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Has anyone transfered out of Whittier? I am curious how cooperative the school was in sending out letters of good standing and transcripts. I know with their ridiculously low curve that they are trying to discourage transfers.

I know nothing about Whittier, but a low curve should not hurt your chances as long as your school ranks you. Even if they don't rank you, many schools will be able to determine roughly where you fall, but since Whittier is a relatively unknown school your opportunities might be more limited (other than for schools that are nearby).


But, as long as your school ranks you, you should have a decent shot at transferring. Just bear in mind that Whittier is a T4 school so you will need to rank very high to have a shot at a T1 school or rank at the very top of your class to have a shot (no guarantees) at a T14 school.

Anecdotally, I have a friend to transferred from Whittier to WUSTL with around top 25% grades. Keep in mind, this was a few years ago, and the game seems to have changed to become more competitive, but you've definitely got a shot at transferring out.

patrickd139 wrote:Anecdotally, I have a friend to transferred from Whittier to WUSTL with around top 25% grades. Keep in mind, this was a few years ago, and the game seems to have changed to become more competitive, but you've definitely got a shot at transferring out.

Wow, I doubt that kind of transfer is possible now days. Top 25% at a T4 to a high ranked T1 school seems a little crazy even for a few years ago. Did your friend have some awesome softs?

BUbobby24 wrote:Has anyone transfered out of Whittier? I am curious how cooperative the school was in sending out letters of good standing and transcripts. I know with their ridiculously low curve that they are trying to discourage transfers.

One of my best friends transferred to USD from Whittier and made law review at USD. He was 7th in his class at Whittier.

I transferred to Loyola from Southwestern (also made LR at Loyola), but I was only top 20%.

random5483 wrote:

patrickd139 wrote:Anecdotally, I have a friend to transferred from Whittier to WUSTL with around top 25% grades. Keep in mind, this was a few years ago, and the game seems to have changed to become more competitive, but you've definitely got a shot at transferring out.

Wow, I doubt that kind of transfer is possible now days. Top 25% at a T4 to a high ranked T1 school seems a little crazy even for a few years ago. Did your friend have some awesome softs?

Agreed, though (presumably) OP was asking whether it could be done given the (apparently harsh) curve which (apparently) discourages transfers. Just poking my head in to say that I personally know of one Whittier-WUSTL transfer, so it's possible.

OP: lower your shoulder and get the highest GPA possible. It is possible to transfer up somewhere, and if you're not on a massive scholarship to Whittier (and, depending on what your options are, even if you are) it would probably be a good idea, given how my friend talked about his experience.

I'm a PT student, so I have 3 semesters worth of grades under my belt and am in the top 10% and graded onto Law Review. I have close to a full scholarship at Whittier but I'm willing to give that up to transfer to a T1. I definitely want to transfer, although I have had some really great professors at Whittier, I know my job options are limited here.

BUbobby24 wrote:I'm a PT student, so I have 3 semesters worth of grades under my belt and am in the top 10% and graded onto Law Review. I have close to a full scholarship at Whittier but I'm willing to give that up to transfer to a T1. I definitely want to transfer, although I have had some really great professors at Whittier, I know my job options are limited here.

You might not get into a T1, even with your grades. You need to apply to a few T2s as backup. In any event, staying at Whittier would be a mistake. Are you employed full time? Why are you PT?

Yep. Work full-time and go to school at night. After this year (assuming I transfer) I am going to focus on law school and go full-time.

Another reason I want to transfer is I want to work in either Chicago or Atlanta, which would be impossible coming from Whittier. I just want to get into a top 100 school, ideally a top 50 school.

BUbobby24 wrote:Yep. Work full-time and go to school at night. After this year (assuming I transfer) I am going to focus on law school and go full-time.

Another reason I want to transfer is I want to work in either Chicago or Atlanta, which would be impossible coming from Whittier. I just want to get into a top 100 school, ideally a top 50 school.

How has it beeen working full-time and going to Whittier at night? I am applying to the same program and would appreciate our insight.

