WUSTL Recent Grad (and others) Taking Questions Forum

[ojala]

Hah. I wouldn't know, really. I drive. If I want a sexual assault scare, I'll go to the Halloween party.

Does this mean the public transportation system is considered dangerous? (or more so than other major cities?) I live in NY but actually have been worrying about safety more as it will be my first time living alone

[TatteredDignity]

Hah. I wouldn't know, really. I drive. If I want a sexual assault scare, I'll go to the Halloween party.

Does this mean the public transportation system is considered dangerous? (or more so than other major cities?) I live in NY but actually have been worrying about safety more as it will be my first time living alone

I've taken the metro nearly every day for the past 3 years, and I've never whiffed a hint of trouble. But there are certainly some characters among the fare.

[Fiero85]

Yeah I think the danger factor is overblown. No issues at all in my limited night time use of the metro link.

[fl0w]

I'll be relying on public transit. Wustl has a cheap car share if I need a car, and there's always taxis.

Have you considered living in the loop? It has made me not having a car much easier than it would have been if I lived in CWE.

CWE is right by the med school metrolink station. not bad w/o a car.
To someone's point about sexual assault on the metro, not sure where that comes from. But St. Louis residents have a general fear of black people (do not argue with me about it, I didn't say ALL St. Louis residents) and public transit is by far mostly used by black people in St. Louis. Particularly during off-commute hours. But as another poster said, it's just fine.

Could try Carleton for the wood floor + studio you were talking about. 4616 Lindell.

[bouakedojo]

Hah. I wouldn't know, really. I drive. If I want a sexual assault scare, I'll go to the Halloween party.

Does this mean the public transportation system is considered dangerous? (or more so than other major cities?) I live in NY but actually have been worrying about safety more as it will be my first time living alone

I've taken the metro nearly every day for the past 3 years, and I've never whiffed a hint of trouble. But there are certainly some characters among the fare.

I would +1 this. Never had any problems on the metro.

Also, someone asked earlier about the 3L exit interview locations. I did mine and if you just go the registrar's office, the person in the front will direct you to either Dean Walsh's or Carrie Burn's office. Pretty quick as long as you fill out the stuff on symplicity.

[Durkheim]

Hah. I wouldn't know, really. I drive. If I want a sexual assault scare, I'll go to the Halloween party.

Does this mean the public transportation system is considered dangerous? (or more so than other major cities?) I live in NY but actually have been worrying about safety more as it will be my first time living alone

I've taken the metro nearly every day for the past 3 years, and I've never whiffed a hint of trouble. But there are certainly some characters among the fare.

Sorry that was irresponsible of me. Intended as a crack and nothing more. Coming from NY you'll probably know the deal: Some neighborhoods are inherently less safe, but no area is perfectly safe.

Not long ago, three WUSTL students were robbed near the metrolink closest to the school. On a Sunday in November around 8:25 PM. They relinquished their stuff and got away safe. By contrast, a woman was shot dead in the CWE a couple of years ago, when she was robbed at gunpoint and (allegedly) refused to relinquish her phone -whether that would have made a difference is anyone's guess. Little things like not wandering the streets alone after dark and/or being obvious about possessing high-value items wouldn't hurt. But for those 4 and the handful of others who have had issues, there are 100,000 people who traversed those roads and took those trains without any issues at all.

WUSTL has good on-campus trans. You can take a shuttle from one building to the bus depot, and then take a Metrobus home. In a pinch, find someone with a car or a big scary-looking dude (I can think of a couple) to escort you. People take care of each other here.

[Durkheim]

But St. Louis residents have a general fear of black people (do not argue with me about it, I didn't say ALL St. Louis residents) and public transit is by far mostly used by black people in St. Louis. Particularly during off-commute hours. But as another poster said, it's just fine..

Hard to argue the truth, Fl0w. It's a thing. But it goes beyond St. Louis. I can't speak to Metrolink's user demographics by time of day or otherwise, but I do know that in most cities public trans is disproportionately used by the poor. In St. Louis that doesn't mean black people in St. Louis (I don't have figures to make those assumptions). It's assumed to be East St. Louis (I can safely make this assumption). This is purportedly what keeps metrolink out of affluent neighborhoods -- the assumption that someone from E.STL will take the train to a rich, predominantly white neighborhood, steal the plasma TV, then take it home, to their fence, or try and sell it via the metrolink.

[chuckbass]

I'll be relying on public transit. Wustl has a cheap car share if I need a car, and there's always taxis.

Have you considered living in the loop? It has made me not having a car much easier than it would have been if I lived in CWE.

