Top Law Schools

Hey guys,

I needed some advice regarding which schools I should apply to

My Stats :

School Rank - T4
Class rank - Top 2% 3.73

The schools I am currently looking at are Penn State, Rutgers, Uni of Illinois, Florida State, and Michigan State. I don't know if I should aim higher, or if that would be a waste of my time.

I need help, don't know what to do

Why are you planning to apply to schools in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, Illinois, and New Jersey? Do you just want to get into any school ranked higher than the one you go to now, or is there a method to this? All of those are highly regional schools, so the answer depends on where you want to work. The best answer is probably the one whose area you have ties to, or the one where you can get in-state tuition, if any. You should also probably consider some schools ranked higher as well, again depending what region you want to work in.

Aim higher...Top 1% at TTTT to T-14

Shoot for the T-14. Don't sell yourself short

hey guys, thanks for the advice. The reason my choices seem sporadic is because I am a Canadian citizen, who has no ties to any particular state. After your advice I been looking at schools such as Univ.of Chicago, NYU and Cornell. What do you guys think my chances are of getting into these schools :

Stats : Tier 4 top 2%

Chances :

Chicago - 10%?
NYU - 10%?
Cornell - 30%?
University of Illinois - 60%?
Penn State - 75%?
Rutgers/Michigan - Pretty much lock?

haranv wrote:hey guys, thanks for the advice. The reason my choices seem sporadic is because I am a Canadian citizen, who has no ties to any particular state. After your advice I been looking at schools such as Univ.of Chicago, NYU and Cornell. What do you guys think my chances are of getting into these schools :

Stats : Tier 4 top 2%

Chances :

Chicago - 10%?
NYU - 10%?
Cornell - 30%?
University of Illinois - 60%?
Penn State - 75%?
Rutgers/Michigan - Pretty much lock?

You're such an outlier it's incredibly difficult to predict. You should be a lock for any school out of the first tier (ex: Rutgers/Penn State)

Once you get into the T14 it's anyone's guess. IMHO, you should send ED applications to Chicago and Georgetown before their deadlines (which are fast approaching.) Then you'll have a better idea of your chances once the general transfer time comes around.

Otherwise, send out a handful of applications to #4-14 schools. If you have the money send out one or two apps to YHS. You just never know what may come up. In addition to these applications have 2-3 back-up schools (ex: Rutgers/Penn State) in case you don't get anything from the T14.

One last thing: Staying in the top 2% is incredibly difficult. If you're accepted in an ED application you won't have to worry so much about second semester grades. Changing from 1-2% in your class to Top 5% or Top 10% will have a SIGNIFICANT on your chances at the T14.

Good Luck!

thanks a lot for your advice. I am definetly sending out an ED for Chicago, but I heard Georgetown doesn't take any T4 transfers? is that true ?

haranv wrote:thanks a lot for your advice. I am definetly sending out an ED for Chicago, but I heard Georgetown doesn't take any T4 transfers? is that true ?

what T4?

haranv wrote:thanks a lot for your advice. I am definetly sending out an ED for Chicago, but I heard Georgetown doesn't take any T4 transfers? is that true ?

I would imagine GULC probably takes the most T4 transfers of any T14 since they take the most transfers overall.

T4 transfers at the top of their class usually do best at the T14 in your region. Even the biggest law firms (save for maybe a few super-snobbish ones) hiring at T14's tend to have a few partners / associates from the regional T3 and T4's.

T14 or T1 at least. The worst I would settle for is someone with a strong regional T2 in the area of the country you wanted to practice in.

Seriously, consider the lower T14. Maybe even the upper. It would be hilarious if you got into H or something and then recorded the looks on people's faces when you tell them your transferred from Cooley or FIU or something like that, LOL!

spleenworship wrote:T14 or T1 at least. The worst I would settle for is someone with a strong regional T2 in the area of the country you wanted to practice in.

Seriously, consider the lower T14. Maybe even the upper. It would be hilarious if you got into H or something and then recorded the looks on people's faces when you tell them your transferred from Cooley or FIU or something like that, LOL!

I wouldn't compare cooley and FIU. Cooley isn't respected anywhere. FIU isn't an awful South Florida regional choice for it's low instate tuition. Also, you need about 12 points higher on your LSAT to get accepted to FIU.

I am currently at Florida Coastal School of Law. Thanks everyone for their advice, you guys have seriously given me some hope .

Which Tier Four ? From where in Canada ? For example, if you are from British Columbia, then consider applying to the University of Washington to be close to home.

Are you considering any Canadian law schools ? Toronto is outstanding & equivalent to an American T-14 law school.

Basically, more information is needed.

haranv wrote:I am currently at Florida Coastal School of Law..

I doubt that you'll get T-14 from Florida Coastal, but you need to try. Consider Michigan which is very friendly to transfers (Cornell, on the other hand, is not with respect to OCI).

If you have Florida residency, then consider FSU & the University of Florida.

How can you tell if a T4 is respected more than others? I'm in a similar position at South Texas College of Law in Houston with apps out at GULC, USC, and GW. Planning to blanket a few other t-14 schools once spring grades come out.

I have a 4.044 and the most I know is that I'm top 2% out of about 350 students.

Florida Coastal is a diploma factory (1,702 full-time students if USNews reported correctly). The real test among Tier Four law schools is the state bar pass rate, in my opinion.

Mr. Pancakes wrote:

spleenworship wrote:T14 or T1 at least. The worst I would settle for is someone with a strong regional T2 in the area of the country you wanted to practice in.

Seriously, consider the lower T14. Maybe even the upper. It would be hilarious if you got into H or something and then recorded the looks on people's faces when you tell them your transferred from Cooley or FIU or something like that, LOL!

I wouldn't compare cooley and FIU. Cooley isn't respect anywhere. FIU isn't an awful South Florida regional choice for it's low instate tuition. Also, you need about 12 points higher on your LSAT to get accepted to FIU.

My bad.

Mce252 wrote:How can you tell if a T4 is respected more than others? I'm in a similar position at South Texas College of Law in Houston with apps out at GULC, USC, and GW. Planning to blanket a few other t-14 schools once spring grades come out.

I have a 4.044 and the most I know is that I'm top 2% out of about 350 students.

You can't. This is just the "conventional wisdom" of TLS.

The vast majority of attorneys have never heard of Cooley. Much less think it's the worst law school in the country.

Suprise! Attorneys do not scour the rankings or pay attention to the T4 -- unless the school is in/near their market.

kapital98 wrote:

Mce252 wrote:How can you tell if a T4 is respected more than others? I'm in a similar position at South Texas College of Law in Houston with apps out at GULC, USC, and GW. Planning to blanket a few other t-14 schools once spring grades come out.

I have a 4.044 and the most I know is that I'm top 2% out of about 350 students.

You can't. This is just the "conventional wisdom" of TLS.

The vast majority of attorneys have never heard of Cooley. Much less think it's the worst law school in the country.

Suprise! Attorneys do not scour the rankings or pay attention to the T4 -- unless the school is in/near their market.

I think 90% of my law school has heard of Cooley. It is regarded as not good or a joke throughout the country, as far as I can tell.

But I do agree that most T4s are largely unknown outside their local market.

I doubt that the poster was referring to attorneys; I think that he was referring to law school adcomms who do differentiate among law schools.

haranv, great job!

any news?

hey axxu,

Just finished up my finals for spring semester got to wait until my grades come back. I will definitely let you guys know where I got in if any.

Results?