Top Law Schools

I go to school at a T40, and went from a Top 25% 1st semester to 7.5% second semester (a 4.0 second semester). I've applied to several schools like Berkeley, Penn, and NYU, but do you think I have a shot at any higher ranked schools? Does it help at all that I did really well one semester?

Also, I have an almost full tuition scholarship, and I'm really afraid of letting go of that. Ideally, I do want to practice in California or possibly New York. I have personal reasons for wanting to be in California, so Berkeley is currently my top choice. Bad idea?

Thanks!

Need more information.

What is your current top 40 law school ?
California connections ?

Why limit yourself to these three schools ? Top 7.5% at a top 40 should be able to generate a few T-14 transfer admissions.

Congratulations !

I think you have a shot at CCN... prob not higher imo, but I would apply to all top schools you want to go to if you can afford it.

I do have California connections, because I went to school there and lived there after. I go to school in the Midwest now, and have realized don't particularly want to live in the Midwest and/or work in Chicago. I've applied to Berkeley, Penn, Michigan, and NYU now, but really only want to apply to one more at most, b/c of the cost.

Again, I'm just wondering if it's crazy to give up an almost full scholarship to transfer to the T14

anonymous688 wrote:I do have California connections, because I went to school there and lived there after. I go to school in the Midwest now, and have realized don't particularly want to live in the Midwest and/or work in Chicago. I've applied to Berkeley, Penn, Michigan, and NYU now, but really only want to apply to one more at most, b/c of the cost.

Again, I'm just wondering if it's crazy to give up an almost full scholarship to transfer to the T14

Isn't Columbia the obvious answer? You're out at HYS most likely. You don't want Chicago, so Chicago and NU are off the list. Duke and UVA are pretty much out without ties. And I doubt you want Georgetown. So, the one more school to apply to would be Columbia. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm kind of in the same situation as you, and not sure what to do. I can't decide if I want to give up my full ride at a t40 school where I'm at the top and will be on LR for a T14. So, I'm interested to see what the general consensus is as to the lowest ranked school applicants like us should transfer to.

AZN MegaPoaster wrote:

anonymous688 wrote:I do have California connections, because I went to school there and lived there after. I go to school in the Midwest now, and have realized don't particularly want to live in the Midwest and/or work in Chicago. I've applied to Berkeley, Penn, Michigan, and NYU now, but really only want to apply to one more at most, b/c of the cost.

Again, I'm just wondering if it's crazy to give up an almost full scholarship to transfer to the T14

Isn't Columbia the obvious answer? You're out at HYS most likely. You don't want Chicago, so Chicago and NU are off the list. Duke and UVA are pretty much out without ties. And I doubt you want Georgetown. So, the one more school to apply to would be Columbia. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm kind of in the same situation as you, and not sure what to do. I can't decide if I want to give up my full ride at a t40 school where I'm at the top and will be on LR for a T14. So, I'm interested to see what the general consensus is as to the lowest ranked school applicants like us should transfer to.

I'm in similar position as you AZN and wondering the same thing. Right now, I have NU and above as the cutoff for what's worth it for giving up a near-full ride at school just outside T25 (although I'm on the fence about Michigan given their NLJ250 placement stats, which were on par with Georgetown's last year). A couple comments/questions though:

1. I wouldn't be so quick to cross Chicago and NU out. They are national schools. For me, I want to work in DC but I would take my chances at Northwestern over G-Town given NU's stellar placement.

2. I know that UVA reserves 40% for in-state, but why do you say Duke is out without ties?

eastcoast_iub wrote:

AZN MegaPoaster wrote:

anonymous688 wrote:I do have California connections, because I went to school there and lived there after. I go to school in the Midwest now, and have realized don't particularly want to live in the Midwest and/or work in Chicago. I've applied to Berkeley, Penn, Michigan, and NYU now, but really only want to apply to one more at most, b/c of the cost.

