Law School Discussion

Quote from: archival on March 15, 2009, 01:38:41 PM

I transferred.  It is difficult.

Any chance you can expand on this a bit? It is tough to get good transfer information and about how people do and feel after the move.

I'm not referring to academics.  I'm also not referring to bias from students or employers.  Jackasses will find a way to be snotty no matter what -- whether it's because you went to the wrong undergrad, because your pants are too short, or because you don't "deserve" to be at a really good law school.

However, you do give up:

• Your social network.  It can be difficult to break into the 1L cliques.  It's also nice to be able to talk to folks about all their 1L summer experiences before 2L OCI.
• Having a reputation among faculty as a good student, and all the opportunities that can entail (research, mentoring, etc.)  You also give up knowing your way around the administration
• Knowing your way around town and being comfortable in your living situation.
• In some cases, guaranteed positions on journals, moot court, etc.
• Scholarship money.

All of that just adds to the stress of 2L and 3L, when you're also looking for jobs, dealing with journal, doing clinic and/or research, and generally hustling to navigate the opportunities you have.  ETA: It might seem kind of trivial when you compare that to, say, the opportunities that you'd get at HLS.  I'm just saying that these things do matter, and that exactly how much they matter is a personal thing.

Most transfers at my school were coming home, so they already had a social network.  I've talked to a few who weren't, though, and they've called the experience "lonely," "alienating," and "miserable."  All that being said, if you are even moderately socially competent, you'll definitely make your way.  Eventually.

I'm with jeff112.

I currently am on 50% scholarship 

I do not have larger aspirations regarding private practice than what is already available to me and I do not care about degree portability.

Assuming that I . . . want to stay in the city of my current school after graduation (for all academia, private firm, and judgeship ambitions)

how much would transferring to a T-14 help me.

Probably not a whole lot, based on the factors I quoted.  You should ask somebody in career services about it.  Also maybe ask a faculty member who is new to teaching about academic hiring.  If you're open to state judgeships, it's probably a lot more about networking than it is at the federal level.  If you are hoping for federal work, the story is a bit different.

Also, if the decision to transfer makes sense, what would be the difference in the decision from attending a lower t-14 such as Georgetown v. a high ranked t-14 such as Columbia.

In general, higher is better for the things you've mentioned (academia, etc.)  You will almost certainly do well no matter where you end up -- transfer students tend to do as well or better at their new schools as they did at their old ones. Were I in your position, I would not give up a top spot at a good school in my preferred city to go to any school outside the tippy top few without a better reason than rank (e.g. a desire to work under a certain professor or in a particular program, or a love for a particular city.)  I transferred.  It is difficult.

So. What are your skills, and how do they fit with your ambitions?  Do you think it's likely you'd be able to write on to law review at a new school because you are an above-average legal writer?  Are you really quite good at networking, so that you'd be comfortable moving to a new school and starting over again?  Do you like the idea of living in a big city for a couple of years (since you probably have a good shot at Columbia, and Chicago and Penn are also possibilities.)?  How do you feel about ending up with double the debt you had planned on?  Do you have teaching experience, and if so was it an experience you enjoyed?

Have you checked the transferapps yahoo group?  If you haven't, you should.

Quote from: Farmer Ted on March 14, 2009, 05:27:37 PM

Quote from: Matthies on March 14, 2009, 05:21:12 PM

Quote from: Susan B. Anthony on March 14, 2009, 03:04:05 PM

he's got a snuggie!

Bears don't love snuggies. Yet.

They also don't dig on dancing.

llol at all y'all.

Quote from: Susan B. Anthony on March 13, 2009, 12:58:48 PM

I had to take macro econ at the same time I was taking the Marx/Weber/Durkheim class.

That did not go well for my econ professor, in my head.

I took mostly Marxist economic classes (macro) because I was lucky enough to go to an institution that took classical economics seriously. I took one micro course.  It was idiotic.

I went to an institution where the econ classes were far away from my other classes -- so no econ for me.

There are theories and market dynamics!  But it isn't hard to understand.  It's all about the vocab and position...like law.

This does nothing to reassure me.