Top Law Schools

Post your school rank, class rank, GPA, LR, WE, or other softs, the schools to which you will apply, and I'll estimate your chances of acceptance as a transfer. Others join in!


ETA - from last year: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=148138

contained therein:

lawloser22 wrote:

Vronsky wrote:T2 in the 80s.
3.8, top 5% out of ~300+
looking at GULC EA, UVA, CLS, and NYU.

GULC EA - 50% (75% RD)
UVA - If you're at Richmond or have significant ties to VA, 60%, otherwise 20%
CLS - 35-40%
NYU - 35-40%

Somewhat on the money, got into GULC, one of C/N, and rejected at UVa. (actually class ranking was top 1%, though.)

.

Saving this until I get my grades.

heeloftar wrote:T3, Top 2% (Should hold or better after spring grades), ~4 years WE, no outstanding softs. Will blanket T17 and then other T1 schools in Southeast (UNC, UF, etc).

In what region is your T3?

If you want to save money on apps, I would target GULC and Vandy, maybe Duke, Emory(?) (assuming southeast). With that class ranking, I think you should be good for something in the Top 20 and can avoid the rest of the T1.

GULC - 65%
T14-20 - 90% for something
T10 - 10-15% unless you have regional ties (i.e. T3 in VA for UVA)

jarofsoup wrote:Saving this until I get my grades.

Actual grades and a precise rank are a big factor. There's a big difference between "top 5%-ish" and "4th out of 325 students."

Some, but not all grades back yet, but expecting (or hoping for) top 4-7%, 3.8x or so, T2. (Not expecting 1-3%, but you never know).

Applying to CLS, NYU, Penn. Deferred GULC EA.

5 Years WE (non-legal, but substantive work).

Does writing onto current school's LR make a difference for transfer admission? Why would they care?

I know it is a bit speculative without final numbers, but do you think CLS/NYU care about WE? And what was the approximate "cutoff" for T2s at your C/N?

TFR wrote:Some, but not all grades back yet, but expecting (or hoping for) top 4-7%, 3.8x or so, T2. (Not expecting 1-3%, but you never know).
Applying to CLS, NYU, Penn. Deferred GULC EA.
5 Years WE (non-legal, but substantive work).
Does writing onto current school's LR make a difference for transfer admission? Why would they care?
I know it is a bit speculative without final numbers, but do you think CLS/NYU care about WE? And what was the approximate "cutoff" for T2s at your C/N?

T2 is a big range. Are you talking 51 or 99?
I don't know that Writing onto LR makes much of a difference (maybe small - something like getting an A in LRW). But GPA and school rank are the biggest factors.
Don't sweat GULC EA. I was deferred EA and accepted in the first wave of June. (anecdotally, it seems as tho EA was for mostly T1ers).
C/N took a number of people, some with 1-5 years of WE, some K-JD.
Most at C/N in the T2 are within top 5%, those from T1 can be within top 10%, and from within T14 possibly top 25% (I think).
You might also want to throw an app at Cornell, and Michigan. Concentrate on the T4-T10, with GULC and Cornell as safeties (if there can be such a thing for transfers - its not as clear as regular admissions).

Also - FYI, I was 3.88 at a T2 on 3.1 curve. Depending on your curve, you could be underestimating class rank.

Vronsky wrote:

TFR wrote:Some, but not all grades back yet, but expecting (or hoping for) top 4-7%, 3.8x or so, T2. (Not expecting 1-3%, but you never know).
Applying to CLS, NYU, Penn. Deferred GULC EA.
5 Years WE (non-legal, but substantive work).
Does writing onto current school's LR make a difference for transfer admission? Why would they care?
I know it is a bit speculative without final numbers, but do you think CLS/NYU care about WE? And what was the approximate "cutoff" for T2s at your C/N?

