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Anyone from FSU want to tell me about their experience as a transfer?

Me: Top 2%, booked a few classes first semester. Federal agency internship this summer.

Is it true that, if you book your legal research and writing class you can simply join a secondary journal? If so, do I have a choice in which journal I choose?
Also, what type of job did you receive from OCI? How did you do in comparison with the others?

I'm interested in hearing about how the transfer process was. How long it took from when you applied until when you heard back. Did you personally feel a stigma transfer? How is the student atmosphere compared to the school you came from (e.g., socially, intellectually, professionally?)

And yes, I did use the search function - but they were old and scarce, and I was curious if any new insight is available.

I apologize for all the questions, I know it's a lot - feel free to answer as many or as a little as you like

Thank you

Are you looking to transfer to FSU or transfer from FSU? Does "booked" mean "did well?" Haha. When I say "booked it" that means I "did something fast and urgent."

OP here,

I am looking to transfer into FSU. Applications open April 1.

Booked, meaning "Cali'd", meaning, highest grade in the class award, meaning woopwoop.

Unless you have a really (and I mean really) compelling reason to be at FSU specifically, you should either transfer higher up the totem pole or not at all. I can't imagine FSU would open many doors that won't be open being top 2% + LR at Regional Bumblefuck State Law. Plus there's the whole paying sticker at FSU thing. Unless you're transferring way up into T1 into a region you'd like to work, it probably doesn't make sense.

OP Here,

Is going to a T4 in a State with 11 law schools a compelling of enough reason?

Anonymous User wrote:OP Here,

Is going to a T4 in a State with 11 law schools a compelling of enough reason?

Nope. UF will only marginally (if at all) enhance your likelihood of employment in Florida. Unless you absolutely hate your school, I'd advise against it. Although there are 11 schools in Florida, the employment outcomes really aren't THAT different between all of them.

.

runinthefront wrote:

transferror wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:OP Here,

Is going to a T4 in a State with 11 law schools a compelling of enough reason?

Nope. UF will only marginally (if at all) enhance your likelihood of employment in Florida. Unless you absolutely hate your school, I'd advise against it. Although there are 11 schools in Florida, the employment outcomes really aren't THAT different between all of them.

This isn't true at all. Where are you getting this from?

Ok, I admit the employment gap was larger than I thought. http://www.lstscorereports.com/?r=fl

I understand that the difference between ≈ 35% employment (the bottom 4 schools) and ≈ 65% (FSU) is big, but my point is more like 65% isn't exactly great and FSU isn't going to give OP any boost in Florida employment that being top 2% at [insert T4] hasn't already given. At FSU or current school, OP will have access to the same employers/market. The only difference is that OP will have to uproot to go to FSU, lose connections with profs, start fresh with GPA, forfeit LR, and employment prospects look better for top 2% @ T4 than average Joe at FSU. I don't see any meaningful advantage to the move.

OP here again,


What do you think I should do if my grades slip this semester?

For example, what happens if I go from top 2% to like top 10%? Would you recommend that I still stay?

I mean, at top 10%, I'll most likely still be able to grade on to law review, and work as a research assistant and teaching assistant with some of my professors - but, I'd be kinda sad in knowing that (1) i'm not a top dog at a shitty school and (2) that I had the opportunity to be an average joe at the best state school, rather than a slightly above average joe at one of the worst schools.

The money difference between where i'm at now (scholarship included) and FSU: $900
That is, My school would cost me about 20k/yr and FSU would cost a bit over 20k

But in addition to the scholarship I get from my school now, I'll be getting about ~$800/mo. as a teaching assistant per month next year. (800x11 = 8,800), so 20k-8,800 = 11,200 vs. 20k

Rambling ... but

You should definitely apply to transfer, and you'll want to do it before your grades for second semester are released. If you slip to 10%, transferring might make more sense. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it would be a huge mistake as it is, but it doesn't seem to give you much advantage and it comes with risks.

Get the FSU acceptance in hand and leverage for more $$ at your current school. If you can get them to give you full tuition, you'll be paying almost nothing once the TA money kicks in. That would put you in a position to graduate with ≈ 35k debt or less from law school. That's about as good as it gets.

Honestly, if you're school doesn't up the $$, then the decision could go either way. If FSU is basically the same price, then maybe the benefits down the road of the FSU brand w/in Florida are worth the risk of uprooting. But, if you remain top of the class and hustle for jobs, you'll have a real chance at outperforming your current school's name/rank.

What are your career goals?

Transferring from a T4 in Florida to FSU/ UF does make a huge difference. I was top 5% at a Florida T4, Law Review and Moot Court opportunity - scholly etc. Transferred to UF and couldn't be any happier. I suspect transferring is not right for some people - but perfect for most. Just as "intangible factors" were quoted in Brown v. Board - so too exist certain intangibles in transferring to a higher ranked school. Intangibles which are in addition to the oft enumerated employment statistics, alumni base, opportunity, depth of understanding, bar passage etc. Who are you in classes with? Who do you know? Who do they know? What opportunities exist? What doors open?

But a word of advice OP - FSU sucks - they let in 5,000,000 kids from Coastal and 6,000,000 more from Nova / Barry / FIFIFU or wherever the heck else. And no matter what USNWR says - UF is, and will always be, the best school in the state by any objective measurement.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here again,

But in addition to the scholarship I get from my school now, I'll be getting about ~$800/mo. as a teaching assistant per month next year. (800x11 = 8,800), so 20k-8,800 = 11,200 vs. 20k
:

When I transferred I did similar math - long story short it costs me $12,000 more per year, for $24,000 more total to attend UF instead of the T4. Even if you borrow it at 6.875% I think 24K now vs future value of employment / clients is a net win.

That's also assuming the T4 doesn't change the curve on you or play games with your renewal scholly in 3L.

I am the OP:

Career Goals: Federal Agency (FBI preferred) ... Judge or Academia

I never want to get into the debate between UF or FSU. However, I think FSU is a better fit for me because I'd like to work in the public sector, whereas UF seems great for those trying to have a better chance at working in Big(ger) law firms in FL.

How does one make such a decision between transferring and staying when the immediate benefits are marginal and the long term benefits are incalculable?

Anonymous User wrote:I am the OP:

Career Goals: Federal Agency (FBI preferred) ... Judge or Academia

I never want to get into the debate between UF or FSU. However, I think FSU is a better fit for me because I'd like to work in the public sector, whereas UF seems great for those trying to have a better chance at working in Big(ger) law firms in FL.

How does one make such a decision between transferring and staying when the immediate benefits are marginal and the long term benefits are incalculable?

You're right about Govt and Tally - all my friends from FSU are at state agencies, the capital and the court this summer.

The long term benefits are not wholly incalculable.......I'd concede difficult to quantify, but not impossible. Other threads have suggested a starting point of the difference in employment % x # of months unemployed at T4 graduation.

Also, somewhere in this thread someone said big fish from a T4 or middle of the road at UF/FSU - generally the transfers I know are top 20% - some wrote onto LR etc. It's not like you get owned going up - it is different but not a foreign concept. Do the same things that got you top 2% and you'll be top 10%-20% at FSU.

Out of curiosity for those who have transferred to FSU, how do transfers fare at OCI? Are you still 2Ls or 3Ls at FSU or in the work force? If you're still in school, how do your prospects look and how what about other transfers?

Also for OP's benefit: can you qualify for honors at graduation? are there any extracurriculars you missed out on? how many spots are held for transfers to write onto journal (has to be several since the xfer class is huge)? Was it easy to get into smaller classes in order to form bonds w/ professors --> How did transfers fare w/ clerkships (academia and judiciary interest OP)?