Amazing weight loss story!

I have lost 100 lbs!!! Well, not literally, but it certainly feels like I have. For months I have wrestled with whether or not to transfer to another law school. This decision has involved much investigation, conversation, perspiration, and prayer. My grades are high enough that I could probably transfer to a Tier 1 school (or at least be taken seriously).

Every year, approximately five percent of law students “trickle up” to higher-rated schools. The purpose in transferring lies in the ultimate goal: to get the best job offer possible, and the best firms recruit at the best law schools. Since LU is such a new school, it is not even officially “rated” yet, and it does not have an alumni base; these are two very serious concerns when contemplating future employment for the law school’s graduates. LU is more concerned with getting “any” job offers for its graduates, not just offers from the top firms.

So, in light of these and other concerns, I have been singing the “I’m going to transfer” song for months; but, in spite of my desire to transfer, I did not want to transfer just for the sake of doing so. I did my homework, and picked out three or four prestigious schools that met my criteria. First, I only wanted to move to a school that is ranked in the top 100 (also known as a “Tier 1” school). I also wanted to stay on the east coast—in or near the south. Unlike most law students, I have two children who are also in college, and I felt compelled to only pick schools that would allow me to be near them (i.e., within driving distance). I also wanted to avoid schools in North Carolina. Even though I’m a Tarheel fan, I fear that by returning to a school in North Carolina I would greatly limit my ability to work outside of North Carolina. And, while I love to visit N. C., and I realize a lot can happen in two years, I presently have no plans of returning to the state to work. Finally, I wanted it to be a good financial decision as well in light of the fact that I had a partial scholarship this year (which will likely be a full scholarship for the 2L year based on my class ranking). Transferring could add approximately $40,000 to $80,000 to the ultimate law school debt, and that's a lot of debt!

Finally, there are many things about LU that I like—even though there are policies that drive me crazy. The reality is that there isn’t a perfect school in the perfect location with the perfect faculty and perfectly agreeable policies. And, if I’m looking for this perfect Utopia, I am going to be gravely disappointed when I realize that I’ve only traded one bag of troubles for another. Overall, I like LU. Overall, I like its philosophies. I have spent a year building relationships with my classmates (and the upper classmen). I am part of the best study group ever formulated (or so I believe). The students at this school have integrity and ethical standards that are lacking at many law schools (a fact which isn't often told on the law school's web page). For instance, I have left my laptop, ipod, thumb drive, commercial outlines, etc., at my study carrol for days and weeks, and nothing has ever been touched, moved or stolen. Another example, my colleagues do not hide books from each other; instead, we share the materials. We haven't wanted anyone to fail and we have worked together, corporately, to help those who were working hard but struggling. And, I've finally come to realize that these intangibles are more important to me than the cost of tuition or the ranking of the school.

Most importantly, in analyzing the matrix and criteria for staying or transferring, there is the most important realization that I am not on this journey alone. Law school would not have been possible without the faith and trust that I have placed in God Almighty to lead the way and light the path. He did not bring me to this place to abandon me. In spite of applying to nine different law schools and getting accepted to four, I knew that LU is where I would attend. I knew this before LU ever accepted me, so there must be some reason why I am here in spite of the fact that I do not know what awaits me in two years. I don't suppose that I need to know as long as God does and He's working all of these things out for my good. I do know how important it is to be patient and wait; almost as important as admitting that I’m not in control of any of this, so why don’t I just do my best on a daily basis and let Him handle the rest. Oh, and even though LU isn't even ranked (like I mentioned earlier) almost 70% of our graduates have jobs or job offers, which is pretty impressive for an inaugeral class of graduates from a distinctively conservative law school.

As far as I'm concerned, this decision is final. There is no looking back. Time and energy will not be wasted on one "what if." That being said, the weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I am able to focus on my summer plans. Now if I could drop the same amount of weight from my waistline, that would be fabulous!