no name state school). For example, I would have a better shot with lower grades than less say Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.

Bro you attended a state diploma mill exactly like I did, deluding yourself into believing that there's some vague notion of prestige based on being ranked 111th in USNews is laughable, and a kid for Columbus State with a 4.0 is going to ruin your shit every time.

That's just our nationally ranking. We are ranked higher in certain programs. For example, we are ranked 17th in our Pharmaceutical Science and Anesthesia program.