Transferring Undergrad after being accepted to Law School? Forum

[SD619]

Hi, here's a very specific question.

I have some financial issues and am only 1 semester from finishing my undergrad. Have already been accepted to a handfull of good law schools and want to enroll to be class of 2019.

I know deferring might be a possibility, but I'd rather go straight to law school so let's temporarily take deferral off of the table.

Can I still matriculate to a school I've been accepted to if I finish my undergrad at an institution that is different from the one I was attending when I originally applied to law school?

Like if I went to Arizona state originally, got accepted to law school, but transferred to San Diego state because the school is cheaper and closer to home, can I still matriculate to the accepted school?

[rpupkin]

I think this would be fine, but it's very unusual. I'd definitely check with the law schools you're interested in before you do this.

ETA: I'd also make 100% sure that the school to which you are transferring will let you graduate after only one semester. If not, you won't be able to start at a law school in Fall 2016.

[SD619]

I think this would be fine, but it's very unusual. I'd definitely check with the law schools you're interested in before you do this.

ETA: I'd also make 100% sure that the school to which you are transferring will let you graduate after only one semester. If not, you won't be able to start at a law school in Fall 2016.

I appreciate this info.

I'm really curious if it is a viable option, as it's the only way, realistically, (although unorthodox) that I think I'd be able to go straight to be a member of law school class of 2019. Otherwise I will have to see if a top school will let me defer my acceptance by one year.

I am going to speak to admissions tomorrow morning.

[rpupkin]

I think you're going to find that the undergrad school won't let you "transfer" in these circumstances. But if you do get the school to allow you to transfer and finish your degree in one semester, I imagine that law schools would probably be ok with it. Definitely check, though.

[totesTheGoat]

I'm really curious if it is a viable option, as it's the only way, realistically, (although unorthodox) that I think I'd be able to go straight to be a member of law school class of 2019. Otherwise I will have to see if a top school will let me defer my acceptance by one year.

I think you're fighting too hard to avoid a deferral. I think it's better to have a gap year and make sure all your ducks are in a row than to try to play these financial gymnastics and start law school immediately.

Also, why can't you just take classes at the school you're thinking about transferring to, and have those credits transferred to your original school? I know that I transferred in something in the neighborhood of 15 credits for my UG degree, so it may be entirely possible to work something out like that.

Here's my overall advice: School isn't a race. Take the time to do it right, and don't worry about delaying your graduation a year. In the long run, whether you graduate law school at 25 or 26 doesn't really matter.

[Nolachicken]

Most schools only allow you to transfer 60 credits. If you move to another undergrad, you will have to start back over as a junior. Another option is seeing if your current school will allow you dual enroll and maybe come back for one course to graduate from there. The third thing to consider is that some law schools will allow you to start after your third year of undergrad. Most of these programs are for students coming from their undergrad program, but it can't hurt to ask if they would consider your situation. Are you not enrolled this semester? How would you finish before this coming year if you don't get credits from the spring 2016 semester? I am not graduating until summer and then going straight to law school, but most summers you are only allowed to take 9 hours.

[SD619]

Most schools only allow you to transfer 60 credits. If you move to another undergrad, you will have to start back over as a junior. Another option is seeing if your current school will allow you dual enroll and maybe come back for one course to graduate from there. The third thing to consider is that some law schools will allow you to start after your third year of undergrad. Most of these programs are for students coming from their undergrad program, but it can't hurt to ask if they would consider your situation. Are you not enrolled this semester? How would you finish before this coming year if you don't get credits from the spring 2016 semester? I am not graduating until summer and then going straight to law school, but most summers you are only allowed to take 9 hours.

Truthfully it's a C+F issue that will lead to my credits being transferred and my degree being granted from my institution, but not until May 2017. Since I already applied and have been accepted to law schools for 2016, this clearly is a huge issue. So essentially my undergrad says that I can finish my 3 credits elsewhere and they will transfer back to my undergrad, but they still won't grant me my degree officially until 2017.

I'm trying to figure out a way to defer my top acceptance or matriculate without having my undergrad degree officially granted until 2017.

Im in a predicament and my biggest issue is I don't want to have to withdraw and reapply. I would be fine with deferring a year if that's feasible, and I do have health issues in addition to the C+F but I'm not sure how to navigate this

[fliptrip]

It sounds like you've been suspended from your current school for a year? You will NOT be able to avoid this regardless of where you transfer to. Your law school will require the Dean's certification from every school that you've attended whether you've graduated or not. Even if you transfer out of your current school, you're going to need that certification from them and then its up to them whether or not they report it.

