Top Law Schools

Anyone more qualified to talk about this than me is welcome to help (that includes almost everyone).

Questions:

1) What's it take to get in? Would top 10% from a 45-55 do it?

2) How are transfers fairing generally at OCI? (generalizations are ok here)

3) Other thoughts on Vanderbilt, if anyone has them.

Also curious about this. What's the deal with their transfer interviews?

I know UCLA transfers got killed at OCI, generally. I am not sure why it would be much different at Vanderbilt, where I've heard that even the native population is struggling. It might make sense to transfer if you have ties to the region. Otherwise, I am not sure it is worth it to give up top 10% at a T1ish school for Vandy. Certainly, I would not transfer to a T17 expecting biglaw. My advice would be, barring extenuating circumstances, to go T10, or stay home.

Vanderbilt takes a small transfer class, so getting in may be less dependent on grades and more so on other variables such as ties to location, extracurriculars, interest in particular programs, etc. Of course being near the top of your class from a decent school is assumed.

Younger Abstention wrote:I know UCLA transfers got killed at OCI, generally. I am not sure why it would be much different at Vanderbilt, where I've heard that even the native population is struggling. It might make sense to transfer if you have ties to the region. Otherwise, I am not sure it is worth it to give up top 10% at a T1ish school for Vandy. My advice would be, barring extenuating circumstances, to go T10, or stay home.

I can understand that viewpoint. I know many people here who are summering at great firms on the strength of top 10% grades. I also know people on law review that either had to settle for a well below market boutique or have no work lined up yet.

I feared that transfers would get hammered at Vandy, and I wouldn't want to transfer into a situation like that. I do have ties to the southeast, have a GF who lives there, and a sister who lives near Nashville. I also pay OOS sticker where I'm at now. So there are factors in play that make transferring a better idea than it might have otherwise been.

Ultimately I think I'd leave for Georgetown on up, but I'm interesting in thoughts on Vandy nonetheless.

Ty Webb wrote:

Younger Abstention wrote:I know UCLA transfers got killed at OCI, generally. I am not sure why it would be much different at Vanderbilt, where I've heard that even the native population is struggling. It might make sense to transfer if you have ties to the region. Otherwise, I am not sure it is worth it to give up top 10% at a T1ish school for Vandy. My advice would be, barring extenuating circumstances, to go T10, or stay home.

I can understand that viewpoint. I know many people here who are summering at great firms on the strength of top 10% grades. I also know people on law review that either had to settle for a well below market boutique or have no work lined up yet.

I feared that transfers would get hammered at Vandy, and I wouldn't want to transfer into a situation like that. I do have ties to the southeast, have a GF who lives there, and a sister who lives near Nashville. I also pay OOS sticker where I'm at now. So there are factors in play that make transferring a better idea than it might have otherwise been.

Ultimately I think I'd leave for Georgetown on up, but I'm interesting in thoughts on Vandy nonetheless.

As someone who transferred to a school around GULC's range (and eeked out a biglaw job, it wasn't easy), I would still be miserable with my choice if it weren't that I transferred primarily for my significant other. As someone who was enjoying my law school experience prior to transferring, suffice to say I know longer am. My T1/T2 provided a far superior education, a more supportive atmosphere, and I think I could have attained the same job from my old school (and likely a better shot at a clerkship due to faculty connections). Personal reasons make me happy with my choice though, but if I didn't have that, I would have wished I stayed.

I feel that a lot of people get caught up in the prestige of the transfer process. When that's over, you might realize you are paying more for an experience you don't necessarily fit in well with, marginal if any gains to your career, and having to pay back a shitload of money. Of course, if you can get into a truly top program (CCN, probably), what I just said probably is less relevant.

This is from someone who was successful at OCI. Transferring and striking out must be awful. And this happened to many that I know.

Younger Abstention wrote:

Ty Webb wrote:

Younger Abstention wrote:I know UCLA transfers got killed at OCI, generally. I am not sure why it would be much different at Vanderbilt, where I've heard that even the native population is struggling. It might make sense to transfer if you have ties to the region. Otherwise, I am not sure it is worth it to give up top 10% at a T1ish school for Vandy. My advice would be, barring extenuating circumstances, to go T10, or stay home.

I can understand that viewpoint. I know many people here who are summering at great firms on the strength of top 10% grades. I also know people on law review that either had to settle for a well below market boutique or have no work lined up yet.

I feared that transfers would get hammered at Vandy, and I wouldn't want to transfer into a situation like that. I do have ties to the southeast, have a GF who lives there, and a sister who lives near Nashville. I also pay OOS sticker where I'm at now. So there are factors in play that make transferring a better idea than it might have otherwise been.

Ultimately I think I'd leave for Georgetown on up, but I'm interesting in thoughts on Vandy nonetheless.

