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Anonymous User wrote:I just finished my 1L year at nyu, around top 10% roughly( NYU doesn't rank). Was wondering if anyone ever considered the merits of transferring from NYU to Columbia/Chicago (sticker at all). My initial thought is probably not worth it but Columbia does have that prestige factor. I didn't bother applying to HYS bc of my underwhelming softs.

Well that was a mistake.

Why not apply and use the acceptance to leverage some money out of NYU?

ladybug1989 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I just finished my 1L year at nyu, around top 10% roughly( NYU doesn't rank). Was wondering if anyone ever considered the merits of transferring from NYU to Columbia/Chicago (sticker at all). My initial thought is probably not worth it but Columbia does have that prestige factor. I didn't bother applying to HYS bc of my underwhelming softs.

Well that was a mistake.

Why not apply and use the acceptance to leverage some money out of NYU?

Ya, the only reason I could see to transfer in your circumstances would be to go to HYS or Chicago if you had a S.O. in chicago or something.

There's no reason to even consider transferring at Columbia or UChi (unless you're desperate to be in Chicago for some good reason immediately). You'd be giving up your grades to transfer. Those grades are more than worth the pretty much nonexistent prestige bump.

I have a hard time seeing a benefit that makes this worth it unless you're desperately unhappy at NYU, can't take another two years there, and are willing to take a big risk and potentially sacrifice early clerkship recs and law review (assuming you made it) to make a lateral jump. Not going to try to persuade you one way or the other, but just some stuff to think about:
1) how would you explain your decision at EIW? (Or whatever CLS and Chi call it) Any transfer will tell you that this is one of the first questions they get anyway, but you're going to get some more puzzled reactions I think, if you do this, so you want to have your answer ready.
2) if L Rev is not an option at the new school, is that okay with you?
3) if you want to clerk, are you prepared to hustle big time with your 2L profs in case your 1L profs won't write for you? (My T1 profs told me they wouldn't write for transfers out)
4) Do you mind going through the rigamarole of making all new friends again at a new school?

You already know this, I'm sure, but it's just important to think through what you might be giving up by leaving, especially where there may not be as much to gain.