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So here is my situation. I applied to transfer initially just to get more scholarship money out of my current school but have now been accepted to Michigan, which was unexpected (and is obviously tempting).

I am in the top 15% at a T25 in the Midwest and have not yet heard whether I made law review. I was on a 15k/year scholarship for 1L. I paid out-of-state tuition of 42k. My current school offered me an additional 5k/year to stay (prior to being accepted to Michigan). In sum, financially I am looking at graduating from my current school with ~140k in loans versus Michigan with ~190k in loans (my living costs are higher than most since I have two kids and a wife that stays home with them). I plan on going the government/public service route and using IBR for 10 years. Michigan's LRAP program seems substantially better than my current schools...

I am from the West coast and would like to end up in the west (preferably Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Colorado). I am not really interested in working for a big law firm and hope to work for the federal government (I'm going to apply for clerkships, PMF, and all the Honors programs).

I feel lucky to have been accepted to Michigan, but also feel like I'm in a good position at my current school.

Please share any advice you can. Thanks!

Don't know much about transfer advice for people in your position, so I'll keep my mouth shut on that, but just so you know, Michigan confirmed to me that transfers are part of the new LRAP instituted this year. Even though it's starting for the class of 2014, transfers are grouped with them because we all entered in Fall 2011.

Edited for clarity.

iucaz wrote:I am from the West coast and would like to end up in the west (preferably Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Colorado). I am not really interested in working for a big law firm and hope to work for the federal government (I'm going to apply for clerkships, PMF, and all the Honors programs).

Michigan seems to place better on the West Coast than any of the other T14 that are not HYS, or Berkeley. I think it will open more doors than whatever school you are at now, and is worth the difference in an already substantial amount of debt.

bdubs wrote:

iucaz wrote:I am from the West coast and would like to end up in the west (preferably Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Colorado). I am not really interested in working for a big law firm and hope to work for the federal government (I'm going to apply for clerkships, PMF, and all the Honors programs).

Michigan seems to place better on the West Coast than any of the other T14 that are not HYS, or Berkeley. I think it will open more doors than whatever school you are at now. (WUSTL?)

Can't be WUSTL, he is at a public school. That leaves what, IU, Illinois, and Minnesota? If you think you can swing the extra $50k in debt for UM then I think that's where you should because I have a strong feeling the UM brand will carry much better on the west coast than either of those three.

iucaz wrote:So here is my situation. I applied to transfer initially just to get more scholarship money out of my current school but have now been accepted to Michigan, which was unexpected (and is obviously tempting).

I am in the top 15% at a T25 in the Midwest and have not yet heard whether I made law review. I was on a 15k/year scholarship for 1L. I paid out-of-state tuition of 42k. My current school offered me an additional 5k/year to stay (prior to being accepted to Michigan). In sum, financially I am looking at graduating from my current school with ~140k in loans versus Michigan with ~190k in loans (my living costs are higher than most since I have two kids and a wife that stays home with them). I plan on going the government/public service route and using IBR for 10 years. Michigan's LRAP program seems substantially better than my current schools...

I am from the West coast and would like to end up in the west (preferably Oregon, Washington, Idaho, or Colorado). I am not really interested in working for a big law firm and hope to work for the federal government (I'm going to apply for clerkships, PMF, and all the Honors programs).

I feel lucky to have been accepted to Michigan, but also feel like I'm in a good position at my current school.

Please share any advice you can. Thanks!

Either way = substantial debt, but one gives you a pretty distinct advantage in getting a good PI job. I say transfer.

bhan87 wrote:
Either way = substantial debt, but one gives you a pretty distinct advantage in getting a good PI job. I say transfer.

Plus the new LRAP is awesome.

Thanks for your responses.

I was hoping for more insight into how Michigan would be better than top 15% at a T25 for government/public interest. In the Honors handbook thing most 2L and 3L honors jobs require top 25% or so. Does that not apply as much for the T10?

I thought government cared more about grades and less about school, but maybe I'm wrong.

I appreciate any further advice or opinions.

If IU or Minnesota, transfer. If UIUC, I would probably stay.