SMU v. WUSTL v. UIUC v. Minnesota Forum

[ec2xs]

I figure it's about time to start one of these myself. The lowdown:

- I want to practice in Texas, DC, or Chicago. I prefer big cities.
- I visited Illinois and wasn't particularly impressed. WUSTL blew me away.
- SMU is my comfort zone (from central TX). I also regard it much more highly than it's ranked.
- I'm leaning towards public interest.
- $$$ does matter to me a decent amount.
- Have not been accepted to GW yet.
- Rankings don't matter as much to me as they do to most.

Other alternatives: waiting on Indiana, William & Mary, and USC. Waitlisted at Boston. Accepted to Houston, Georgia, Arizona.

Thanks for any input!

[ec2xs]

Posted this at 1 in the morning bump.

[crombot]

I'd love to get the insight of others....I have $30k/yr at UIUC and $10k/yr at WUSTL, but I'm not sure if I should entirely discount WUSTL...

[ec2xs]

I'd love to get the insight of others....I have $30k/yr at UIUC and $10k/yr at WUSTL, but I'm not sure if I should entirely discount WUSTL...

I feel that Illinois has a more cemented job market (Chicago) whereas WUSTL doesn't have as much as a "home base". If you like Illinois, I think it would be hard to pass up. My visit to Illinois was good, but I really didn't care for the facilities/town too much.

[BoomBoom1986]

I'd try to get some more money out of Minnesota (get them to match UIUC) and go there. And who knows, if they up their offer, then maybe WUSTL will, too. SMU and UIUC are regional, and WUSTL offers the best mobility. However, Minnesota is still a good school (not as mobile as WUSTL, but more mobile than the other two) and I bet you could get some more money out of them. Plus, I believe that even UMN out of state tuition is lower than WUSTL's, as well. And oh yeah, the Twin Cities crush all those places from a location perspective, save GW, obviously (and yes, Dallas blows IMO).

[BoomBoom1986]

I should add that if you REALLY want to practice in Texas, then go to SMU, however.

[Joga Bonito]

I'd try to get some more money out of Minnesota (get them to match UIUC) and go there. And who knows, if they up their offer, then maybe WUSTL will, too. SMU and UIUC are regional, and WUSTL offers the best mobility. However, Minnesota is still a good school (not as mobile as WUSTL, but more mobile than the other two) and I bet you could get some more money out of them. Plus, I believe that even UMN out of state tuition is lower than WUSTL's, as well. And oh yeah, the Twin Cities crush all those places from a location perspective, save GW, obviously (and yes, Dallas blows IMO).

The Twin Cities are great cities during the summer but during the winter they're effen cold. Like you could die outside cold. I couldn't live there.

[BoomBoom1986]

True. But they have skywalks and tunnels everywhere so won't die from the cold. Dallas just blows generally (and is hot as hell in the summer) and UIUC is just as cold/snowy as the Twin Cities, but it's not in a sweet city. St. Louis just sucks all around (high crime and poverty rates, really cold winters, hot and humid summers, dying city, etc).

[im_blue]

SMU if you want Texas, Illinois if you want Chicago, WUSTL if you want a bit more portability than those two. No real reason to consider Minnesota, IMHO.

[alllucknotalent]

I did undergrad at UIUC and took a class that Dean Smith taught.

I have nothing but great thigns to say about him as an instructor and he said out of all the faculties he has been on or learned from, UIUC gives the best practical education...

Of course he was trying to recruit us undergrads to go but I can tell you I am a huge fan of UIUC..

only thing I can say about WUSTL is my friend that went there transfered to Michigan so theres that

[Joga Bonito]

I did undergrad at UIUC and took a class that Dean Smith taught.

I have nothing but great thigns to say about him as an instructor and he said out of all the faculties he has been on or learned from, UIUC gives the best practical education...

Of course he was trying to recruit us undergrads to go but I can tell you I am a huge fan of UIUC..

only thing I can say about WUSTL is my friend that went there transfered to Michigan so theres that

So your friend transfered to a better school what does that mean, he should have done the same thing if he went to UIUC.

[alllucknotalent]

I did undergrad at UIUC and took a class that Dean Smith taught.

I have nothing but great thigns to say about him as an instructor and he said out of all the faculties he has been on or learned from, UIUC gives the best practical education...

Of course he was trying to recruit us undergrads to go but I can tell you I am a huge fan of UIUC..

only thing I can say about WUSTL is my friend that went there transfered to Michigan so theres that

So your friend transfered to a better school what does that mean, he should have done the same thing if he went to UIUC.

i mainly meant it as a complement that he was able to get into michigan

[Billy Batts]

I'd try to get some more money out of Minnesota (get them to match UIUC) and go there. And who knows, if they up their offer, then maybe WUSTL will, too. SMU and UIUC are regional, and WUSTL offers the best mobility. However, Minnesota is still a good school (not as mobile as WUSTL, but more mobile than the other two) and I bet you could get some more money out of them. Plus, I believe that even UMN out of state tuition is lower than WUSTL's, as well. And oh yeah, the Twin Cities crush all those places from a location perspective, save GW, obviously (and yes, Dallas blows IMO).

and what's the average temperature in MN?

[ENGINEERD]

Sorry to hear about GW they screwed us but WUSTL seems like a great school and w/$$ it would have been hard to turn them down for sticker at GW anyway!