Chances of transferring to HYS? Forum

[Anonymous User]

School: Lower T1
Rank: #1
GPA: 4.0
Book awards: 5

Is it worth paying the app fee to try to transfer into HYS (particularly interest in Stanford)? I have too good of a situation at my current school to leave it for much lower than those. Alternatively, I would like some scholarship negotiation (my school is pretty broke, but I'm currently only receiving a 2/3 scholarship and would like a bit more). Do you have any advice?

[heavoldgotjuice]

I am currently in the transfer cycle this year as well, so, for what it's worth, I have a pretty fresh recollection of the various information on TLS and Yahoo about past transfer cycles.

I think you have a solid shot at HYS due to your numbers alone, but what will truly "make-or-break" you is your past experiences/activities, law school organizations, personal statement and URM-status (possibly).

Your "hards" are definitely on point, so your "softs" are what will help you stand out against the (possible) ~48 others that may be competing against you to transfer to those schools.

Definitely worth the app fees if you ask me (maybe even to Columbia too)

Good luck

[Anonymous User]

I'm afraid those might hurt me (my law school doesn't really have a ton of activities). I guess the best I have is some research experience and being a science major in undergrad. Oh well.

Good luck to you too! I hope you get in everywhere

[Anonymous User]

Would you say it's worth trying for other schools too?

I'm not super desperate to transfer. I'd like to get a SCOTUS clerkship, and my school says that if I stay, it'll do its best to make me its first one. The chances of that are slim, though.

[bk1]

You're probably not going to get a SCOTUS clerkship no matter what so put that out of your mind. Whether it's worth it to transfer to other schools depends on your career goals and desired career location.

[Elston Gunn]

Doesn't make much sense to transfer. You'll get a fancy biglaw and COA gig where you are for many tens of thousands of dollars less. Send in the apps if it'll get you negotiation leverage, though, by all means.

SCOTUS clerkships go to 3-4% of even Yale students. Once you're a transfer, you probably won't be considered any better than the average really by judges/faculty (though the other students will realize that you're probably much smarter or at least much better at law school than us). The thing that gets Y kids SCOTUS clerkships, other than luck and good grades (and being interesting people, publishing, YLJ board position etc), is having the right people go to bat for you. It'll be hard for you to get that as a transfer (especially when you basically need to start applying for your potential '16 feeder clerkship, well, more or less now).

I'd actually say your odds of a SCOTUS clerkship are probably better as #1 at a T1 than an HYS transfer, because at least you get to say you're number 1 and the school will work really hard to support you.

[Anonymous User]

Doesn't make much sense to transfer. You'll get a fancy biglaw and COA gig where you are for many tens of thousands of dollars less. Send in the apps if it'll get you negotiation leverage, though, by all means.

SCOTUS clerkships go to 3-4% of even Yale students. Once you're a transfer, you probably won't be considered any better than the average really by judges/faculty (though the other students will realize that you're probably much smarter or at least much better at law school than us). The thing that gets Y kids SCOTUS clerkships, other than luck and good grades (and being interesting people, publishing, YLJ board position etc), is having the right people go to bat for you. It'll be hard for you to get that as a transfer (especially when you basically need to start applying for your potential '16 feeder clerkship, well, more or less now).

I'd actually say your odds of a SCOTUS clerkship are probably better as #1 at a T1 than an HYS transfer, because at least you get to say you're number 1 and the school will work really hard to support you.

That being the case, what would you say is the lowest school possible to get enough scholarship leverage?

[Elston Gunn]

Doesn't make much sense to transfer. You'll get a fancy biglaw and COA gig where you are for many tens of thousands of dollars less. Send in the apps if it'll get you negotiation leverage, though, by all means.

SCOTUS clerkships go to 3-4% of even Yale students. Once you're a transfer, you probably won't be considered any better than the average really by judges/faculty (though the other students will realize that you're probably much smarter or at least much better at law school than us). The thing that gets Y kids SCOTUS clerkships, other than luck and good grades (and being interesting people, publishing, YLJ board position etc), is having the right people go to bat for you. It'll be hard for you to get that as a transfer (especially when you basically need to start applying for your potential '16 feeder clerkship, well, more or less now).

I'd actually say your odds of a SCOTUS clerkship are probably better as #1 at a T1 than an HYS transfer, because at least you get to say you're number 1 and the school will work really hard to support you.

That being the case, what would you say is the lowest school possible to get enough scholarship leverage?

Can't answer that, sorry. I've never been through the transfer process, though I'm sure there are others here who can help.

[Nebby]

Transferring is 100% numbers when you’ve got a top 5% GPA in the T1. You’d have to put in a consciously lackluster effort in order to not get into one of either HYS. Your lack of softs or law school activities will not harm you in any appreciable way.

As of right now the only stated goal is SCOTUS clerkship, which isn’t going to happen as either #1 at your T1 or as a transfer to HYS. If you’re not planning on doing BigLaw, then there’s no reason to transfer. If you’re planning on doing BigLaw, then transfer.

Also, congrats on the 4.0! (Mother-fucking A- in Contracts left me with a 3.96 after 1L)

P.S.: I highly recommend transferring anyway. Bullshit prestige aside, whatever you want to do over the next 50 years will probably be more attainable with a JD from HYS.

[BFrankBYangC]

Don't stay (or transfer) for a SCOTUS clerkship, lol. And I'm pretty sure H at least doesn't care at all about your softs. Transferring is all about transferror school rank and GPA.