UC Hastings --> WUSTL Forum

[Aristotilian]

I know I've asked a similar question before, but I'm going to ask again, with some changes.

1L 1st Semester GPA: 3.667

Based on ranking cut offs from previous years, it puts me in top 10%.

The state of California's economy troubles me, especially being at a public school. I came to Hastings to be close to family, but now both my family and my in-laws have moved away. My family lived for some time in Kansas City and also in St. Louis, so I have some ties to the area.

To add to all of this, I am worried that WUSTL doesn't really have a super strong home market that it feeds into. I wouldn't mind working in KC or STL, but I'm worried that there aren't a lot of legal jobs in those cities.

Would transferring to WUSTL be worth it?

[concurrent fork]

Give up top 10% at a T1 for WUSTL? Absolutely not. This is almost a lateral transfer. Keep your grades up and you are probably in at several T14.

[patrickd139]

Factors you might consider:

How significant are your ties to STL and KCMO? They are both very insulated secondary markets (KCMO more so than STL) and are not generally open to "mercenary" applicants. After trying to break into KCMO myself (with family who no longer lives there, but did), it seems to me that you at least need to be from that area or have close relatives there to signal intent. I received callbacks at every firm I interviewed with, and ended up with zero offers. I'll defer to others on this, though.

What, if any, in scholarships are you receiving from UC Hastings? Are there increases in that amount in your future? WUSTL, despite STL's comparatively low cost of living, is still expensive as hell for the regional job prospects you get.

WUSTL is still a regional school, albeit a good one. However, two anecdotes from people whom I know well who transferred from TTTs to WUSTL and tried to go back to California are struggling to get jobs. One has not passed the CA bar. If you desire to return to CA after graduation, or if that's where all of your ties are, please think twice before transferring.

As a poster above noted, top 10% at a T1 -> WUSTL should statistically be considered a lateral move. In this case, to a regional school far away from your old school.

I'm not sure how LR works at your school, but it sounds like you're in good position (based on your grades, at least) to snag it. If you do, transferring to WUSTL, which not too long ago did not allow transfers to write on, would be transferring down, IMO. Others can, and probably will, disagree.

You are in solid position, especially if your grades hold constant, to transfer to a T1, perhaps even Bezerkeley if you are a strong candidate overall. If WUSTL's EA program (which I understood is back this year) is binding, walk away. You can do better.

Anyway, I'd say T14, probably T10, or bust if you want to work on the West Coast. Keep up the good work and congrats on your success thus far.

ETA: I voted 'no' in the poll above.

[thexfactor]

NO!
WTF man top 10% at Hastings is good enough for a lot better schools. Apply ED at Chicago and GULC. You will get into UCLA/USC for sure. Outside chance at UCB.

The STL hiring market isnt good at all. The midwaste in general is pretty bad right now. The connections will get you STL biglaw regardless of where you are from. Don't give up on the west coast if school is the only "connection" you have to the west coast. People at wustl are DYING to get to the west or east coast.

Stay out west and go to ucla.

[Aristotilian]

Hmm....

A large reason for transferring is to leave California, so I wasn't really considering UCLA/USC.

However, the feeling I get from the comments is that it may be best to stay in California (even amidst budget cuts, rising tuition, exorbitant cost of living) because there is more legal work here than in other areas of the country.

As far as scholarships at Hastings, I'm pretty sure they are almost non-existent. I'm receiving a need based grant of $10,000, which I think is the norm.

[bk1]

However, the feeling I get from the comments is that it may be best to stay in California (even amidst budget cuts, rising tuition, exorbitant cost of living) because there is more legal work here than in other areas of the country.

There is more/better paying legal work available to a top 10% Hastings student than a transfer student at WUSTL for sure.

[romothesavior]

Not sure why you are even considering this. WUSTL isn't really that much better than UC Hastings to justify this move unless you are dead set on St. Louis or something.

Aim higher or stay where you are.

[Aristotilian]

Not sure why you are even considering this. WUSTL isn't really that much better than UC Hastings to justify this move unless you are dead set on St. Louis or something.

Aim higher or stay where you are.

Thanks Romo. I guess I could have just PM'ed you, but I was secretly waiting for you to weigh in on this.

GULC a better option?

[romothesavior]

Not sure why you are even considering this. WUSTL isn't really that much better than UC Hastings to justify this move unless you are dead set on St. Louis or something.

Aim higher or stay where you are.

Thanks Romo. I guess I could have just PM'ed you, but I was secretly waiting for you to weigh in on this.

GULC a better option?

Don't get me wrong, I love WUSTL and I would encourage most 0Ls to come here if they want STL/Chicago/the midwest and could get $$. But unless you want a particular market that WUSTL is better for, then I don't see it as a big step up. So I am curious... what is making you want to transfer? It sounds like you are in pretty good shape at a pretty decent school.

*Also, just want to note that I'm no authority on this since I'm just a 1L. But I just can't see how WUSTL would be a better place for you if you don't have a geographic motivation.

[Aristotilian]

Reasons for transfer (in no particular order):

1. Be closer to family (South/East Coast)
2. Be at a school that isn't within 20 miles of 2 T14 schools
3. Rising tuition/Be at a school that has better funding (Hastings went from receiving ~80-90% of state funding to now receiving ~15%)
4. Exorbitant cost of living
5. Terrible public schools (want to start a family soon)
6. Better job prospects for SO
7. Better job prospects for me
8. Better student/faculty ratio

Don't get me wrong, I've really enjoyed my time at Hastings, and actually wouldn't mind staying. I know that my wife and I can make things work in California, but I think that maybe leaving California would be better in the long term, as far as raising a family goes.

[bk1]

Reasons for transfer (in no particular order):

1. Be closer to family (South/East Coast)
2. Be at a school that isn't within 20 miles of 2 T14 schools
3. Rising tuition/Be at a school that has better funding (Hastings went from receiving ~80-90% of state funding to now receiving ~15%)
4. Exorbitant cost of living
5. Terrible public schools (want to start a family soon)
6. Better job prospects for SO
7. Better job prospects for me
8. Better student/faculty ratio

Don't get me wrong, I've really enjoyed my time at Hastings, and actually wouldn't mind staying. I know that my wife and I can make things work in California, but I think that maybe leaving California would be better in the long term, as far as raising a family goes.

Then definitely aim higher.

[General Tso]

I think you should give it a shot, but like others, I think it's only worth it if you get into a T20 school. Try UVA...that's a great school for both the South and the Northeast.

I am wondering if I wouldnt be happier back east myself. CA has great weather and lots of stuff to do, but too expensive and ultracompetitive job market. Back east I could get a job anywhere. However, my g/f is an engineer and her career is going well.

[transplantedbuckeye]

Just to defray any concerns anyone looking through the thread might have, WUSTL most definitely allows transfers to write-on to any of the three journals

[Rule11]

Please don't do this.

Transferring out of Hastings is, in a vacuum, a great idea, but you shouldn't bother for less than Duke (seems more likely to be geographically/culturally palatable to you), if you maintain those grades. As someone mentioned above, UVA would also be worth it. You're probably not in at Chicago ED (and maybe you prefer not to be in a city?), but it would be a good choice if you keep things up.

WUSTL is, in practical terms, not a bit better than Hastings, with the added hardship that you would be viewed more like a median student as a transfer, if not an outright oddity.

[uzpakalis]

.

[XxSpyKEx]

Why not just transfer to berkeley? Pull your grades up just a bit after this 2nd semester and you'll have a really good shot at berkeley, which will make you more competitive in the cali market (assuming you want it).