What are your chances? Forum

[NotoriousIIED]

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[rshervey]

Hello all!

Currently at #60, ranked 40/219, 3.35 cumulative after 1st year complete, from the midwest and already accepted to transfer and deposited at Minnesota, but wondering if it is worth the app fee to try for Michigan. Chances? Opinions? Very happy to be at Minnesota, but I just wouldn't mind jumping to Mich if at all reasonably possible.

Thanks!

[Wholigan]

Hello all!

Currently at #60, ranked 40/219, 3.35 cumulative after 1st year complete, from the midwest and already accepted to transfer and deposited at Minnesota, but wondering if it is worth the app fee to try for Michigan. Chances? Opinions? Very happy to be at Minnesota, but I just wouldn't mind jumping to Mich if at all reasonably possible.

Thanks!

I think conventional wisdom here would say you have zero chance at Michigan from top 20% at a T2. In fact their website says "successful applicants are typically in the top 10 percent of their class." However, if you already have all your transfer materials together (which it seems you do) and you have one dream school and don't mind blowing the $100, there's no harm in trying.

[yeah215]

Posted earlier, but now have an update. Looking to GW or GULC for pt program.

Currently in PT program in Washington area. I had a difficult time in legal writing. You can probably tell by the huge gap between that course and all others.

Here are grades:
Contracts A (2 units)
Civil Procedure A- (4 units)
Legal Writing B (2 units)
Property A- (2 units)

Second Semester
Contracts A (3 units)
Torts A (4 units)
Legal Writing C+ (2 units)
Property A- (2 units)

Anyway, I don't know rank yet, but I would think (even dumb legal writing) still pretty high. I have strong work experience -- 5 years of legislative work, now legislative director-- and have a MA from top university.

Thoughts on chances? How do you think schools will treat this legal writing grade? (I wrote an addendum but it doesn't have much. Just that my computer crashed right before the paper was due. The professor gave me the weekend to rewrite it. This mark does not represent the quality of my work.)

[swimmer33]

at a school in the 50's, want to go to chicago for family reasons. after spring grades ended up top 33-50% somewhere. what are my chances at kent, loyola, uiuc, and depaul?

[casb177]

top 1/3 in 50s
want to go to California for family reasons

UC Davis
UC Hastings
UCLA

planning to do IP

[son_of_ben]

First post ever.

Top 8% at Lower Tier 2 in the Philadelphia Area.
2 Highest Grade in the Class Awards.
RA Position and working at 15-20 attorney firm this summer; part-time clerking for Federal Judge next school year.
Waiting to hear about Law Review.

Spent my whole life in this area and want to work in Philly/Delaware.

Any chance at Penn? If not, would anywhere else be worth applying to given that I'm already in the region I want to stay in?

[hds2388]

3.84 at school in the 50-70 range
1 CALI
top 10 student ranking (top 3-5%)
Judicial Externship on CoA

Thinking:
1. Columbia
2. Penn
3. Michigan
4. Cornell

[Rule11]

3.84 at school in the 50-70 range
1 CALI
top 10 student ranking (top 3-5%)
Judicial Externship on CoA

Thinking:
1. Columbia
2. Penn
3. Michigan
4. Cornell

You have a good shot at all. Where is your school located? I ask because your choices appear arbitrary--why Columbia but not NYU? Why Michigan but not Chicago? Why three (seemingly random) east-coast schools and one midwest?

Transferring is always partially a crapshoot, so you should maximize your odds by diversifying. Unless Dean Revesz killed your dog and you've been nursing a grudge, you should apply to NYU.

[Rule11]

First post ever.

Top 8% at Lower Tier 2 in the Philadelphia Area.
2 Highest Grade in the Class Awards.
RA Position and working at 15-20 attorney firm this summer; part-time clerking for Federal Judge next school year.
Waiting to hear about Law Review.

Spent my whole life in this area and want to work in Philly/Delaware.

Any chance at Penn? If not, would anywhere else be worth applying to given that I'm already in the region I want to stay in?

Yeah, you have a decent shot at Penn. Being in the area already takes you out of the "probably not" pile and puts you squarely in "decent shot" territory.

If you're already paying sticker, any T10 will be worth the transfer, so I would apply to everything below Columbia. Otherwise, I don't think you should transfer except for Penn or T6.