As someone who transferred to a school around GULC's range (and eeked out a biglaw job, it wasn't easy), I would still be miserable with my choice if it weren't that I transferred primarily for my significant other. As someone who was enjoying my law school experience prior to transferring, suffice to say I know longer am. My T1/T2 provided a far superior education, and I think I could have attained the same job from my old school. Personal reasons make me happy with my choice though, but if I didn't have that, I would have wished I stayed.

I feel that a lot of people get caught up in the prestige of the transfer process. When that's over, you might realize you are paying more for an experience you don't necessarily fit in well with, marginal if any gains to your career, and having to pay back a shitload of money. Of course, if you can get into a truly top program (CCN, probably), what I just said probably is less relevant.

This is from someone who was successful at OCI. Transferring and striking out must be awful.

To be fair, at least in my situation, the financials aren't really a factor. I pay $38k to go here, and tuition is going up significantly next year (according to rumor). I'd pay $44k at Georgetown. Also, if for some odd reason I strike out at OCI here, I'm left with no sort of LRAP program to help. At a place like Georgetown, there's LRAP that could cushion my burden in case I strike out.

It's also not as if I'm attending school in a place surrounded by friends and family. I packed up my car and drove 16 hours to a place I had never been, where I knew no one. I do enjoy it here, but I'm leaving behind little in that sense.

As for Vandy - I have so little information on their transfer process that it's really hard to make an informed decision on even whether to apply.

Ty Webb wrote:

Younger Abstention wrote:

Ty Webb wrote:

Younger Abstention wrote:I know UCLA transfers got killed at OCI, generally. I am not sure why it would be much different at Vanderbilt, where I've heard that even the native population is struggling. It might make sense to transfer if you have ties to the region. Otherwise, I am not sure it is worth it to give up top 10% at a T1ish school for Vandy. My advice would be, barring extenuating circumstances, to go T10, or stay home.

I can understand that viewpoint. I know many people here who are summering at great firms on the strength of top 10% grades. I also know people on law review that either had to settle for a well below market boutique or have no work lined up yet.

I feared that transfers would get hammered at Vandy, and I wouldn't want to transfer into a situation like that. I do have ties to the southeast, have a GF who lives there, and a sister who lives near Nashville. I also pay OOS sticker where I'm at now. So there are factors in play that make transferring a better idea than it might have otherwise been.

Ultimately I think I'd leave for Georgetown on up, but I'm interesting in thoughts on Vandy nonetheless.

As someone who transferred to a school around GULC's range (and eeked out a biglaw job, it wasn't easy), I would still be miserable with my choice if it weren't that I transferred primarily for my significant other. As someone who was enjoying my law school experience prior to transferring, suffice to say I know longer am. My T1/T2 provided a far superior education, and I think I could have attained the same job from my old school. Personal reasons make me happy with my choice though, but if I didn't have that, I would have wished I stayed.

I feel that a lot of people get caught up in the prestige of the transfer process. When that's over, you might realize you are paying more for an experience you don't necessarily fit in well with, marginal if any gains to your career, and having to pay back a shitload of money. Of course, if you can get into a truly top program (CCN, probably), what I just said probably is less relevant.

This is from someone who was successful at OCI. Transferring and striking out must be awful.

To be fair, at least in my situation, the financials aren't really a factor. I pay $38k to go here, and tuition is going up significantly next year (according to rumor). I'd pay $44k at Georgetown. Also, if for some odd reason I strike out at OCI here, I'm left with no sort of LRAP program to help. At a place like Georgetown, there's LRAP that could cushion my burden in case I strike out.

It's also not as if I'm attending school in a place surrounded by friends and family. I packed up my car and drove 16 hours to a place I had never been, where I knew no one. I do enjoy it here, but I'm leaving behind little in that sense.

As for Vandy - I have so little information on their transfer process that it's really hard to make an informed decision on even whether to apply.

Right, your situation is different. I was happy where I was (other than my s/o being in a different city), and I had a decent scholarship. I guess my post wasn't directed so much at you as to people who get overly enamored with prestige, which you find turns out to not mean much after your first or second week at your new school. Just know that in terms of career advantage, transferring to Vandy won't give you jack shit. Unless you are transferring to a very top program, you should have a very tangible reason for your transfer.

to younger abstention: do you feel like the quality of educational experience went down because you were a transfer student or was the faculty just up to par at your new school?

FlanAl wrote:to younger abstention: do you feel like the quality of educational experience went down because you were a transfer student or was the faculty just up to par at your new school?

Both.

Most transfers I know agree with me that they had more fun/a better educational experience at their old school. Most transfers say that they are fine with giving up both of these things for the increased benefit that the transfer school is giving them. But I'm not certain of that benefit, in all cases.