Where to Apply? Forum

[Xferr]

I'm a 1L trying to finalize my list of schools to transfer to by May 1st. I'm trying to figure out how high I should shoot. Here are my stats:

- 4.0 first semester
- Current lawschool is T2
- 3.7 undergrad GPA from ivy league
- Mid-150s LSAT
- Two strong LoRs

List of Schools to Apply to: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Chicago, Penn, Boalt, Michigan

I realize only the first two bullet points will likely have any effect on my chances. I'm only looking at T14 law schools, but I'm trying to figure out how high I can shoot before running into nigh-impossibility to get in. I'm fairly sure that I can't get into Yale, but beyond that I don't know. I know everything up to at least Michigan is a possibility (someone from my school got in last year). How far up the list should I apply?

[Wholigan]

There are some schools even in the lower T14 that don't seem to consider T4 applicants. Other schools which have accepted from TTTTs include GULC and Boalt, so you should probably consider throwing apps there. HYS and Chicago are out of reach. I'm not sure about C/N, but I imagine highly unlikely as well. Maybe some with more knowledge of those schools can tell you how deep they reach down the USNWR list.

[Xferr]

Two more pieces of info that may be relevant:

- A student from my school was accepted to Michigan last year (and I'm doing slightly better than he did)
- I'm already accepted at GULC.

Right now, my list is: Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Penn, Boalt, Michigan, Cornell. I think I have a prayer at all of them except Stanford. Does anyone know what was up with Cornell not having any incoming transfers last year?

[quiver]

Two more pieces of info that may be relevant:

- A student from my school was accepted to Michigan last year (and I'm doing slightly better than he did)
- I'm already accepted at GULC.

Right now, my list is: Stanford, Columbia, NYU, Penn, Boalt, Michigan, Cornell. I think I have a prayer at all of them except Stanford. Does anyone know what was up with Cornell not having any incoming transfers last year?

Where is your school located?

[Xferr]

New York.

[quiver]

New York.

In that case, I think you can safely take out Stanford and probably Boalt. Definitely apply to CLS and NYU along with the other schools you listed. PM for more specific info if you want.

[concurrent fork]

New York.

In that case, I think you can safely take out Stanford and probably Boalt. Definitely apply to CLS and NYU along with the other schools you listed. PM for more specific info if you want.

This. Assuming 4.0 is the top of your school's scale, you definitely have a shot at T6. If you finish the year #1 in your class, HLS is also worth the app fee.

[CanadianWolf]

In answer to your question regarding Cornell, the class that would have been affected by the transfer students may have been unusually large so there was no room for transfer students.

[quiver]

In answer to your question regarding Cornell, the class that would have been affected by the transfer students may have been unusually large so there was no room for transfer students.

Possibly. If that was the problem I'd assume that they'd either not accept transfer apps or raise the bar higher to accept fewer transfers. However, myself and some others on this board applied and were accepted as transfers to Cornell last year so it wasn't the former. I think the no incoming transfers has more to do with some combination of: Cornell receiving far fewer apps than every other T14 to begin with, possibly higher standards due to over enrolling our class, applicants getting into better schools, and transfers not being able to participate in OCI.

[crossarmant]

In answer to your question regarding Cornell, the class that would have been affected by the transfer students may have been unusually large so there was no room for transfer students.

Also, they implemented a policy where transfer students cannot take part in OCI so I imagine that had a part to play in the fact that there were no transfers.

[TTRansfer]

In answer to your question regarding Cornell, the class that would have been affected by the transfer students may have been unusually large so there was no room for transfer students.

Also, they implemented a policy where transfer students cannot take part in OCI so I imagine that had a part to play in the fact that there were no transfers.

Even without OCI I still think that Cornell is a viable transfer option.

[Xferr]

Thanks for the info so far. 4.0 is indeed the highest grade you can get at my school, although I know I'm not the only one who got those grades.

I'm hearing mixed things about Stanford, although I've been encouraged to apply by faculty members in my law school and others. Looks like I'll keep the list, leaving Stanford just in case, even though odds are very low. I'll target Columbia, Penn, and Boalt as my reach schools, and I stand a decent chance at Michigan. Everything else isn't $1,200 better than Georgetown as far as I can tell. No OCI at Cornell is a dealbreaker. Too bad about that.

[concurrent fork]

In answer to your question regarding Cornell, the class that would have been affected by the transfer students may have been unusually large so there was no room for transfer students.