[Rule11]

top 1/3 in 50s
want to go to California for family reasons

UC Davis
UC Hastings
UCLA

planning to do IP

You probably won't get UCLA. The others you probably will--but I hope you're not giving up a scholarship.

[hds2388]

3.84 at school in the 50-70 range
1 CALI
top 10 student ranking (top 3-5%)
Judicial Externship on CoA

Thinking:
1. Columbia
2. Penn
3. Michigan
4. Cornell

You have a good shot at all. Where is your school located? I ask because your choices appear arbitrary--why Columbia but not NYU? Why Michigan but not Chicago? Why three (seemingly random) east-coast schools and one midwest?

Transferring is always partially a crapshoot, so you should maximize your odds by diversifying. Unless Dean Revesz killed your dog and you've been nursing a grudge, you should apply to NYU.

My school is located in the Midwest. However, I don't really think I want to transfer; I'd rather use the transfer offer as leverage to get more scholly money. I chose Columbia because I think its the highest ranked school I could possibly get in to. I chose Penn because I think I have a decent shot and I would actually go there (SO currently in philly). I chose Michigan because they are typically transfer friendly and Cornell because it was the lowest T14 after georgetown and georgetown's deadline is 6/15 which I could never make.

[Wholigan]

3.84 at school in the 50-70 range
1 CALI
top 10 student ranking (top 3-5%)
Judicial Externship on CoA

Thinking:
1. Columbia
2. Penn
3. Michigan
4. Cornell

You have a good shot at all. Where is your school located? I ask because your choices appear arbitrary--why Columbia but not NYU? Why Michigan but not Chicago? Why three (seemingly random) east-coast schools and one midwest?

Transferring is always partially a crapshoot, so you should maximize your odds by diversifying. Unless Dean Revesz killed your dog and you've been nursing a grudge, you should apply to NYU.

My school is located in the Midwest. However, I don't really think I want to transfer; I'd rather use the transfer offer as leverage to get more scholly money. I chose Columbia because I think its the highest ranked school I could possibly get in to. I chose Penn because I think I have a decent shot and I would actually go there (SO currently in philly). I chose Michigan because they are typically transfer friendly and Cornell because it was the lowest T14 after georgetown and georgetown's deadline is 6/15 which I could never make.

Even if you are looking for scholarship funds, you should diversify. If you think a T14 acceptance will earn you well into the five figures in scholarship money, what's another $250 for three more apps? Also, don't think Cornell gives you the best shot just because it's the lowest ranked. I'd bet you have a much better shot at NU than Cornell, especially if you have work experience. First, they are in your current school's region, which is probably a plus. Secondly, their transfer class is typically three to four times the size of Cornell's.

[Cupidity]

For Fun:

Boston University

3.7 (Top 11%???)

CCN, Berkeley, MVP, UVA, NW?

[Rule11]

3.84 at school in the 50-70 range
1 CALI
top 10 student ranking (top 3-5%)
Judicial Externship on CoA

Thinking:
1. Columbia
2. Penn
3. Michigan
4. Cornell

You have a good shot at all. Where is your school located? I ask because your choices appear arbitrary--why Columbia but not NYU? Why Michigan but not Chicago? Why three (seemingly random) east-coast schools and one midwest?

Transferring is always partially a crapshoot, so you should maximize your odds by diversifying. Unless Dean Revesz killed your dog and you've been nursing a grudge, you should apply to NYU.

My school is located in the Midwest. However, I don't really think I want to transfer; I'd rather use the transfer offer as leverage to get more scholly money. I chose Columbia because I think its the highest ranked school I could possibly get in to. I chose Penn because I think I have a decent shot and I would actually go there (SO currently in philly). I chose Michigan because they are typically transfer friendly and Cornell because it was the lowest T14 after georgetown and georgetown's deadline is 6/15 which I could never make.

Even if you are looking for scholarship funds, you should diversify. If you think a T14 acceptance will earn you well into the five figures in scholarship money, what's another $250 for three more apps? Also, don't think Cornell gives you the best shot just because it's the lowest ranked. I'd bet you have a much better shot at NU than Cornell, especially if you have work experience. First, they are in your current school's region, which is probably a plus. Secondly, their transfer class is typically three to four times the size of Cornell's.

