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I'm ranked #1 at a T4 school with a 3.5. I'm in the part-time program. I am weighing whether to transfer this cycle or wait until next year. I would love to transfer to a T1, specifically UCLA or USC, but cannot apply until next year because I have not finished all 1L classes. I am able to apply to top T2 schools this cycle. I know I would be taking the risk of my rank dropping if I wait until next year, so if my chances of getting into UCLA are extremely slim from a T4, I would prefer to transfer to a T2, assuming they accept me. If anybody has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

prosp23 wrote:I'm ranked #1 at a T4 school with a 3.5. I'm in the part-time program. I am weighing whether to transfer this cycle or wait until next year. I would love to transfer to a T1, specifically UCLA or USC, but cannot apply until next year because I have not finished all 1L classes. I am able to apply to top T2 schools this cycle. I know I would be taking the risk of my rank dropping if I wait until next year, so if my chances of getting into UCLA are extremely slim from a T4, I would prefer to transfer to a T2, assuming they accept me. If anybody has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

Haha, you're my nemesis. Everyone ahead of me in the rankings at my school is part time.

Haha, the guy at #2 rank is also part-time and right on my ass, so I share your hatred of us.

prosp23 wrote:Haha, the guy at #2 rank is also part-time and right on my ass, so I share your hatred of us.

You should complain about it in your personal statement without any indication of irony.

Are these part-timers who are doing so well also employed full-time? Or are they studying full-time?

The #2 for my class is not employed, but has a family, so I guess that's like a full-time job? I'm employed full-time, but with a very flexible schedule. I believe #3 is employed full-time without the flexibility. Can't speak for the rest.

I'm in the same boat- just finished 1LE year. Got a 3.75 at a T2 school that curves to a 3.0. I asked Fordham if 1 calendar year was sufficient for a transfer, rather than completing the 1L course work. They replied that their schedule is the same as mine and that I could apply with only 1 calendar year completed. I applied to Fordham, GWU, and GULC.

I say go for it. If you don't get in, you'll know it had nothing to do with your performance and then just apply next semester if the school you are interested in accepts winter session transfers, or apply next year. What's the harm? Aside from the application fees, you really don't run any risk here. I applied knowing that there is a good chance that I won't get in, but it won't be a blow to my ego; just a reason to work even harder next year to keep the grades up and try again.

While I'm not #1, I still did very well, and I have a very demanding job. Many of the students I go with, however, have flexible jobs or gov't jobs. It's very difficult to compete against the handful of part timers who do not have day jobs- they look like geniuses in class discussions!

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Thanks, all. I'm leaning (strongly) toward waiting until next year. My problem is more that my school is T4 than that I'm part-time, but there are plenty of references around here for that problem. I think my T4 would afford me personally about the same opportunities as a T2, so I'm going to hold out and hope for next year.