Penn or stay? Forum

abc8 · Post by **abc8** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:38 pm

Ranked in the top 5% at WUSTL (with a sizable scholarship), graded on to LR.

Interested in big law on the east coast and a federal clerkship.

Stay or go?

patrickd139 · Post by **patrickd139** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:50 pm

What are you doing this summer? Where are you from? How big is your "sizable" scholarship? Can you still participate in OCI at Penn? How close are you with the professors at WUSTL? Are you debt averse? Why did you allow people to select two options on the poll?

abc8 · Post by **abc8** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:59 pm

patrickd139 wrote:What are you doing this summer? Where are you from? How big is your "sizable" scholarship? Can you still participate in OCI at Penn? How close are you with the professors at WUSTL? Are you debt averse? Why did you allow people to select two options on the poll?

- Research assistant for a professor
- Missouri
- Very
- Yes, can participate
- Have a good relationship with numerous professors
- Not particularly debt averse
- Messed up the poll

ndirish2010 · Post by **ndirish2010** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:02 pm

I would stay and just go for Chicago/St Louis (you should have a good shot at Bryan Cave St Louis since you're from the state), but if you must have the East Coast, I guess transfer. I wouldn't give up top 5%/LR at a T25 for anything except HYS.

patrickd139 · Post by **patrickd139** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 11:12 pm

ndirish2010 wrote:I would stay and just go for Chicago/St Louis (you should have a good shot at Bryan Cave St Louis since you're from the state), but if you must have the East Coast, I guess transfer. I wouldn't give up top 5%/LR at a T25 for anything except HYS.

I agree with all of this, for what it's worth. I chose to stay, in a similar position at a much lower ranked school, and it's worked out well for me. However, I was not set on the East Coast.

If you're not debt-averse, and want the increased prestige, then go for it. However, I don't think you're increasing anything other than your debt load and how far up the vault rankings you go.

Abazu · Post by **Abazu** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:06 am

Did you apply to any of HYS? If so, what was the result?

glewz · Post by **glewz** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:10 am

ndirish2010 wrote:I wouldn't give up top 5%/LR at a T25 for anything except HYS.

Disclaimer: 0L. But I agree with this statement. I also voted on accident for Penn.

Rock-N-Roll · Post by **Rock-N-Roll** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 2:37 am

Just a curious 0L here, and I am NOT espousing either side of the question regarding whether OP should stay or transfer.

But, am I correct to understand that OP is implying that a student in the top 5% with LR @WUSTL might not place on the east coast or get a fed clerkship? If OP does feel this way, might this not be overly pessimistic for someone doing so well at a T25?

abc8 · Post by **abc8** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:12 am

Rock-N-Roll wrote:Just a curious 0L here, and I am NOT espousing either side of the question regarding whether OP should stay or transfer.

But, am I correct to understand that OP is implying that a student in the top 5% with LR @WUSTL might not place on the east coast or get a fed clerkship? If OP does feel this way, might this not be overly pessimistic for someone doing so well at a T25?

I think that big law on the east coast, especially in big markets like DC and NYC, is certainly feasible coming from WUSTL. I also think that a federal clerkship is possible given my current standings. I'm more inquiring as to whether transferring to Penn would put me in a better position to achieve my goals than staying at WUSTL.

I also should mention that I wouldn't mind leaving Missouri. So all things being equal (if that were the case), I may lean towards Penn.

Post by **vanwinkle** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 9:35 am

ndirish2010 wrote:I would stay and just go for Chicago/St Louis (you should have a good shot at Bryan Cave St Louis since you're from the state), but if you must have the East Coast, I guess transfer. I wouldn't give up top 5%/LR at a T25 for anything except HYS.

I agree with the bolded, at least. HYS would've been worth it, but I think Penn just isn't.

I feel that you wouldn't substantially increase your odds on the east coast. A number of NYC firms will give you a look with top 5% and LR, and Penn isn't such a huge move upward that I think it's worth giving those things up.

dublin · Post by **dublin** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:37 am

If you did that well at WUSTL, you will probably do well at Penn too. If all things are pretty equal for you-- go for Penn!

Post by **vanwinkle** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:41 am

dublin wrote:If you did that well at WUSTL, you will probably do well at Penn too. If all things are pretty equal for you-- go for Penn!

Are you a 0L?

In the transfer game, it's not about "doing well" at the new school. It's about opportunities for internships, clerkships, summer firm jobs and permanent job offers... You can transfer, do well at your new school, and still miss out on something you could've gotten if you'd stayed.

dublin · Post by **dublin** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:45 am

nope...currently transferring from a top 20 to a top 10. I understand totally what you are saying, I just was pointing out that he/she would probably still be at the top of the class at Penn, and still stand out to employers-- closer to the market he/she is interested in.

CanadianWolf · Post by **CanadianWolf** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:58 am

Stay. You have a good thing going in your home state that will make you attractive to major Chicago & St. Louis firms as well as to regional Article III federal judges. Plus, it's tuition free at a top 20 law school. Graduating debt free, or nearly debt free, from law school relieves a substantial amount of stress that may allow you to perform better on the job.

Post by **romothesavior** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:36 am

I am having the hardest time figuring out who you are...

But anyways, I say you stay here. I wouldn't leave your grades, your connections with profs, law review, and your scholarship for anything less than HYS. I just don't think Penn is worth giving all of that up.

whatdoyouthink · Post by **whatdoyouthink** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:44 pm

If you want biglaw on the East Coast, go to Penn.

Post by **vanwinkle** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:08 pm

whatdoyouthink wrote:If you want biglaw on the East Coast, go to Penn.

Why?

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