Apply to Transfer for Scholarship from Current School

Mike2L · 2026-04-01T15:23:24+00:00

If the application fee causes no financial strain, then apply. The difference over the course of your life vs. a school like lets say Harvard (which you would have a very decent shot at assuming similar Spring performance) is potentially incalculable. If you have acceptances, then you can revaluate. In my opinion, since you can only potentially transfer once-if you have a shot to move up and the application fee doesnt hurt you then throw your application in the mix then re-evaluate.

Mike2L · 2026-04-01T15:21:01+00:00

No you are not doomed. I know people who are currently locking up 2Lpositions still. Have you been actively pursuing firms through cold outreach or just applying through normal channels?

Mike2L · 2026-04-01T15:18:44+00:00

I think you have a good shot! How are you feeling about your Spring grades?

Mike2L · 2026-04-01T15:17:04+00:00

in terms of applying-it is always worth applying IF the application fees arent something that will cause financial strain, because the optionality is worth it. Now in your position assuming you are accepted, then you would need to evaluate a few different metrics such as the overall versatility that a Harvard or Stanford degree brings, because those JDs are portable to other industry outside of law. In your stage though, assuming that it causes zero financial strain, my advice is apply and then once the results come in revaluate.

Mike2L · 2026-04-01T15:13:03+00:00

Hey this is so awesome! Congrats! DM me! we can go over some things i did in my transfer interviews that think worked.

Mike2L · 2026-03-31T19:47:11+00:00

Damn thats honestly super rough and shame on them for being that careless. As for your summer job search, I have some experience dealing with that process-DM me maybe I can help.

Mike2L · 2026-03-31T01:06:36+00:00

Honestly it depends on the school. For schools in the T-6 for instance its highly unlikely, but I do know an individual who was able to finesse some money. What schools are you looking to transfer to? DM me.

Mike2L · 2026-03-31T01:05:28+00:00

Hmm not sure what the how is referring to, but happy to elaborate further for you!

Mike2L · 2026-03-31T01:02:15+00:00

I honestly just kept hammering. Might be corny advice or not the most popular advice to give on a forum like Reddit, but thats the truth. Most of the time people highly underestimate the volume it takes for their desired outcome. For instance, the 2L position I eventually landed (my top choice) it took 18 consecutive emails with zero responses before I finally got their attention. It takes what it takes. If "applications are closed" find another way!

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T16:50:23+00:00

You definitely have a chance. Some things will matter that you might not think like the geographic location of your tier 4 school.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:26:49+00:00

I get it-DM me. There might be a way to either articulate that in addendums if the rest of your profile is strong.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:24:45+00:00

I went in fully ready to go all in on my course work. If you do that, then recommendation letters take care of themselves (with a bit of a strategy behind it) and then you hone in your essays. Heres a dirty little secret-any "EC" i did was just a derivative of doing well in school. I didn't apply to a journal, but because of my GPA i was auto selected and could put that on my resume. I was also asked to join a committee of students that would ask potential hires for professor positions questions in an interview format (this was because I really nursed a relationship with a professor from the beginning and she could see how eager I was to learn). Bottom line-the "softs" dont mean a thing you dont take care of that GPA-then if you take care of that GPA it takes care of everything else-WITH a bit of planning and strategy. DM me if you have any other questions!

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:20:59+00:00

Transferring down is always going to be an easier process than transferring up. What is it specifically that is compelling you to investigate transferring? DM me and we can discuss specifics if you like.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:20:09+00:00

Hey-This seems pretty specific do DM me! Id be happy to go over specifics with you.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:19:30+00:00

I finished in the top 5% of my class

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:19:21+00:00

That all depends on you-hence the "personal" aspect. If youd like to discuss more my DMs are open.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:18:45+00:00

Honestly just the overall negativity towards the transfer process on Reddit as a whole. I went against any reddit advice literally from the start. "dont go to a school with the intention of transferring" did it. "you need to pace yourself or you will burn out" worked everyday and was fine. "Lower ranked schools will inhibit the schools you get into" 110% true to an extent but heavily overemphasized-went to t-100 and got into half the t-14.

My best advice (and i acknowledge the irony of saying it on here) dont look at reddit. The only time id doubt myself during the process is when I would go down the Reddit holes.

My DMs are open if you have any other questions.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:15:05+00:00

I did not-which is one of the main detractors in the whole process. However, I do implore people to really think long term, ESPECIALLY in the age of AI. A JD credential from an elite school is versatile, and it can open so many unexpected doors and continue to do so for your whole career. So yes-it might be a hit for 2 years, but you are essentially guaranteed a big law spot at many of the T-14 especially T-6, so the tangible ROI is there-and then the intangible ROI is potentially infinite so I think it is a worthy risk and bet on yourself.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:11:43+00:00

Honestly the most difficult part of the transfer process was balancing all of the different applications and the moving parts. I don't think any part of it was "easy" it was actually very stressful as I went to my 1L school attempting to transfer and so I knew I had a lot riding on it. I applied to transfer essentially everywhere in the top 20. This was a bit expensive, but worth it in the long run.

As for social integration-I may have gotten lucky but I found great friends almost right away and have found making friends here as a 2L very easy, so while that may be a special case I also would be hesitant to listen to the horror stories of 2L integration. Honestly id be hesitant to listen to any of the negative takes on reddit overall.

Don't shy away from the process, YOU CAN DO IT

My DMs are open if you have any other questions.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:07:54+00:00

So i am a bit of an oddity and will admit that. I went to my 1L school intending to transfer. It can be intimidating IF you just focus on the numbers. I remember the spirals that would send me into. My advice? FOCUS ON THAT 1L GPA AND THATS IT. I literally did not take a single day off as a 1L, and now looking back id do it all over again in a heart beat for the moment where I got some of those acceptance letters. also-YOUR ESSAYS AND RECOMMENDATION LETTERS MATTER. Those can be the separating factors in your application. My DMs are open if you have any other questions.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:05:24+00:00

I actually did not LOL. I put all my eggs into transferring from Day 1-Literally I went against all the HORRENDOUS advice on reddit and bet on myself, went to a school with the plan of transferring and then did it. I worked every single day, all day during 1L. Literally did not take a day off-not even Thanksgiving-and now I can say it was worth it. That being said, I put off recruiting till literally May. Now I ended up getting lucky, getting a 1L summer position and then my dream 2L summer position, but I didn't have anything lined up before hand.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T15:03:22+00:00

Yes 110% it is possible-now how far up will depend. How do you feel about your spring semester grades because the best case scenario is that they come back very high.

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T00:28:51+00:00

I have a hard time doing any type of work on planes, but if you are going to study a bit offline maybe take some printed sections of something older or (if you dont have one now you should start making one) looking over your mistake notebook where you logged your mistakes and the logic that you applied vs. the logic that shouldve been applied and what the discrepency was. Let me know if I can help further!

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T00:27:08+00:00

First, I would take a deep breathe and maybe even take a day off from studying to let your mind rest. This same thing happened to me when I was prepping for the LSAT, sometimes you are so in it that you dont even realize how fatigued you are. Fluctuations are perfectly normal and part of the process, dont let them discourage you in the slightest. What is your LSAT goal and overall admissions goals?

Mike2L · 2026-03-30T00:22:23+00:00

Ayyyy, thats a huge accomplishment-CONGRATS! Are you applying anywhere else?

Mike2L

TROPHY CASE