T2 is a big range. Are you talking 51 or 99?
I don't know that Writing onto LR makes much of a difference (maybe small - something like getting an A in LRW). But GPA and school rank are the biggest factors.
Don't sweat GULC EA. I was deferred EA and accepted in the first wave of June. (anecdotally, it seems as tho EA was for mostly T1ers).
C/N took a number of people, some with 1-5 years of WE, some K-JD.
Most at C/N in the T2 are within top 5%, those from T1 can be within top 10%, from within possibly top 20% (I think).
You might also want to throw an app at Cornell, and Michigan. Concentrate on the T4-T10, with GULC and Cornell as safeties (if there can be such a thing for transfers - its not as clear as regular admissions).

Also - FYI, I was 3.88 at a T2 on 3.1 curve. Depending on your curve, you could be underestimating class rank.

I personally don't think I'd take GULC at this point, even if I got it, it seems to be a huge gamble to give up a scholly for (I applied there EA as kind of a safety against grades dropping). Also, doesn't Cornell exclude transfer students from OCI?

As far as blanketing the T4-10, would it be worth it to give up a good rank to transfer to a place with no ties? I'd take Berekely, UCLA, or NU, but the consensus here seems to be that transferring under a T6 without ties is not a good move?

TFR wrote:

Vronsky wrote:

TFR wrote:Some, but not all grades back yet, but expecting (or hoping for) top 4-7%, 3.8x or so, T2. (Not expecting 1-3%, but you never know).
Applying to CLS, NYU, Penn. Deferred GULC EA.
5 Years WE (non-legal, but substantive work).
Does writing onto current school's LR make a difference for transfer admission? Why would they care?
I know it is a bit speculative without final numbers, but do you think CLS/NYU care about WE? And what was the approximate "cutoff" for T2s at your C/N?

T2 is a big range. Are you talking 51 or 99?
I don't know that Writing onto LR makes much of a difference (maybe small - something like getting an A in LRW). But GPA and school rank are the biggest factors.
Don't sweat GULC EA. I was deferred EA and accepted in the first wave of June. (anecdotally, it seems as tho EA was for mostly T1ers).
C/N took a number of people, some with 1-5 years of WE, some K-JD.
Most at C/N in the T2 are within top 5%, those from T1 can be within top 10%, from within possibly top 20% (I think).
You might also want to throw an app at Cornell, and Michigan. Concentrate on the T4-T10, with GULC and Cornell as safeties (if there can be such a thing for transfers - its not as clear as regular admissions).

Also - FYI, I was 3.88 at a T2 on 3.1 curve. Depending on your curve, you could be underestimating class rank.

Thanks, school is 60-70, curve is something similar to yours. I personally don't think I'd take GULC at this point, even if I got it, it seems to be a huge gamble to give up a scholly for (I applied there EA as kind of a safety against grades dropping). Also, doesn't Cornell exclude transfer students from OCI?

As far as blanketing the T4-10, would it be worth it to give up a good rank to transfer to a place with no ties? I'd take Berekely, UCLA, or NU, but the consensus here seems to be that transferring under a T6 without ties is not a good move?

I came to the same conclusion about GULC. I'd say T2 + LR + Scholly is better than GULC's biglaw placement numbers. Not sure about Cornell - I know Fordham is like that but don't know if cornell does the same thing.
If you are already at a school like Brooklyn, where you can access the NYC market, it probably isn't worth it transfer to Berkley, UCLA or NU without ties. But, if you are at a school that isn't near a major market like NYC/DC/Chicago/Dallas, then it's still probably worth it.

If you wanna go big or stay home, I like your chances to get at least one of CNP. Keep in mind that Michigan also has big law options in Chicago and NYC.

C - 40%
N - 45%
Penn - 65%

Vronsky wrote:

heeloftar wrote:T3, Top 2% (Should hold or better after spring grades), ~4 years WE, no outstanding softs. Will blanket T17 and then other T1 schools in Southeast (UNC, UF, etc).

In what region is your T3?

If you want to save money on apps, I would target GULC and Vandy, maybe Duke, Emory(?) (assuming southeast). With that class ranking, I think you should be good for something in the Top 20 and can avoid the rest of the T1.