[SD619]

It sounds like you've been suspended from your current school for a year? You will NOT be able to avoid this regardless of where you transfer to. Your law school will require the Dean's certification from every school that you've attended whether you've graduated or not. Even if you transfer out of your current school, you're going to need that certification from them and then its up to them whether or not they report it.

Not all schools require a deans cert.

But regardless, I'm going to try to defer acceptance and see if that will work out

[fliptrip]

It sounds like you've been suspended from your current school for a year? You will NOT be able to avoid this regardless of where you transfer to. Your law school will require the Dean's certification from every school that you've attended whether you've graduated or not. Even if you transfer out of your current school, you're going to need that certification from them and then its up to them whether or not they report it.

Not all schools require a deans cert.

But regardless, I'm going to try to defer acceptance and see if that will work out

Be careful. In the past, some schools required a Dean's Certification with your application (I remember Yale used to require this), but none does now. But, I would be shocked if there's any law school out there that will let you actually enroll without providing a Dean's Cert from every school you've attended.

What school are you talking about that doesn't require this in order to actually enroll?

Again, this is not something you're going to be able to "work around". I don't see how a deferral helps you. It just delays the inevitable.

[SD619]

It sounds like you've been suspended from your current school for a year? You will NOT be able to avoid this regardless of where you transfer to. Your law school will require the Dean's certification from every school that you've attended whether you've graduated or not. Even if you transfer out of your current school, you're going to need that certification from them and then its up to them whether or not they report it.

Not all schools require a deans cert.

But regardless, I'm going to try to defer acceptance and see if that will work out

Be careful. In the past, some schools required a Dean's Certification with your application (I remember Yale used to require this), but none does now. But, I would be shocked if there's any law school out there that will let you actually enroll without providing a Dean's Cert from every school you've attended.

What school are you talking about that doesn't require this in order to actually enroll?

Again, this is not something you're going to be able to "work around". I don't see how a deferral helps you. It just delays the inevitable.

I think you're misunderstanding me-

The deferral is only because my degree is not granted until 2017. I'm not trying to evade a deans certification. I just won't have my bachelors granted until May 2017 so a deferral would allow me to still matriculate to the school.

[rpupkin]

Truthfully it's a C+F issue

Something else to think about: If the law schools that accepted you don't know about this C&F issue, you need to inform them as soon as possible.

Depending on what the C&F issue is, it, alone, probably won't prevent you from being admitted to a state's bar. But a "C&F issue + failure to disclose that issue to your law school" could create significant problems for you down the road.

[Mullens]

Why did you apply to law schools if you're not going to graduate until May 2017?

[rpupkin]

Why did you apply to law schools if you're not going to graduate until May 2017?

Read the OP again. The OP is posting because he/she is trying to find a way to graduate in Spring 2016.

[SD619]

Truthfully it's a C+F issue

Something else to think about: If the law schools that accepted you don't know about this C&F issue, you need to inform them as soon as possible.

Depending on what the C&F issue is, it, alone, probably won't prevent you from being admitted to a state's bar. But a "C&F issue + failure to disclose that issue to your law school" could create significant problems for you down the road.

I'm not trying to get away with it. It's a school-related C+F issue. No violence or sexual assault. Long story short, I had a legally owned firearm locked up in my dorm room and got suspended because of it. The suspension allows me to finish my degree at the same institution, but, instead of graduating May of 2016 like I was supposed to, the suspension will cause my degree to be held until May of 2017. This all happened after I had applied and been accepted to law schools.

I don't want to withdrawal and reapply. I want to matriculate to UChicago which already accepted me. The issue is deferral, although I also have concurrent legitimate health issues in addition to the C+F.

I don't think any of this would preclude bar passage in California, as I have no infractions on my record and this was dealt with by my school exclusively. I didn't get expelled either. It is simply a 2 semester suspension, causing my degree to be granted in May 2017 instead of May 2016.

Any thoughts/advice?

[fliptrip]

You are 100% right. To my reading, your C&F issue is in no way an impediment to you being barred or anything like that, if you are upfront now and disclose. If you try to defer your acceptance at UChicago, they may grant it now, but they will want to know why you're deferring, which is your first chance to fess up. Then, after you reaffirm your intent to enroll next year, they will ask explicitly for you to re-certify your C&F statements, which is your second chance to fess up. Then, there's the Dean cert thing, which we've beaten to death.

Yes, go ahead and try to defer with UChicago, but the only advice to give you is to disclose exactly what's going on. Again, it's not the initial act that often causes problems, it's the cover-up/evasion.

[rpupkin]

I don't want to withdrawal and reapply. I want to matriculate to UChicago which already accepted me. The issue is deferral, although I also have concurrent legitimate health issues in addition to the C+F.

