Top Law Schools

I just finished my first semester at a T3, and managed to do pretty well: 3.91 GPA (3.0 median) (class rank has not come out yet). Assuming 2nd semester goes similarly well, what schools do people think are worth the transfer application fee? I'm mainly interested in California (either LA or SF) and NYC, but open to Chicago and Boston too. Are T14 schools too much of a stretch?

A 3.91 in a 3.0 median school should place you near the top. Probably top 1-2%. You should have a reasonable chance at many of the T14 schools. If you maintain your performance you should have a decent shot at Berkeley as well. Outside of HYS, you probably stand a chance at most T14 schools. If you send applications out to various T14 schools (with similar Spring grades) you should get at least one or two admits.

random5483 wrote:A 3.91 in a 3.0 median school should place you near the top. Probably top 1-2%. You should have a reasonable chance at many of the T14 schools. If you maintain your performance you should have a decent shot at Berkeley as well. Outside of HYS, you probably stand a chance at most T14 schools. If you send applications out to various T14 schools (with similar Spring grades) you should get at least one or two admits.

Cosigned. Do some research and figure out if you prefer UChi for some reason. If you do, ED to Chi. If not, keep it up second semester and you're likely in at multiple T14s. If you want LA or SF, I'd send out apps to UCLA and USC as well. Congrats on the grades!

Where is your t3? t14 schools are more likely to accept "local" lower tiered schools. For example, if you in CA, you have a good shot at Berkeley. If your in NY, you could find your way into CLS/NYU. In the Chi area, UChi or Northwestern are possible.

Thanks for the kind words guys. My school is in CA. It is tempting to ED at Chicago to take the pressure off 2nd semester, but just not that set on Chicago (the city) to justify an ED app.

As far as cities that I want to practice in, my order of preference is: NYC>LA>SF>Chicago>Boston. Excluding HYS, my T14 'wish list' would be (again, order of preference): CLS>NYU>Boalt>UChicago>Northwestern>Cornell>GULC (not really interested in any of the others). UCLA and USC would be great schools to transfer to as well, though I'm not sure where on my list they would fall. Honestly I didn't really think I had a chance at any of these schools coming from a T3, but it's very encouraging to hear that you guys think I have a chance!

I was at a t4 in CA last year and transfered to Boalt. Keep your grades up and apply early, you have a shot.

zomginternets wrote:Thanks for the kind words guys. My school is in CA. It is tempting to ED at Chicago to take the pressure off 2nd semester, but just not that set on Chicago (the city) to justify an ED app.

As far as cities that I want to practice in, my order of preference is: NYC>LA>SF>Chicago>Boston. Excluding HYS, my T14 'wish list' would be (again, order of preference): CLS>NYU>Boalt>UChicago>Northwestern>Cornell>GULC (not really interested in any of the others). UCLA and USC would be great schools to transfer to as well, though I'm not sure where on my list they would fall. Honestly I didn't really think I had a chance at any of these schools coming from a T3, but it's very encouraging to hear that you guys think I have a chance!

Transferring from a T3 or T4 can be harder because you have little room for error (higher class rank required). But most T14 schools do accept transfers and based on the numbers posted here from previous years a high ranked T3/T4 transfer can be competitive. As the previous poster mentioned, make sure you apply early.

Also, you could consider the Early Action GULC application. Unlike the UChicago program, the GULC EA is not binding. No guarantees you will get in (good chance they will defer), but if they accept you, you will might be more relaxed while waiting for decisions from your higher choice schools.