SLS Transfers Forum

[drdolittle]

I thought this might also be helpful: my acceptance call was on July 20 last year. I do think some people are accepted later, because not EVERYONE accepted at a top school attends (some attend other schools, and some decide to stay at their current school - I nearly did this). They seem to take a first round of people, and then a few more once the dust settles on that group. I can't speak with authority on this point, but that's how it SEEMS to work.

Why exactly did you decide to transfer (besides the seemingly obvious step-up in degree value/prestige)?

Did you, and other transfers, originally apply to SLS and narrowly get rejected?

Did you also apply to Y/H?

[MarkTwain]

I don't like the quarter system. Exams stress me out (more than is the norm, I believe), and I don't enjoy having three exam periods per year. Other than that, there are advantages. I'm doing a clinic next quarter, and I really like being able to do a clinic as my sole course for an entire quarter rather than as an additional course.

I did apply to H, but not to Y. My decision to apply was very half-hearted. I didn't have the drive to write a Yale 250, and I never actually finished my H application (my final letter arrived substantially after the deadline). Even after I got into Stanford, I took a whole week to decide whether I would leave Virginia. It was a close call (at the time - but in retrospect it was a great decision), thus I'll be happy to advise anyone on his/her particular situation. I will say that most any TRANSFER would be crazy to take Harvard over Stanford, simply because of the prospects of making law review and the great ease of integrating into the smaller class. That said, I realize that Harvard is the dream for many students - so it's understandable that not everyone makes that choice.

[solidsnake]

I will say that most any TRANSFER would be crazy to take Harvard over Stanford, simply because of the prospects of making law review and the great ease of integrating into the smaller class.

Do you know transfers at H that had problems at oci because of no LR? How did the transfers at SLS who didn't make or try for LR do at 2009 oci? Thx.

[MarkTwain]

Everyone at I know at both schools did great at OCI, with or without LR. My comments about the value of LR go far beyond 2L OCI. It's not that LR is necessary to have a great career, but it IS very helpful for all sorts of things (esp. clerkships).

[solidsnake]

Everyone at I know at both schools did great at OCI, with or without LR. My comments about the value of LR go far beyond 2L OCI. It's not that LR is necessary to have a great career, but it IS very helpful for all sorts of things (esp. clerkships).

Sorry, i guess I have the 2L blinders on and things can get a little myopic. So, to rephrase, do you know of any similarly-ranked transfers from previous classes that did have some trouble from H or S getting the generally more desirable/prestigious clerkships because of no flagship LR, despite them having a secondary?

I know it sounds like I'm only thinking of LR as means to some employment-oriented end, but this is simply the most tangible way of seeing actual detriment from not (having the opportunity to participate/) participating in the transfer school's flagship LR. Thx again for your help.

[MarkTwain]

Think of clerkships as a sliding scale. Top clerkships, particularly feeder judges, are largely closed off to those who are not on law review. At HYS, it might be POSSIBLE for top students to get these top clerkships without LR (I know of a few examples), but it would definitely be easier WITH law review.

Edit: I'm also of the opinion that too many students are unaware of the vast difference between flagship LR and other journals.