T4 to T2 Forum

[maciorar]

I am currently at a T4 trying to transfer to a T2. Specifically, the schools I am looking at are DePaul, Loyola-Chi, Kent, Marquette, MSU, Cincy, SLU, IU-Indy, and Catholic. Also, John Marshal as a backup. I am from Chicago and I have all intentions of practicing in Chicago. I recently saw that Marquette and SLU dropped to a T3 ranking, does this hurt or help me? With my current law school being located in the Southeast, I have no chance of landing a job in Chicago. With that being said, I have a current LGPA of 3.2 and im ranked 35/191. The school adheres to a C+ grade curve. Realistically, what are may chances? I was wait listed at DePaul, does this help at all when I try to transfer there? Please give me some help, I need to get out of here.

[lostjake]

MSU is T3 and does not place well in Chicago. You're going to need some serious cash to attend any of these schools. Being waitlisted doesn't hurt you. I would apply to Depaul, Loyola and Kent. The others will probably not get you work in Chicago, and even those three will be a challenge. Get your apps out and good luck.

[A'nold]

Dude, if you get your grades up a little you are probably good at UIUC or WUSTL.......as it stands it seems like you should get those t2's w/ your current grades, but I am no expert in t2 transfers. Good luck!

[patrickd139]

If the school is not located within the city limits of Chicago or Champaign-Urbana, I would not even bother to apply.

If the cost of living is low enough/you have a scholarship, you might be better off staying at your current law school and interning the next two summers in Chicago rather than transferring to JMLS. I cannot imagine a universe where I would knowingly advise someone transfer to JMLS.

[thexfactor]

take a look at case western. they have a early decision program i think...

[Wooster33]

Realistically, what are may chances?

Good. I would even apply to some lower T1s and a even a few reaches like WUSTL and so forth. Best of luck.

[AmicusCuriae]

I cannot imagine a universe where I would knowingly advise someone transfer to JMLS.

This.

[maciorar]

Thanks for the feedback, it really helps. I would think that to even consider applying to WUSTL or UIUC I would need to be at least in the top 5%. Maybe i'm wrong. Judging from the database on transferapps, I still think some of those T2's like Loyola Chi and DePaul are no easy task since they do not take a lot of transfers. I'm still gonna roll the dice and see what happens.

[transferhopeful21]

Does anyone have any insight as to what kind of rank is needed to make the jump from from T4 to T2? Does it matter that both schools are in the same geographic region?

Thanks,
JS

[A'nold]

I still say that if you have good enough grades to transfer from a t4 to a t2, you would MOST OF THE TIME be making a big mistake. You would think that you are doing better for yourself by "transferring up" when in fact there is little difference b/w most t2's and t4's.

Think: William Mitchell, a school that is just as good as it ever was, it now a "t2." You would basically be giving up like top 20% minimum at WM to transfer to.......WM.

[transferhopeful21]

I agree, except I'm unhappy at my current school. I haven't made a firm decision either way, but I want to know if I have any options based on what it takes to get into a T2 school. Most success stories that get posted are about students moving into T1.

[yabbadabbado]

You might get into one of those schools, but I wouldn't expect a dramatic improvement in job prospects. The only advantage is that you'll be closer to Chicago. If the school is not in Chicago, I wouldn't even bother.

[A'nold]

I agree, except I'm unhappy at my current school. I haven't made a firm decision either way, but I want to know if I have any options based on what it takes to get into a T2 school. Most success stories that get posted are about students moving into T1.

Once again, you are missing the point here. Transferring into a "t2" does not (at least in the vast majority of cases) mean anything. An example where this might not apply would be transferring from Appalachian or Cooley to like Temple, but if you are transferring from like the University of North Dakota to, say, Richmond, no one is really going to be all "wow, he goes to a t2 instead of a t4." Might as well keep a higher rank at your t4. One of the exceptions would be transferring to a t2 in your target market and your t4 is not in that market....but even then, you are probably putting yourself in a worse situation in general.

[yabbadabbado]

One thing to keep in mind is that your old school will still go on your resume until you graduate, along with your old GPA and class rank if you want to put it there. Whether or not you want to keep it on there after you receive your JD is up to you. If an employer asks for transcripts, you'll have to include ALL your JD transcripts, including those from the old school even if you have already graduated. So in a way, you don't "lose" those grades.

However, if you think your current school is so embarrassing that employers in the city where the new school is located will recoil at the sight of the old school's name on your resume, then maybe that wont help you that much.