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Tl;dr- is transferring a function of 1l gpa or stricly class rank?

Hi all, long time lurker, just wanted to firstly say thanks for all the help!

So I've been accepted to several schools in the 16-25 range, and have more or less narrowed it down to two.

One of these is WUSTL, which is apparently known for grade inflation, whereas the other is Emory, which I looked into and seems to be quite the opposite of that (dean's list at 3.4 I believe?)

Now my question is:
Is transfering stricly a function of class rank, or does 1l GPA also matter? I know the ABA recently changed the rules and mandated that schools must report the 25/50/75 GPAs of transfers, and Im worried that GPA will become a bigger factor in next year's transfer cycle

Do not do not do not do not attend any school with the intention of transferring. It's much easier to just sit out, get a job, study, and retake the LSAT.

Anonymous User wrote:Tl;dr- is transferring a function of 1l gpa or stricly class rank?

Hi all, long time lurker, just wanted to firstly say thanks for all the help!

So I've been accepted to several schools in the 16-25 range, and have more or less narrowed it down to two.

One of these is WUSTL, which is apparently known for grade inflation, whereas the other is Emory, which I looked into and seems to be quite the opposite of that (dean's list at 3.4 I believe?)

Now my question is:
Is transfering stricly a function of class rank, or does 1l GPA also matter? I know the ABA recently changed the rules and mandated that schools must report the 25/50/75 GPAs of transfers, and Im worried that GPA will become a bigger factor in next year's transfer cycle

1. Don't go to school with the idea of transferring

2. I'll give you an answer (because I transferred)

If you ignore all the advice you get, GO TO THE GRADE INFLATED SCHOOL - school's only report median GPAs of transfers (so rank is of less importance).

foregetaboutdre wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Tl;dr- is transferring a function of 1l gpa or stricly class rank?

Hi all, long time lurker, just wanted to firstly say thanks for all the help!

So I've been accepted to several schools in the 16-25 range, and have more or less narrowed it down to two.

One of these is WUSTL, which is apparently known for grade inflation, whereas the other is Emory, which I looked into and seems to be quite the opposite of that (dean's list at 3.4 I believe?)

Now my question is:
Is transfering stricly a function of class rank, or does 1l GPA also matter? I know the ABA recently changed the rules and mandated that schools must report the 25/50/75 GPAs of transfers, and Im worried that GPA will become a bigger factor in next year's transfer cycle

1. Don't go to school with the idea of transferring

2. I'll give you an answer (because I transferred)

If you ignore all the advice you get, GO TO THE GRADE INFLATED SCHOOL - school's only report median GPAs of transfers (so rank is of less importance).

Second this. I was outside top 1/3 at WUSTL and had a number of T14 acceptances.

Thanks for the responses, I apologize for posting this in the wrong forum, however I can't seem to find a way to post it in the appropriate forum annonymously, would it be possible to move this thread there please?

Just to clear things up, sitting out a cycle is not something im contemplating. My UG GPA is awful, and thanks to my LSAT i've received substantial scholarships from both schools.

I also believe that I would be happy to graduate from either of these schools, but the transfer potential is something that I feel will propel me to excel during 1L (and if given the option would like to maximize the chances of actually happening), and will definetely play a factor in my decision as to where to attend.


I really appreciate all of your help, and if you have any other thoughts/things to contribute on the subject, please do.

Anonymous User wrote:Thanks for the responses, I apologize for posting this in the wrong forum, however I can't seem to find a way to post it in the appropriate forum annonymously, would it be possible to move this thread there please?

Just to clear things up, sitting out a cycle is not something im contemplating. My UG GPA is awful, and thanks to my LSAT i've received substantial scholarships from both schools.

I also believe that I would be happy to graduate from either of these schools, but the transfer potential is something that I feel will propel me to excel during 1L (and if given the option would like to maximize the chances of actually happening), and will definetely play a factor in my decision as to where to attend.


I really appreciate all of your help, and if you have any other thoughts/things to contribute on the subject, please do.

If you're considering Emory v. WUSTL please take note of the regional stuff with both (along with the grade inflation aspect). Emory will help you a lot in the SE and WUSTL is a midwestern school.

I honestly ended up going to a midwestern T1 for 1L (with money), with a little hunch that I may transfer if everything goes well, so I'm not going to press you as hard about the sit out thing. The biggest thing is: grades are a crapshoot. WUSTL is going to be full of very smart people and there's no guarantee to be above median. So just be prepared that you may have to stay at WUSTL or Emory..

But, both are sweet schools with gorgeous campuses etc... A lot different than someone going to a flyover TTT that has funding problems etc... with the intent of transferring.

Also I see you saw the 25/50/75 GPA for transfers. When I transferred (last summer) almost all schools reported that anyways

runinthefront wrote:Do not do not do not do not attend any school with the intention of transferring. It's much easier to just sit out, get a job, study, and retake the LSAT.

I attended a TTT with sole intention of transferring (bad LSAT, coudn't get it up, and was not going to sit out a year), and transferred to T14. Agree it's not a good idea, but can be done.

clshopeful wrote:

runinthefront wrote:Do not do not do not do not attend any school with the intention of transferring. It's much easier to just sit out, get a job, study, and retake the LSAT.

I attended a TTT with sole intention of transferring (bad LSAT, coudn't get it up, and was not going to sit out a year), and transferred to T14. Agree it's not a good idea, but can be done.

Congratulations. Of course it can be done.

However, it doesn't negate that fact it was (and is) a foolish idea. And "t's [still] much easier to just sit out, get a job, study, and retake the LSAT."

So, you can't post anonymously in the appropriate forum, and you can't post here until you've received law school grades, so I'm going to lock this. Feel free to ask in the correct forum, you just won't be able to go anon.