Anyone Who Transferd from Florida Coastal Forum

[drwho97]

Hello, I have read many of the terrible things posted about Florida Coastal. I please ask that anyone who decides to post on this topic to place make it productive. I would also like that the people who post be people who were able to transfer from Florida Coastal to another law school. I hope we can keep the ignorant comments away and focus on the topic at hand. Thank you.

[Danteshek]

Don't go to law school planning to transfer.

hth.

[flhealth]

Hello, I have read many of the terrible things posted about Florida Coastal. I please ask that anyone who decides to post on this topic to place make it productive. I would also like that the people who post be people who were able to transfer from Florida Coastal to another law school. I hope we can keep the ignorant comments away and focus on the topic at hand. Thank you.

i know someone who transfered last year to UF. they were ranked 15/550

[drwho97]

Thank you for the response flhealth. Is that person on board? Iis there anyway you think I could get in contact with this person. I understand that I should not plan on going to law school and planning on transfering.

[navshark80]

I am transferring from FCSL right now. I thought it was a fantastic school. Great professors and technology. I was accepted at GW and Univeristy of Md so both of those were a nice jump. I did very well and worked hard. The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

[Army2Law]

I am transferring from FCSL right now. I thought it was a fantastic school. Great professors and technology. I was accepted at GW and Univeristy of Md so both of those were a nice jump. I did very well and worked hard. The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

If it was so fantastic, why transfer?

[TheBigMediocre]

I am transferring from FCSL right now. I thought it was a fantastic school. Great professors and technology. I was accepted at GW and Univeristy of Md so both of those were a nice jump. I did very well and worked hard. The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

If it was so fantastic, why transfer?

Thought is the past tense. Meaning poster no longer thinks this.

[LoyolaLaw2012]

A former student at my undergrad transferred to FSU after his first year. It's definitely possible, but do not bet on doing well your first year. It's definitely a gamble.

[Grizz]

The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

Doesn't mean the school isn't still a festering hole. Another poster on here said that that public defender's office in Jacksonville will only look at the top 20% of people. Bad news bears.

OP, retake LSAT.

[Army2Law]

I am transferring from FCSL right now. I thought it was a fantastic school. Great professors and technology. I was accepted at GW and Univeristy of Md so both of those were a nice jump. I did very well and worked hard. The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

The adjectives make it seem like the poster loved it. Also, thought in this case is past tense because the poster no longer attends the school, contextually it doesn't look like that sentiment has changed.

[LoyolaLaw2012]

The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

Doesn't mean the school isn't still a festering hole. Another poster on here said that that public defender's office in Jacksonville will only look at the top 20% of people. Bad news bears.

OP, retake LSAT.

The newly elected Public Defender for Jacksonville is a Florida Coastal grad. I doubt that this information is accurate. However, that does not make up for the school. A FC Professor actually told me to avoid the school at all costs.

http://mattshirkpublicdefender.com/

[LoyolaLaw2012]

The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

Doesn't mean the school isn't still a festering hole. Another poster on here said that that public defender's office in Jacksonville will only look at the top 20% of people. Bad news bears.

OP, retake LSAT.

The newly elected Public Defender for Jacksonville is a Florida Coastal grad. I doubt that this information is accurate. However, that does not make up for the school. A FC Professor actually told me to avoid the school at all costs.

http://mattshirkpublicdefender.com/

Actually, I read your post wrong. Sorry.

[CMR]

The school has one of the top Moot Court teams in the country and it is working hard to build its reputation.

Doesn't mean the school isn't still a festering hole. Another poster on here said that that public defender's office in Jacksonville will only look at the top 20% of people. Bad news bears.

OP, retake LSAT.

The newly elected Public Defender for Jacksonville is a Florida Coastal grad. I doubt that this information is accurate. However, that does not make up for the school. A FC Professor actually told me to avoid the school at all costs.

http://mattshirkpublicdefender.com/

This reminded me of the time I sat down with my dean about my transfer plans. During the meeting, I expressed concern about being able to secure a job on Pac NW, and he gave me the email address of a recent grad working in Vancouver to put those concerns to rest. I contacted the guy, and he promptly responded - TRANSFER.

I've also had 2 professors unequivocally advise that I flee.