I don't think any of this would preclude bar passage in California

Well, it probably won't preclude it if you otherwise have a clean criminal/mental-health record, but I suspect that a firearms-related violation will draw some scrutiny from California's C&F examiners. It could delay your bar application, if nothing else. This may surprise you, but you are probably in a more precarious C&F situation than, say, someone with a DUI. I wouldn't assume clear sailing.

But, as fliptrip stated, the important thing is that you disclose this to the law school you choose to attend.

[Tls2016]

You should probably edit and remove the name of the school you want to attend.

You should also figure out a straight story. So far you have financial, health and a C&F issue that I think you are downplaying, as reasons for whatever it is you are trying to do.

It sounds almost as if you don't want to disclose to the school. But I can't tell if that is because of not wanting to post the entire story on the forum so I'm not going to assume anything about it.

[SD619]

Truthfully it's a C+F issue

Something else to think about: If the law schools that accepted you don't know about this C&F issue, you need to inform them as soon as possible.

Depending on what the C&F issue is, it, alone, probably won't prevent you from being admitted to a state's bar. But a "C&F issue + failure to disclose that issue to your law school" could create significant problems for you down the road.

I'm not trying to get away with it. It's a school-related C+F issue. No violence or sexual assault. Long story short, I had a legally owned firearm locked up in my dorm room and got suspended because of it. The suspension allows me to finish my degree at the same institution, but, instead of graduating May of 2016 like I was supposed to, the suspension will cause my degree to be held until May of 2017. This all happened after I had applied and been accepted to law schools.

I don't want to withdrawal and reapply. I want to matriculate to A school which already accepted me. The issue is deferral, although I also have concurrent legitimate health issues in addition to the C+F.

I don't think any of this would preclude bar passage in California, as I have no infractions on my record and this was dealt with by my school exclusively. I didn't get expelled either. It is simply a 2 semester suspension, causing my degree to be granted in May 2017 instead of May 2016.

Any thoughts/advice?

[SD619]

You should probably edit and remove the name of the school you want to attend.

You should also figure out a straight story. So far you have financial, health and a C&F issue that I think you are downplaying, as reasons for whatever it is you are trying to do.

It sounds almost as if you don't want to disclose to the school. But I can't tell if that is because of not wanting to post the entire story on the forum so I'm not going to assume anything about it.

It's simply to avoid posting the whole story on the forum.

I just want to maintain my acceptance and matriculate next year.

It sounds like the consensus is to contact my school in question and tell them the full story, and then ask for a deferral based on that.

[SD619]

You are 100% right. To my reading, your C&F issue is in no way an impediment to you being barred or anything like that, if you are upfront now and disclose. If you try to defer your acceptance at UChicago, they may grant it now, but they will want to know why you're deferring, which is your first chance to fess up. Then, after you reaffirm your intent to enroll next year, they will ask explicitly for you to re-certify your C&F statements, which is your second chance to fess up. Then, there's the Dean cert thing, which we've beaten to death.

Yes, go ahead and try to defer with UChicago, but the only advice to give you is to disclose exactly what's going on. Again, it's not the initial act that often causes problems, it's the cover-up/evasion.

This gives me a lot of hope because my record is crystal clear, and even this issue is completely school-related (no felony, arrest or misdemeanor. I've never even been in court or detained).

I'm going to ask for a deferral and say that it's because of a C+F issue will prevent me from recieving my degree before 2017. Hopefully they will grant it, although I'm not getting my hopes up.

[Tls2016]

You are 100% right. To my reading, your C&F issue is in no way an impediment to you being barred or anything like that, if you are upfront now and disclose. If you try to defer your acceptance at UChicago, they may grant it now, but they will want to know why you're deferring, which is your first chance to fess up. Then, after you reaffirm your intent to enroll next year, they will ask explicitly for you to re-certify your C&F statements, which is your second chance to fess up. Then, there's the Dean cert thing, which we've beaten to death.

Yes, go ahead and try to defer with UChicago, but the only advice to give you is to disclose exactly what's going on. Again, it's not the initial act that often causes problems, it's the cover-up/evasion.

This gives me a lot of hope because my record is crystal clear, and even this issue is completely school-related (no felony, arrest or misdemeanor. I've never even been in court or detained).

I'm going to ask for a deferral and say that it's because of a C+F issue will prevent me from recieving my degree before 2017. Hopefully they will grant it, although I'm not getting my hopes up.

Just some unasked for advice. When you disclose don't over elaborate.Explain how you take responsibility for your mistake and how you have learned from it. Don't make excuses or blame anyone else. ( Not to imply you have done that here. It is generally human nature to try to avoid admitting responsibility for mistakes.)You should also have some general plan about how you intend to spend the year productively.

People have written C&F addendums here you might want to look into as examples even though your situation is a little different.

