T4 law school at Top 25% to Pepperdine Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am a current student at T4 School in Texas at top 25% applying to Pepperdine, I researched on Pepperdine's page that a requirement is to be on top 25% of the 1L class and additionally saw that they accepted a transfer from UNT Dallas in 2019, which is an unranked school (a conditional ABA accreditation) I have had internships in the United Nations in Geneva, worked at a Mexican Government agency in London to stimulate foreign investment, and worked as an intern at a small cities chamber of commerce. Further, I am currently working with immigrants in the application process to receive American visas with a national Mexican organization. I dont want to get my hopes up but it would be a dream come true, what are the chances of getting to Pepperdine?

[cookiebandit33]

What's your actual GPA? That's going to be the biggest piece here.

[lcm123]

2.86, which puts me at a top 25% because my school grades at a "C" as opposed to a "B" curve which from what I understand is most of the other law schools.

"The first-year doctrinal class grades are distributed to students in each course as follows:
o A range (3.67-4.00): 9% (of students in the course receive a grade in this range)
o B range (2.67-3.33): 33%
o C range (1.67-2.33): 52%
o D range (0.67-1.33): 5%
o F range (0.00): 1%
 Please note this distribution, or “curve,” is lower than the typical range for other law schools.
 GPAs that fall between letter grades indicate plus or minus scores (e.g. A- to B+ Range: 3.33-3.67)"

[cookiebandit33]

I mean, it's worth applying, since you can't get in without trying, but you are below their 25th percentile (3.07), so odds are low. What's drawing you to Pepperdine from TX?

[Pennoyer v. Meh]

Has Pepperdine ever accepted a transfer from your school before? That grading curve is sociopathic.

[Anonymous User]

I am unsure if any transfers from my school have been accepted into Pepperdine. I am looking for an opportunity at Pepperdine for its dispute resolution clinics and also an Entrepreneurship Law Certificate. Texas as always been home and I thankfully have never feared the change in a new ambiance.

[cavalier1138]

I am unsure if any transfers from my school have been accepted into Pepperdine. I am looking for an opportunity at Pepperdine for its dispute resolution clinics and also an Entrepreneurship Law Certificate. Texas as always been home and I thankfully have never feared the change in a new ambiance.

1. Those clinics/certificates have no value.

2. Do you want to practice in Texas or California?

[Anonymous User]

If those clinics/certificates have no value would it no be important to mention as a reason to transfer. It is a point of interest as I incline to implement the law to some projects I have in mind.

I would like to take the UBE and also take the California Bar

[cavalier1138]

If those clinics/certificates have no value would it no be important to mention as a reason to transfer. It is a point of interest as I incline to implement the law to some projects I have in mind.

I would like to take the UBE and also take the California Bar

No, you should mention them in a transfer statement. The school will love to hear about them, because that's something they're trying to sell you. I'm telling you that they have no value for you.

And now your plan is raising all kinds of red flags: Where do you want to practice immediately after graduation? You can only pick one state.

[decimalsanddollars]

Agree with what Cav has said, and to drill down on the "where do you want to practice" point:

You're not going to be able to transfer to any school with national placement; at best, you'd be looking to transfer to a regional or strong local school. Because regional and local schools don't really carry national weight but place mostly in the region/city where that school is located, you should only transfer to a school in the city/region where you want to practice. If you want to be in LA, go ahead and apply to Pepperdine, but if you want to practice in a different jurisdiction, you should transfer to a school in that jurisdiction. If you want to be in Texas, you should either stay put or transfer to another Texas school.