Are you thinking of applying as a Michigan transfer? Forum

[keg411]

My understanding, and my experience, is that your transfer statement will encompass a "Why _________" theme. This is what makes transferring a lot of work, you have to tailor your statement to each school.

Is there a reason to go the extra mile and write another "Why Michigan" statement, if that is a primary theme for your original transfer statement?


Thanks in advance!

My PS did not focus on Why Michigan and I wrote a separate Why Michigan essay.

Would you say that's the better way to go with it rather then combine the two?

[PKSebben]

I wanted to have more of my writing in front of them when they made their decision. I don't think you want to drown them in unnecessary paperwork, but I believe Michigan goes to significant lengths to pull people they "like" more than any other school and giving them more insight into your personality can only help, imo. My classmates were generally pretty awesome and from a diverse set of backgrounds. Perhaps I'm biased, but for a bunch of law students, Michigan assembled a group of all right, down to earth chaps. That's hard to do. Let Michigan know that you'll fit in there.

Also, I think Why Michigan is important because it allows you to let the adcoms know what you plan to do with your two years at Michigan if admitted. For example, the ability to take classes at Michigan's B-school and other top grad programs was a huge draw for me. And if you are admitted, you really should do that.

[stinger35]

Another transfer here. Not to contradict any of the advice regarding the "why michigan" optional essay (i do think they are useful and if you have something substantive to say it in, definitely should do it), but I couldn't really warrant doing the essay and got in. While what has been said before about how important they are to michigan, it isn't as pronounced with transferring.

The rationale is actually pretty logical. With the 1L class, half of the people you let in are by definition going to be in the bottom half of the class. Making sure that these are interesting, diverse, personable people is important for UM, for a ton of reasons. For transfer students, it is pretty much a lock that they will be in the top half. Therefore, the optional essay, and personal statement are given slightly less weight than with the incoming class. (This comes straight from the mouth of admissions)

That being said, PS is definitely important and can do you huge favors if you tell a good story. I also reiterate basically everything thats been said here. Great decision to transfer here, wouldn't have it any other way.

[sarryn]

Just when I was happy with my GULC EA acceptance you guys have to go and start a thread like this...and now I want to apply to Michigan. Unfortunately, I cannot take back the lackluster effort I put into my last two exams.

Cool thread, though. Says a lot about Michigan when past transfer students start a thread talking about how great it is.

[LHand123]

I can vouch for all of the above statements. Transferring to UMLS was by far the best decision of my life: Ann Arbor is a great place to attend law school; the faculty and administration at UMLS are absolutely fantastic; the transfer class was well put together with a great blend of people; and, of course, the employment opportunities are stellar. A majority of the transfers did very well at OCI. I am very, very happy with my decision to attend UMLS.

That said, I would suggest writing the optional essays. The admissions process at UMLS is very holistic -- so, you might as well give Dean Z as much information to consider as you possibly can. It will only improve your application if done properly.

Good luck to all the transfer applicants this year. I'm more than happy to answer any other questions anyone might have about the transfer process in general, UMLS, OCI, et cetera.

[quiver]

Thanks to all the Michigan transfers for commenting here.

Can you guys talk more about OCI? Did you all do well? Did most other transfers do well? Were you asked about it in every interview? Did all employers look on it favorably or did some have their doubts? How was the process overall?

[kaiser]

Were there a lot of NYC employers at OCI?

[Younger Abstention]

I do know more than one Michigan transfer in the class of 2012 who failed to get a biglaw summer position. Most were successful, however.

[LHand123]

Re: OCI Placement

I believe there were approximately twenty three transfers in the 2010 class of which I'm fairly close to about fifteen -- to my knowledge, almost everyone landed a paying firm job this summer. I ended up with a V-50 firm.

Re: Employer's Perspective of Transferring

It really is a mixed bag. I found that some employers looked at my transfer status favorably; while, on the other hand, some employers immediately withdrew me from consideration. I think it really depends on the school where you transfer from, though. I transferred from a TTT so I expected this reaction from some of the creme de la creme vault firms. So, my advice is to go into every interview with the same attitude and really diversify your bidding strategy.

Re: OCI Process

The process was absolutely overwhelming. The first hurdle is bidding. I felt like I was out of the loop because, coming from a TTT, the whole process of OCI -- to the extent of Michigan's -- was not on my radar screen. I had never heard of any of the firms before and had to come up with a strategy very quickly. When OCI actually arrives, it was very chaotic. I just moved to Ann Arbor, signed a lease, researched what classes to register for, and then had to research firms, print resumes, mass-mail (I elected to do this before OCI), et cetera. Although every law student has to do these things, I felt that the stress of the whole process was magnified because of having to uproot my life in the matter of days. The most important suggestion I would have is to try and meet the other transfers before OCI starts. It will probably be before the semester begins. I found it very helpful to have a group of friends to hang out with during OCI. It lasts for three to four days and, when you are not interviewing, you have to sit in the middle of a large conference room with all of the other second-year students. It certainly made my experience a lot less stressful having a group of people I knew when waiting for interviews to begin.

