TTTT 3.94 #3 - transfer options Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am at a TTTT school in the Northwest with a 3.94 GPA and am ranked #3(tie)(top 2%) in the class. I have 5 years of professional experience. I already have a summer associate position lined up with a mid-sized firm with a great reputation in my area. 3 letters of recommendation, one of which is from the law school dean. Good extracurriculars.

I applied early admissions to Cornell and Georgetown. What are my chances? What’s the earliest Cornell EA decisions are sent out?

Where else should I apply/are other T14 or Tier 1 schools in reach? Looking to go to a larger job market outside of the West Coast.

Do any T2 schools give out transfer scholarships?

Will my really crappy LSAT matter?

[otr]

Congratulations on your first semester performance. You are very likely in at GULC and Cornell. Not sure if things have changed at Cornell but they haven't had a history of allowing their transfer students to participate in OCI, which I assume is why you're transferring. If your aiming for BigLaw, I know GULC students who were in your same position a year ago that had great success at OCI this past fall. Keep up the good work and you're likely on your way to the T-14.

[otr]

Looking at you're other questions, your crappy LSAT will not matter in the slightest. Nor will your undergrad GPA. You may have a shot at other mid T-14 schools but your school's status as a TTTT will likely make it difficult to break the T-10 (not impossible though and no harm in trying if you have the money to apply). Please don't even consider transferring to a T-2 school as it won't likely benefit you in your job search and I haven't heard of any transfers getting scholarships to any of their destination schools. You are very likely in at GULC and Cornell so I wouldn't look anywhere but up. The price tag of a t-14 is likely going to be worth it for you if you're looking to break into the biglaw market.

[decimalsanddollars]

+1 to everything otr said, with the following qualifications and additions:

1) You will not get a scholarship at your target school, and you shouldn't try. Transferring is the choice between paying sticker at a new school and keeping (or in some cases increasing) your financial package at your old school. I did transfer and got a decent scholarship the second year at the new school based on good performance (3L), so that is a possibility, but transfer admissions offers don't come with scholarship built in.

2) It is hard to forecast transfer admissions success at Cornell (as well as Duke and UVA) because they take such small and inconsistent classes. Also note that Cornell (and certain other schools) significantly restrict transfer students' ability to participate in OCI/OGI/whatever they call it. I agree that you will probably get in there, but there's just not enough data (from ABA 509 forms or otherwise) to be confident in that forecast.

3) You should also apply to Chicago/Columbia/NYU because they each take large classes and because you're in range for them. I'd actually encourage you to apply to every t14 school that's transfer-friendly (so HCCN plus Northwestern, Georgetown, Berkeley, maybe Michigan and Penn) just to max your odds of getting in somewhere.

4) Where outside of the West Coast are you looking to go? You have pretty good shots at the good LA schools, of course, and I mentioned the Chicago schools above (don't transfer to a different Chicago school). You would almost certainly get in at GW if you didn't get GULC. Texas may take you, particularly because of their relatively small 1L class this year. In Florida, UF or Miami would be the best schools to target (for rank/placement and location, respectively), but note that Florida's an insular market and you will have to work to establish ties there to be competitive for good jobs in their main markets. Emory and Vanderbilt also take sizable classes, but note that Vandy>Emory and both offer strong placement in the South and just-okay placement elsewhere.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks everyone!

@decimalsanddollars - I'm pretty open to location, just not LA. Columbia or NYU would for sure be my top choice, but wasn't sure the chance so that's encouraging to hear. Would definitely be excited about any of the T14 on the list you mentioned. Outside of T14 I'd probably love Austin, Chicago or DC. What were your transfer stats, if you don't mind?

I ended up submitting early application to Cornell, Georgetown, and George Washington and will apply to other T14 when they open in May. Any application tips for those ones?

[decimalsanddollars]

I ended up submitting early application to Cornell, Georgetown, and George Washington and will apply to other T14 when they open in May. Any application tips for those ones?

I think UChicago has some sort of (binding?) early application as well; worth looking into. To the extent you can do so genuinely, I recommend adding information for each application (in the personal statement or elsewhere) that indicates a preference for that school/that city, including any ties you may have. As for timing, I would read the school's transfer website carefully to see when their cycles open and close; whether they have separate "priority" deadlines or a deadline for OCI participation; whether they want a May 1 application or a complete application with all 1L grades; and if they have any other advice for applications. If so, follow their suggestions as closely as possible. If you do decide to take an offer to transfer, let your firm know (how you do this will vary depending on whether you want to return to that firm or not return but keep good ties).

What were your transfer stats, if you don't mind?

Feel free to PM me, although we were in very different positions.

[jessM101]

Do a lot of people apply to EA transfer programs like Cornell and GULC? What is the admissions rate?

[Pennoyer v. Meh]

Do a lot of people apply to EA transfer programs like Cornell and GULC? What is the admissions rate?

A lot of people apply, yes. You can figure out if you have a shot of getting in by comparing your GPA with the median GPA of the transfers they admit, and whether they admit people from your school.

[lawfullyyourz]

I am at a TTTT school in the Northwest with a 3.94 GPA and am ranked #3(tie)(top 2%) in the class. I have 5 years of professional experience. I already have a summer associate position lined up with a mid-sized firm with a great reputation in my area. 3 letters of recommendation, one of which is from the law school dean. Good extracurriculars.

I applied early admissions to Cornell and Georgetown. What are my chances? What’s the earliest Cornell EA decisions are sent out?

Where else should I apply/are other T14 or Tier 1 schools in reach? Looking to go to a larger job market outside of the West Coast.

Do any T2 schools give out transfer scholarships?

Will my really crappy LSAT matter?

Depends on the crappy LSAT #? My LSAT was mid 150s and I'm a EA Georgetown Law Transfer from a TTT/TTTT. Honestly, with your credentials + GPA, I feel that your chances are pretty high! Best of luck!