Should We Transfer? (Non-T14 1Ls Who Owned Exams) Forum

[ToTransferOrNot]

How hard is it to find friends and social groups as a transfer 2L? I mean I know we're all there to study, but that's important to me.

First of all, the other transfer students are a good source.

Second, if you're still worried about being able to make friends in a new place in your mid-20s... I'm just about the most socially inept person ever (ask dresden for proof,) and even I have more social opportunities than I have time to spare. And I don't even really study much (at all, the past few weeks.)

I don't question my ability to make friends; I simply question how transfer students are viewed. I seem to remember a post in the grades thread where someone talked about how everyone at his/her school (don't remember who it was) looked down on them and thought they were stupid since they were a transfer. I'm just more concerned about the stigma...

I think you're referring to a post I made, actually.

Yes, there is a sizeable chunk of people who look down at me/see me as curve bait/whatever. I'm fine with it, because all that accomplishes is highlighting the people who are 1.) Massive douchebags I don't want to associate with; and 2.) curve bait for me

[XxSpyKEx]

How hard is it to find friends and social groups as a transfer 2L? I mean I know we're all there to study, but that's important to me.

First of all, the other transfer students are a good source.

Second, if you're still worried about being able to make friends in a new place in your mid-20s... I'm just about the most socially inept person ever (ask dresden for proof,) and even I have more social opportunities than I have time to spare. And I don't even really study much (at all, the past few weeks.)

I don't question my ability to make friends; I simply question how transfer students are viewed. I seem to remember a post in the grades thread where someone talked about how everyone at his/her school (don't remember who it was) looked down on them and thought they were stupid since they were a transfer. I'm just more concerned about the stigma...

I think you're referring to a post I made, actually.

Yes, there is a sizeable chunk of people who look down at me/see me as curve bait/whatever. I'm fine with it, because all that accomplishes is highlighting the people who are 1.) Massive douchebags I don't want to associate with; and 2.) curve bait for me

OK, from what I've read outside Chicago/Columbia(Harvard?), there are a lot less D'bags in t14 schools in general (Chicago I know of first-hand). I don't think anyone here viewed transfers as "curve bait" at all. At orientation the dean said that all but 1 person that transferred in here in the past 10 years at least graduated with honors. I don't really ask other people about their grades but no one I know of out of the transfer class was bitching about their grades last semester (most seemed pretty happy about them).

nobody I know at the T14 or higher even goes to 2L or 3L class

I find this really hard to believe. Can anyone confirm/deny?

Deny as for physical attendance, confirm for lack of mental attendance for 2L & 3L classes. They are a world of difference from 1L classes. I took a couple 1L classes last semester along with a upper level classes. I recall that they were just a world of difference. 1Ls are just intense, and 2Ls & 3Ls go to class but it wasn't too uncommon for 90% of the class to not have even skimmed the reading for class (some people didn't even buy the reading, lol).

[sanpiero]

can't wait

[law12345]

I ended up with a 3.87 at American. We do not rank here until after first year, but based on previous years if I pulled that again I would be in the top 5%. Where do you think I have a good chance of getting into in terms of transferring. And, do you think I should do it or continue to do well here and have my pick at OCI? Thanks!

[patrickd139]

I ended up with a 3.87 at American. We do not rank here until after first year, but based on previous years if I pulled that again I would be in the top 5%. Where do you think I have a good chance of getting into in terms of transferring. And, do you think I should do it or continue to do well here and have my pick at OCI? Thanks!

1) Congrats on killing it at a notoriously competitive school.

2) Your chances of getting in to GULC EA are probably a lock. I think you can definitely apply to Chicago ED with a straight face. If you're looking for the T6, this is probably your best shot. The first caveat being, if you end up killing your second semester and ranking 1st in your class, you'd be losing a shot at HLS or SLS. The second caveat: if you want NYC, you appear to be a borderline candidate for CLS or NYU, and a good candidate for Cornell; you'd be giving that up if you ED at Chicago.

