WUSTL or University of Houston Forum

[j7108]

So I have gotten two transfer acceptances: WUSTL and University of Houston. However, I don’t know which one to pick. While WUSTL is definitely the more prestigious law school, Houston is half the price. ($110k vs $55K)

Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Additional Information:
Part of me wants to do public interest, but there is another part of me that wants to do big law. Therefore, I want to go to the school that will give me the best opportunities because I have no idea what I want to do.

I’m originally from Texas, but if I move back to Texas I would only want to work in the Dallas market, not Houston. I’m afraid that if I go to Houston I won’t have a reasonable chance in any other city. In addition, I don’t know what would look better to a Dallas law firm, WUSTL (18) or Houston (56).

[j7108]

Don't be afraid to explain why you picked one school over the other. I'm really looking for some reasoning behind your decision. =)

[K.R.I.T.]

I'm also in at WUSTL- and that price tag is a bit daunting. In this case, I say go to WUSTL.

[getpolitical]

Figure out what market you want to work in when you graduate, and get as close to it as possible. I'm at WUSTL, looking to head home to CA when I'm done, and THAT is daunting. Both are good schools, but being in the region (four hours away is not really that much) will give you a much bigger advantage than going to a school that is a few points higher on the US News rankings. If you want to be in Texas, I'd advise U of H even if the costs were the same. Which they aren't.

[j7108]

Does anyone know a good place to see how well Houston and WUSTL place in the Dallas market?

[transplantedbuckeye]

I can't give you any hard numbers off the top of my head, but I'm at WUSTL right now and get the feeling we do decently in Dallas.

[patrickd139]

Neither school places well in Dallas. Have you considered SMU? I also don't have the numbers to back this up, but I'm thinking UofH places much better in Houston than WUSTL does in Dallas. Add to that the fact that most firms who have Houston offices (where UofH places the vast majority of its alumni) also have Dallas offices, and I think UofH is your best bet. Fewer firms with midwest offices (where WUSTL places the vast majority of its alumni) have Dallas offices.

[j7108]

I really appreciate the feedback! The poll turned out to be much closer than I had expected.

[AP-375]

Does anyone know a good place to see how well Houston and WUSTL place in the Dallas market?

Just do a crude Linkedin search for alumni from the each school in Dallas. Should give you a general idea. I think that if you want big law options, WUSTL is your best bet. Probably refer to the NLJ stats for specifics. At least with WUSTL, you'll have options in more than one market, and if you network and hustle, you should be able to get to Dallas. With Houston, you're more likely to be limited to that city.
Plus, as everyone says, UT and SMU dominate Dallas. Can't hurt to try to break in there from a higher ranked school.

[j7108]

Both UT and SMU both told me that I couldn't transfer there because I'm currently in a PT program. However, I completely agree that UT and SMU dominate in Dallas, which was why I originally applied to WUSTL because it's a big name school. I was hoping that a big national name would get me in the door.

[Stringer Bell]

WUSTL's biglaw placement is a little better than UH, but it's not by an enormous margin. In terms of Dallas placement, 11 Dallas offices did OCI at Houston and 5 went to WUSTL. I would be surprised if comparable class ranks from WUSTL and UH had different placement opportunities there.

[xyzbca]

Both UT and SMU both told me that I couldn't transfer there because I'm currently in a PT program. However, I completely agree that UT and SMU dominate in Dallas, which was why I originally applied to WUSTL because it's a big name school. I was hoping that a big national name would get me in the door.

I assume you just finished your first year as a PT student (c/o 2014). How competitive would you be to transfer into UT next year? How badly do you want to be in Dallas? Ultimately, the best bet for Dallas would be UT and your quickest route may be one more year at your current school, transfer to UT and graduate with the class of 2014.

If you end up somewhere other than Dallas from WUSTL/UH it'll take you a couple of years of practice before you can move to Dallas.

Would SMU/UT consider you as a transfer student after your second year in the PT program?

[j7108]

SMU wanted me to wait another semester and then sacrifice some credits. However, UT told me that I simply would not qualify to transfer from a PT program. Again though, I'm not 100% sure I want to start in Dallas. I plan on applying in Dallas, DC, and NY. I will go where the best position picks me up, which is why I want to go to the school that gives me the best national options.

[xyzbca]

Best, though limited, national options = WUSTL.

Strictly for Dallas, probably a wash between the two. Therefore, take the cost savings at UH if Dallas becomes your primary goal.

[flexityflex86]

OP, have you considered both? morning classes in houston then fly out to st. louis?

[K.R.I.T.]

SMU wanted me to wait another semester and then sacrifice some credits. However, UT told me that I simply would not qualify to transfer from a PT program. Again though, I'm not 100% sure I want to start in Dallas. I plan on applying in Dallas, DC, and NY. I will go where the best position picks me up, which is why I want to go to the school that gives me the best national options.

WUSTL.