Sophmore Considering Transfering - Need Advice

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey everyone, I'm currently a sophomore at a mid-tier university, nothing great compared to many. I'm looking to eventually go to law school, and want to get into a good law school, preferably top 20. I'm thinking of transferring so I can graduate from a more prestigious undergrad university and hopefully that will help my chances of getting into a better law school. </p>

<p>So I'm currently in my first semester of my sophomore year. I'm in the honors program here and I have a 3.97 GPA. I've been working really hard to keep my GPA as close to a 4.0 as I can and I'm hoping this will help my chances. </p>

<p>As for high school, I had a 3.4ish GPA taking mostly honors and 2 AP courses at a private catholic high school, but I didn't do too great on my SAT as I didn't really seem to care at the time which I regret now. I believe I got around a 1550/2400, which is pretty bad, but I'm hoping as someone who would transfer in as a junior it wouldn't be weighed too highly. </p>

<p>I've been involved in many clubs in both high school and college such as mock trial and I've worked on political campaigns, interned at law firms, and worked regular jobs and done over 100 hours of community service.</p>

<p>I'm a political science major and I'm looking to try to transfer into a pretty good school, not necessarily Ivy League, but I want to try and move a few steps up. I've been considering Boston College, Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, George Washington, and maybe a few others. If anyone also has any good suggestions of schools that are decent that I might be able to get into I would appreciate that too.</p>

<p>Well, I guess any input at this point would be greatly appreciated in terms of what schools you guys think I would be able to get into with what I've posted here so far.</p>

<p>Thanks,
-Peter</p>

2

<p>Hi Peter,</p>

<p>In all honesty, I don’t think transferring would be in your best interest. You haven’t complained about discontent at your current school, and you risk losing a high GPA if you transfer.</p>

<p>I know law schools calculate all of your grades, but let’s say your GPA slides if you transfer (I doubt it would, but maybe), I think the law school may focus more on your new school GPA and possibly discount the other.</p>

<p>You seem to be doing a lot at your school, and transferring as a junior may make it difficult to get those leadership positions.</p>

<p>With your GPA, and a high LSAT, I don’t think it will be at all difficult to get into a T14 or so law school. So, unless you have a really strong desire to transfer, I would advise that you don’t. </p>

<p>And, I don’t think the schools you mentioned above (except for GTown) place that well at top law schools, either. I’ve been looking at law school placement, and unless you’re at an Ivy or other top 15 school, there isn’t as big of a bump as I expected. </p>

<p>Good luck, though!</p>

3

<p>Alright, that’s helpful input. Thanks. Anyone else have an opinion?</p>

4

<p>Graduating from a more prestigious undergrad school doesn’t increase law school admission chances; it’s all based on your numbers. How do you not know this already?</p>