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I returned to ugrad last year after 5 years off (in the work world). I am currently pulling a 4.0 from a large state school. Because of some stupid decisions during my previous ugrad work, my ugpa is probably going to work out to be around a 3.0. I scored a 165 on the December LSAT (Hated those stained glass windows!)

Because of my wife's employment I am tied to the NYC area. I want to graduate from a T1. This leaves me with a 3.0/165 looking longingly at Fordham/CLS/NYU. If it weren't for my 3.0, I would plan for an LSAT re-take, but because of my ugpa, even a 5 point LSAT improvement isn't going to get me into any of my schools of choice.

At this point is my best bet to attend a T2 for 1L, work hard and hope to gain transfer admission to a T1 for 2L?

tmizzle wrote:I returned to ugrad last year after 5 years off (in the work world). I am currently pulling a 4.0 from a large state school. Because of some stupid decisions during my previous ugrad work, my ugpa is probably going to work out to be around a 3.0. I scored a 165 on the December LSAT (Hated those stained glass windows!)

Because of my wife's employment I am tied to the NYC area. I want to graduate from a T1. This leaves me with a 3.0/165 looking longingly at Fordham/CLS/NYU. If it weren't for my 3.0, I would plan for an LSAT re-take, but because of my ugpa, even a 5 point LSAT improvement isn't going to get me into any of my schools of choice.

At this point is my best bet to attend a T2 for 1L, work hard and hope to gain transfer admission to a T1 for 2L?

Conventional wisdom says that planning to transfer is a terrible idea as there is no way to predict how you will perform your first year. If you think you scored below your average score, you should consider a retake before risking your future on a chance to transfer. If you get a 170+, Fordham might take you.

Dear 0L:

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Because you already created the thread, I'll give a substantive answer. However, please read this before my post.

First, going to a law school intending to transfer is never a good idea. If you're not comfortable graduating at the median from the school you start at your 1L year, don't go. It's as simple as that. There are too many reasons to count why you won't be high enough in your class to transfer. These reasons apply across the board. (Unless you're a special snowflake, of course! Then nothing I say is going to apply, obviously.) Take some time off, get some work experience and invest in a career, or consider another professional program if you must go that route.

Alternatively, perhaps you should consider a retake. As you correctly pointed out, a 5 point or higher boost (if you're even PTing near that number) likely won't make a difference w/r/t CLS, NYU or Fordham, but a school like 'dozo or BLS might throw a full ride at you with a 171/3.0. In that situation, consider taking your chances, but don't fight it and bail immediately if you lose your scholarship. If you knock it out of the park, you'll be in a good position to get employment or transfer.

tmizzle, since you are a 0L, there are other parts of this forum that are better suited for this question. However, I had yours numbers (same LSAT, lower GPA, but I took my years off after undergrad) and am familiar with the NY area, PM me and I can answer some of your questions.

However, wherever you choose, you cannot go there with intent to transfer. You can go there with hopes of transferring to a top school, but you have to pick a school you would be comfortable and happy to graduate from.

I think this thread has been sufficiently answered, and since it's a 0L question...