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I've seen that this topic does come up periodically, but I'm looking for different, tailored advice. Please not that I'm not interested in reading comments that insult Cardozo, as I don't find that productive to the topic. This is mostly directed to former or current Cardozo students who transferred or attempted to transfer. Some questions, however, can be answered by anyone who has transferred.

My info:
Good first semester grades, although the bulk of Cardozo's 1L GPA comes from 2d semester. Prior relevant w/e and internships. Large scholarship, negligible stipulation. I'm not convinced I want to transfer, and am not really looking for reasons to transfer; just what to expect should I decide to go through the process. Like most, I'm interested in Big Law, but might be more happy with midlaw.

1. When should I ask for LORs? I'm paranoid that if I ask now I will stigmatize myself among the faculty. I could wind up doing poorly this semester and therefore would be stuck with the stigma, or word could spread to my current professors.

2. If I ask for LORs after receiving my grades for this semester, how do I initiate that conversation as it will be during the summer? Do I disclose my intent to transfer in an email and set up an appointment to discuss it?

3. If I send my transcript to LSAC, will Cardozo rescind a LR, MC, journal or clinic offer?

4. How long did the process of sending your transcript take?

5. What was it like getting a Dean's Cert?

6. Did you have any negative experiences?

7. Is it worth it to apply to Fordham?

1. As soon as possible.

2. I highly recommend not doing this. Letter writers can be notoriously slow, and you're already stuck waiting for all spring grades before you can even apply. Do you want to run the risk of having to wait until mid-July thanks to Mr. SlowWriter? I think a calm discussion with LOR writers about your career aspirations and why transferring is really the best choice will aid in asking for letters. Most will understand that this is a business, and only a bad business person would skip a good opportunity. I'm sure there are people that know folks who transferred out of Cardozo last year in the second year class--see if you can find out who they are and contact them. Ask them who wrote their letters--maybe they had the same professors as you.

3. I've read horror stories. But does it matter if you can transfer? If you honestly believe that you can succeed this semester, then you'll have to make that bet. It could pay off.

4. Should take about 3 weeks from when you request them. (Assuming 1 week for your school to process request and mail, and assuming 2 weeks max for LSAC to process) However, all schools accept transcripts directly from your law school. That method is much faster than the LSAC method for the regular admission transfer cycle.

5. My Dean's Cert was through some administrative assistant in the registrar's office. It was much easier than I thought it was going to be.

6. Not as of yet.

7. No. If you're transferring, transfer to the T14. If you're not transferring to T14, then transferring isn't really worth it (baring certain exceptions, such as transferring from a regional T3 to a regional T1 w/ good job prospects in that specific region). Get top 5 or 10% in your class and apply to NYU/CLS.

Thanks, CounselorNebby.

1. Were you stigmatized when you started asking for LORs? Did any profs refuse to write one?

3. I should have made this the first question. I think it might be dispositive. Have you heard of Cardozo specifically rescinding offers for merely sending out transcripts? I haven't found anything in the student handbook about it.

4. Did you request your transcripts prior to receiving your spring grades?

I also have an additional question. In your new school, were you able to participate in any ECs during the first semester of 2L? E.g., journal, mc, clinic?

1. It was actually my legal writing teacher that first floated the idea of transferring to me. He also wrote a LOR. (Your legal writing teacher is most likely also a practicing attorney--unlike some of your professors--therefore they are generally more receptive to LOR because they too understand the business) Also, your legal writing teacher may have insight as to who to ask--or not ask. Mine specifically told me a couple of people to NOT ask. Haha

3. Never heard of it anywhere on this forum.

4. I'm a 1L, my experience thus far concerns the schools that allow early action transfers. Your school may have preliminary transfer paperwork (mine does) that allows you to list what schools you want your spring transcripts to go to as soon as the grades are all in. Your transfer app needs all your spring grades before a school will review it--therefore requesting a transcript prior to posting of all grades will not do you any good.

This last question I can't answer (see above).

However, each school should have that information made on their transfer page. Georgetown is the only school I've intimately aquainted myself with in regard to their transfer policies because they were the only early action school I applied to. However, I have had conversations with previous members of my current school that transferred to UPenn and NYU and they participated in transfer write-ons for journals. Clinics I cannot answer, but I assume you should be able to apply for the Spring '15 clinics once you matriculate at your transfer school.

Did you check the sticky-thread at the top of this page?

Did you check the sticky-thread at the top of this page?[/quote]

Yes