WUSTL Recent Grad (and others) Taking Questions Forum

[beachbum]

Anybody familiar with how the St. Louis market is looking these days? A little amateur research on NALP says there were 28 SA positions at the big 6 in 2010.

Are you from St. Louis? If you aren't, your chances are close to zero no matter what your grades, but it can be done if you do something like buy a house here.

If you are, top third may get you in if you have decent soft factors -- top 20% otherwise. Just my rough guess re: what happened to our class.

To add to this, it looks like STL firms are expanding their summer programs slowly enough to not really make a difference for c/o 2014. The big firms seem to be adding only a few SAs (e.g., BC went from 11 to 13), and I haven't heard anything to suggest this trend won't hold for our class. So, it might be (very) marginally easier to obtain a biglaw SA this year, but I'd expect similar results to c/o 2013.

Yep, I'm a native.

Beachbum, where'd you get that updated info? NALP only had info for 2010, and said they only had like 6 spots then...although now that I check it says they expected 11 for 2011.

PM'd

[2014]

What's the deal with safety in CWE? Every apartment review I look at mentions multiple car break ins, muggings and people getting robbed at gun point, is it really a bad call to live there?

[beachbum]

What's the deal with safety in CWE? Every apartment review I look at mentions multiple car break ins, muggings and people getting robbed at gun point, is it really a bad call to live there?

Alright, promise I'm not trying to take over your thread, but...

No, the CWE is not THAT bad, as long as you're smart about it. I lived there for a year and essentially had my car parked in an alley behind my apt building, and I was (mostly) fine. (I had the stickers taken from my license plates, but it turns out that can be easily avoided by slicing the stickers with a razor). One of my buddies has also lived there for about a year now, and he hasn't had any problems.

Just don't leave stuff out in the open in your car. And don't stumble home drunk by yourself (or, if you do, stay in well-lit, populated areas). And generally apply common sense, and you'll be ok.

I actually found the CWE to be a great place to live. Lots of grad students/young professionals, always somethin going on, lots of places to eat/drink.

[Kabuo]

What's the deal with safety in CWE? Every apartment review I look at mentions multiple car break ins, muggings and people getting robbed at gun point, is it really a bad call to live there?

I don't think you will find a single person who says the CWE is more dangerous than U City. Beachbum is right about common sense, of course, but I think you need that everywhere. I live in the CWE and I've had my car broken into twice. First time they took the GPS out of the glove compartment (no, no cords hanging out or other obv indicia that it was there), and second time they took nothing because there was nothing to take. Pain in the ass, but it seems like I just got unlucky.

U City on the other hand is pretty gnarly at night. I feel much better walking alone (drunk) at night in the CWE than in U City.

[2014]

As a whole would you guys recommend CWE then? I like the idea of being close to the extracurricular stuff and it doesn't bother me having to either take public transportation or drive to school. The only downside seems like a standard 1 BR or studio in CWE runs noticeably higher than anywhere else.

I've seen Romo's neighborhood description post too btw.

[stratocophic]

As a whole would you guys recommend CWE then? I like the idea of being close to the extracurricular stuff and it doesn't bother me having to either take public transportation or drive to school. The only downside seems like a standard 1 BR or studio in CWE runs noticeably higher than anywhere else.

I've seen Romo's neighborhood description post too btw.

CWE's better IMO. Been in the loop 2 years, happy to be finally getting out of it next year. I'll miss walking to school, but not that much.

[stolli]

CWE is nicer but also about twice as expensive as UCity. Parts of U city can be a little rough but as long as you arnt reckless about what you do you should be fine. im paying 550 for a 2 bedroom in ucity where i have friends that are paying 750 for a one bedroom....

[stratocophic]

CWE is nicer but also about twice as expensive as UCity. Parts of U city can be a little rough but as long as you arnt reckless about what you do you should be fine. im paying 550 for a 2 bedroom in ucity where i have friends that are paying 750 for a one bedroom....

Always cheaper per person for a 2br, man. A 1BR in the loop's still gonna be 700 with utilities, and there are places in the CWE like the Monticello or Park Plaza ( might have the name wrong, but it's park something) that run about the same price, or at least they did when I was looking. It was close enough $-wise that I chose based on being able to walk to school rather than price, though paying for campus parking and gas is something you have to factor in to get the real price difference.

That said, the Loop isn't all that bad. The safety stuff isn't a huge issue as long as you're smart about when and where you step north of Delmar. I made it through 2 years there unscathed and never felt unsafe, though I also wouldn't be anyone's first choice to jump because I'm a) poor and b) large.

[Birdnals]

The guys I am going to live with are thinking about getting a loft on Wash Ave. Anybody here have experience with that and have any pros/cons? It is usually where we end the night when I lived in STL/ when I am in town, so it makes sense. I just don't know if it would be too terribly inconvenient as a 1L. How long would it take if I took the metro? 15/20 mins?

