Top Law Schools

Currently attend a Regional midwestern school and getting $12K/Year. Right now I'm in the top 25% of the class with probably no shot at OCI. I've been accepted to WUSTL and getting $12k over the next two years so that the total difference in tuition comes out to ~$23-25k.

Is it worth it to transfer seeing that WUSTL doesn't place well in the Chicago market and i'm looking to ultimately be employed in Chicago?

If you're at DePaul or a Chicago school in the 125 range, it might be close because of networking opportunities in the city. But otherwise transfer. Debt ain't shit once you miss the biglaw boat with PAYE.

I haven't heard of any transfers at WUSTL getting biglaw fwiw. OCI at WUSTL is 100% preselect, so you won't get any interviews. Top 25% at WUSTL is in serious danger of striking out, and wouldn't get many interviews, so just something to consider.

Yeah transferring to the T25s is always a risky proposition. You're generally behind the top students as far as OCI is concerned, and there aren't that many offers to go around anyway.

For the sake of brevity: No.

I actually agree with Johann. If it is DePaul, stay and network. But if you are outside of Chicago and the debt doesn't go up, then it is worth it to transfer. I generally agree with everyone that transferring to a non-t14 is a risky and probably bad idea. But if you want Chicago and you're not living there now and it won't increase your debt load much, then definitely transfer.

If you're in Chicago, stay and network

Thank you all for the advice. I really appreciate it. To answer, I'm currently in Chicago with a decent network (I like to think anyways). Several attorneys who I have spoken too have actually encouraged me to go to WUSTL as opposed to staying where I am at now.

I don't know if this changes anyone's opinion, but I also am looking to move more for prestige and other softs as opposed to potential OCI.