Am I stupid for thinking of transferring? Forum

[XXYYXX]

I'm not at a very good University now. It's one of those hyphen schools (University of [State]-City), but it's working for me. I'm in the last semester of my sophomore year, carry a 4.0 GPA, started a student organization, am working with professors on research, volunteer weekly, and have a very good relationship with several Professors.

Unfortunately, the academic environment leaves a lot to be desired here. I've already gotten into one Top 20 University and am expecting to hear back from several others. Am I dumb for thinking of transferring to an Ivy/Top LAC?

[bombaysippin]

Ivy 4.0 > state school 4.0 > 3.9 any other school.

The name of your school will barely give you a bump, if any at all for being a prestigious school. Otherwise its just your numerical GPA that counts for law school admissions.

[09042014]

No, it's probably smart. Just keep up the good work. It'll be harder but that much harder.

[XXYYXX]

No, it's probably smart. Just keep up the good work. It'll be harder but that much harder.

Thank you Desert Fox. Your reply seems to contradict Bajam's implied answer. Why do you think it is smart?

Thank you for your answers DF and Bajam.

[KD35]

You're probably (hopefully?) minimizing loans now in UG. If you've done well so far, two more years there wouldn't be a bad thing if the goal is law school because of the importance of GPA over basically everything else (except for LSAT). You know you can keep a high GPA at your current school, it can't hurt to stay and ensure your extremely high GPA.

[09042014]

No, it's probably smart. Just keep up the good work. It'll be harder but that much harder.

Thank you Desert Fox. Your reply seems to contradict Bajam's implied answer. Why do you think it is smart?

Thank you for your answers DF and Bajam.

If you were 101% going to law school no matter what, it's probably better to stay put. But it's stupid to go all in on law school when you are a sophomore in college. You need to get a valuable, marketable education now.

You may change your mind about law school (and you probably should, law blows). You might not get into a school worth going to.

That said don't go into crazy debt for this. How much will this cost you, personally, to transfer.?

[Lock74]

Use the time where you feel not challenged to study for the lsat. Atleast that's what I did.

[Jchance]

I'm not at a very good University now. It's one of those hyphen schools (University of [State]-City), but it's working for me. I'm in the last semester of my sophomore year, carry a 4.0 GPA, started a student organization, am working with professors on research, volunteer weekly, and have a very good relationship with several Professors.

Unfortunately, the academic environment leaves a lot to be desired here. I've already gotten into one Top 20 University and am expecting to hear back from several others. Am I dumb for thinking of transferring to an Ivy/Top LAC?

for law school path, high GPA and high LSAT is all it matters, not the name of ur UG school. I'd stay put and enjoy that high GPA.

Ur UG's school name may be a small boost later when u interview for jobs.

[J-e-L-L-o]

I would say depends on your major and if you are 100 percent sure you want to go to law school. Either way, you should get some valuable work experience before law school. With that strong of a g.p.a, you will be able to work anywhere. If you wanted to do better research I would say transfer (better resources at more name recognized schools) but since you don't indicate that, don't go more into debt for more rigor. Finish your bachelors there then decide to go to another school if need be. You will have a great g.p.a., good softs, and great prof recommendations for grad school or law school later.

You are in a good spot to be in. Just keep doing what you are doing and you will have a plethora of options once you graduate. The only way I would transfer in your shoes is after getting your financial aid package and your cost wont be much more than the school you are in.

Just my .02 cents. Good luck!

[jkhalfa]

I'd stick it out. Like they said, UG prestige is essentially meaningless unless you go to HYPS. GPA and LSAT are all you need, and a less rigorous undergrad will help you get a high GPA. There's a page on Harvard's website that lists the UGs of the latest class, and it includes lots of "no name" colleges. My UG isn't known as an academic powerhouse, but I know we have grads at Harvard, Penn, Cornell, and probably many other top schools. So, unless you're ego is so tender that you'll trade tens of thousands of dollars and maybe even your shot at a top law school for a fancy pants diploma, just stick it out.

[Cicero76]

I didn't feel challenged at my UG either. I found a prof who wanted to push me, made a great relationship with him, and ended up with a fantastic college experience that was very challenging once I had someone to work with. Find a way to make the best of it

[malleus discentium]

If any UGs give an admissions bump it is exactly HYPS and it's too negligible to be a consideration even if those schools are on the table for you. If you're not going to take out any significant debt to go to a new school, and the two years of lack of intellectual stimulation is going to be, like, soul destroying and you're willing to take the risk of a GPA drop (.1 GPA is a world of difference in admissions outcomes but is also only a few A- from where you are) it might be worth it. And at any rate, schools are really as academically challenging as you make them. If you're making this decision based on the goal of law school, I advise against it.