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I know most transfers are looking to improve their BigLaw prospects, but what about transferring for public interest careers?

I'm a 1L at a T3 in NY area. 3.94 GPA 1st semester, mandatory P/F this semester (school doesn't rank or publish mandatory curve). School obviously isn't highly ranked, but it is very well regarded for public interest.

Career interests are in criminal justice reform and starting at either as a public defender or progressive prosecutors office. Down the road AUSA or ACLU criminal law reform project would be potential dream jobs. Didn't enter school with much interest in clerking, but now I have some interest...

Interest in transferring comes from looking for a degree that will travel better outside of New York, looming recessions impact on job market, and academic opportunities that would come particularly at NYU (#1 ranked from criminal law, center for admin of criminal law, brennan center for justice)

So would I have a realistic shot at NYU or Columbia, would Fordham be worth it?

Currently paying sticker at my LS (tuition is extremely low by law school standards). I haven't done the exact math but with LRAP at Columbia or NYU, the cost of attendance could be similar. Fordham LRAP is not nearly as generous but transfers are eligible for need based financial aid.

You have a great shot at both schools! Your GPA is above both schools' 75 percentile so you should be good. You're also from the area which I've heard increases your chances. I'd check their 509s to see how many people from your school get in, I believe they tend to take more than one student. You can access several years of 509s by googling ABA 509s, but I've linked 2019 below!

https://www.law.columbia.edu/sites/defa ... -39-30.pdf
https://www.law.nyu.edu/sites/default/f ... Report.pdf

I'd look into whether students from you school have transferred to either of these schools. From what I remember, both do not usually take students from TTT schools. Could be wrong though.

humanoidNY wrote:I know most transfers are looking to improve their BigLaw prospects, but what about transferring for public interest careers?

I'm a 1L at a T3 in NY area. 3.94 GPA 1st semester, mandatory P/F this semester (school doesn't rank or publish mandatory curve). School obviously isn't highly ranked, but it is very well regarded for public interest.

Career interests are in criminal justice reform and starting at either as a public defender or progressive prosecutors office. Down the road AUSA or ACLU criminal law reform project would be potential dream jobs. Didn't enter school with much interest in clerking, but now I have some interest...

Interest in transferring comes from looking for a degree that will travel better outside of New York, looming recessions impact on job market, and academic opportunities that would come particularly at NYU (#1 ranked from criminal law, center for admin of criminal law, brennan center for justice)

So would I have a realistic shot at NYU or Columbia, would Fordham be worth it?

Currently paying sticker at my LS (tuition is extremely low by law school standards). I haven't done the exact math but with LRAP at Columbia or NYU, the cost of attendance could be similar. Fordham LRAP is not nearly as generous but transfers are eligible for need based financial aid.

Have you thought about trying to negotiate a scholarship with your current school? Seems crazy to have that kind of GPA and be paying full price.

CivProGunner12b wrote:
Have you thought about trying to negotiate a scholarship with your current school? Seems crazy to have that kind of GPA and be paying full price.

Thought about it, but don't really have a clue about how to go about doing it. Also I figured I would be in a stronger negotiating position with a transfer acceptance in hand (that was part of the motivation for applying to Fordham)