- PowerScore Staff
- Posts: 9010
- Joined: Feb 02, 2011
- Fri Oct 30, 2020 7:57 am
#80557
Below is a law school transfer question by a student, Zachery, and a response by PowerScore CEO Dave Killoran.
Zachery: "Hello, I am a current 1L attending Marquette law school. I am in an unconventional situation.
I attended Marquette as an undergraduate student for a major in biomedical sciences and a minor in philosophy. I was also accepted into a pre-law scholar program which allows a student, if they finish the requirements for their given major by his/her third year of undergraduate studies, to apply to attend Marquette Law for his/her fourth year to finish the credit requirements for his/her undergraduate degree while concurrently fulfilling credit as a 1L student at Marquette Law. I completed the requirements for my major and minor in the given three years with a 3.438 GPA and an LSAT score of 159. I don’t dislike Marquette Law school. It is a highly respected school in the region, and if I graduate here I wouldn’t need to take the BAR to practice in Wisconsin if that is what I want to do. Tuition for attendance here is $48,980 and my scholarship looks to be $23,000.
After I graduate and complete my 1L year I am considering transferring to a different law school. I have no specific desire to stay in Milwaukee long term in my life, and if I can find a law school that is a better fit for my goals in a different region of the country I think it is something worth hard consideration. The primary school that has caught my interest is Brooklyn Law School. First of all, Marquette is ranked 102, and Brooklyn is ranked 83. With my undergraduate background in medical sciences I want to attend a school that is well ranked in Health Law. Brooklyn upon my research is well ranked, and I can’t find where Marquette ranks in that category. Brooklyn also appears to offer a wider breadth of classes relevant to my interest in health law than Marquette. Brooklyn tuition is $62,297 and by the info on their site, they do consider transfer students for partial scholarship upon application.
In addition to entering a new living environment at a better-ranked school, my primary interest outside of developing skills as a law student is developing skills in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I have a passion for the sport, and believe developing the skills to earn a black belt benefit me by providing fitness, confidence in self-defense, and the ability to adapt to dynamic problem-solving situations. The best school to learn at the moment is Renzo Gracie Academy in New York. The primary teacher there practices a systematic approach to the sport and a philosophy that resonates with my own. I can learn and practice the sport at a gym anywhere, but the best place I can think of to improve my skills as sharply and quickly as possible would be there.
Developing skills and experience during my 2L and 3L years to find a suitable niche for my skillset in the field of health law, and developing my skills as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner at one of the best places in the world at the same time definitely appeals to me. However, the living expenses of attending Brooklyn would certainly be higher than in Milwaukee. This may be partially offset if a get a good summer associate position and find a decent paying part-time job, but it certainly appears I’ll incur more debt finishing my degree in Brooklyn. I do have a passion for serving the public good and that getting my law degree will come with skills I want to have, but I don’t consider myself someone who has an interest in working 50 hour work weeks with a firm practicing something I don’t have passion for. I want to be able to work 4 days a week in whatever legal/medical niche I find my skillset applicable for, and spend the rest of my time pursuing my interests and passions for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, cooking, and promoting a healthy and community involved lifestyle. With these factors in mind, I find it difficult to weigh my options and get a good idea of the consequences of either choice.
Thanks for any advice!"
Dave Killoran: "Hi Zachery,
This is an unusual question, in part because your motivation seems to be based on lifestyle factors, not academic ones. That’s not the norm, mainly because most law students don’t have time for an outside interest/hobby that takes up a lot of time.
That aside, my first reaction is that we typically advise people that when transferring, especially if you will be paying more, try to make a greater leap than from 102 to 83. To pay more for that—especially when nationally a lot of people have at least heard the Marquette name—is hard for me to swallow.
I’d also be very wary of niche rankings as being meaningful. Sure, NYU is well known for tax law and that’s a big plus, but they are near the top of the heap as far as general reputation. I don’t know of anyone really trumpeting Brooklyn as a health law powerhouse, and so I’d be wary of making a distinction here when I’m not certain there’s a big one.
So, for me, this decision comes down to: paying a fair bit more for a largely lateral move in order to get better Jiu Jitsu training access. If that extra cost is worth it to you, go for it! You want to be happy and that will help your grades most likely if you are happier. But look carefully at those costs since you are paying all that—plus those training fees—for that academy.
