Transfer from T1 to T1 in desired geography area?! Forum

[calibabe742]

So I just started my first semester at OSU and while it is a great school, I am from CA and had always intended to move back to CA and practice in the Bay Area but could not get into any decent CA schools the first time around. Is it worth it to try to transfer after my first year here and try to get into UC Hastings (also a T1) or is transferring just so hard I should not even bother unless i end up in the top 5% of the class this year?!

[kaiser]

Just FYI, but "practice area" connotes a specific subject-matter (I.e. your practice area might be tax law). I think it is better to phrase your question as whether a transfer based on geography is a good idea. And if you want to be in CA, then OSU almost certainly wont get you there. And yes, transferring is very difficult, but not quite as hard when you only intend to move laterally and not increase in the school rankings. But transferring still requires high grades, which are not easy to earn.

[mrtoren]

Everything depends on your grades and placement in your class. Until you know those, you can't figure out whether or not a transfer is viable. You shouldn't have gone to OSU if you weren't prepared to live there. A TT in California would have placed better there.

[071816]

Curious as to why you went to school in Ohio when you want to work in California.

[zomginternets]

So I just started my first semester at OSU and while it is a great school, I am from CA and had always intended to move back to CA and practice in the Bay Area but could not get into any decent CA schools the first time around. Is it worth it to try to transfer after my first year here and try to get into UC Hastings (also a T1) or is transferring just so hard I should not even bother unless i end up in the top 5% of the class this year?!

Demonstrated ties to CA (which you have) and top 20-25% should allow you to lateral to Hastings. Lateral transferring for geographic preference is probably the easiest to achieve of all the transferring scenarios.

[vanwinkle]

Curious as to why you went to school in Ohio when you want to work in California.

[farmernate]

Totally doable, I have several classmates that transferred to my T25 from peer schools. Also, it seems that the grade cutoff is more relaxed for peer school transfers (i.e. top 30% as opposed to top 10% for lower T1/T2 schools)

study hard, and hopefully you end up back in sunny CA

[mrloblaw]

Curious as to why you went to school in Ohio when you want to work in California.

[coldshoulder]

Curious as to why you went to school in Ohio when you want to work in California.

[calibabe742]

Curious as to why you went to school in Ohio when you want to work in California.

It had to do with cost... I didnt get into any of the UCs and the only CA schools I got into were Santa Clara and USD with almost no $, but OSU offered me a half sholly so I thought its worth it to go to a better school and pay less money and the money I would be saving on tuition and COL would make it an ok tradeoff with unemployment in CA for awhile after I graduated...

[random5483]

Top 25% of your class should be a reasonably good shot at Hastings or Davis. Top third should have a decent chance as well. Any lower and it is questionable. You really need to wait till grades come out. With solid performance at your current school, UCLA or USC are within reach (much superior choices to Hastings or Davis). If you do really well, T14 transfers will be possible (perhaps even HYS). On the other hand if you don't place in the top 50%, a transfer to any T1 or better school is unlikely.

[quiver]

Top 25% of your class should be a reasonably good shot at Hastings or Davis. Top third should have a decent chance as well. Any lower and it is questionable. You really need to wait till grades come out. With solid performance at your current school, UCLA or USC are within reach (much superior choices to Hastings or Davis). If you do really well, T14 transfers will be possible (perhaps even HYS). On the other hand if you don't place in the top 50%, a transfer to any T1 or better school is unlikely.

I'll emphasize "perhaps" here. You'd need to be very close to, or at, the top of your class for this to even be a possibility.

[lalala21]

I am in the same position except I will either have to do well and transfer up 15 ish spots (lower 40s school to a high 28) or transfer down to a mid t2. About a week before school started a family member suddenly died, and it has really done a number on my family. So in the last few months it has become clear that I need to be much closer to home. Fingers crossed for good grades I guess.

[patrickd139]

I am in the same position except I will either have to do well and transfer up 15 ish spots (lower 40s school to a high 28) or transfer down to a mid t2. About a week before school started a family member suddenly died, and it has really done a number on my family. So in the last few months it has become clear that I need to be much closer to home. Fingers crossed for good grades I guess.

The more compelling your reason for transferring--and a dynamic-changing death in the family is certainly one of the more compelling reasons that exist--the less your grades matter. Definitely keep them as high as possible, but I'd encourage you to apply everywhere close. I think you'll be surprised at the schools you'll get into, within reason of course. I doubt you'll swing Berkeley with median grades at a T40, but you might get Davis, Hastings, etc.

Good luck!