<p>I've just completed my junior year at the University at Buffalo, and my GPA is 3.7, with a Major in Political Science and a minor in History. I decided to take the October LSAT because I wanted to use about 4 months of summer to prep, without any distractions of school. I have no plans to work or do an internship this summer (is this a major flaw?). Also, any feedback regarding my decision to take the October LSAT and to use the summer to prep?</p>
<p>Anyways, I was considering going on to complete my first year of law school at the University at Buffalo; which recently got knocked off the top 100 list :( . It's cheap and close to home and not difficult to get into. I wanted to know what different impediments/advantages this would offer should I want to transfer out to a better school to finish my Law degree?</p>
<p>I was also wondering what law schools look at once you've completed one year and want to transfer; do they still look at your undergrad GPA and/or LSAT score, or do they look at your Law School GPA, or a combination of both? </p>
<p>Finally, assuming that the Law School GPA matters, are law school courses more or less difficult to get high grades in than undergrad? It might be a mistake to try and transfer if grades tend to go down in law school...</p>
<p>Do NOT count on transferring. I do know people who have pulled it off. However, IMO, it’s insane to think you can guarantee you’ll be at the top of your class at ANY law school and you are going to have to be at the top of the class to have much of a chance at transferring. So, personally, I think EVERYONE should assume that they will spend all 3 years at one law school. </p>
<p>The LSs I’m most familiar with do ask for LSAT scores for transfer applicants, but the grades you’ve earned will be more important.</p>
<p>As for your study plan…I would only do this is you are positive that you want to go to LS and will go immediately after college. The summer after junior year is the MOST crucial if you want to get a job after graduation. So, if you aren’t 100% sure you’ll go immediately to LS, don’t do it. If you are sure, I doubt it will matter much.</p>
<p>As noted, transfering into a higher ranked school is not easy and even if you are ranked high in first year class, it will still not be easy for the high ranks.</p>
<p>As far as getting decent grades first year of law school it depends on individual (primarily) and school (secondarily). First semester law school is generally high stress. You have long hours outside of class trying to read and understand cases which initially read like a foreign language you never took. The Socratic teaching method is new to you and the opposite of many college classes where information is spoon fed. You have a shock to your ego particularly in the first three or so weeks as you to realize two things: (a) everybody in the class graduated from college as high as you did and (b) as smart as you thought you were, you feel like you cannot understand 80% of what is going on. Panic sets in when you reach exam time because, for most courses, you have only one exam at end of the semester and that exam determines your entire grade (there are no brownie points for anything you did during the semester).</p>
<p>Your GPA is good enough for all schools but HYS. Just study as hard as you can for the LSAT and apply to a range of schools that fit your stats.</p>
<p>Are you talking about taking the summer to do nothing but study for the LSAT? I think that won’t look good to either law schools or employers, and you’ll be missing an opportunity to build some financial cushion at least. Speaking for myself, I’d also go nuts – I even had a part time job the summer I studied for the BAR. Make some money, build your resume, or both.</p>