WUSTL v. Louisville Forum

[ensign3066]

So here is the deal- I've been admitted to both as a tranny, and I'm seriously concerned about heading to WUSTL because of the debt I'd incur (I'd pay sticker). I'm from Kentucky- so I'd get in-state tuition at U of L, and I would like to stay in Louisville to find employment upon graduation (I am unsure as to whether UL has much pull in other markets). From what I have read on the admitted students bulletin board for WUSTL, bigger Louisville firms also recruit at WUSTL. My question- would the brand name of WUSTL be worth the extra $$$? Thanks in advance for any input.

[ensign3066]

Hellooooo... is anybody in there? Just nod if you can hear me....

[Nogameisfair]

would the brand name of WUSTL be worth the extra $$$? Thanks in advance for any input.

Not likely. If you can get the firm in Louisville you want, what's the point of WUSTL, besides the perceived prestige boost? Keep your debt low.

[flexityflex86]

is there anyone at all? relax. i need some information first. just the basic facts. can you show me where it hurts?

i'd take louisville. sticker at wustl is tough, i know, and most of your peers will have scholarships. the fact is that if you want to work in louisville which does not have any big law firms anyway really, i think it would be dumb to spend twice the tuition for a school that while nationally known is not a national placer.

[23402385985]

So here is the deal- I've been admitted to both as a tranny, and I'm seriously concerned about heading to WUSTL because of the debt I'd incur (I'd pay sticker). I'm from Kentucky- so I'd get in-state tuition at U of L, and I would like to stay in Louisville to find employment upon graduation (I am unsure as to whether UL has much pull in other markets). From what I have read on the admitted students bulletin board for WUSTL, bigger Louisville firms also recruit at WUSTL. My question- would the brand name of WUSTL be worth the extra $$$? Thanks in advance for any input.

Thinly veiled brag about being a tranny.

[ensign3066]

So here is the deal- I've been admitted to both as a tranny, and I'm seriously concerned about heading to WUSTL because of the debt I'd incur (I'd pay sticker). I'm from Kentucky- so I'd get in-state tuition at U of L, and I would like to stay in Louisville to find employment upon graduation (I am unsure as to whether UL has much pull in other markets). From what I have read on the admitted students bulletin board for WUSTL, bigger Louisville firms also recruit at WUSTL. My question- would the brand name of WUSTL be worth the extra $$$? Thanks in advance for any input.

Thinly veiled brag about being a tranny.

[ensign3066]

a school that while nationally known is not a national placer.

Thanks for the heads up. If Wash U is not a national placer- and SLU has a better time getting folks into St. Louis firms- then in what market is Wash U competitive exactly?

[stratocophic]

a school that while nationally known is not a national placer.

Thanks for the heads up. If Wash U is not a national placer- and SLU has a better time getting folks into St. Louis firms- then in what market is Wash U competitive exactly?

SLU only has an easier time because they're all from St. Louis, and thus firms will take the top of their class because they have ties. Almost all of the top of their class goes to STL firms; ours doesn't, and it's generally by choice. WashU places people with ties into places like Cincy, Louisville, KC and Nashville. If you have the grades and/or qualities like being patent bar eligible or something, the reach expands to places like Chicago and New York. It's mostly a question of bigger cities being grade conscious with schools like WashU and Illinois - if you don't have the grades, it's a no go.

[ensign3066]

What's the curve at WUSTL? It's a strange index isn't it? Fuck it- I'm not the least bit interested in getting big law straight out of the gate. My pops started at a mid-size firm and worked his way into big law. For me, with my skill set and learning processes, the gradual trajectory seems more befitting. That being said, are mid size firms within grasp for WUSTL within the region for those that aren't in the top 25%?

[ndirish2010]

UL

[K.R.I.T.]

WUSTL.

[ran12]

If your dad's in biglaw I would take the risk and go with WUSTL. It provides more options than Louisville and down the line you never know what you might want to do or where you want to practice. Worst case scenario, your dad should be able to bail you out financially.

[VinceIrons]

If you're positive you want to practice and live in Louisville after graduation, and don't have much interest in practicing elsewhere, UofL is probably the way to go. If the end result is going to be the same (working in Louisville), you're basically paying sticker for a WUSTL diploma and a line on your resume. I kinda doubt UofL has much pull outside of KY, so if you do think you might want to practice elsewhere, WUSTL might help a bit with that. You should also consider whether you'd be able to get a job at the Louisville firms that go to OCI at WUSTL. Paying sticker and then striking out in your target market would be pretty harsh.

[quadsixm]

If you're positive you want to practice and live in Louisville after graduation, and don't have much interest in practicing elsewhere, UofL is probably the way to go. If the end result is going to be the same (working in Louisville), you're basically paying sticker for a WUSTL diploma and a line on your resume. I kinda doubt UofL has much pull outside of KY, so if you do think you might want to practice elsewhere, WUSTL might help a bit with that. You should also consider whether you'd be able to get a job at the Louisville firms that go to OCI at WUSTL. Paying sticker and then striking out in your target market would be pretty harsh.

+1 if you're positive you want to work in Louisville, UL all the way. Anywhere else, WUSTL.

Also, Rick Pitino is the man.

[stratocophic]

If you're positive you want to practice and live in Louisville after graduation, and don't have much interest in practicing elsewhere, UofL is probably the way to go. If the end result is going to be the same (working in Louisville), you're basically paying sticker for a WUSTL diploma and a line on your resume. I kinda doubt UofL has much pull outside of KY, so if you do think you might want to practice elsewhere, WUSTL might help a bit with that. You should also consider whether you'd be able to get a job at the Louisville firms that go to OCI at WUSTL. Paying sticker and then striking out in your target market would be pretty harsh.

I dunno, it doesn't seem completely intuitive that going to U of L = interviews if he's coming in from a worse school. If Louisville firms interview someone at WUSTL's OCI, I would think that OP would be that person - that connection would likely put him in front of all but the top of the class at WUSTL for an interview, and how many of them do you think are gunning for Louisville? From there it'll be a matter of convincing the firms to call back and hire him, at which point the school doesn't matter. At Louisville, he'd be just one more person looking to stick around, and he won't have good grades at U of L to differentiate himself since everyone will be bidding on Louisville firms. U of L is probably the safer choice because of the debt though. I had a hard time justifying picking a really expensive school at sticker over a big scholarship (and didn't do it in the end). Best of luck, OP.