Did you go to one of these schools and transfer up?

[howardhowardhoward]

So far, these are the options I have to start this upcoming fall 2012.  I have been weighing out my options and am really unsure where I would attend.  I am still waiting to hear back from a few law schools. 

I essentially want to get into UDC (still waiting on a decision), but if not, I would want to Transfer to a DC school after completing one year at another law school (perhaps one of these listed below). 

Have any of you gone to any of these T3/T4 schools and transferred to a T1/T2?  Please share any of youe experiences or thoughts on the probability of transferring up if I were to end up in the top 5% of my 1L class?  Thank you!

Acceptances:
   Thomas M. Cooley Law School
   Florida Coastal School of Law
   Phoenix School of Law

Conditional Acceptances (Must complete summer program):
   Nova Southeastern University – Summer Online AAMPLE Program
   Loyola University New Orleans – Summer Conditional Program

Waitlists:
   University of San Francisco
   Thomas Jefferson School of Law

[kjw5029]

I went to Cooley and finished in the top 5%.  I transferred to a T2 school in CA.  It was chosen based on location and for its high tech program, though you could probably make the jump to tier 1 finishing in the top 5%.  I also know two ppl who transferred from Florida Coastal to the same school I'm at.  Feel free to pm me if you want more information.

[legend]

Do not go to law school expecting to transfer. Poster above did, but he was in the top 5% and there is a 95% chance you won't be in the top 5%. Go to a law school you would be happy being at for 3 years. If you happen to be in the top 5% then think about transferring, but even if you are in the top 5% you are going to be somewhere for a whole year and probably develop relationships within your section that are often to hard to leave. Many people think they will just go to X school and transfer up, but that happens in about 5% of situations.

[kjw5029]

Do not go to law school expecting to transfer. Poster above did, but he was in the top 5% and there is a 95% chance you won't be in the top 5%. Go to a law school you would be happy being at for 3 years. If you happen to be in the top 5% then think about transferring, but even if you are in the top 5% you are going to be somewhere for a whole year and probably develop relationships within your section that are often to hard to leave. Many people think they will just go to X school and transfer up, but that happens in about 5% of situations.

Legend makes some really good points.  It really wasn't easy getting that highly ranked. It would have been much easier going somewhere I wanted to be for 3 years.  It's not impossible to transfer to a T2, even if you're only in the top half.  However, unfortunately, class rank is vital for most schools considering taking transfer students.  I didn't go to law school expecting to transfer, but I wanted to do IP law.  That basically required a school change.  If you can get into a decently ranked school in a locale you want to practice, that route is likely a better bet. 

[sollicitus]

I love how everyone who posts on the internet is top 5%.

[kjw5029]

I love how everyone who posts on the internet is top 5%.

Hah.  I love how people feel the need to post about their skepticism on the Internet for no apparent reason.  I guess I should be more accurate for your sake.  I was in the top 3%. 

[sollicitus]

I love how everyone who posts on the internet is top 5%.

Hah.  I love how people feel the need to post about their skepticism on the Internet for no apparent reason.  I guess I should be more accurate for your sake.  I was in the top 3%.

wow, that come up must've taken awhile to think up.
Yeah, skepticism and gradually exaggerating untruths. That plus porn. Pretty much the only point of the internet.

[Julie Fern]

julie in top 7%!

she just sure what group.

[FalconJimmy]

My recommendation would be Loyola N.O.  The other schools are, frankly, so bad that even being tops in your class won't be regarded as being very significant.

If you can get top 5% from LNO, then I think the world is your oyster.

As always, just my barely-informed opinion.

[Master Mech.]

I went to PSL, skip that choice at all costs, transferred to Cooley, love it!  Hands down better than PSL, but you would have to attend both to know the differences.  For instance in Torts, PSL doesn't cover products liability, Cooley Does.  In Contracts PSL doesn't cover 3rd party beneficiaries, Cooley does.  Take your pick, a school that charges the earth and doesn't cover bar material, or one that charges less and does cover bar material. 

Also, look at the bar passage rates, PSL bombed the last July bar with something like 60% or less bar passage rate for first time takers.  So, the education is evident in the ability to pass the bar.  Lets see what PSL's graduating students did in the Feb. bar.  Then you will know with some certainty the quality of the school.

Cooley on the other hand has had 80+% bar passage rate for 10 years.