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I am currently attending Minnesota, but I am from Los Angeles originally and would like to return to California to work.

So far, I've gotten into UC Davis as a transfer.

At Minnesota, I am right at the top 25% mark; don't know yet about Law Review because they're running behind schedule. Ranked 22, but obviously, it's not in California.

UC Davis, ranked 28, it's in California, and I have some friends already going there.
Cons: It's the 5th (or 6th, depending on where you think UC Irvine should be) best school in the state, and is located neither in the LA nor SF markets.

Money comes out to about the same.

Would I be better off differentiating myself a bit by staying at Minnesota, or would it be better to jump into the giant pool of California law students, hope for the best, and take advantage of the increased opportunities provided by going to school in the state where I hope to practice?

I have to decide by the weekend. Thanks!

EDIT: Law Review at Davis is not an option (missed deadline. oops.)

You made a mistake going to Minnesota originally. But if you can't make a move up, I think you should stay. If your grades weren't as good, I'd say go.

Thanks for the input.

My options last summer were Minnesota and Indiana (Bloomington). Also, Santa Clara. I figured I'd take a chance and move out of state, since I didn't have a good in-state option.

I'm interested in this thread, but I honestly don't know what I would do. Why not just stay in Minn for a few years and live with it for awhile? What is the cost difference between the two?

I currently have a scholarship for Minnesota that takes out a small chunk out of what was not-too-pricey out-of-state tuition.

I already got the financial aid package from UC Davis, and with the in-state tuition and Cal grant, Davis would cost me about $2,000 more a year. Not very substantial.

You didn't get into Loyola originally? Did you apply to transfer to Loyola? I ask because you are from Los Angeles.

rangermice wrote:I currently have a scholarship for Minnesota that takes out a small chunk out of what was not-too-pricey out-of-state tuition.

I already got the financial aid package from UC Davis, and with the in-state tuition and Cal grant, Davis would cost me about $2,000 more a year. Not very substantial.

I decided to vote stay. You really could justify either of them, but I would just put in a few years of work in Minnesota and try a lateral move down the line. Do you really hate Minn that much?

Danteshek wrote:You didn't get into Loyola originally? Did you apply to transfer to Loyola? I ask because you are from Los Angeles.

Loyola rejected me outright.

Pepperdine and UC Davis waitlisted me. Neither worked out.

I had a high LSAT, but abysmally low GPA.

yo! wrote:

rangermice wrote:I currently have a scholarship for Minnesota that takes out a small chunk out of what was not-too-pricey out-of-state tuition.

I already got the financial aid package from UC Davis, and with the in-state tuition and Cal grant, Davis would cost me about $2,000 more a year. Not very substantial.

I decided to vote stay. You really could justify either of them, but I would just put in a few years of work in Minnesota and try a lateral move down the line. Do you really hate Minn that much?

No. I'd rather be at Davis and in California if it was only about enjoying the next 2 years of my life, and not about considerations of my future.

I just want to do due diligence, get feedback, etc.

rangermice wrote:Loyola rejected me outright.

Pepperdine and UC Davis waitlisted me. Neither worked out.

I had a high LSAT, but abysmally low GPA.

I'm transferring from Southwestern to Loyola. Good luck with your decision. Ask a wide variety of lawyers, professors, judges. Don't rely on TLS or other law students.

Danteshek wrote:

rangermice wrote:Loyola rejected me outright.

Pepperdine and UC Davis waitlisted me. Neither worked out.

I had a high LSAT, but abysmally low GPA.

I'm transferring from Southwestern to Loyola. Good luck with your decision. Ask a wide variety of lawyers, professors, judges. Don't rely on TLS or other law students.

Dante, this is quite over the top dude. We know you like Loyola and you transferred from SW, but to suggest that Loyola would have made sense and for him to "ignore TLS advice" which is actually far more reliable in most instances that "real practitioners" is just not solid advice.

I vote stay. Kick butt at Minnesota, then network to get the Cali job you want. Also, maybe it's just me, but I would be apprehensive about transferring down and paying more money then I already am. But I do understand your reasons for possibly doing so.

A'nold wrote:

Danteshek wrote:

rangermice wrote:Loyola rejected me outright.

Pepperdine and UC Davis waitlisted me. Neither worked out.

I had a high LSAT, but abysmally low GPA.

I'm transferring from Southwestern to Loyola. Good luck with your decision. Ask a wide variety of lawyers, professors, judges. Don't rely on TLS or other law students.

Dante, this is quite over the top dude. We know you like Loyola and you transferred from SW, but to suggest that Loyola would have made sense and for him to "ignore TLS advice" which is actually far more reliable in most instances that "real practitioners" is just not solid advice.

Yeah. He should ignore what experienced lawyers in his target market think and instead rely on TLSers from other parts of the country who know very little about his target market. Brilliant.

Stay in Minnesota & pray that Canada doesn't invade. Then move to Los Angeles & pray that Southern California doesn't secede & become a part of Mexico.
On a more serious note, the opportunity to be on law review at Minnesota is too great to pass up.

