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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?

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?

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Why?