Top Law Schools

Hi All,

My law school, normally considered a pretty strong Regional school with good alumni network, fell in the rankings this year (dropped from a TT to TTT), and won't increase my minimal scholarship. I have been admitted to a Top 20 school (not my first choice) and am waiting to hear back from a few others in the Top 20.

The thought of having to do another write-on competition is not exciting to me. Truth be told, I don't transition well and it takes me some time to get comfortable in a new environment. I am also worried about having to start over with new professors (harder to get recommendations), classmates (how hard is it for transfers to make friends??), and the overall environment (is it going to be crazy-competitive and super-cutthroat at a Top 20 school compared to my current school?)

I am interested in Big Law (although not wed to it), worked at a big firm before law school, and have maintained good ties there. Also made Law Review and will prob have a chance to do Moot Court at my current school. Not sure how much that actually matters for OCI. Seat deposit is due at Top 20 in a week ($$$). Need to make a decision relatively quickly.

Seeking advice: (1) Valid concerns, think twice before transferring; or (2) Get over it! Go.

All thoughts are welcome. Thank you!

Obviously depends hugely on which T20 we're talking about and where you want to end up.

Regarding competition, would you say there is cut throat competition at your current school?

k101010 wrote:Hi All,

My law school, normally considered a pretty strong Regional school with good alumni network, fell in the rankings this year (dropped from a TT to TTT), and won't increase my minimal scholarship. I have been admitted to a Top 20 school (not my first choice) and am waiting to hear back from a few others in the Top 20.

The thought of having to do another write-on competition is not exciting to me. Truth be told, I don't transition well and it takes me some time to get comfortable in a new environment. I am also worried about having to start over with new professors (harder to get recommendations), classmates (how hard is it for transfers to make friends??), and the overall environment (is it going to be crazy-competitive and super-cutthroat at a Top 20 school compared to my current school?)

I am interested in Big Law (although not wed to it), worked at a big firm before law school, and have maintained good ties there. Also made Law Review and will prob have a chance to do Moot Court at my current school. Not sure how much that actually matters for OCI. Seat deposit is due at Top 20 in a week ($$$). Need to make a decision relatively quickly.

Seeking advice: (1) Valid concerns, think twice before transferring; or (2) Get over it! Go.

All thoughts are welcome. Thank you!

You say your school does well in the area, it sounds like you're doing well grade and extracurricular wise, and you say you've maintained good relations with a big firm that you've worked at before --- why do you want to leave?

In response to your questions, my current school is not very competitive -- quite the opposite in fact. I have been admitted to GW and wait-listed at Georgetown. I did well my first year but, given the limited OCI opportunities at my current school, I am not sure that I did well enough to get several interviews and/or a job offer from a firm at my current school's OCI (which, anecdotally I am told, tends to be geared towards Top 5-10%, of which I am not a part. My school does not re-rank students before OCI, so my rank is fixed.) I don't really want to transfer, but would go for the better overall career opportunities and OCI.

Someone encouraged me to ask GW for a fee waiver extension ($1000 seat deposit due July 7). Any thoughts on whether/how to do this?

k101010 wrote:Someone encouraged me to ask GW for a fee waiver extension ($1000 seat deposit due July 7). Any thoughts on whether/how to do this?

Do you know when bid lists are due for GW's OCI?

Symplicity says bids are due 15th. Apparently everything is pre-select and transfer students are eligible to bid.