[drwho97]

I want to thank everyone once again for their post on my thread. I just please ask that everyone please keep it to the topic at hand. I have already read the numerous post about how terrible the school is and how I should not attend. The purpose of this thread is for individuals that are on their way out after their first year to another university. Please I ask that we keep it to the topic at hand and instead of counterproductive post that we make productive post since someone in the near future might read this post for the same reasons. Thank you.

[Grizz]

I want to thank everyone once again for their post on my thread. I just please ask that everyone please keep it to the topic at hand. I have already read the numerous post about how terrible the school is and how I should not attend. The purpose of this thread is for individuals that are on their way out after their first year to another university. Please I ask that we keep it to the topic at hand and instead of counterproductive post that we make productive post since someone in the near future might read this post for the same reasons. Thank you.

"Don't go to Coastal expecting to transfer because in all likelihood you won't have the grades to; retake LSAT" is actually pretty good advice.

HTH

[drwho97]

I did not post anything toward your advice or mention that is was either good or bad. I just want to remind people to keep it productive that is all. Thank you for your post.

[dresden doll]

Don't go to law school planning to transfer.

hth.

Quoting this piece of wisdom since it cannot be emphasized enough, particularly given the patently obvious fact that that's exactly what OP intends to do.

Also, I wouldn't rely on public defender's FCL roots. That he graduated from FCL does not prevent him from looking down on fellow grads. If anything, he is particularly well positioned to appraise deficiencies of the education they received at that school. I know I never presume intelligence when I meet people who graduated from my UG.

[animalcrkrs]

I know someone who transferred to UF... but re:

The purpose of this thread is for individuals that are on their way out after their first year to another university.

Don't get too offended, people are trying to be helpful for the most part warning you against wasting your time and money at a place where a lot of people not only don't transfer but don't get jobs or drop out and don't finish. There are people who transfer but the odds of you being in the top 20% are...well, 20%. Not sure I'd spend all that money for your first year for a 1 in 5 shot at MAYBE transferring to another school, especially if you are aiming to get out of FL. Hearing from a few posters that people DO get out may ease your mind that it is possible, but you already knew that. You still have an 80% of wasting your time and money.

/rant.

[dresden doll]

I did not post anything toward your advice or mention that is was either good or bad. I just want to remind people to keep it productive that is all. Thank you for your post.

You'd gain more in productivity if you visited Yahoo TransferApps, actually. Furthermore, reading about transfer experiences from schools comparable to or better than the one you have your eyes set on is hardly unproductive. It may well give you a vivid picture of what you're set up against.

I repeat: retake the LSAT. If you cannot do better, consider skipping law school altogether. If you must go and FCL is your only option, do not go there with transfer illusions. You can thank us all later.

[bankruptedcasino]

I want to thank everyone once again for their post on my thread. I just please ask that everyone please keep it to the topic at hand. I have already read the numerous post about how terrible the school is and how I should not attend. The purpose of this thread is for individuals that are on their way out after their first year to another university. Please I ask that we keep it to the topic at hand and instead of counterproductive post that we make productive post since someone in the near future might read this post for the same reasons. Thank you.

I understand your desire to keep things on topic, but this is TLS. There aren't many FCSOL students trolling the boards, and if there are, they aren't interested in outing themselves to the wrath of other posters.

In my neck of the woods (Southern California), there is a law school that is similar to FCSOL in every way (USNWR ranking, probationary accreditation from the ABA, poor reputation except for a small subsection of the legal community, high tuition, etc.). I don't go there, and never would, but if I were in your position and I wanted to transfer there is some anecdotal evidence to consider.

From what I know, this type of anecdotal evidence is common for schools that rank very low in the T4. If you want to get out of FCSOL, you will have to be in the top 5% to do so - and you'll likely have to run around the barn trying to get LORs, transcripts, rankings, etc. on time because FCSOL is a for-profit institution that will react negatively to your desire to transfer.

There was ONE 1L from this school who transferred to the T14. Berkeley, actually. He was ranked #1, but he was also a PT student and didn't work while in school so he had less work to do than all of his other classmates.

There were THREE 1Ls who transferred to the T100. One to Loyola, one to Chapman, and another to Washington (UW, not WUSTL). They were all ranked in the top 5% of the class.

