Should I transfer? Forum

[kaiser]

So today I got accepted to Penn and a whirlwind of confusion has kicked up. I need your help deciding whether or not I stay or go.

I am currently at a T25 in the northeast in the top 10% of my class but I did not make law review. I want to work in NYC but I would definitely consider NJ, where I have ties. I certainly wouldn't mind Boston, but my preference is to come home to the NJ/NY area. Here is the financial difference: my current school gives me 25K a year, so I would get 50K more by staying. The rent at Penn is a bit less, but the school itself costs a bit more. What do you guys recommend? Anything im failing to consider?

[CanadianWolf]

Transfer to Penn unless BU (or whichever is your current top 25 law school) will give you a full tuition scholarship.

[Artemis]

I would transfer to Penn. In the end, the name of the school will carry you further and also, you didn't get on LR at your current school. Besides, depending on where your current school is, Penn is probably going to help you out more with getting a job in NYC.
The scholarship is good but after a few years of working (or even less, depending on where you work), it will even itself out.
I think if you got LR and had that scholly, then it would be a harder choice, but without LR I think you should go to Penn. You might even be able to write on to the Penn LR as a transfer so you have that second chance at LR.
Take the plunge. Go for it.

[CanadianWolf]

OP's current school is BU according to earlier posts. For NYC, Penn is a much better choice.
Another thought is whether top 5% at BU is better than top 25% or so at Penn.
OP: If you stay, focus on moving up into the top 5% to maximize your options. Many ranked ahead of you may have to sacrifice grades for law review work so this is an opportunity to increase your class rank.

[kaiser]

OP's current school is BU according to earlier posts. For NYC, Penn is a much better choice.

Yeah it is BU, which places relatively well in NY. Im just trying to get a gauge of what the additional 50K or 60K is worth. People say it helps down the line having a Penn degree, so im wondering whether that is true. Don't people often say that your school only matters for purposes of getting your first job?

[kaiser]

Any input aside from just a vote is very welcome as well

[ReversedAndRemanded]

I can understand how 50-60K sounds like a lot right now. However, I agree with what people above have said - that it'll definitely more than even out in the future with a Penn JD. Also, you could get on Penn LR or a Penn 2dary journal, which would basically put you in the same position or better than you would have been had you stayed. And the prestige of a Penn degree will follow you beyond your first job.

(And this is coming from someone who only recently went complete at Penn. So the fact that I'm not telling you to vacate your spot should also speak volumes.)

[UCLAtransfer]

I voted transfer.

I think you will do very well at Penn's OCI considering you are coming from a well-respected school that your interviewers/firms are very familiar with, and you have extremely solid grades. I agree with previous posters that if you had LR or a larger scholarship, it might balance in favor of staying, but without those I think the scales tip much more on the side of transferring, especially since Penn places so well in NYC.

[kaiser]

Any other opinions? I'm trying to get a feel for what the long term benefits really are aside from getting your first job. I know that people tend to switch jobs fairly often nowadays. Is this where you think it would pay off?

[Nacirema]

Honestly, I would say transfer if you were coming from a school ranked in the 30's and above, but your are obviously coming from a great school with a solid rep.

Stay and enjoy the scholly.

[Nacirema]

Oh wait... you only get 25k per year? = tilts more to transfer

[kaiser]

Oh wait... you only get 25k per year? = tilts more to transfer

How much did you think I was getting when you made your first post? 50K a year? I wish. That would make it easy to stay.

[traehekat]

Pretty close, but I think the lack of LR at your current school tilts it just barely in favor of transferring. What are your career goals beyond geographic preference?

[kaiser]

Pretty close, but I think the lack of LR at your current school tilts it just barely in favor of transferring. What are your career goals beyond geographic preference?

I would like to start at a big firm in order to get the training and exposure one receives in that environment. I doubt I would want to do it long term, but I felt it would be the right spingboard to whatever comes next. I would ultmately like to work in-house

[3ThrowAway99]

If you can't get NYC biglaw at top 10% BU there is something wrong with that picture IMO. In other words, I think you can, so if NYC biglaw is your primary goal I suspect you are already in great shape. Although obviously there are no guarantees, and I think doing some detailed research is in order.

[traehekat]

Pretty close, but I think the lack of LR at your current school tilts it just barely in favor of transferring. What are your career goals beyond geographic preference?

I would like to start at a big firm in order to get the training and exposure one receives in that environment. I doubt I would want to do it long term, but I felt it would be the right spingboard to whatever comes next. I would ultmately like to work in-house

What is the difference between your current school's OCI and Penn's? Are there going to be a lot of firms at Penn that wont be at your current school that you are interested in working for? You basically have to ask yourself what exactly you are paying for.

[kaiser]

I don't doubt that I will likely be able to line something up in NYC for next summer. But I was more confused about future benefits. I def wouldn't pay the extra 50K+ solely to increase my chances for 2L summer since I feel like I am relatively safe

[kaiser]

Pretty close, but I think the lack of LR at your current school tilts it just barely in favor of transferring. What are your career goals beyond geographic preference?

I would like to start at a big firm in order to get the training and exposure one receives in that environment. I doubt I would want to do it long term, but I felt it would be the right spingboard to whatever comes next. I would ultmately like to work in-house

What is the difference between your current school's OCI and Penn's? Are there going to be a lot of firms at Penn that wont be at your current school that you are interested in working for? You basically have to ask yourself what exactly you are paying for.

Current school has about 55-60 employers coming to OCI. Mostly Boston firms, but a few NY ones sprinkled in. We have an off-campus NYC job fair with BC with about 30 NY firms. Penn's email mentions 200 employers coming to OCI, in addition to resume collections and regional interviewing programs.