BU vs. WUSTL Forum

[brownstudy]

Constrains are：
1. I'll practice IP after graduation.
2. Prefer east coast or west coast.

Does the IP ranking (BU 7, WUSTL not in top 20), and the higher chance of practicing in Boston worth the extra cost? And could the advantages of BU offset the difference in general ranking?

[tea_drinker]

1. Why do you have to practice IP?

2. Where on east coast do you want to work?

[brownstudy]

I think by practicing IP I can take advantage of my Ph.D degree. Both Boston and New York City are good.

[Kabuo]

I'm a fellow clueless 0L, but from what I have read, I think IP people generally find jobs from whatever T1 they go to, so the reduced cost of WUSTL would be pretty attractive to me. That said, I know the general cutoff for NYC from WUSTL is pretty high, and that BU absolutely crushes WUSTL in Boston, so I'm voting BU unless you'd be ok with not getting Boston or NYC.

[Blindmelon]

Easy BU for East Coast/NYC. Boston is a great market for IP people.

[tea_drinker]

Easy BU for East Coast/NYC. Boston is a great market for IP people.

[BCLS]

What's a wustl?

[BarbellDreams]

BU easily here since it gives you a very good chance to be on the east coast and has a solid IP program. WUSTL is a good school, but going there banking on landing a job outside the midwest isn't a great idea.

[fingersxd]

BU easily here since it gives you a very good chance to be on the east coast and has a solid IP program. WUSTL is a good school, but going there banking on landing a job outside the midwest isn't a great idea.

+1 .. if you are set on the east coast WUSTL will be a struggle and BU should be the choice.

That said, if you would be just as happy on the west coast (or are willing to try the midwest and then a lateral transfer), I don't think BU>WUSTL ... they are probably about equal so I would take the money and run.

[JamMasterJ]

BU easily here since it gives you a very good chance to be on the east coast and has a solid IP program. WUSTL is a good school, but going there banking on landing a job outside the midwest isn't a great idea.

[brownstudy]

thanks for all the input. got final approval from isso at BU today. will withdraw from wustl.

[alumniguy]

Potentially disagree a bit on this one. If OP has a hard science major, it is more than likely that IP firms will be heavily recruiting him/her. Seems like OP would be incurring significantly more debt to go to BU for what is in all likelihood not much difference in IP job prospects.

Certainly BU places better on the East Coast, but OP has indicated a desire to do IP work. I'm not sure that the benefit of BU placing better at East Coast firms translates directly into better placement into an IP position. If OP is biglaw (i.e., non-IP biglaw) or bust, then BU is the answer. However, if OP is IP or bust, I'm not sure that I would agree that BU is hands down a winner.

OP should ask both career services offices how students desiring IP work typically find jobs. I know that there is an IP job fair prior to the start of 2L year that seems to be a major avenue of recruiting for these jobs.

[Cupidity]

Do you really want to live in St. Louis?

[bk1]

Where do you want to work?

• If midwest, then WUSTL.
• If east coast, then how important is $60k to you?
  • If $60k less debt is more important, then WUSTL.
  • If east coast is more important, then BU.

[brownstudy]

to alumniguy: thank you for the information! biglaw is attractive to me too, i'll try and see how the two (ip vs biglaw) compares. I think the goal would be biglaw working on IP, though I'm not sure how many are there on at east coast.

to cupidity: i'm totally fine with it but my wife is not. the tornado and crime rate are big concerns for her. I found that the tornado actually kill nobody in st.louis in the past decades or so.

to bk187: I like the style very much! I'm going to BU.




Took several days to hear back from BU that ISSO got everything under control. Just finished drafting my withdrawal letter and found it hard to click on the "send" button.

[Corwin]

Given your criteria I would definitely go to BU. Much easier to place where you want.

[alumniguy]

to alumniguy: thank you for the information! biglaw is attractive to me too, i'll try and see how the two (ip vs biglaw) compares. I think the goal would be biglaw working on IP, though I'm not sure how many are there on at east coast.

to cupidity: i'm totally fine with it but my wife is not. the tornado and crime rate are big concerns for her. I found that the tornado actually kill nobody in st.louis in the past decades or so.

to bk187: I like the style very much! I'm going to BU.




Took several days to hear back from BU that ISSO got everything under control. Just finished drafting my withdrawal letter and found it hard to click on the "send" button.

To clarify on my post IP v. biglaw. IP is pretty separate and distinct (as I understand it) in terms of obtaining employment than non-IP biglaw (i.e., if you have a hard sciences degree it is likely easier to get a market rate job). In order to get an IP job, you need a hard sciences degree. If you don't have a hard sciences degree, then it is most likely not going to happen...even if you are top of the class. This contrasts to non-IP biglaw which employment is based primarily on class rank/journal/interviewing skills.

If OP is not interested in non-IP biglaw opportunities, then I don't think BU likely has any benefit over WUSTL. However, if OP would settle for biglaw even if it wasn't an IP position (i.e., because s/he couldn't get an IP gig), then BU would open up more doors.

[Blindmelon]

to alumniguy: thank you for the information! biglaw is attractive to me too, i'll try and see how the two (ip vs biglaw) compares. I think the goal would be biglaw working on IP, though I'm not sure how many are there on at east coast.

to cupidity: i'm totally fine with it but my wife is not. the tornado and crime rate are big concerns for her. I found that the tornado actually kill nobody in st.louis in the past decades or so.

to bk187: I like the style very much! I'm going to BU.


Took several days to hear back from BU that ISSO got everything under control. Just finished drafting my withdrawal letter and found it hard to click on the "send" button.

To clarify on my post IP v. biglaw. IP is pretty separate and distinct (as I understand it) in terms of obtaining employment than non-IP biglaw (i.e., if you have a hard sciences degree it is likely easier to get a market rate job). In order to get an IP job, you need a hard sciences degree. If you don't have a hard sciences degree, then it is most likely not going to happen...even if you are top of the class. This contrasts to non-IP biglaw which employment is based primarily on class rank/journal/interviewing skills.

If OP is not interested in non-IP biglaw opportunities, then I don't think BU likely has any benefit over WUSTL. However, if OP would settle for biglaw even if it wasn't an IP position (i.e., because s/he couldn't get an IP gig), then BU would open up more doors.

Even with IP schools are regional. At least in my summer class in Boston the IP people are from BC/Cornell - northeast schools. If you want the East Coast this is still easy. There is the Loyola patent fair, but Boston schools go to it and Boston firms hire them there. Its silly, but its the way it is. Overall though it is easier to get a bigfirm job with IP, but its still not easy.