FCSOL matriculated 700 students last year. You will need to be ranked #1-#36 out of 700 to have a prayer at transferring anywhere good.

The BEST advice I ever received on the boards is this: If you would not be proud to graduate from the school at median (since that is all you can realistically count on), then don't go.

[Grizz]

In my neck of the woods (Southern California), there is a law school that is similar to FCSOL in every way (USNWR ranking, probationary accreditation from the ABA, poor reputation except for a small subsection of the legal community, high tuition, etc.).

Redact the stricken text and you get FCSL.

[drwho97]

I am not offended. I am very thankful that I received many post to this thread. I understand what I am going up against and the statistics in regard to this topis, but I am determined to work hard and “gamble” on transferring out. I understand that the odds are not in my favor and that this school is considered a “shit” school. I was not very successful with the LSAT and I understand that there is a huge chance that I will either not have the grades to transfer out or stay their and carry a large amount of debt for a very long time. I have always worked hard and take my chances.

[dresden doll]

I am not offended. I am very thankful that I received many post to this thread. I understand what I am going up against and the statistics in regard to this topis, but I am determined to work hard and “gamble” on transferring out. I understand that the odds are not in my favor and that this school is considered a “shit” school. I was not very successful with the LSAT and I understand that there is a huge chance that I will either not have the grades to transfer out or stay their and carry a large amount of debt for a very long time. I have always worked hard and take my chances.

Why don't you take your chances with another shot at the LSAT? I assure you your odds are likely better on that score.

[Hampton15]

I too am currently in the process of transferring from the Florida Coastal School of Law. I finished ranked number 32 out of 660, and to date I have been accepted by the University of Minnesota, Florida State University, the University of Florida, Emory University, and American University. I am anxiously awaiting responses from Georgetown and George Washington, which understandably are my first choices.

I agree with prior postings that Florida Coastal is a great school that offers students a great education. However, that being said, Florida Coastal remains, and likely will always remain, a fourth tier school. I am sure that if you asked most students who are transferring, or who have transferred from Florida Coastal, most will tell you that their doing so is a reflection on the employment opportunities and the desire to go to a top-ranked school that drove them to leave, not the professors or the academic community. Some of the best professors I have ever had were my Contracts and Criminal Law professors. The faculty and staff truly strive to make the school better, as do many of the school's students; most notably, those participating on the Moot Court team (ranked among the top schools in the nation).

I would also venture to say that most students who wind up at Florida Coastal and wish to transfer simply had one facet of their application (i.e., a poor LSAT score) that kept them from being admitted to the schools initially that they are now transferring to. I have read postings on this thread and others that warn against going into a school like Florida Coastal with the mindset that you are going to transfer. I would have to respectfully disagree. I went into my 1L year with the intention, first and foremost, to be at the top of my class. This was not only to hopefully grade onto Law Review, but also to put myself in the best possible position to transfer. In fact, it was my goal of transferring that often pushed me to work harder, study longer, and ultimately attain better grades. I think that if you approach the entire process with the right state of mind, and you are truly ready to commit to working hard, whether you are able to transfer or not will not matter, because you will know that you did everything you could to put yourself in the best possible position.

Good luck to all of you who are transferring, thinking of transferring, and those of you who choose to stay. Regardless of which decision you make, ultimately you can be successful from whatever school you went to.

[Grizz]

I would also venture to say that most students who wind up at Florida Coastal and wish to transfer simply had one facet of their application (i.e., a poor LSAT score) that kept them from being admitted to the schools initially that they are now transferring to. I have read postings on this thread and others that warn against going into a school like Florida Coastal with the mindset that you are going to transfer. I would have to respectfully disagree. I went into my 1L year with the intention, first and foremost, to be at the top of my class. This was not only to hopefully grade onto Law Review, but also to put myself in the best possible position to transfer. In fact, it was my goal of transferring that often pushed me to work harder, study longer, and ultimately attain better grades. I think that if you approach the entire process with the right state of mind, and you are truly ready to commit to working hard, whether you are able to transfer or not will not matter, because you will know that you did everything you could to put yourself in the best possible position.

Good luck to all of you who are transferring, thinking of transferring, and those of you who choose to stay. Regardless of which decision you make, ultimately you can be successful from whatever school you went to.

Would you have dropped out if you didn't have the grades to transfer?