Top Law Schools

I just completed my 1L at a lower ranked T1 school (40-50) and I am in the top 2% of my class. I was admitted ea at GULC and have now applied to Harvard, CLS, NYU, UPenn.

I seriously doubt I will get into Harvard, but I'm hopeful I have a chance at the others.

I would very much like to work in DC, but I know that it's a tough market even for T14 students and I would assume even more difficult for transfers. NYC would be my second choice.

What I'm wondering is (other than HLS) what school would give me the best chance of getting a DC offer at OCI? I was think by maybe it would be GULC, but I'm also worried that there would be a decent chance that I strike out entirely there.

As an additional consideration, my order of preference geographically would be

GULC, Penn, NYU/Columbia, HLS.

I hate asking this question before I've heard back from these schools, but I feel like this is something I need to start thinking about now.

Enjoy Harvard.

Maryland ? Wash & Lee ? Wake Forest ?

Georgetown is attractive for two reasons: 1) located in your target city & 2) need based financial aid.

In my opinion, Harvard, Penn, Columbia, Georgetown & NYU in that order.

CanadianWolf wrote:Enjoy Harvard.

Maryland ? Wash & Lee ? Wake Forest ?

One of those 3. Do you really think I have a realistic shot at HLS? I was under the impression that they mostly only took only t14 transfers.

Follow up question. If I were to get into Harvard, is there any way turning it down for any of the other schools would be defensible? My initial assumption was that if I got into HLS I would be a fool to turn it down. I just really am not thrilled about the idea of living in Cambridge for 2 years, and would much rather be in NYC or Philadelphia. But again, it seems like Harvard would probably be the right decision?

Penn is a great law school as are NYU & Columbia. But Harvard awards need based financial aid to transfer students. Harvard is probably the most valuable name in the world of education. If you have any thoughts of working abroad, Harvard is the universal seal of excellence.

Yes, I think that you have a realistic shot at Harvard. Top 2% at a Tier One law school. Top 2% at a Tier One law School. Top 2% at a Tier One law school. You understand. You get it.

CanadianWolf wrote:Yes, I think that you have a realistic shot at Harvard. Top 2% at a Tier One law school. Top 2% at a Tier One law School. Top 2% at a Tier One law school. You understand. You get it.

To be fair to the OP, it's just hard to be confident when you see the stats of some other people applying for transfer to Harvard. I have similar stats and I don't feel very confident either.

Harvard is not snobby; it seeks the best & the brightest, in my opinion. Top 2% at a Tier One law school qualifies.

CanadianWolf wrote:Harvard is not snobby; it seeks the best & the brightest, in my opinion. Top 2% at a Tier One law school qualifies.

You're most likely right. I'm sure you're more knowledgeable than I am on this subject (I just discovered TLS around the time I signed up). I feel like it's similar to law school exams. There are some exams that you walk out of with very little confidence and then you find out later that you absolutely killed it. It's hard to be confident right now but we may find out later that we had nothing to worry about.(if we're accepted)

Just curious regarding how Harvard's transfer page claims that people who would have been admitted/waitlisted had they applied originally, is this not to be taken seriously? I don't mean to poop on the party here.

Iwanttolawschool wrote:Just curious regarding how Harvard's transfer page claims that people who would have been admitted/waitlisted had they applied originally, is this not to be taken seriously? I don't mean to poop on the party here.

Yea, it's not taken seriously.

Would love to hear some more opinions about (1) Which school would be best for DC (other than HLS) and (2) If choosing one of CLS, UPenn or NYU over Harvard could ever be defensible.

transferihope wrote:Would love to hear some more opinions about (1) Which school would be best for DC (other than HLS) and (2) If choosing one of CLS, UPenn or NYU over Harvard could ever be defensible.

Given how competitive DC is, I think there would be no reason to choose any of the other schools over it with DC being the goal.