BUbobby24 wrote:I'm a PT student, so I have 3 semesters worth of grades under my belt and am in the top 10% and graded onto Law Review. I have close to a full scholarship at Whittier but I'm willing to give that up to transfer to a T1. I definitely want to transfer, although I have had some really great professors at Whittier, I know my job options are limited here.

If you want to work in Chicago or Atlanta, you will have to get into a school that places well in Chicago or Atlanta. I don't know the specifics about the markets, but I would guess Chicago is harder to get a job in from outside of a school that places in that region (more prestigious firms in Chicago and high ranked schools nearby).

Bear in mind that outside the T14 schools, none of the T1 schools are national schools. If you transfer to a mid-tier 1 school in California for instance (say Davis or Hastings) your chance at piercing the Chicago market without some exceptional circumstances will be very hard.

Howdy! wrote:How has it beeen working full-time and going to Whittier at night? I am applying to the same program and would appreciate our insight.

I would recommend you do not join Whittier unless:
1. You absolutely want to be a lawyer.
2. Receiving a significant scholarship.
3. Willing to get a sub 50k/year job.

Part time programs at T4 schools (or any program for that matter) leads to dead end jobs for people who are not at the top of their class. If you want a law degree to supplement your career (ie. working in a field and do not plan to switch fields), a degree at Whittier might make sense. For most students, going to a T4 is a huge risk, and going to a T4 part-time is even worse.

If you want to work in Chicago or Atlanta, you will have to get into a school that places well in Chicago or Atlanta. I don't know the specifics about the markets, but I would guess Chicago is harder to get a job in from outside of a school that places in that region (more prestigious firms in Chicago and high ranked schools nearby).

I plan on transferring to a school in either Chicago or Atlanta.

How has it beeen working full-time and going to Whittier at night? I am applying to the same program and would appreciate our insight.

It has been tough balancing both work and school, but it is doable. My advice to you is that if you really want to practice law, to go somewhere FT. I initially began school knowing that I wanted to practice law when I graduated, but continued working for the income. However, after a few years at Whittier I have to agree the previous posting, that the job opportunities are not that great coming out of Whittier.

If you have the option to go to a higher ranked school FT I would do that. Or you can do what I am doing and attend Whittier, get good grades, and then transfer. However, as I'm sure you've read all around this forum, going into your 1L expecting to transfer is dangerous. Even though Whittier is a TTTT school does not mean it is easy. I would actually say it may be more difficult b/c so many students want to transfer so they all want to be at the top, and the curve is so low that it is tough to get to the top of the class.

Friend of mine who was in the top couple of students at the end of 1L got into Cornell, UCLA, and USC as a transfer a couple of years ago. It can be done, but I think this is about as high as you can go, and you have to be literally in the top 1% of your class to pull it off.

Hello. I just finished my first year at Whittier and I'm in top 14%. Does anyone have an idea as to what schools I could transfer to in/around Los Angeles? I'm submitting transfer applications to Loyola, USC, and Chapman. Any chance of me getting into UCLA -- or is that reserved for top 1% from Whittier?

Thanks much.

clickatat wrote:Hello. I just finished my first year at Whittier and I'm in top 14%. Does anyone have an idea as to what schools I could transfer to in/around Los Angeles? I'm submitting transfer applications to Loyola, USC, and Chapman. Any chance of me getting into UCLA -- or is that reserved for top 1% from Whittier?

Thanks much.

No chance at USC or UCLA. Good chance at Loyola. Don't transfer to Chapman.

I believe Whittier had 7 transfers to Loyola last year, edging out Southwestern by 1.

Why not Chapman? They are apparently top tier as of this year.

Thanks for the other data.

clickatat wrote:Why not Chapman? They are apparently top tier as of this year.

Whittier and Chapman and Southwestern are basically the same.

Got accepted to Emory and will be attending!

It is possible to transfer from Whittier, a TTTT, to a T1 school!

BUbobby24 wrote:Got accepted to Emory and will be attending!

It is possible to transfer from Whittier, a TTTT, to a T1 school!

that is awesome!! Thank you for all your insight earlier.... wish you much success!!