3) This is a question only you can answer. I can, however, give you a set of factors I'm using to make a similar decision. Are you a prestige whore? Do you want biglaw? Do you want to clerk in the big leagues? How attached are you to the D.C. market and would you be ok living there for at least the first bit of your career if you stay? How confident are you that you can repeat your performance? How much more $$$ is it going to cost to transfer? How are the job prospects at your current school? Are you socially attached to American? (i.e. SO, own a house, group of friends you don't want to leave, etc.)

My suggestion is that you make up a similar list and answer them (probably not ITT, though). You're clearly intelligent and will most likely find the answer there.

HTH and good luck!

[phoenixsoars]

.

[vanwinkle]

I got straight A+s in my substantive courses and an A in LRW last semester at a T20 school. I met with one of my professors from last semester to discuss the possibility of transferring and his thoughts on whether it was a good idea. His opinion was that being top of my class at a T20 had its own advantages, and that I should probably stay unless I wanted to go into teaching at some point. If I want to go into teaching, he thinks it's worth transferring, but only at a T5 school, given that it would ease the path into academia.

What do people think of this advice? I have no idea what will happen with my grades this semester but I hope to do as well as possible. Would it be worth staying at my T20 with a full scholarship (assuming they offer me one) over transferring to a T5 if I don't want to go into academia?

I think you should apply up to HYSCC for a transfer and use any acceptances as leverage for a full scholarship. If they don't give you one, bolt. If they do... weigh it carefully then.

[98234872348]

I got straight A+s in my substantive courses and an A in LRW last semester at a T20 school. I met with one of my professors from last semester to discuss the possibility of transferring and his thoughts on whether it was a good idea. His opinion was that being top of my class at a T20 had its own advantages, and that I should probably stay unless I wanted to go into teaching at some point. If I want to go into teaching, he thinks it's worth transferring, but only at a T5 school, given that it would ease the path into academia.

What do people think of this advice? I have no idea what will happen with my grades this semester but I hope to do as well as possible. Would it be worth staying at my T20 with a full scholarship (assuming they offer me one) over transferring to a T5 if I don't want to go into academia?

I think you should apply up to HYSCC for a transfer and use any acceptances as leverage for a full scholarship. If they don't give you one, bolt. If they do... weigh it carefully then.

Xeoh took S over being number 1 at UCLA, I don't think he posts here anymore but shooting him a pm might provide some compelling insights into this issue.

Edit: Also, definitely apply to the above mentioned schools.

[sanpiero]

I owned exams but unfortunately was around median in legal writing. Ended up T20% at a school in the 50s. I figure for someone in my position it should probably be T20 or bust, in light of my scholly. Do I have any hope in the T20? Is my T20 or bust logic sensible?

[patrickd139]

I owned exams but unfortunately was around median in legal writing. Ended up T20% at a school in the 50s. I figure for someone in my position it should probably be T20 or bust, in light of my scholly. Do I have any hope in the T20? Is my T20 or bust logic sensible?

Depending on where and how you want to practice, perhaps you should subscribe to the "T14 or bust" logic. Or maybe even T6 or bust?

Personally, I wouldn't move from a LS ranked in the 50s, in the region I want to practice, that I have a generous scholly to and have a shot at moving up to the top 10% to WashU or Vandy, which are still regional schools, albeit "better" ones.

[mcastig4]

Hi, don't post here much but am curious of other people's opinions on this.

I got a 3.9 at Brooklyn first semester, I don't know the rank because they don't give it until the end of first year, but I'd imagine it's pretty high. What would you imagine I would have to get this semester to make transferring to NYU or Columbia feasible? A repeat performance? Just enough to stay ranked high? Also would it be worth transferring and going into debt or staying at the top of my class at Brooklyn and pay nothing, grade onto law review etc.? My career goal never was biglaw because I didn't think it would be a possibility, but now that I may have a shot I am leaning more and more towards it or a clerkship for when I graduate. I know Columbia and NYU would give me a better opportunity to get these jobs, but would it be so much better that it is worth it to pay full price vs. nothing?

Thanks.

[apper123]

How conceivable is it for someone solidly in the top 5% to transfer from a 70s ranked T2 to a school like Columbia? HYS is out of the question I assume?