Again, I'm just wondering if it's crazy to give up an almost full scholarship to transfer to the T14

Isn't Columbia the obvious answer? You're out at HYS most likely. You don't want Chicago, so Chicago and NU are off the list. Duke and UVA are pretty much out without ties. And I doubt you want Georgetown. So, the one more school to apply to would be Columbia. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm kind of in the same situation as you, and not sure what to do. I can't decide if I want to give up my full ride at a t40 school where I'm at the top and will be on LR for a T14. So, I'm interested to see what the general consensus is as to the lowest ranked school applicants like us should transfer to.

I'm in similar position as you AZN and wondering the same thing. Right now, I have NU and above as the cutoff for what's worth it for giving up a near-full ride at school just outside T25 (although I'm on the fence about Michigan given their NLJ250 placement stats, which were on par with Georgetown's last year). A couple comments/questions though:

1. I wouldn't be so quick to cross Chicago and NU out. They are national schools. For me, I want to work in DC but I would take my chances at Northwestern over G-Town given NU's stellar placement.

2. I know that UVA reserves 40% for in-state, but why do you say Duke is out without ties?

1. Yea, true. Good point.
2. Just what I've gathered from TLS. Could be wrong though. Posters say they take such a small class size that it's not worth the fee unless you're from NC.

I'm applying to HCCN. I've put my cut off at NYU. Is this sensible?

And good luck to you

Just to be clear, your cumulative GPA is in the top 7.5%, right?

If so, we are pretty much numbers twins. I'm doing the following:

Harvard (mostly for kicks)
Columbia
Michigan
Penn
Northwestern
Duke
UWash (safety)

Wrong thread

AZN MegaPoaster wrote:

eastcoast_iub wrote:

AZN MegaPoaster wrote:

anonymous688 wrote:I do have California connections, because I went to school there and lived there after. I go to school in the Midwest now, and have realized don't particularly want to live in the Midwest and/or work in Chicago. I've applied to Berkeley, Penn, Michigan, and NYU now, but really only want to apply to one more at most, b/c of the cost.

Again, I'm just wondering if it's crazy to give up an almost full scholarship to transfer to the T14

Isn't Columbia the obvious answer? You're out at HYS most likely. You don't want Chicago, so Chicago and NU are off the list. Duke and UVA are pretty much out without ties. And I doubt you want Georgetown. So, the one more school to apply to would be Columbia. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm kind of in the same situation as you, and not sure what to do. I can't decide if I want to give up my full ride at a t40 school where I'm at the top and will be on LR for a T14. So, I'm interested to see what the general consensus is as to the lowest ranked school applicants like us should transfer to.

I'm in similar position as you AZN and wondering the same thing. Right now, I have NU and above as the cutoff for what's worth it for giving up a near-full ride at school just outside T25 (although I'm on the fence about Michigan given their NLJ250 placement stats, which were on par with Georgetown's last year). A couple comments/questions though:

1. I wouldn't be so quick to cross Chicago and NU out. They are national schools. For me, I want to work in DC but I would take my chances at Northwestern over G-Town given NU's stellar placement.

2. I know that UVA reserves 40% for in-state, but why do you say Duke is out without ties?

1. Yea, true. Good point.
2. Just what I've gathered from TLS. Could be wrong though. Posters say they take such a small class size that it's not worth the fee unless you're from NC.

I'm applying to HCCN. I've put my cut off at NYU. Is this sensible?

And good luck to you

I guess it depends what your goals are. What market do you want to end up in? And how does your current school place in that market?
Is your only goal biglaw?

eastcoast_iub wrote:I'm in similar position as you AZN and wondering the same thing. Right now, I have NU and above as the cutoff for what's worth it for giving up a near-full ride at school just outside T25 (although I'm on the fence about Michigan given their NLJ250 placement stats, which were on par with Georgetown's last year). A couple comments/questions though

I say from experience: Michigan transfers do extremely well at OCI/in the 2L job hunt generally. So you can't necessarily just look at NLJ stats as a transfer hopeful.

I know the substantive area(s) of law I would like to work in, but I am not sure what setting I would like to work in. I have been leaning towards firms and federal jobs, ideally.