[seatown12]

The guys I am going to live with are thinking about getting a loft on Wash Ave. Anybody here have experience with that and have any pros/cons? It is usually where we end the night when I lived in STL/ when I am in town, so it makes sense. I just don't know if it would be too terribly inconvenient as a 1L. How long would it take if I took the metro? 15/20 mins?

I lived downtown and it took a little over 20 minutes on the Metro.

The problem with doing that as a 1L is all the Bar Reviews, etc. take place in the Loop or CWE, and since that's also where everyone lives that's almost exclusively where people go out, so you will have to go out of your way to hang out with law kids.

Another thing about living downtown is almost everything shuts down at 5pm except the bars and baller restaurants, so if you want to grab a quick cheap dinner your options are real limited.

That said I enjoyed living downtown and you can get a pretty sweet loft for about the same price as a small shitty apartment in the CWE. I think you should go for it but just wanted to point out the two main drawbacks in my mind.

[Kabuo]

Always cheaper per person for a 2br, man. A 1BR in the loop's still gonna be 700 with utilities, and there are places in the CWE like the Monticello or Park Plaza ( might have the name wrong, but it's park something) that run about the same price, or at least they did when I was looking. It was close enough $-wise that I chose based on being able to walk to school rather than price, though paying for campus parking and gas is something you have to factor in to get the real price difference.

That said, the Loop isn't all that bad. The safety stuff isn't a huge issue as long as you're smart about when and where you step north of Delmar. I made it through 2 years there unscathed and never felt unsafe, though I also wouldn't be anyone's first choice to jump because I'm a) poor and b) large.

Parc Frontenac, I think.

[Unagi]

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies to my previous post!
I know I can wait to get an apartment, but I'm thinking on getting one through Quadrangle Housing. The idea of living in a building with only WashU people gives me some peace of mind when I think about safety.
Is the building at 6820 Delmar a good option? I'm thinking on getting a 1 bedroom there facing Delmar, would it be too noisy? Would I be better of on one facing the parking lot?
Thanks!

[camstant]

The guys I am going to live with are thinking about getting a loft on Wash Ave. Anybody here have experience with that and have any pros/cons? It is usually where we end the night when I lived in STL/ when I am in town, so it makes sense. I just don't know if it would be too terribly inconvenient as a 1L. How long would it take if I took the metro? 15/20 mins?

That's a bit of a haul. Make sure you're really OK with the hassle. I know people who go to SLU law that live there, but it's a fraction of the commute. And not many wash u people live down there, so most people in your class will usually be going out in cwe/ucity/clayton.

The downtown lofts are super nice for the money, but you have to understand that the concept is backwards compared to most cities. They are trying to get more young people to live down there because it's relatively dead except for when there's a cardinals games or some weekend nights. Will you have a car? If so, the lofts will include maybe one parking spot, otherwise you're going to need to pay separately for parking that may or may not be convenient (no, you don't want to park on the street).

The lofts are sweet, just make sure you consider the practical implications.

EDIT: sorry, just realized a lot of this was already covered above...

[Birdnals]

Thanks, we are just looking around right now, nothing really set in stone. I’m from STL, so I know the areas pretty well but I have only lived in the County, so your advice is appreciated.

[stratocophic]

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies to my previous post!
I know I can wait to get an apartment, but I'm thinking on getting one through Quadrangle Housing. The idea of living in a building with only WashU people gives me some peace of mind when I think about safety.
Is the building at 6820 Delmar a good option? I'm thinking on getting a 1 bedroom there facing Delmar, would it be too noisy? Would I be better of on one facing the parking lot?
Thanks!

Sorry I didn't get back to your PM, moving out's had me distracted. I'll answer here so everyone can see. Lived in a studio in 6820 for 1L and 2L, just moved out. I liked it and would recommend it to people looking for a cheap option close to the school.

The view from the windows on the Delmar side is scenic, biggest downsides are the firetrucks across the street, as they're extremely loud. You'll also occasionally get some idiots arguing or drunkenly yelling on the sidewalk, but that's less common and not nearly as loud anyway. Back of the building will be quieter, but it's a pretty ugly view. You'll also get more direct sunlight in the back, which will be hot in the summer. Electricity's included in the price though so cranking the window unit up isn't a problem.

Not having a dishwasher's really annoying and you'll want a fan to keep the air in the kitchen from superheating because of the pilot lights on the gas stove, but those are probably the two biggest downsides to the place. The 10 minute walk to school is probably the biggest plus (and no need for a parking pass, which is another 500 per year you'll save), along with the fact that it's cheap and includes utilities.

[Unagi]

Hey guys, thanks for all the replies to my previous post!
I know I can wait to get an apartment, but I'm thinking on getting one through Quadrangle Housing. The idea of living in a building with only WashU people gives me some peace of mind when I think about safety.
Is the building at 6820 Delmar a good option? I'm thinking on getting a 1 bedroom there facing Delmar, would it be too noisy? Would I be better of on one facing the parking lot?
Thanks!