Fiendishly true.

[Rule11]

For Fun:

Boston University

3.7 (Top 11%???)

CCN, Berkeley, MVP, UVA, NW?

Likely at CCN, and you'll get some acceptances from the rest (where exactly is hard to say though).

[hds2388]

Even if you are looking for scholarship funds, you should diversify. If you think a T14 acceptance will earn you well into the five figures in scholarship money, what's another $250 for three more apps? Also, don't think Cornell gives you the best shot just because it's the lowest ranked. I'd bet you have a much better shot at NU than Cornell, especially if you have work experience. First, they are in your current school's region, which is probably a plus. Secondly, their transfer class is typically three to four times the size of Cornell's.

Fiendishly true.

I have to admit this is all well reasoned. I'll scope out NU as well. I am short on money though, so I would like to keep it below 5 apps when I only need one acceptance to leverage more money.

[keg411]

Even if you are looking for scholarship funds, you should diversify. If you think a T14 acceptance will earn you well into the five figures in scholarship money, what's another $250 for three more apps? Also, don't think Cornell gives you the best shot just because it's the lowest ranked. I'd bet you have a much better shot at NU than Cornell, especially if you have work experience. First, they are in your current school's region, which is probably a plus. Secondly, their transfer class is typically three to four times the size of Cornell's.

Fiendishly true.

I have to admit this is all well reasoned. I'll scope out NU as well. I am short on money though, so I would like to keep it below 5 apps when I only need one acceptance to leverage more money.

If you're trying to leverage money, don't bother with Cornell. The class size is incredibly small and they often appear to take no transfers at all (look at last year's Cornell transfer thread - no one got in). The only reason I'm even applying is because I have family alumni of the law school.

[smiley]

T20, top 6-7% (just under cut off for 5)

harvard (i know i've got no chance)
berkeley
columbia

[Americorps09]

.

[anoushpc]

Current School: T4 (California)
GPA: Fall - 3.61; Spring - 3.68; Cum - 3.64
Curve: Mean is usually set at a 2.3
Rank: Fall - 6/195; Spring - not out yet but my cumulative GPA is higher than last semesters #2 ranked student so I'm probably moving up.
Schools Applied to: GULC (applied EA got deferred), GW, American, George Mason, UCLA, USC, UC Hastings, UC Davis, Pepperdine, Loyola.

Reasons for applying to the East Coast schools: my parents live there and I grew up there. Also my father has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and I want to be closer to him.

[Lurker007]

Hiya, first time poster long time lurker.

BU, top 5-6% (at cut off for top 5 in section)

HYSCCNM

are the last four even worth it for the following alternative scenarios? i'd be foregoing about 1/3 TCA in scholly.

1) getting out of debt fast, via firm, and living a happy boring life
2) clerking
3) having better general prospects after 3L in new york, DC, or chicago, as opposed to boston

thanks for the help.

[SpencerPratt]

Trying to make a lateral move back home for personal reasons. Went from Top 25% to Top 50% after second semester grades were released, though still waiting on one more that will hopefully put me around Top 40%. Currently at a low T1 and trying to transfer to similarly ranked schools in my home area. Thoughts?

[meggers88]

School ranked 67
GPA 3.72, ranked 19/279
Want to transfer to UCLA or USC

Odds?

[Rule11]

Hiya, first time poster long time lurker.

BU, top 5-6% (at cut off for top 5 in section)

HYSCCNM

are the last four even worth it for the following alternative scenarios? i'd be foregoing about 1/3 TCA in scholly.

1) getting out of debt fast, via firm, and living a happy boring life
2) clerking
3) having better general prospects after 3L in new york, DC, or chicago, as opposed to boston

thanks for the help.

Competitive everywhere; probably won't get YS without something special; decent shot at H. You should apply everywhere you would attend because the cost of applying is low. All of HYSCCN will be worth it--remember, you're hedging against future poor performance, as you'll be able to get good biglaw without transferring. You indicated an interest in clerking, so getting to T6 is important. Michigan is worth applying to--any T10 acceptance could help you bargain for more money at BU, if nothing else.

As you know, you're in great shape, so enjoy your cool life!