School in 20s to HYS+Chi Forum

[Transferthrowaway]

Hey guys. I usually post here under another user name, but wanted to create a throw away account since some people know my IRL identity attached to the other name.

At a school with a brutal 2.9-3.1 curve, but was lucky enough to get straight As first semester including booking one class and second in another. I think this puts me in the top 2%. However, my school still does year-long classes, so nothing is guaranteed.

Should I hedge my bets and ED Chicago? or hold out until the end of the year and try for HYS?

[KMaine]

How much do you want to go to Harvard? Sounds to me like you have a pretty good shot. Chicago ED is probably a little safer, though.

[Transferthrowaway]

Out of HYS, I'd probably go 1. Yale 2. Stanford 3. Harvard.

Is it that impossible to get YS? By top 2% I should probably say #2. If it makes any difference, the class I booked is taught by a professor who is a graduate of YS.

Would a transfer rec from him help for his alma mater? He's given me a lot of praise regarding my exam and we've grabbed lunch a few times, so I think he would be willing to write a strong LOR for me.

[Transferthrowaway]

bump now that people are starting to wake up a little bit.

[BlueDiamond]

why not just try now?

[lawloser22]

Hold out for YHS. Coming from a school in that range at top 1% should make you a lock at at least one of the trinity, according to arrow's thread.

Check out ToTransferOrNot's comments on regretting UChi ED. If you were top 5% or so, UChi would make more sense, but there's an excellent chance that you're #1 considering the curve at your school and your grades. A LOR from an alumni of YS would likely give you a small boost as well.

[Transferthrowaway]

Hold out for YHS. Coming from a school in that range at top 1% should make you a lock at at least one of the trinity, according to arrow's thread.

Check out ToTransferOrNot's comments on regretting UChi ED. If you were top 5% or so, UChi would make more sense, but there's an excellent chance that you're #1 considering the curve at your school and your grades. A LOR from an alumni of YS would likely give you a small boost as well.

Yea, I just worry I might mess up a class second semester and end up not eligible for even UChi. I busted the curve in the class I booked but was just at the head of the pack in my other classes.

[concurrent fork]

Hold out for YHS. Coming from a school in that range at top 1% should make you a lock at at least one of the trinity, according to arrow's thread.

No one is a lock for transferring into HYS. It can be very unpredictable. That said OP has a strong enough chance that he/she should definitely forego Chi ED.

[Transferthrowaway]

Hold out for YHS. Coming from a school in that range at top 1% should make you a lock at at least one of the trinity, according to arrow's thread.

No one is a lock for transferring into HYS. It can be very unpredictable. That said OP has a strong enough chance that he/she should definitely forgo Chi ED.

This is a toss-up for me. Might out me, but my long-distance SO is in Chicago and I might just ED UChi to be with SO next year.

I'm trying to decide which would be the best for me long-term:
1) Hopefully being a top 10 (not percent) student at this t-20s school which I genuinely love and would be happy staying at with only cost of living expenses debt coming out.
2) EDing UChi and being a guaranteed transfer student with 2 years of tuition debt coming out.
3) Holding off until the end of the year and doing HYS+Chi, with 2 years of tuition debt coming out.

[lawloser22]

Yeah I was just going off of arrow's estimates. That said, I recall you were top 2-3% at a T30 and transferred to Harvard, so even if the OP drops a little he should still have a good shot.

EDIT: in that case I'd probably ED, but don't forget that you can always RD. I just made a poll to get a sense of how consistent grading usually is between first and second semester. Hth.

[concurrent fork]

Yeah I was just going off of arrow's estimates. That said, I recall you were top 2-3% at a T30 and transferred to Harvard, so even if the OP drops a little he should still have a good shot.

Fair enough - arrow's guide is excellent but there are certainly exceptions to the estimates re: HYS. There was at least one person ranked above me at my old school who was rejected from each of HYS. I also know several T2 transfers at HLS, and one T3 transfer.

This is a toss-up for me. Might out me, but my long-distance SO is in Chicago and I might just ED UChi to be with SO next year.

That's legit. I might ED in your situation.

[patrickd139]

OP: What are your career preferences (if any) and where do you ultimately want to end up?

[Transferthrowaway]

OP: What are your career preferences (if any) and where do you ultimately want to end up?

I want to snag a COA clerkship if I can (who doesn't?) and then go to biglaw. I also have thoughts about academia.

I'm a southern boy so I'd like to stay down south but I would be okay with being in Chicago since my gf is born and raised there.