[jay115]

How conceivable is it for someone solidly in the top 5% to transfer from a 70s ranked T2 to a school like Columbia? HYS is out of the question I assume?

Yahoo transfer groups data suggests that the T6 poaches the top student at a couple T2 schools; however, top student from T2 schools is different than top students from T2 schools.

[patrickd139]

How conceivable is it for someone solidly in the top 5% to transfer from a 70s ranked T2 to a school like Columbia? HYS is out of the question I assume?

The top student at OU (71) last year transferred to CLS. However, he got the highest grade in several (maybe all, I'm not sure) of his classes.

Not sure about HYS.

[confused111]

I think it depends on which T2 you go to. I think location/proximity to the T14 can be much more important than rank. I also think people tend to overestimate what GPA/rank is required to transfer to a T14. I am not saying it is easy, but I doubt you need to be the "top student" at one of a couple of T2 schools. This just wouldn't make sense based on the total number of transfers to T14 schools. I think we need to remember that not everyone at every school dreams of "upgrading", and the prospective pool will not be every student in the top 5% of a school ranked higher than your current one.

[chadwick218]

I am a T-14 1L who plans on transfering ... even if it only be up a couple spots (ideally, I would like to transfer to either NYU or Columbia, but will certainly apply to Penn as well).

[chadwick218]

I would only hesitate transfer if I made law review ... otherwise, my apartment will be packed the day after my last final!

[Simpler Times]

I'm at least Top 15% (my gpa suggest something a lot closer to Top 10%) at the University of Wisconsin. Is it worth my time and money to try and transfer? If I have a shot at a lower t14 I'd probably consider it, but I just don't want to tilt windmills. I also have awesome softs (for whatever good that will do).

[apper123]

"tilt windmills" is an awesome phrase

[270910]

You can't tilt windmills. You have to tilt AT windmills.

[ToTransferOrNot]

I'm at least Top 15% (my gpa suggest something a lot closer to Top 10%) at the University of Wisconsin. Is it worth my time and money to try and transfer? If I have a shot at a lower t14 I'd probably consider it, but I just don't want to tilt windmills. I also have awesome softs (for whatever good that will do).

You'll have to put top 15% on the resume, unfortunately. That won't be good enough to get you anywhere worth going (I'm not convinced that transferring from Wisconsin to GULC is a good decision, given how transfers at GULC have done in prior years.)

If your grades improve to top 10% this semester, though, you may have a chance at Northwestern, Michigan and so on.

[Simpler Times]

I'm at least Top 15% (my gpa suggest something a lot closer to Top 10%) at the University of Wisconsin. Is it worth my time and money to try and transfer? If I have a shot at a lower t14 I'd probably consider it, but I just don't want to tilt windmills. I also have awesome softs (for whatever good that will do).

You'll have to put top 15% on the resume, unfortunately. That won't be good enough to get you anywhere worth going (I'm not convinced that transferring from Wisconsin to GULC is a good decision, given how transfers at GULC have done in prior years.)

If your grades improve to top 10% this semester, though, you may have a chance at Northwestern, Michigan and so on.

Ok, so don't waste money on apps unless I crack top 10.
The humor of my grade situation is that if I get the same grades next semester I will break into the top ten percent by a fairly decent margin.

[270910]

The humor of my grade situation is that if I get the same grades next semester I will break into the top ten percent by a fairly decent margin.

huh?

[Simpler Times]

The humor of my grade situation is that if I get the same grades next semester I will break into the top ten percent by a fairly decent margin.

huh?

I am borderline top 10%, the GPA cutoff for top 10% drops significantly for second semester. If I get the same GPA again, I break through that line.

[patrickd139]

The humor of my grade situation is that if I get the same grades next semester I will break into the top ten percent by a fairly decent margin.

huh?

I am borderline top 10%, the GPA cutoff for top 10% drops significantly for second semester. If I get the same GPA again, I break through that line.

This assumes you repeat your performance and the rest of your class does not also repeat their last semester performances. This may be the correct answer, but your logic makes me skeptical.