WUSTL vs. UIUC for Chicago Forum

[TheSteelKid]

Do you think that WUSTL or UIUC is better for placement for Chicago and is the difference significant?

WUSTL says on their website that "Each year over two-thirds of the graduating class accepts positions outside the St. Louis area." One would assume that a decent amount of students still work in Kansas City, Missouri and elsewhere in the state of Missouri. I'm guessing about 50% of students stay in Missouri?

Illinois says that "40% of our graduates took employment outside Illinois". This makes me think these two are pretty darn equivalent when it comes to employment outside of their home states.

The question is though, does UIUC do significantly better in Chicago?

[alexonfyre]

Do you think that WUSTL or UIUC is better for placement for Chicago and is the difference significant?

WUSTL says on their website that "Each year over two-thirds of the graduating class accepts positions outside the St. Louis area." One would assume that a decent amount of students still work in Kansas City, Missouri and elsewhere in the state of Missouri. I'm guessing about 50% of students stay in Missouri?

Illinois says that "40% of our graduates took employment outside Illinois". This makes me think these two are pretty darn equivalent when it comes to employment outside of their home states.

The question is though, does UIUC do significantly better in Chicago?

WashU placed ~60% out of state, with 17% in the Illinois region, and UIUC placed ~60% in-state hard to say how many in Chicago. I would venture a guess that most of WashU's 17 percent are Chicago BigLaw, whereas UIUC probably runs the gamut from big to small throughout the state. Make of that what you will.

[bk1]

2005 data had 36% of WUSTL students staying in MO and I would hazard that the percentage is getting lower and lower as it keeps trying to attract a diverse student body.

Illinois and WUSTL are the quintessential definition of peers throughout the midwest and even in Chicago (which won't necessarily be easy from either school). Pick the cheaper school or if the one which you prefer if they are at comparable cost.

[09042014]

Do you think that WUSTL or UIUC is better for placement for Chicago and is the difference significant?

WUSTL says on their website that "Each year over two-thirds of the graduating class accepts positions outside the St. Louis area." One would assume that a decent amount of students still work in Kansas City, Missouri and elsewhere in the state of Missouri. I'm guessing about 50% of students stay in Missouri?

Illinois says that "40% of our graduates took employment outside Illinois". This makes me think these two are pretty darn equivalent when it comes to employment outside of their home states.

The question is though, does UIUC do significantly better in Chicago?

WashU placed ~60% out of state, with 17% in the Illinois region, and UIUC placed ~60% in-state hard to say how many in Chicago. I would venture a guess that most of WashU's 17 percent are Chicago BigLaw, whereas UIUC probably runs the gamut from big to small throughout the state. Make of that what you will.

This unofficial tally of ~v100 chicago firm says UIUC puts a lot more than WUSTL. Certainly some of that is self selection. http://lawfirmaddict.blogspot.com/2006/ ... go-il.html

But UIUC's reputation in Chicago is amazing. Half the partners probaly sent at least one kid to UIUC for undergrad. UIUC law has a huge alumni network, and not a single chicago firm isn't littered with WUSTL grads.

Just going to UIUC should be enough of a tie to convince OCI interviewers that you really want Chicago,

But they peer schools, the difference is small. I'd go to whichever is cheaper.

[JOThompson]

UIUC.

[ndirish2010]

If I really wanted Chicago, I would go to UIUC.

[JamMasterJ]

Illinois. Handily.

[romothesavior]

But they peer schools, the difference is small. I'd go to whichever is cheaper.

I'd say pretty much this. And I agree with the rest of what DF said. UIUC has a good reputation in the state, and almost everyone in IL has a family member who went there for something.