[Grizz]

ED Chi bro. You know you want to.

[dresden doll]

Given that Transfer recently booked a SCOTUS feeder COA clerkship and has a V10 to go to once he's done with the COA stint, I highly doubt he's shedding too many tears over his decision to go to Chicago.

That said, I'd nonetheless hold out for HYS in OP's place. OP clearly knows how to do well in LS, and I'd say he's pretty likely to get H if he keeps those grades up.

[Transferthrowaway]

Given that Transfer recently booked a SCOTUS feeder COA clerkship and has a V10 to go to once he's done with the COA stint, I highly doubt he's shedding too many tears over his decision to go to Chicago.

That said, I'd nonetheless hold out for HYS in OP's place. OP clearly knows how to do well in LS, and I'd say he's pretty likely to get H if he keeps those grades up.

Are YS that unlikely? I'm close to saying that my preferences would be Y > S > H = Chi (for personal reasons)

[lawloser22]

Given that Transfer recently booked a SCOTUS feeder COA clerkship and has a V10 to go to once he's done with the COA stint, I highly doubt he's shedding too many tears over his decision to go to Chicago.

That said, I'd nonetheless hold out for HYS in OP's place. OP clearly knows how to do well in LS, and I'd say he's pretty likely to get H if he keeps those grades up.

Are YS that unlikely? I'm close to saying that my preferences would be Y > S > H = Chi (for personal reasons)

No. Usually people just want H more than the others, for the lay prestige. H also happens to take more transfers than Y+S combined, but that doesn't mean you should necessarily count them out. If you have ties to CA that might help your case at S.

[patrickd139]

I want to snag a COA clerkship if I can (who doesn't?) and then go to biglaw. I also have thoughts about academia.

I'm a southern boy so I'd like to stay down south but I would be okay with being in Chicago since my gf is born and raised there.

Not that this helps any, but my advice is split 50/50 between "ED to UChi" (because you killed it this semester and your SO lives there) and "hold out for YHS" (because you're in a great position to snag one of them if you can sustain your success). Looking long term, YHS all place well enough in Chicago to land biglaw after you graduate if you and SO are still together. You should do some research and see what each school's placement stats are re: COA. I honestly have no idea other than thinking UChi might lead the pack due to self-selection.

Factors I would consider (in no particular order):
a) Seriousness of relationship with SO and how likely s/he is to move with you to New Haven/Boston/Palo if you two must be together
b) Desire to hedge bets and transfer into T6 school (bird in the hand, etc.)
c) Confidence in your ability to repeat performance this semester
d) COA placement stats (see above)
e) Debt aversion (HLS's LIPP is phenomenal, Y and S also have great LRAPs; no clue about UChi)

Either way, I don't think you're in a bad position. Congrats on the great grades so far!

[Transferthrowaway]

If this helps the input at all, found out a 2L who did 1L at my current school transferred to UChi with top ~11% grades. No ED and didn't have any work experience or anything else of note. Kind of makes me wonder if I should bother ED Chi at all.

[lawloser22]

If this helps the input at all, found out a 2L who did 1L at my current school transferred to UChi with top ~11% grades. No ED and didn't have any work experience or anything else of note. Kind of makes me wonder if I should bother ED Chi at all.

Further evidence of your chances at YHS. Somehow I don't think you will fall out of the top 11% next semester. Don't forget that YHS are apparently generous with need-based aid for transfers as well, which is definitely a big plus. Talk to your gf and see what she thinks?

[D.Wilde]

I vote hold out. Those who know how to rock exams generally don't forget how to do so in the Spring. ANECDOTAL SUPPORT: In my 1L section at a T25, the Top 5 students in semester 1 were the Top 5 students for the year. We jumbled up the places a bit, but all of us stayed in the Top 5. That being said, I'm not sure YHS has all that much more prestige than Chi. Personally, I wanted Boston so I was holding out for H.

[Transferthrowaway]

bump for any last time advice.

[random5483]

I would hold out for HYS in your situation. You have a decent shot at one of the three, and a very good chance of getting into Chicago via regular decision. I know the SO situation can make Chicago more tempting, but the difference between HYS and Chicago is significant.


You go to a good school, even if you fail to transfer, things look reasonably good for summer near the top of the class. Someone trying to transfer from a lower rank T1 might want to gamble on Chicago, but in your position, I would recommend you hold out.


All of your options are good. Good luck with whatever you choose.