Top Law Schools

Hello. I am at a T50-T60. I just received first semester grades and have a 3.92. School only calculates rank at the end of the year. The cut-off last year for top 15% was 3.61. What are my transfer chances at Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, Harvard, Georgetown, Columbia, UChicago? Should I do early action at Georgetown or Chicago?

ladysansastark wrote:Hello. I am at a T50-T60. I just received first semester grades and have a 3.92. School only calculates rank at the end of the year. The cut-off last year for top 15% was 3.61. What are my transfer chances at Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, Harvard, Georgetown, Columbia, UChicago? Should I do early action at Georgetown or Chicago?

You have stats to get into T6.

Don't ED Chicago.

Where do you want to work? What type of work? Do you currently have a scholarship?

I disagree with the Chicago comment. If you want to go to Chicago ED Chicago. I did and I could not be happier.

ever197 wrote:I disagree with the Chicago comment. If you want to go to Chicago ED Chicago. I did and I could not be happier.

Samesies. OP I was in almost the exact same situation, feel free to PM.

toast and bananas wrote:

ever197 wrote:I disagree with the Chicago comment. If you want to go to Chicago ED Chicago. I did and I could not be happier.

Samesies. OP I was in almost the exact same situation, feel free to PM.

They literally listed schools all over the country. It would be dumb to ED Chicago if it isn't top choice. Obviously, it might not be since they also included Harvard, CLS, NYU, and Stanford. All which offer different outcomes over Chicago.

If OP wants to work in Chicago, then ED Chicago. If not, then don't. Pretty simple.

Nebby wrote:

ever197 wrote:I disagree with the Chicago comment. If you want to go to Chicago ED Chicago. I did and I could not be happier.

If OP wants to work in Chicago, then ED Chicago. If not, then don't. Pretty simple.

Hello. Thanks for all the advice! I currently have a half scholarship. I'm hoping to practice in big law in the bay area or NYC. I'm hoping to apply across the board to T14 because any T14 would give me better employment options than my current institution.
I'm also worried about spring semester grades, and not doing as well, and not being able to transfer. EA now on basis of just first semester might be less risky. I'm sure there are many out there who did worse second semester and were no longer able to transfer.

If you're 100% set on transferring, please disregard, but you've got the grades to make Hastings work for generic biglaw (provided SF>>>>>>>NYC for your location). I'm still there with an SA through OCI with similar 1L GPA, having been a dogshit interviewer. The school gave out extra scholarship money for 2L's in our grade range who stuck around, so if you're at all worried about your debt load, it's worth thinking about. Feel free to DM; I'll give whatever info I can, either here or in person.

fixmybrain wrote:If you're 100% set on transferring, please disregard, but you've got the grades to make Hastings work for generic biglaw (provided SF>>>>>>>NYC for your location). I'm still there with an SA through OCI with similar 1L GPA, having been a dogshit interviewer. The school gave out extra scholarship money for 2L's in our grade range who stuck around, so if you're at all worried about your debt load, it's worth thinking about. Feel free to DM; I'll give whatever info I can, either here or in person.

100% agree with this—consider that you could make the current school work quite well, or, wait to apply for transfer with many more options. I was in the same situation after 1st semester last year, and very worried that I would not be able to repeat in the spring, so considered ED to Chicago. I encourage you to wait, because many people transferred to Berkeley last year with lower stats than that, and two transferred to Harvard. For those who stayed, the scholy bump was considerable. I think that OCI when you transfer is rough and makes it hard to secure a SA position for 2L. Finishing 1L in the top 10% gives you great employment prospects, IMHO.

Congrats on having a great 1st semester!

I would go to Harvard and spend the next 2 years laughing if I were you.

I know Chicago ED is "binding" but like .... how "binding" is it really? By the time he gets in there, he'll have his second semester grades and will know if they've fallen off a cliff or not. Maybe he could just say no thanks to Chiacgo if that happens? Serious thought.

joefresh wrote:I would go to Harvard and spend the next 2 years laughing if I were you.

I know Chicago ED is "binding" but like .... how "binding" is it really? By the time he gets in there, he'll have his second semester grades and will know if they've fallen off a cliff or not. Maybe he could just say no thanks to Chiacgo if that happens? Serious thought.

I know that everyone's Contracts class convinces them that agreements are never enforceable, but this is a horrible idea. Admissions departments talk to one another and will withdraw offers for people who try to pull dick moves like this.

cavalier1138 wrote:

joefresh wrote:I would go to Harvard and spend the next 2 years laughing if I were you.

I know Chicago ED is "binding" but like .... how "binding" is it really? By the time he gets in there, he'll have his second semester grades and will know if they've fallen off a cliff or not. Maybe he could just say no thanks to Chiacgo if that happens? Serious thought.

I know that everyone's Contracts class convinces them that agreements are never enforceable, but this is a horrible idea. Admissions departments talk to one another and will withdraw offers for people who try to pull dick moves like this.

Taken out cuz it was wrong, sry

No, actually, schools take this very seriously. Of course they can't make you go to Chicago if you change your mind, but if you accept an early decision offer from Chicago you can't then go to a different school instead. It's Chicago or don't transfer at that point. (They can check whether you get accepted elsewhere and other schools will pull their acceptances if they find out you were already accepted somewhere else ED.)

joefresh wrote:How about .... "I can't live in Chicago anymore cuz my spouse lives in Boston... what else do you want from me? Circumstances changed I'm sorry"

In addition to what Nony said, that was the world's flimsiest excuse.

Ah, fair enough; my bad