Best of luck!"
Zachery: "Hello, I am a current 1L attending Marquette law school. I am in an unconventional situation.
I attended Marquette as an undergraduate student for a major in biomedical sciences and a minor in philosophy. I was also accepted into a pre-law scholar program which allows a student, if they finish the requirements for their given major by his/her third year of undergraduate studies, to apply to attend Marquette Law for his/her fourth year to finish the credit requirements for his/her undergraduate degree while concurrently fulfilling credit as a 1L student at Marquette Law. I completed the requirements for my major and minor in the given three years with a 3.438 GPA and an LSAT score of 159. I don’t dislike Marquette Law school. It is a highly respected school in the region, and if I graduate here I wouldn’t need to take the BAR to practice in Wisconsin if that is what I want to do. Tuition for attendance here is $48,980 and my scholarship looks to be $23,000.
After I graduate and complete my 1L year I am considering transferring to a different law school. I have no specific desire to stay in Milwaukee long term in my life, and if I can find a law school that is a better fit for my goals in a different region of the country I think it is something worth hard consideration. The primary school that has caught my interest is Brooklyn Law School. First of all, Marquette is ranked 102, and Brooklyn is ranked 83. With my undergraduate background in medical sciences I want to attend a school that is well ranked in Health Law. Brooklyn upon my research is well ranked, and I can’t find where Marquette ranks in that category. Brooklyn also appears to offer a wider breadth of classes relevant to my interest in health law than Marquette. Brooklyn tuition is $62,297 and by the info on their site, they do consider transfer students for partial scholarship upon application.
In addition to entering a new living environment at a better-ranked school, my primary interest outside of developing skills as a law student is developing skills in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I have a passion for the sport, and believe developing the skills to earn a black belt benefit me by providing fitness, confidence in self-defense, and the ability to adapt to dynamic problem-solving situations. The best school to learn at the moment is Renzo Gracie Academy in New York. The primary teacher there practices a systematic approach to the sport and a philosophy that resonates with my own. I can learn and practice the sport at a gym anywhere, but the best place I can think of to improve my skills as sharply and quickly as possible would be there.
Developing skills and experience during my 2L and 3L years to find a suitable niche for my skillset in the field of health law, and developing my skills as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner at one of the best places in the world at the same time definitely appeals to me. However, the living expenses of attending Brooklyn would certainly be higher than in Milwaukee. This may be partially offset if a get a good summer associate position and find a decent paying part-time job, but it certainly appears I’ll incur more debt finishing my degree in Brooklyn. I do have a passion for serving the public good and that getting my law degree will come with skills I want to have, but I don’t consider myself someone who has an interest in working 50 hour work weeks with a firm practicing something I don’t have passion for. I want to be able to work 4 days a week in whatever legal/medical niche I find my skillset applicable for, and spend the rest of my time pursuing my interests and passions for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, cooking, and promoting a healthy and community involved lifestyle. With these factors in mind, I find it difficult to weigh my options and get a good idea of the consequences of either choice.
Thanks for any advice!"
Dave Killoran: "Hi Zachery,
This is an unusual question, in part because your motivation seems to be based on lifestyle factors, not academic ones. That’s not the norm, mainly because most law students don’t have time for an outside interest/hobby that takes up a lot of time.
That aside, my first reaction is that we typically advise people that when transferring, especially if you will be paying more, try to make a greater leap than from 102 to 83. To pay more for that—especially when nationally a lot of people have at least heard the Marquette name—is hard for me to swallow.
I’d also be very wary of niche rankings as being meaningful. Sure, NYU is well known for tax law and that’s a big plus, but they are near the top of the heap as far as general reputation. I don’t know of anyone really trumpeting Brooklyn as a health law powerhouse, and so I’d be wary of making a distinction here when I’m not certain there’s a big one.
So, for me, this decision comes down to: paying a fair bit more for a largely lateral move in order to get better Jiu Jitsu training access. If that extra cost is worth it to you, go for it! You want to be happy and that will help your grades most likely if you are happier. But look carefully at those costs since you are paying all that—plus those training fees—for that academy.
Best of luck!"