Stay. Why transfer down? It's not like UC Davis is some CA employment-prospect powerhouse.

solidsnake wrote:Stay. Why transfer down? It's not like UC Davis is some CA employment-prospect powerhouse.

+1

solidsnake wrote:Stay. Why transfer down? It's not like UC Davis is some CA employment-prospect powerhouse.

I agree. And the fact that no Davis person on TLS is willing to share OCI data speaks volumes. This "5th or 6th best CA school (depending on how you see UC Irvine)" talk is nonsense. Hastings and Pepperdine (and possibly others) appear to have much stronger OCI turnout than Irvine or Davis.

General Tso wrote:

solidsnake wrote:Stay. Why transfer down? It's not like UC Davis is some CA employment-prospect powerhouse.

I agree. And the fact that no Davis person on TLS is willing to share OCI data speaks volumes. This "5th or 6th best CA school (depending on how you see UC Irvine)" talk is nonsense. Hastings and Pepperdine (and possibly others) appear to have much stronger OCI turnout than Irvine or Davis.

If you really want to work in California, I think your best bet is to leverage your current gpa at Minnesota, get a solid job at a Minneapolis firm, get a few years of experience, then look to lateral out to LA.

Although, a big question... you have no scholarship?

danquayle wrote:

General Tso wrote:

solidsnake wrote:Stay. Why transfer down? It's not like UC Davis is some CA employment-prospect powerhouse.

I agree. And the fact that no Davis person on TLS is willing to share OCI data speaks volumes. This "5th or 6th best CA school (depending on how you see UC Irvine)" talk is nonsense. Hastings and Pepperdine (and possibly others) appear to have much stronger OCI turnout than Irvine or Davis.

If you really want to work in California, I think your best bet is to leverage your current gpa at Minnesota, get a solid job at a Minneapolis firm, get a few years of experience, then look to lateral out to LA.

Although, a big question... you have no scholarship?

Thanks for the feedback. To be honest, I'd really like to pursue a job in California straight out of school, if possible. Certainly I'd prepare for the possibility that I can't do that.

Are you asking if I have a scholarship at my current school, Minnesota, or if I have a scholarship offer from Davis?

As far as I can tell, I have not been offered a scholarship at Davis. I do have one at Minnesota, with the result being that I'm paying slightly less than if I would at Davis, even with the in-state tuition.

I think transferring is a no-brainer here. The schools are about the same (don't get caught up in a 22 vs 28 debate), and it is clear that you actually want to be in California. Don't be unhappy (or less happy) somewhere because U.S. News ranks the school marginally higher...

arstech wrote:I think transferring is a no-brainer here. The schools are about the same (don't get caught up in a 22 vs 28 debate), and it is clear that you actually want to be in California. Don't be unhappy (or less happy) somewhere because U.S. News ranks the school marginally higher...

If you're not really paying money, and find the idea of having to work in Minnesota for a while unpalatable,then yes... I'd transfer.

Danteshek wrote:

A'nold wrote:

Danteshek wrote:

rangermice wrote:Loyola rejected me outright.

Pepperdine and UC Davis waitlisted me. Neither worked out.

I had a high LSAT, but abysmally low GPA.

I'm transferring from Southwestern to Loyola. Good luck with your decision. Ask a wide variety of lawyers, professors, judges. Don't rely on TLS or other law students.

Dante, this is quite over the top dude. We know you like Loyola and you transferred from SW, but to suggest that Loyola would have made sense and for him to "ignore TLS advice" which is actually far more reliable in most instances that "real practitioners" is just not solid advice.

Yeah. He should ignore what experienced lawyers in his target market think and instead rely on TLSers from other parts of the country who know very little about his target market. Brilliant.

You two are made for eachother

So I found out that Davis is one of those schools that does mid-summer transfer write-ons for Law Review, and I've missed the deadline.

While that does weigh against transferring, in my mind, I have also yet to receive word on my Minnesota Law Review write-on, because they're apparently having some problems. Last I heard, Minnesota won't be giving out Law Review offers "until late July or early August."

I don't know how this changes anyone's opinion. My initial response would be, if I don't get LR at Minnesota, then things remain somewhat close. Obviously, if I get LR, I'm staying.

General Tso wrote:

solidsnake wrote:Stay. Why transfer down? It's not like UC Davis is some CA employment-prospect powerhouse.

I agree. And the fact that no Davis person on TLS is willing to share OCI data speaks volumes. This "5th or 6th best CA school (depending on how you see UC Irvine)" talk is nonsense. Hastings and Pepperdine (and possibly others) appear to have much stronger OCI turnout than Irvine or Davis.

yawn..........you again?

Dante- you actually think a top 1/4 student at the University of Minnesota would be better off career wise transferring to Loyola and paying sticker if he wants CA? That would be a foolhardy recommendation at best and the worst mistake of his life at worst. Better to stay at top 1/4 at a top 20ish school and try to work some magic either right out of school or a few years after graduation and a clerkship or firm job. You seem to troll very hard for whatever school YOU are attending dude.