Sorry I didn't get back to your PM, moving out's had me distracted. I'll answer here so everyone can see. Lived in a studio in 6820 for 1L and 2L, just moved out. I liked it and would recommend it to people looking for a cheap option close to the school.

The view from the windows on the Delmar side is scenic, biggest downsides are the firetrucks across the street, as they're extremely loud. You'll also occasionally get some idiots arguing or drunkenly yelling on the sidewalk, but that's less common and not nearly as loud anyway. Back of the building will be quieter, but it's a pretty ugly view. You'll also get more direct sunlight in the back, which will be hot in the summer. Electricity's included in the price though so cranking the window unit up isn't a problem.

Not having a dishwasher's really annoying and you'll want a fan to keep the air in the kitchen from superheating because of the pilot lights on the gas stove, but those are probably the two biggest downsides to the place. The 10 minute walk to school is probably the biggest plus (and no need for a parking pass, which is another 500 per year you'll save), along with the fact that it's cheap and includes utilities.

Thanks!! I didn't insist on the PM cause I imagined you were busy. I'm 99% sure I'm going to get an apartment there!
I will rarely cook and we don't use dishwashers in my country (shocking right?!), so the downsides you mentioned won't be a problem for me!

[roaringeagle]

Will be attending WashU Law this fall! Woot!

[fl0w]

Will be attending WashU Law this fall! Woot!

May God have mercy on your soul...

I mean congrats and welcome!

[roaringeagle]

what can I expect on housing day? June 21?

[roaringeagle]

If you haven't already heard we have two Housing Days coming up this summer on Thursday, June 21 and Thursday, July 12, 2012. These events include a tour of the popular neighborhoods that law students live in as well as a housing fair for leasing agents to provide you with information about housing options in St. Louis. These events also give incoming students a chance to meet and mingle with one another before Orientation. You may RSVP for the Housing Days online.


NVM

[TheZoid]

Just a quick question for all the WUSTLers on here. From reading some of the recent posts, it sounds like UCity is kinda sketch. I'm deposited on a place in UCity within a mile of the campus. I kinda thought it gets worse the further you go from the school, and figured this area would be ok. Am I wrong about that?

[fl0w]

Just a quick question for all the WUSTLers on here. From reading some of the recent posts, it sounds like UCity is kinda sketch. I'm deposited on a place in UCity within a mile of the campus. I kinda thought it gets worse the further you go from the school, and figured this area would be ok. Am I wrong about that?

you are a little wrong about that.

It's not like Wash U is actually IN St. Louis. StL has this weird city/county thing that you'll figure out when you get here, but Wash U is in the county. You can go pretty far and still be in safe areas. Clayton, CWE, Grove, Tower Grove, Dogtown... all pretty safe places that are farther than UCity.

Living on / near the loop is a little sketchy, but you can be safe about it as well. If you live there DO NOT walk around alone at night. The school has a shuttle system for that area, so use it. If you've been bar hopping over there it may be unavoidable to walk home alone if you are a guy, but if you're a girl make sure someone walks you home. Call me sexist, but save something crazy if you're a guy the most that will happen is someone will mug you, if you're a girl it's more dangerous.

None of my friends that have lived in the loop were happy about it after first semester or so. The only people that were happy about living in UCity were the ones that only cared about paying the least amount possible for rent (not even caring about safety or quality of neighborhood).

[Michael Bluth]

Just a quick question for all the WUSTLers on here. From reading some of the recent posts, it sounds like UCity is kinda sketch. I'm deposited on a place in UCity within a mile of the campus. I kinda thought it gets worse the further you go from the school, and figured this area would be ok. Am I wrong about that?

In a general sense you're right, but it's a little more complicated than that. If you're in the Quadrangle housing south of Delmar then you'll probably be fine. Things get a little sketchier if you go just barely north of Delmar, but this is somewhat offset by an impressive police presence, especially at night.

As a general rule, the more north of Delmar and east of Skinker you go, the less safe things are. But within a mile of school shouldn't put you in any problem areas assuming you exercise some level of care (i.e. don't stumble home drunk and alone at 3 A.M.).

Also, fl0w is credited re: people leaving. I'm a rising 2L and almost every person I know who lived on the loop moved to the CWE or Tower Grove areas.

[TheZoid]

Thanks for the responses gentlemen. So "the Loop" is like the area of UCity that I'm referencing? Like somewhere down Forsythe a little bit (general area)? Would you guys say the DeMun neighborhood is preferable?

ETA: maybe this place isn't UCity? It looks as though it's listed under "Clayton" and not U City on the real estate website. On the map I'm looking at, they have UCity listed as well north of DelMar, and my place is about the same distance south of DelMar, and It's a good ways West of Skinker, so from the sounds of it it should be fine.

[TheZoid]

Sorry to be a pain in the ass. I just saw Romo's map several pages back, and it looks like I'm nowhere near the U-City Loop. West of that and West of the campus as well, which presumably is much safer than UCity? Thanks again for the input fellas, and all the others for the info ITT.