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Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:54 pm
by legalsmeagol
I'm top 5% at a T3 school, paying in-state tuition. Is it worth it to transfer to BU or BC if I can get in? I don't know what I'm going to do after I graduate--I might try Big Law for a couple years to pay down the debt.

Re: Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 7:45 am
by D.Wilde
legalsmeagol wrote:I'm top 5% at a T3 school, paying in-state tuition. Is it worth it to transfer to BU or BC if I can get in? I don't know what I'm going to do after I graduate--I might try Big Law for a couple years to pay down the debt.
BU/BC do not, by any stretch of the imagination, guarantee a spot in biglaw. While the c/o 2011 was hit particularly hard, it's generally my understanding that top 10% had a shot at biglaw from these schools, and for others it was a significant challenge. In fact, I know a girl who transferred from near top of her class at American to BC and wound up with exactly 0 summer offers from firms, big or medium. I also know several members of BU Law Review in similar situations.

BU and BC are both excellent schools, and if you're transferring for the educational quality, then that's a valid reason, but please do not switch to either of these schools expecting a golden ticket to the chocolate factory of biglaw.

Re: Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:46 am
by Big Shrimpin
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Re: Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:00 am
by romothesavior
D.Wilde wrote:
legalsmeagol wrote:I'm top 5% at a T3 school, paying in-state tuition. Is it worth it to transfer to BU or BC if I can get in? I don't know what I'm going to do after I graduate--I might try Big Law for a couple years to pay down the debt.
BU/BC do not, by any stretch of the imagination, guarantee a spot in biglaw. While the c/o 2011 was hit particularly hard, it's generally my understanding that top 10% had a shot at biglaw from these schools, and for others it was a significant challenge. In fact, I know a girl who transferred from near top of her class at American to BC and wound up with exactly 0 summer offers from firms, big or medium. I also know several members of BU Law Review in similar situations.

BU and BC are both excellent schools, and if you're transferring for the educational quality, then that's a valid reason, but please do not switch to either of these schools expecting a golden ticket to the chocolate factory of biglaw.
I agree with your conclusion, but biglaw placement pre-ITE at BU and BC was much higher than 10%.

Re: Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:03 am
by tram988
Pre ITE biglaw placement was around 45% for BC and something similar for BU.

Re: Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:34 am
by D.Wilde
Yes. Pre-ITE. I could be off on my top 10% assessment, but I can say that far fewer than 45% of the c/o 2011 seem to have biglaw SA jobs currently. Also, as a transfer, the firms will look at your grades AND where you got them... I don't mean to be a pessimist, but transferring from a lower-ranked school to BU/BC specifically for biglaw placement does not seem like a promising option.

Re: Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:12 am
by tram988
D.Wilde wrote:Yes. Pre-ITE. I could be off on my top 10% assessment, but I can say that far fewer than 45% of the c/o 2011 seem to have biglaw SA jobs currently. Also, as a transfer, the firms will look at your grades AND where you got them... I don't mean to be a pessimist, but transferring from a lower-ranked school to BU/BC specifically for biglaw placement does not seem like a promising option.
Yeah I totally agree. BC is definitely not placing anywhere near 45% now, but they do exist. Its tough to justify going to law school with the biglaw or nothing attitude.

Re: Transferring to BU/BC

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:11 pm
by legalsmeagol
Yeah, I'm not thinking Big Law or nothing. I'm trying to figure out, though, given everything (classes, classmates and post-graduation career opportunities in a variety of fields), if it makes sense in the long run to transfer.

It seems clear that transferring to a T-14 school is sensible, but what about the leap I'm trying to make?