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A little above the median at MVB, have a big/prestigious scholarship at the current school & unusual background which may put the grades in a slightly better light & judicial internship for a top judge in a special area of law, hoping to transfer to CLS for personal reasons, chances?

what personal reasons.

This is going to be a really expensive transfer since you are going to lose your scholarship and your grades. Would not recommend.

to shock, could you elaborate on the effect of losing grades? Thank you!

When you transfer your grades will be wiped clean. Employers can still look at your old grades, so they'll basically see you as an MVP student with median grades. You'll then be given a clean slate at CLS. You may end up at median, but you may end up lower. If you are lower, you can foreclose clerking opportunities that may have been available from MVP with higher grades. Future employers will always want to see your transcripts, too (although it differs how much value they place on grades further into your career). Median at MVP will probably look better than bottom quarter at CLS.

Just something to consider. For me, the money would be a bigger part. Calculate out the difference in the cost of attendance and be harsh about whether it is worth it. If it is something like a SO, ask yourself if the relationship is worth going an extra ~X amount in debt. Be brutal. Hint: don't take on an extra $100k of debt to be closer to a SO.

Good luck!

It's funny how people assume median at MVP indicates lower quarter at CLS, especially for the second and third year.

I'm not assuming at all. Just identifying a risk and potential downside. You could very easily end up higher than median at CLS. Or right at median. Who knows. Just saying there is no way to know and it's a coin flip. Better to be aware of the risk.

I transferred to CLS from a T1. My grades dropped a little, but not a whole lot. And I put in WAY less effort at CLS.

Anonymous User wrote:A little above the median at MVB, have a big/prestigious scholarship at the current school & unusual background which may put the grades in a slightly better light & judicial internship for a top judge in a special area of law, hoping to transfer to CLS for personal reasons, chances?

For what it's worth, I know someone a few years back who transferred from B (with medianish grades) to NYU. I'm not sure what CLS's transfer standards are, but my sense is that CLS, like NYU, takes a lot of transfers and isn't terribly selective.

By the way, that "personal reason" better be damn compelling. CLS is essentially a peer of the school you're currently attending. If you have a full scholarship to your current school, you're giving up $100K for basically no professional gain.

Your OCI and career prospects are identical at MVP or CLS. Unless your personal reason is worth the extra $100k of debt, then don't transfer.

I don't agree that MV and Columbia are equivalent in placement power or as institutions as suggested above, because factually they are not, but the difference is negligible compared to added $100k in debt. I would advise against transferring. If you have a "prestigious" scholarship - and I am thinking Dillard or Darrow here? - definitely don't transfer.

Second, I don't think you have all that great a shot, no offense; usually it's at least top 20% from lower T14 to transfer up to HCC - more like top 10% for H.

I don't really understand what the previous transfer poster was suggesting about a "clean slate" - no one cares about grades or class after 1L anyway so you will have your prior school grades, and that will be what employers see at EIP. The advantage to transferring within the T13* is generally pretty slim.

jbagelboy wrote:I don't agree that MV and Columbia are equivalent in placement power or as institutions as suggested above, because factually they are not, but the difference is negligible compared to added $100k in debt. I would advise against transferring. If you have a "prestigious" scholarship - and I am thinking Dillard or Darrow here? - definitely don't transfer.

Second, I don't think you have all that great a shot, no offense; usually it's at least top 20% from lower T14 to transfer up to HCC - more like top 10% for H.

I don't really understand what the previous transfer poster was suggesting about a "clean slate" - no one cares about grades or class after 1L anyway so you will have your prior school grades, and that will be what employers see at EIP. The advantage to transferring within the T13* is generally pretty slim.

MV might not have equivalent placement power, but I'm not convinced he won't be treated exactly the same as a median Michigan student anyway.

Desert Fox wrote:

jbagelboy wrote:I don't agree that MV and Columbia are equivalent in placement power or as institutions as suggested above, because factually they are not, but the difference is negligible compared to added $100k in debt. I would advise against transferring. If you have a "prestigious" scholarship - and I am thinking Dillard or Darrow here? - definitely don't transfer.

Second, I don't think you have all that great a shot, no offense; usually it's at least top 20% from lower T14 to transfer up to HCC - more like top 10% for H.

I don't really understand what the previous transfer poster was suggesting about a "clean slate" - no one cares about grades or class after 1L anyway so you will have your prior school grades, and that will be what employers see at EIP. The advantage to transferring within the T13* is generally pretty slim.

MV might not have equivalent placement power, but I'm not convinced he won't be treated exactly the same as a median Michigan student anyway.

I agree.