Top Law Schools

Is WUSTL really comparable in quality and placement to other schools in the 20-15 range. How does it compare to Vanderbilt, Emory, UT Austin, etc.?

I like what I have read about it and all the stats that I have seen look good, but people seem to hate on it a lot here. Also, I like St. Louis better than Nashville or Atlanta, but I don't want to be stuck there. I just want to be convinced that I am making the right decision. If I go to WUSTL can I really feel like I have done well...like I have went to a school on par with Vandy?

I'm confused. Do you want our opinion or do you want us to support your irrational attraction to a strong regional t1?

I want your true opinion, I was just trying to explain the predicament. Should I necessarily choose Texas or Vandy over WUSTL just because they are ranked a little higher?

WUSTL is just keeping UNCs seat warm

WUSTL is not on par with Vandy or Texas

jdude wrote:I want your true opinion, I was just trying to explain the predicament. Should I necessarily choose Texas or Vandy over WUSTL just because they are ranked a little higher?

No, you should choose them because your career prospects and earning potential are better.

I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

I'm sorry, they=WUSTL

jdude wrote:I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

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jdude wrote:I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

What makes you think different levels of career prospects line up with nice round numbers on the USNWR rankings?

vandy > wustl

FTW

That is my point. It is just 4 or 5 spots on a list, how exactly does that translate to career prospects?

jdude wrote:I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

~1/3 of WUSTL grads stay in St Louis. I've heard St Louis employers value them because there aren't many that stay; the majority of the rest go to the east coast and Chicago. Vandy's placement is close to T13 levels. Texas places great in Texas, but Vandy will probably do you better nationally.

You can get a great job from WUSTL, but it'll be easier from Vandy or Texas. If you like the school, there's always the St Louis market to fall back on if things go awry.

jdude wrote:I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

Wait...does t20 suddenly == $$$???! What about t23 like notre dame? Screwed?

Desert Fox wrote: I just polled my office.

Where is Washington University located?

2:Washington state

1:?

1:Isn't it called George Washington

1:Is that like University of Phoenix?

WUSTL is a good school but Vandy is better. Also I hear WUSTL is getting screwed in Chicago placement because of the economy.

wustl is one of the best schools, on the entire Mississippi River.

bighead715 wrote:vandy > wustl

FTW

Vandy is hugely overrated. Once you move away from UCLA/UT you can basically lump 16-20 into a single category. Strong, largely regional, glimmer of national hopes. At that level you should make your decision based on money, quality of life, and georgraphy. Only you can evaluate where you would be happiest. Still I'd pick UT over both Vandy and WUSTL unless real money was involved.

D. H2Oman wrote:wustl is one of the best schools, on the entire Mississippi River.

Anti UMN trolling.

Nightrunner wrote:

miamiman wrote:

jdude wrote:I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

Wait...does t20 suddenly == $$$???! What about t23 like notre dame? Screwed?

we're all screwed; hth.

Nah, I got depaul. We're good.

I feel like this isn't a totally ridiculous question and wouldn't mind reading more actual responses.

I think a big issue with WUSTL is that it doesn't really have a big or primary market it can feed into the way the other 15-20 do; Emory - ATL, BU - Boston, UT - all of TX, USC & UCLA - LA/Southern Cal, Vandy - idk but it seems to do well all throughout the SE. WUSTL has St. Louis but that's not the same, and once they start trying to reach to Chicago which would be the best market in their region they're against stiff competition. 15-20 are all really good regional schools; the problem with WUSTL is that it doesn't have a stronghold on a big market in its region.

WUSTL is a good school but Vandy is just a shade better. To answer your question, though, you won't be committing career suicide by going to WUSTL over Vandy, especially if WUSTL is significantly cheaper.

insidethetwenty wrote:WUSTL is a good school but Vandy is just a shade better. To answer your question, though, you won't be committing career suicide by going to WUSTL over Vandy, especially if WUSTL is significantly cheaper.

I'll also be making a similar decision pretty soon seeing that my top three choices are WashU, Vandy, and ND. How do you guys think ND matches up with WUSTL and Vandy? Especially if your top choice of employment is in the D.C area?

I happened to talk to a 3L JD/MBA guy from WUSTL just recently and he told me that WUSTL is definitely improving its DC placement now that Obama's in office. Supposedly they have pretty good connections now because of the fact and also because of their distinguished Congressional DC clinic!

jockinjay-z wrote:

insidethetwenty wrote:WUSTL is a good school but Vandy is just a shade better. To answer your question, though, you won't be committing career suicide by going to WUSTL over Vandy, especially if WUSTL is significantly cheaper.

I'll also be making a similar decision pretty soon seeing that my top three choices are WashU, Vandy, and ND. How do you guys think ND matches up with WUSTL and Vandy? Especially if your top choice of employment is in the D.C area?

I happened to talk to a 3L JD/MBA guy from WUSTL just recently and he told me that WUSTL is definitely improving its DC placement now that Obama's in office. Supposedly they have pretty good connections now because of the fact and also because of their distinguished Congressional DC clinic!

You'd be going to the wrong school named after Washington.

stratocophic wrote:

jdude wrote:I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

~1/3 of WUSTL grads stay in St Louis. I've heard St Louis employers value them because there aren't many that stay; the majority of the rest go to the east coast and Chicago. Vandy's placement is close to T13 levels. Texas places great in Texas, but Vandy will probably do you better nationally.

You can get a great job from WUSTL, but it'll be easier from Vandy or Texas. If you like the school, there's always the St Louis market to fall back on if things go awry.

What is T13? Blatant anti-GULC trolling.

hoopsguy6 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:

jdude wrote:I have heard people just state opinions both ways, but what is the substance behind those reasons? If it is worse, how much worse and once again, why? If they are so bad, why are they ranked in the top 20?

~1/3 of WUSTL grads stay in St Louis. I've heard St Louis employers value them because there aren't many that stay; the majority of the rest go to the east coast and Chicago. Vandy's placement is close to T13 levels. Texas places great in Texas, but Vandy will probably do you better nationally.

You can get a great job from WUSTL, but it'll be easier from Vandy or Texas. If you like the school, there's always the St Louis market to fall back on if things go awry.

What is T13? Blatant anti-GULC trolling.

It's T13

hth