Question: The chance for transferring from a 150ish law school to top 10 law schools

[Anonymous User]

I am very confused if there any chance that I can transfer from a 150 ish ranking law school, such as john marshall law, to those top 10 law schools, such as Harvard or even Yale.
I did a lot of research about this, but the only thing they mentioned was that you have to have a great first year GPA and great percentile among your peers. None of them says anything about the ranking or reputation about your originial school. So, I am wondering if they take the school ranking into account or not. And what's the possibility for me to transfer from a 150ish ranking school to top 10s.
Please share any simialr experiences or any suggestions you may know about this situation. Thanks a lot!!!

[lavarman84]

You shouldn't be posting here if you don't have any first year grades.

But I will answer your question. You have no chance of getting into HYS from John Marshall or a school like it. You may have an chance at a lower t14 if you're at or near the top of the class.(at Georgetown especially) So yes, the ranking of your school is extremely important for transfers.

But going to a school like John Marshall in order to transfer up is a terrible idea. Doing better on the LSAT will be easier than finishing top of your class at John Marshall. Basically, the odds of you getting the grades to be able to get into a lower t14 are slight. Don't go to John Marshall so you can transfer to a t14.

[lalababy]

Thanks for your reply. Do you mean schools rank below 60 generally do not have any chance to transfer to those top 10s?

[gsy987]

Thanks for your reply. Do you mean schools rank below 60 generally do not have any chance to transfer to those top 10s?

Basically, yes. You will occasionally see stories like "OMG, look at X person who got straight-A's and now goes to Northwestern", but the odds of that happening are functionally impossible. (On a broader note, that's one of the best things about TLS forums... people here are very good at warning people against special snowflake-ism.)

[Nebby]

Thanks for your reply. Do you mean schools rank below 60 generally do not have any chance to transfer to those top 10s?

Basically, yes. You will occasionally see stories like "OMG, look at X person who got straight-A's and now goes to Northwestern", but the odds of that happening are functionally impossible. (On a broader note, that's one of the best things about TLS forums... people here are very good at warning people against special snowflake-ism.)

I would say it's more like schools rank below 100. Top 5% TT students break into the T6 regularly

[pancakes3]

Too good for GULC are we?

[lawstudent2999]

As someone in a somewhat similar situation...it isn't easy.

I'm at a TTTT. The curves at these schools are insanely unpredictable. I did well enough (near top 10% first semester), but so far I have not been accepted into any schools except George Mason. This is early decision, however, and it's harder to get in at that point. I'm hoping to either stay the course or even improve on my last semester grades (and I'm thinking that I will), but who knows?

My suggestion: it's not worth it. I went to this school with the intent to transfer. A lot of kids did. I consider myself lucky because I'll probably end up somewhere, but a lot of the other people in my class who came in with that intent are stuck there and will likely be paying ticket price from then on. They're trapped. Their GPA dipped just a tad and they're in purgatory.

Take the LSAT again. Kick ass on it. Try again next year.

[Elfy]

I you're referring to JMLS Chicago, some T-14 schools take people from there. GULC took 6 the other year.

Northwestern took one in like 2014 or 2013 and none since (might have been this girl who wrote about her experience transferring from JMLS to Northwestern and she also talked about how in addition to stellar grades, she spoke to the admissions office in person several times so they knew her AND she won moot court AND the mock trial competition--should give you an idea of how hard it is http://thegirlsguidetolawschool.com/11/ ... ed-ship-2/ )

Berkeley also took someone from JMLS the other year, so yes it is possible. But to reiterate everyone else, it's always a bad idea to go to a T4 hoping to transfer up. I'm also not optimistic about places like HYS taking someone from there or a similar school anytime soon. Make sure the school you go to is one that you'll be happy staying at if it doesn't work.

Sidenote: I currently attend a T4 and finished in the top 2% (got into GULC's EA Program and plan on going in the fall) and I can tell you its a lot harder than it sounds. Curve is really tight and while people may not seem outwardly competitive, they're all really motivated to do well and most of them have intentions of transferring up. I also know many people who were planning on it as well and are going to be stuck at their respective school the rest of law school. Goodluck!

[kcdc1]

My suggestion: it's not worth it. I went to this school with the intent to transfer. A lot of kids did. I consider myself lucky because I'll probably end up somewhere, but a lot of the other people in my class who came in with that intent are stuck there and will likely be paying ticket price from then on. They're trapped. Their GPA dipped just a tad and they're in purgatory.

This sounds .... dystopian. Law school hunger games, but presumably substituting soul-sucking despair for actual death.

[HonestAdvice]

If the text of your initial post isn't a joke then it's very unlikely you're going to do well enough to transfer. You will need to be in the top 1%, and your writing ability isn't good enough to achieve this regardless of how well prepared you are.

[lalababy]

If the text of your initial post isn't a joke then it's very unlikely you're going to do well enough to transfer. You will need to be in the top 1%, and your writing ability isn't good enough to achieve this regardless of how well prepared you are.

Thanks for your reply. I am an international student from a non-English-speaking country. This is why my writing is not as good as the native speakers. But I am always improving and doing my best.

[lymenheimer]

Thanks for your reply. I am an international student from a non-English-speaking country. This is why my writing is not as good as the native speakers. But I am always improving and doing my best.

http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 7&t=170597

[eyeofvigilence]

If the text of your initial post isn't a joke then it's very unlikely you're going to do well enough to transfer. You will need to be in the top 1%, and your writing ability isn't good enough to achieve this regardless of how well prepared you are.

I don't know where you went to school, but your writing isn't that hot either, HonestAdvice.

You don't need to be a jerk to OP.

[eyeofvigilence]

If the text of your initial post isn't a joke then it's very unlikely you're going to do well enough to transfer. You will need to be in the top 1%, and your writing ability isn't good enough to achieve this regardless of how well prepared you are.

Plus, whose writing is really that great before law school? One year in legal writing can work miracles for students.

[Effingham]

If the text of your initial post isn't a joke then it's very unlikely you're going to do well enough to transfer. You will need to be in the top 1%, and your writing ability isn't good enough to achieve this regardless of how well prepared you are.

Plus, whose writing is really that great before law school? One year in legal writing can work miracles for students.

...........

[eyeofvigilence]

If the text of your initial post isn't a joke then it's very unlikely you're going to do well enough to transfer. You will need to be in the top 1%, and your writing ability isn't good enough to achieve this regardless of how well prepared you are.

Plus, whose writing is really that great before law school? One year in legal writing can work miracles for students.

...........

What?

[eyeofvigilence]

If the text of your initial post isn't a joke then it's very unlikely you're going to do well enough to transfer. You will need to be in the top 1%, and your writing ability isn't good enough to achieve this regardless of how well prepared you are.

Plus, whose writing is really that great before law school? One year in legal writing can work miracles for students.

...........

Sorry, I was under the impression OP was a 0L.

[reasonable_man]

Zero.

[aoutis]

I don't think you would have a chance at Yale. The transfer program at YLS is overseen by one professor and he has a reputation for being a snob about school pedigree. He's even been disparaging to YLS students, who didn't do their undergrad at an elite university.

I think others are right. It would be better for you to take a year off and retake the LSAT. I did that and it worked for me. Good luck!