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I currently am a 1L at Loyola University Chicago, a tier 2 school. I received a GPA of 3.0 after my first semester.

When Wisconsin, tier 1, wait-listed me last year they gave me the option of transferring directly in after my first year if I maintained at least a 3.0.

Should I transfer even though I eventually want to practice law in Chicago and all my friends are in Chicago?

The advantage would be me being able to list my new GPA after my first semester during my 2L which will hopefully be better and if not, it will at least be a better law school listed on my resume!

I would greatly appreciate any advice, because I'm so torn, my decision could be based off of sound advice.

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Yes, absolutely. You can transfer into a Tier 1 and have your median GPA erased. Median at a tier 2 is far worse than a blank slate at a Tier 1.

No brainer. Enjoy Wisconsin for 2 years. Madison is great.

Bankhead wrote:Yes, absolutely. You can transfer into a Tier 1 and have your median GPA erased. Median at a tier 2 is far worse than a blank slate at a Tier 1.

No brainer. Enjoy Wisconsin for 2 years. Madison is great.

Not really a no brainer at all. OCI is based on your 1L grades and being median at a t2 is a guaranteed strikeout at OCI next year. So it depends on whether OP has a scholly at Loyola (or can get in-state at UW). Also, the Chicago market is going to be a lot harder to break while going to school in Wisconsin. Transfer or no transfer OP is going to strike out at OCI with median grades from a t2. But at least by being in the city that OP wants to work in he can network and try to get his foot in the door into a smaller firm/public interest organization, etc.