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Hey all. I did decently at Hastings this year (>top 5%). It looks like Berkeley isn't happening. I feel like my grades are sufficient for a transfer up, but of course, dozens of folks from Hastings apply to Boalt each year, and they're not going to take a couple dozen hastings students simply because they were all in the top 5%.

To cut to the chase, is something like NYU or Columbia entirely out of the question considering a Hastings transfer app to either of those schools is probably quite rare?

I love SF and likely will want to work in this market, but if I had a real chance to go to a truly compelling school on the East Coast - I'd seriously consider the move. I'm also afraid at how regional my JD from Hastings will be (in the event I ever want to move elsewhere and practice). Looking at biglaw.

Any thoughtful input is appreciated. Much thanks

Why isn't Berkeley happening?

AOI87 wrote:Why isn't Berkeley happening?

+1.

I would think CLS/NYU should def be in the cards for you. Getting back to SF is a different story. I would think top 5% at Hastings would have your pick of SF jobs whereas if you left, you would have to explain why you left your target market for an out-of-state school.

If I were in your shoes, I'd stay put.

Thank you all for the responses so far

@AOI87:

Berkeley doesn't seem to be happening. Toward the end of this week, I'll have been "under review" for 3 weeks at Boalt which means I've missed at least two rounds of calls from Dean Tom and at least one email acceptance round (last friday). Really very disheartening, but it's reality. Of course, nothing is certain, but it seems to me that a ding is very likely in the cards for me. I'd really hate to leave SF - and that's why I was looking for input. Moving to the east coast would be quite difficult for me logistics-wise and for personal reasons. On the other hand, I really want to do a federal clerkship out of lawschool. I know that staying at hastings closes a lot of doors in that way (no chance at a 9th circuit clerkship here in the city at least if you're from hastings).

In any case, Hastings is a big school (461 students in my 1L class). That means that 23 people are in the top 5%, which leads to oversaturation of Hastings transfer apps at boalt.