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lincolnadams74 wrote:I'm comparing Washington University in St. Louis and Boston College. No scholly offer from either, sadly, but loan offer from BC and hopefully loan offer from WashU to come. (Just got accepted to WashU recently.) There are many arguments to be made either way, it seems, and I could really use some help in deciding.

JOB PLACEMENT: Based on the following data, BC has the edge in NLJ 250 placement, which is important in terms of my career goals: http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/goto%20l ... s_main.pdf

RANKING: In contrast, WashU has the higher USN ranking (18) over BC (27) ... But in the data referenced above, BC is 16 and WashU is 25 for NLJ 250 placement. How to reconcile this? I give the edge to biglaw placement. What do you think?

COST: There are obvious cost of living differences between the cities. I am willing to accept a higher cost of living in Boston. But WashU at sticker is more expensive than BC, which is a drawback for me but not a dealbreaker if it would truly be the better choice.

LOCATION: I have ties to St. Louis, but I would prefer to establish myself on the East Coast for the next 3-8 years and enjoy life over there. I visited Boston and liked it a lot. I'm not too excited about settling down in the Midwest, or at least having my job prospects tied down there if I'm unable to overcome the regional barrier.

OVERALL: My theory is that BC would give me better job prospects in the short term (and ideally the long term) with its location on the East Coast and apparent edge in biglaw placement. However, WashU is obviously a highly regarded law school, and by some measures a better school overall than BC. By the same token, the job market and overall economic activity in Boston/NYC/DC is arguably superior to the market in St. Louis and the Midwest.

I need to decide in the next 10-20 days. Please offer your thoughts and vote in the poll. I thank you in advance for your comments, and good luck to everyone else in the same boat with their own decisions.

stratocophic wrote:You'll probably get a scholarship offer from WashU if you were just accepted, they take time. Given your circumstances and preferences, I can't really think of a reason for you not to go to BC soooo... why is this a question?

lincolnadams74 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:You'll probably get a scholarship offer from WashU if you were just accepted, they take time. Given your circumstances and preferences, I can't really think of a reason for you not to go to BC soooo... why is this a question?

It's a question because WashU is an awesome school, and so is BC ... both have pros and cons as discussed above, and I need help sorting through it all. That seems like a pretty good reason to ask for advice.

lincolnadams74 wrote:I'm comparing Washington University in St. Louis and Boston College. No scholly offer from either, sadly, but loan offer from BC and hopefully loan offer from WashU to come. (Just got accepted to WashU recently.) There are many arguments to be made either way, it seems, and I could really use some help in deciding.

JOB PLACEMENT: Based on the following data, BC has the edge in NLJ 250 placement, which is important in terms of my career goals: http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/goto%20l ... s_main.pdf

RANKING: In contrast, WashU has the higher USN ranking (18) over BC (27) ... But in the data referenced above, BC is 16 and WashU is 25 for NLJ 250 placement. How to reconcile this? I give the edge to biglaw placement. What do you think?

COST: There are obvious cost of living differences between the cities. I am willing to accept a higher cost of living in Boston. But WashU at sticker is more expensive than BC, which is a drawback for me but not a dealbreaker if it would truly be the better choice.

LOCATION: I have ties to St. Louis, but I would prefer to establish myself on the East Coast for the next 3-8 years and enjoy life over there. I visited Boston and liked it a lot. I'm not too excited about settling down in the Midwest, or at least having my job prospects tied down there if I'm unable to overcome the regional barrier.

OVERALL: My theory is that BC would give me better job prospects in the short term (and ideally the long term) with its location on the East Coast and apparent edge in biglaw placement. However, WashU is obviously a highly regarded law school, and by some measures a better school overall than BC. By the same token, the job market and overall economic activity in Boston/NYC/DC is arguably superior to the market in St. Louis and the Midwest.

I need to decide in the next 10-20 days. Please offer your thoughts and vote in the poll. I thank you in advance for your comments, and good luck to everyone else in the same boat with their own decisions.

stratocophic wrote:Not criticizing, I'm just saying that your factors all overwhelmingly point to BC. USNews is a non-issue; don't consider it. The NLJ chart is a better proxy, if you keep in mind that you should attend a school in the region you want to settle in. Since BC fits that description, it's an easy decision if you don't hate the campus or Boston in general or whatever.

lincolnadams74 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:Not criticizing, I'm just saying that your factors all overwhelmingly point to BC. USNews is a non-issue; don't consider it. The NLJ chart is a better proxy, if you keep in mind that you should attend a school in the region you want to settle in. Since BC fits that description, it's an easy decision if you don't hate the campus or Boston in general or whatever.

Cool. Thanks for the input. What you say is true ... most of my factors do seem to point toward BC, I suppose. I'm just trying to be thorough.

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

Patriot1208 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

Neither one gives great chances, the difference is pretty marginal and probably less so now than when the last NLJ numbers were determined. So, it really comes down to regional preference and cost.

whymeohgodno wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

Neither one gives great chances, the difference is pretty marginal and probably less so now than when the last NLJ numbers were determined. So, it really comes down to regional preference and cost.

Didn't BC do something like 33% while WashU did like 16%? That's a pretty big difference IMO.

whymeohgodno wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

Neither one gives great chances, the difference is pretty marginal and probably less so now than when the last NLJ numbers were determined. So, it really comes down to regional preference and cost.

Didn't BC do something like 33% while WashU did like 16%? That's a pretty big difference IMO.

Stanford4Me wrote:Where's Romo?

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

Aberzombie1892 wrote:OP -

BC = Northeast
WashU = Midwest

Neither is worth a lot of debt and you should not attend either for big law prospects.

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

I don't disagree. Biglaw certainly exists in the midwest. Unfortunately, only around 15% of WUSTL grads actually get positions in it.

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

I don't disagree. Biglaw certainly exists in the midwest. Unfortunately, only around 15% of WUSTL grads actually get positions in it.

Patriot1208 wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:BC if you want biglaw.

If you don't care about biglaw:
BC if you want the northeast.
WUSTL if you want the midwest.

Personal choice.

Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

I don't disagree. Biglaw certainly exists in the midwest. Unfortunately, only around 15% of WUSTL grads actually get positions in it.

Even at the worst of ite the number wasn't that low. If you include clerk ships it's regularly around 30%

tram988 wrote:

Patriot1208 wrote:

Slevin Kelevra 2011 wrote:

stratocophic wrote:Fixed. Biglaw exists in the midwest, and you shouldn't go to BC if you want it.

I don't disagree. Biglaw certainly exists in the midwest. Unfortunately, only around 15% of WUSTL grads actually get positions in it.

Even at the worst of ite the number wasn't that low. If you include clerk ships it's regularly around 30%

if you include clerkships for BC its around 45-50

BC FTW