4.0 at T70 help please! Forum

[Anonymous User]

Currently a 1L at Seton Hall Law.. just got my grades back and I got 3 As GPA is 4.0. (we don't receive a grade for LRW in the fall because it is a year long course) Don’t have my rank yet (should be receiving it soon) but I imagine that I am in the top 2 or 3%; as such, I am considering transferring. My first question is: should I even transfer anywhere? I have a great GPA here and I’m only paying $11k a year because of a scholarship. I am shooting for BigLaw and I am okay with working in NJ but I would really like to work in Manhattan. I gather that the general sentiment on TLS is that Seton Hall doesn’t place its grads well, but I am trying to weigh the value of transferring to T14 with this fact. All this being said, what are my chances at GULC EA? Also, would it be a waste of the app fee to shoot an app out to Chicago ED? I would really like to wind up at NYU, Colombia, UPenn or Chicago, but I was thinking that I could at least apply to GULC EA and then if I am accepted there, I could hold on to this acceptance as insurance should my Spring semester grades not be as good. If everyone could weigh in on this and help me with my decision I would really appreciate it!!

[jbiresq]

You wouldn't necessarily have to go sticker at GULC because they give out need aid. IIRC they offered me around $18k

[KidStuddi]

GULC EA wouldn't really be that great of an insurance policy against not doing well your second term, for BigLaw anyway. If your grades slip to the point where you couldn't get in on the regular transfer timeline, you'd still be facing an uphill battle to land BigLaw in NYC or NJ regardless of if you're applying from SH or GULC (GULC would open up more markets, but if you're set on NYC metro that's not really a factor).

In case of a strike out, the clearest path to BigLaw would probably be a clerkship. At that point having transferred could be terrific or terrible. If you kill it at GULC, you may well find yourself in Article III land with a great chance of going BigLaw on the other side. On the other hand, if you do medianish you're pretty much squashed. At SH, you're probably a lot less competitive for an AIII in overall terms, but you'll be a lot better shape financially if you do pull it off.

If you have a 4.0 at the end of 1L, I'd say stay and enjoy the absence of soul-crushing debt.

[gnomgnomuch]

With those amazing grades, id cover fro, t6-t14, and throw in apps at some regional powerhouses in markets you are interested in, if you can succeed this well at a t70, im sure you'd be able to do as well in some great schools, of course ifs basically a tossup between chances of biglaw vs lack of debt after graduation, GL!

[Lord Randolph McDuff]

I'd probably see if you can stay in the top 5%, then ask Seton Hall to increase your scholarship. If your grades remain awesome, I'd lean towards staying put. If you fall down to the top 20/15%, definitely transfer. It is easy as fuck to transfer now and top 20% from Seton Hall would probably get you in somewhere in the lower T-14. Just blanket all schools from Columbia down. (yes, apply to Columbia, they take like 100 transfers).

How are your interviewing skills? I'm assuming no IP? If you are a lame polysci major who lacks confidence in an interview, transferring may be the better option regardless.

[LawlStoodent]

I graduated 2 years ago, but one of my good friends went to Seton Hall 1L, and he got like a 3.5 or something along those lines, and was able to transfer into Columbia -- with some money I believe.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, my first choice would be to attend NYU or Colombia. I heard that they are more lax as far as numbers go with local schools (i.e. BLS)... don't know if SHLS is considered "local" even though i'm only a 30 minute train ride away... Is the consensus that I would need top 5% after the spring semester to have a shot at NYU/Colombia/UPenn?? I am concentrating on repeating my performance in the spring but I don't know if I can pull all As again..

[20130312]

If you fall down to the top 20/15%, definitely transfer. It is easy as fuck to transfer now and top 20% from Seton Hall would probably get you in somewhere in the lower T-14. Just blanket all schools from Columbia down. (yes, apply to Columbia, they take like 100 transfers).

Sorry to hijack, but is this true? Seems hyperbolic.

[jbiresq]

If you fall down to the top 20/15%, definitely transfer. It is easy as fuck to transfer now and top 20% from Seton Hall would probably get you in somewhere in the lower T-14. Just blanket all schools from Columbia down. (yes, apply to Columbia, they take like 100 transfers).

Sorry to hijack, but is this true? Seems hyperbolic.

Definitely not true. According to LSAC Columbia took 46 transfers and NYU took 56 (I think the numbers are for 2011 though.) In theory it should be easier to transfer given that first year classes at even the top schools are down and it's an easy way for schools to fill them up with full fare students. However, that doesn't mean Top 20% at a T2 will land you at Columbia.

[shock259]

As far as I know, CLS took 40-50 xfers this year. But I don't think top 20% at Seton Hall would get you into the T14. Maybe the T20.

Stats here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=186555

If you want CLS or NYU, you'll probably have to be about the top 5% to be competitive (but you will get a boost for being in the NYC area - I think).

[Anonymous User]

As far as I know, CLS took 40-50 xfers this year. But I don't think top 20% at Seton Hall would get you into the T14. Maybe the T20.

Stats here: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=186555

If you want CLS or NYU, you'll probably have to be about the top 5% to be competitive (but you will get a boost for being in the NYC area - I think).

Yeah I figured I'd have to be in that range... What are my chances for EA at GULC if I am between top 2-3%??

[Asleep]

Personally, I'd definitely apply to Chicago. You've got the grades now, but might not at the end of the year.

[quiver]

PM me

[togepi]

Personally, I'd definitely apply to Chicago. You've got the grades now, but might not at the end of the year.

[a11 1n]

Personally, I'd definitely apply to Chicago. You've got the grades now, but might not at the end of the year.

Only people from a T2 that transferred to Chicago this year were from a Chicago T2 (Kent/DePaul/Loyola), every other transfer came from T1 so I would say go for it, but expect to get waitlisted.

[keg411]

Personally, I'd definitely apply to Chicago. You've got the grades now, but might not at the end of the year.

Only people from a T2 that transferred to Chicago this year were from a Chicago T2 (Kent/DePaul/Loyola), every other transfer came from T1 so I would say go for it, but expect to get waitlisted.

+1. OP is not getting into Chicago. However, OP should get one of NYU/CLS if he/she maintains his/her grades for the most part.

OP, this semester you should try to contact SHU alums at the NYC firms and see if they'll talk to you about their firms, go to coffee with you, etc. in case you decide to stay so that you have a good "in" when OCI comes around (and even if you decide to transfer you can still say, "I talked to blah blah" -- not to mention most attorneys are much more understanding about transferring now).