Also, they implemented a policy where transfer students cannot take part in OCI so I imagine that had a part to play in the fact that there were no transfers.

Even without OCI I still think that Cornell is a viable transfer option.

I don't know the mechanics of Cornell's system, but if transfers are completely excluded from OCI then it doesn't make sense for 99% of applicants. Even most students who don't want biglaw after graduation (aiming for prestigious PI, clerkships) generally want to get a 2L SA under their belt. Given that anyone transferring to Cornell would have had at least some chance at an SA from their old school, it just seems like a poor decision.

I'm hearing mixed things about Stanford, although I've been encouraged to apply by faculty members in my law school and others.

As I think quiver said above, T4 ---> Stanford doesn't happen. I mean it's $80 so I guess go for it, but set your expectations appropriately. The only reason I mentioned H as being worth the app is because a #1 T3 student seems to get in every couple of years (and I don't think adcomms views of these schools necessarily follow the USNWR T3/T4 distinctions).

[Xferr]

I apologize, I was incorrect regarding my school's tier. I didn't understand how tiers worked (I thought 1-25 was T1, 25-50 was T2, 50-75 was T3, 75-100 was T4, and everything else was unranked).

Does that change things? I'll edit my first post appropriately. My law school is actually ranked in the 80s. I think that makes it T2?

[concurrent fork]

I apologize, I was incorrect regarding my school's tier. I didn't understand how tiers worked (I thought 1-25 was T1, 25-50 was T2, 50-75 was T3, 75-100 was T4, and everything else was unranked).

Does that change things? I'll edit my first post appropriately. My law school is actually ranked in the 80s. I think that makes it T2?

Oh. In that case blanket the T6 (the top six ranked schools). I wouldn't even consider GULC.

[CanadianWolf]

Typically a law school ranked in the 80s would be considered a Tier Two law school.

[Xferr]

I apologize, I was incorrect regarding my school's tier. I didn't understand how tiers worked (I thought 1-25 was T1, 25-50 was T2, 50-75 was T3, 75-100 was T4, and everything else was unranked).

Does that change things? I'll edit my first post appropriately. My law school is actually ranked in the 80s. I think that makes it T2?

Oh. In that case blanket the T6 (the top six ranked schools). I wouldn't even consider GULC.

OK, that sounds closer to the advice I was given in person. I figured former transfer students would know a bit more, but I didn't think the advice would differ so wildly. Glad it all lines back up now.

Revised list: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Chicago, Penn, Boalt, Michigan, Cornell

Thanks again for the help.

[quiver]

I apologize, I was incorrect regarding my school's tier. I didn't understand how tiers worked (I thought 1-25 was T1, 25-50 was T2, 50-75 was T3, 75-100 was T4, and everything else was unranked).

Does that change things? I'll edit my first post appropriately. My law school is actually ranked in the 80s. I think that makes it T2?

Oh. In that case blanket the T6 (the top six ranked schools). I wouldn't even consider GULC.

OK, that sounds closer to the advice I was given in person. I figured former transfer students would know a bit more, but I didn't think the advice would differ so wildly. Glad it all lines back up now.

Revised list: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Chicago, Penn, Boalt, Michigan, Cornell

Thanks again for the help.

Looks good. Just don't get your hopes too high for S or H. If you keep that 4.0 I'd say that one or both of CLS/NYU is quite likely.

[Wholigan]

I apologize, I was incorrect regarding my school's tier. I didn't understand how tiers worked (I thought 1-25 was T1, 25-50 was T2, 50-75 was T3, 75-100 was T4, and everything else was unranked).

Does that change things? I'll edit my first post appropriately. My law school is actually ranked in the 80s. I think that makes it T2?

Oh. In that case blanket the T6 (the top six ranked schools). I wouldn't even consider GULC.

OK, that sounds closer to the advice I was given in person. I figured former transfer students would know a bit more, but I didn't think the advice would differ so wildly. Glad it all lines back up now.

Revised list: Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, Chicago, Penn, Boalt, Michigan, Cornell

Thanks again for the help.

Looks good. Just don't get your hopes too high for S or H. If you keep that 4.0 I'd say that one or both of CLS/NYU is quite likely.

With your revision to state you're at a T2 school, I agree with the above.

[Xferr]

Great, thanks to all for the advice. I'll go ahead and pull the trigger on those apps.