You are doing well if you can deal with this in a forthright and calm manner without excuses. A year isn't going to matter in the scope of your career.

[SD619]

You are 100% right. To my reading, your C&F issue is in no way an impediment to you being barred or anything like that, if you are upfront now and disclose. If you try to defer your acceptance at UChicago, they may grant it now, but they will want to know why you're deferring, which is your first chance to fess up. Then, after you reaffirm your intent to enroll next year, they will ask explicitly for you to re-certify your C&F statements, which is your second chance to fess up. Then, there's the Dean cert thing, which we've beaten to death.

Yes, go ahead and try to defer with UChicago, but the only advice to give you is to disclose exactly what's going on. Again, it's not the initial act that often causes problems, it's the cover-up/evasion.

This gives me a lot of hope because my record is crystal clear, and even this issue is completely school-related (no felony, arrest or misdemeanor. I've never even been in court or detained).

I'm going to ask for a deferral and say that it's because of a C+F issue will prevent me from recieving my degree before 2017. Hopefully they will grant it, although I'm not getting my hopes up.

Just some unasked for advice. When you disclose don't over elaborate.Explain how you take responsibility for your mistake and how you have learned from it. Don't make excuses or blame anyone else. ( Not to imply you have done that here. It is generally human nature to try to avoid admitting responsibility for mistakes.)You should also have some general plan about how you intend to spend the year productively.

People have written C&F addendums here you might want to look into as examples even though your situation is a little different.

You are doing well if you can deal with this in a forthright and calm manner without excuses. A year isn't going to matter in the scope of your career.

I really do appreciate the advice and need all the help I can get. I will definitely take your advice and look though some addendums, and also to try and be honest and responsible without over elaborating or making excuses.

As a URM 1st gen I do plan to spend the year working with Latino educational outreach programs and pursuing a legal internship as well.

Thank you all for the sage advice, please feel free to contribute any opinions to my situation

[rpupkin]

This gives me a lot of hope because my record is crystal clear, and even this issue is completely school-related (no felony, arrest or misdemeanor. I've never even been in court or detained).

I'm sorry to be a nag, but I don't think you are appreciating the gravity of your situation. The fact that your incident is "completely school-related" is neither here nor there. For example, an entirely-school-related plagiarism charge could be more hazardous to one's C&F application than a felony conviction for property theft. The fact that you didn't end up in court isn't as meaningful as you seem to believe.

You brought a gun into a place that you weren't supposed to bring one, and you were suspended from school as a result. That's bad. Like, the C&F-Board-is-going-to-want-to-personally-interview-you bad. Again, it probably won't, alone, prevent you from passing the C&F examination of the California bar, but I think you need to stop assuming that this won't be a problem for you.

ETA: To be clear, I'm just talking about getting licensed in California to practice law. I'm not talking about whether this will affect your admission to law school (though you may have problems there as well).

[Tls2016]

This gives me a lot of hope because my record is crystal clear, and even this issue is completely school-related (no felony, arrest or misdemeanor. I've never even been in court or detained).

I'm sorry to be a nag, but I don't think you are appreciating the gravity of your situation. The fact that your incident is "completely school-related" is neither here nor there. For example, an entirely-school-related plagiarism charge could be more hazardous to one's C&F application than a felony conviction for property theft. The fact that you didn't end up in court isn't as meaningful as you seem to believe.

You brought a gun into a place that you weren't supposed to bring one, and you were suspended from school as a result. That's bad. Like, the C&F-Board-is-going-to-want-to-personally-interview-you bad. Again, it probably won't, alone, prevent you from passing the C&F examination of the California bar, but I think you need to stop assuming that this won't be a problem for you.

ETA: To be clear, I'm just talking about getting licensed in California to practice law. I'm not talking about whether this will affect your admission to law school (though you may have problems there as well).

My concern is there is more than OP has shared to this story and I don't think he should post more about it here either way. He probably needs some expert advice on how to approach the schools and what to say. But I don't have that knowledge. I can understand, though, his initial impulse to figure out a way around this, but once he realized there wasn't one, he is ready to deal with it directly.

Having a gun at school is a huge issue for law schools to deal with, well beyond the typical drinking in the room citation. OP is just going to have to figure out how to deal with it now. He did say he isn't optimistic about the school giving him a deferral. On the other hand, we know none of the positive or mitigating factors a school might consider, given they have already granted him admission. Again, I don't think OP should post more details here.

Do you think he should get a C&F expert opinion before he says anything to the school? I would suggest it but I'm very cautious. It seems to me he needs to make sure his disclosure to the school will serve to help him with C &F down the line at the bar. But I'm not even close to being knowledgable about OPs situation beyond general common sense advice.