Re: NY Firms

I bid and interviewed with quite a few NY firms. I would say that almost all of the one's that you could possibly be interested in will be at Michigan's OCI.

[Incanate]

This thread's been dead for a while now. Any questions for last year's Michigan transfers?

[tfer2222]

This thread's been dead for a while now. Any questions for last year's Michigan transfers?

Any of you move somewhat across the country to transfer? I'll be coming from the south so I'm worried about the huge transition. I also want NYC biglaw and worried about my lack of ties to the northeast. Any words of wisdom?

[merc280]

Do students who are top 1-2 at a T4 have a good chance at getting into Michigan?

[Incanate]

This thread's been dead for a while now. Any questions for last year's Michigan transfers?

Any of you move somewhat across the country to transfer? I'll be coming from the south so I'm worried about the huge transition. I also want NYC biglaw and worried about my lack of ties to the northeast. Any words of wisdom?

Some of my peers moved from California to Michigan. A few more moved from Florida. All in all, their transition seemed to be very smooth but I can't tell you much more unless you give me specific issues you're concerned about. Is it the cold you're worried about? Yes, it's damn cold but that's relatively easy to adjust to: layers, layers, layers. Ann Arbor is a great little town with plenty to do whatever your interests are. I think you'll be hard pressed to find it anything but welcoming and enjoyable.

If your target is NYC, then you have less to worry about than most of your peers. NYC tends to be the most brisk market in terms of hiring and the firms there seem to care less about ties to the area.

[Incanate]

Do students who are top 1-2 at a T4 have a good chance at getting into Michigan?

Yes, a good chunk of the transfer class came from T3s and T4s. Some may have been ranked even lower (though I'm not sure).

[SGO]

Do students who are top 1-2 at a T4 have a good chance at getting into Michigan?

I had similar stats and got in.

[SGO]

Any of you move somewhat across the country to transfer? I'll be coming from the south so I'm worried about the huge transition. I also want NYC biglaw and worried about my lack of ties to the northeast. Any words of wisdom?

First, the transfer class was composed of students from all over the country. I would not worry about it. Second, many of the OCI firms in major markets did not seem to care about local ties.

[tww909]

not to turn this into a chances thread, but top 6% at another big ten school (t35) is competitive, right? i would be thrilled to get in.

did you get the sense that there was a uniting idea behind the admissions decisions? were they seeking people who seemed really interested in going to michigan?

how easy was it to get the classes you wanted to take in your first semester?

can anyone comment on the accessibility of the professors, and how easy it was to make good connections with them? were they more or less available than professors at your old school? i'm really interested in clerkships, and obviously with transferring the window to make a positive impression and gain recommenders is narrower than would be ideal. also if any of you have applied for clerkships or have any experience with how transferring plays in that process i'd love to hear about that too.

[mrosmith]

I got an email from admissions regarding a residency confirmation form I need to fill out because I moved to toledo, OH for 9 months after living in Michigan for 24 years. Don't know what this means, but atleast it's not a dear john letter.

[starchinkilt]

I just got accepted today and had a housing question. I won't have a car next year and was wondering how it affects my housing options. Would I be better off living in lawyers club or trying to find a place within walking distance?

Also, I just noticed Michigan's lrap covers any legal job, not just PI/Gov jobs

[tfer2222]

I just got accepted today and had a housing question. I won't have a car next year and was wondering how it affects my housing options. Would I be better off living in lawyers club or trying to find a place within walking distance?

Also, I just noticed Michigan's lrap covers any legal job, not just PI/Gov jobs

Do you remember when they said you'd get your packet? I can't remember what she said but I really want something in my hands.

[starchinkilt]

I just got accepted today and had a housing question. I won't have a car next year and was wondering how it affects my housing options. Would I be better off living in lawyers club or trying to find a place within walking distance?

Also, I just noticed Michigan's lrap covers any legal job, not just PI/Gov jobs

Do you remember when they said you'd get your packet? I can't remember what she said but I really want something in my hands.

She said she mailed it this morning and to expect it in a day or two. Mail from Michigan usually takes two days to get here, so I'll prob get it thurs.

[Incanate]

I just got accepted today and had a housing question. I won't have a car next year and was wondering how it affects my housing options. Would I be better off living in lawyers club or trying to find a place within walking distance?

Also, I just noticed Michigan's lrap covers any legal job, not just PI/Gov jobs

You're actually better off getting an apartment within walking distance of campus or a bus stop - parking is atrocious in Ann Arbor and there isn't any free parking anywhere conveniently located near the law school. Also, public buses are free to Michigan students.

[Birdman]

.

[mrosmith]

Did anyones mich status checker change to decision before you got your call? Mine changed to decision today, the 4th. I'm assuming it's a ding. But I already got into Georgetown, so I'm not too mad.

[uzpakalis]

Did anyones mich status checker change to decision before you got your call? Mine changed to decision today, the 4th. I'm assuming it's a ding. But I already got into Georgetown, so I'm not too mad.

What status checker???