Chance Me Forum

[sze]

University of Minnesota (just in T20), 3.85 GPA from 1L fall. Important to note the GPA scale is on 4.33 (although 3 out of my 4 classes didn't give a single A+). Our school does not give us our rank and will only give quartiles at the end of spring. If I can roughly maintain my GPA, what are my chances for HYS, CCN, and other T14?

[Count1234]

What are your reasons for transferring? I think it's very dependent on having a compelling reason to transfer. I know of people with higher GPAs from Minnesota that did not get into H and CLS, but I also know of people who had lower GPAs that did get into H and CLS.

Class rank/school rank is a threshold that you have to meet, but beyond that there are so many very qualified (in terms of those two parameters) people that it then comes down to unique personal factors. This is all conjecture, but having a compelling reason to transfer, strong personal statement, strong LORs, strong resume will likely go a long way.

To answer your question, if you maintain your grades, you'll likely get one of CCN and a shot at YHS.

[sze]

I'm interested in transferring because, unfortunately, a lot of the different avenues I want to pursue (clerkships, specific firms, solicitor general's office) seem to require coming from a top law school. This derives out of name and contacts from the 'higher' ranked schools. I love Minnesota, the school, and my classmates. It's just that with the debt I'm taking I feel that the impact of the law degree will open more doors going to a HYS or CCN. Furthermore, having the transfer acceptance might open doors for scholarship leverage at the U.

[Count1234]

You won't know unless you try, right? So long as you maintain those grades, those schools will at least look at your application if you send one in. Just make sure not to come off as a douche in your ps. Talk about your reasons for transferring, but don't disparage your 1L school. Maybe have geographic specific reasons for why you want to be at a specific school beyond the spiel about better options. I have a feeling that the more tailored your reason is to that school (I'm not talking about because you want to take x clinic or y class with z professor) then the better your chances will be. I think the most compelling reasons will be ones that make that school irreplaceable, such as having a significant other in Boston so you want to be at H, family reasons for being in NY for CLS, the population you want to serve upon graduation resides mainly in Chicago for U Chicago, etc. Of course if you don't have those reasons don't make them up either.