GULC - 65%
T14-20 - 90% for something
T10 - 10-15% unless you have regional ties (i.e. T3 in VA for UVA)

Yep, Southeast, but unfortunately not VA. App fees aren't really an issue.

dumb question, how do you find out your class ranking...?

TT in the 80s, first-year of GPA 3.72 (I was 4/132 after the Fall, but I am still waiting on class-rankings for the entire year...historically, I should be at least within the top 5 to 8 percent), Law Review, 1 year good work experience, and this summer I am working for a small employment firm.

warandpeace wrote:dumb question, how do you find out your class ranking...?

usually some kind of law school web/net thing, probably somewhat similar to how you check your grades online.

John N wrote:TT in the 80s, first-year of GPA 3.72 (I was 4/132 after the Fall, but I am still waiting on class-rankings for the entire year...historically, I should be at least within the top 5 to 8 percent), Law Review, 1 year good work experience, and this summer I am working for a small employment firm.

Where are you applying?

Vronsky wrote:

John N wrote:TT in the 80s, first-year of GPA 3.72 (I was 4/132 after the Fall, but I am still waiting on class-rankings for the entire year...historically, I should be at least within the top 5 to 8 percent), Law Review, 1 year good work experience, and this summer I am working for a small employment firm.

Where are you applying?

Chicago, Vandy, Michigan, Penn, Northwestern, Berkeley.

Number 1 pending final quarter grades at 50ish. Military experience including deployment to Iraq. National Guard plus part time job 1L year.

Hitting T6 plus UVA, Penn, Georgetown.

mileslibertatis wrote:Number 1 pending final quarter grades at 50ish. Military experience including deployment to Iraq. National Guard plus part time job 1L year.

Hitting T6 plus UVA, Penn, Georgetown.

You should be a lock for one of YSH (most likely H). Save app fees and hit them plus C/N for backups. That's really all you need; UVA is super tough unless you are VA resident. There's no need to apply to GULC. GL!

Also have 3 LORs from current law professors.

I already sent in every app except Yale and UVA. I may reconsider applying to UVA now, thank you.

Vronsky wrote:

mileslibertatis wrote:Number 1 pending final quarter grades at 50ish. Military experience including deployment to Iraq. National Guard plus part time job 1L year.

Hitting T6 plus UVA, Penn, Georgetown.

You should be a lock for one of YSH (most likely H). Save app fees and hit them plus C/N for backups. That's really all you need; UVA is super tough unless you are VA resident. There's no need to apply to GULC. GL!

Agreed this is about as close to a lock as you can get for one of HYS (but still not guaranteed). Military is an added plus because employers like it.

SwampRat88 wrote:

Vronsky wrote:

John N wrote:TT in the 80s, first-year of GPA 3.72 (I was 4/132 after the Fall, but I am still waiting on class-rankings for the entire year...historically, I should be at least within the top 5 to 8 percent), Law Review, 1 year good work experience, and this summer I am working for a small employment firm.

Where are you applying?

Chicago, Vandy, Michigan, Penn, Northwestern, Berkeley.

Chicago - 5% (very small class, typical draws from high T1)
Vandy - 60%
Michigan - 50%
Penn - 45%
NU - not very familiar with transfers here
Berkley - 10%, 50% if regional (they prefer UC and CA schools)

mileslibertatis wrote:Also have 3 LORs from current law professors.

I already sent in every app except Yale and UVA. I may reconsider applying to UVA now, thank you.

FYI, you may want to apply to the public T14's if you qualify for the tuition waiver under GI Bill (UVA, Michigan).

.

Cornell allow for transfers to have full rights now?

http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admiss ... JUMP_34110

acw1213 wrote:school rank #115ish
class rank top 8-10%
moot court, good shot at law review

GW
William & Mary
Washington & Lee
George Mason

Not as familiar with transfer odds outside the T14, but I think you're applying to the right range of schools. I'd give you a solid 75%+ of getting at least one of these VA schools, and if you push top 5%, add UVA (if VA resident).

TTTT ranked #1 with a 3.97 GPA and 5 book awards (if this matters at all). What is the highest ranked school I should be looking at? MVP? GULC? T20?