CWE is right by the med school metrolink station. not bad w/o a car.
To someone's point about sexual assault on the metro, not sure where that comes from. But St. Louis residents have a general fear of black people (do not argue with me about it, I didn't say ALL St. Louis residents) and public transit is by far mostly used by black people in St. Louis. Particularly during off-commute hours. But as another poster said, it's just fine.

Could try Carleton for the wood floor + studio you were talking about. 4616 Lindell.

Yea I'm looking at Carleton at the moment. And I think I'd prefer CWE over the Loop if most people are going to be going out in CWE.

[Ricky-Bobby]

But St. Louis residents have a general fear of black people (do not argue with me about it, I didn't say ALL St. Louis residents) and public transit is by far mostly used by black people in St. Louis. Particularly during off-commute hours. But as another poster said, it's just fine..

Hard to argue the truth, Fl0w. It's a thing. But it goes beyond St. Louis. I can't speak to Metrolink's user demographics by time of day or otherwise, but I do know that in most cities public trans is disproportionately used by the poor. In St. Louis that doesn't mean black people in St. Louis (I don't have figures to make those assumptions). It's assumed to be East St. Louis (I can safely make this assumption). This is purportedly what keeps metrolink out of affluent neighborhoods -- the assumption that someone from E.STL will take the train to a rich, predominantly white neighborhood, steal the plasma TV, then take it home, to their fence, or try and sell it via the metrolink.

...which is stupid because East St. Louis is a ghost town now. I feel a hell of a lot safer in the Boogie at night than I ever did in North City. In EStL they show you their gun. In NStL they point it at you.

[Durkheim]

...which is stupid because East St. Louis is a ghost town now. I feel a hell of a lot safer in the Boogie at night than I ever did in North City. In EStL they show you their gun. In NStL they point it at you.

Absolutely. I'd be more comfortable walking around JJK at midnight than I'd be visiting Fountain Park at Noon.

[Randomnumbers]

We had a person carjacked at knifepoint in the school parking garage last year. I've had friends mugged in the CWE. There are no "safe" places that are gauranteed to be safe, but the metrolink doesn't seem any more dangerous than anywhere else.

With regards to the "safe" zone for grades: There is no such thing as safe. I'd feel comfortable in the top 15% getting plenty of interviews, but it's not a gaurantee of a job.

[notedgarfigaro]

I took a 30 minute metro ride today to go pick up my car from the Hyatt.

Somehow I managed to not get shanked or raped, so that counts as a win, right?

/wank

[bsktbll28082]

Anyone know if they rescind acceptances? Obviously not planning on failing second semester, just curious how bad I'd have to do.

[Randomnumbers]

Anyone know if they rescind acceptances? Obviously not planning on failing second semester, just curious how bad I'd have to do.

I've never heard of this happening. Try not to commit any felonies, graduate, and you should be fine.

[bsktbll28082]

Anyone know if they rescind acceptances? Obviously not planning on failing second semester, just curious how bad I'd have to do.

I've never heard of this happening. Try not to commit any felonies, graduate, and you should be fine.

Avoid jail? We'll see if I can do that.

And it's a transfer acceptance if that changes things.

[goldeneye]

Just don't update your transcript through CAS- then WashU can report your good GPA. When they ask for confirmation you graduated to can send the official direct to WashU.

[chuckbass]

Just don't update your transcript through CAS- then WashU can report your good GPA. When they ask for confirmation you graduated to can send the official direct to WashU.

Can anyone back this up? Because this is fantastic if true.

[Birdnals]

Anyone know if they rescind acceptances? Obviously not planning on failing second semester, just curious how bad I'd have to do.

If you are a transfer you should be gunning to get the best grades possible before your transfer. Even if WashU wouldn't rescind, all employers you will be interviewing with for 2L summer jobs will see your GPA from your old school and know if you didn't place at the top of your class.

[goldeneye]

Anyone know if they rescind acceptances? Obviously not planning on failing second semester, just curious how bad I'd have to do.

If you are a transfer you should be gunning to get the best grades possible before your transfer. Even if WashU wouldn't rescind, all employers you will be interviewing with for 2L summer jobs will see your GPA from your old school and know if you didn't place at the top of your class.

This is right. My answer was in response to undergrads.

[bsktbll28082]

Just don't update your transcript through CAS- then WashU can report your good GPA. When they ask for confirmation you graduated to can send the official direct to WashU.

Ah, CAS emailed me for an updated transcript. Totally sent them one, but it's taking forever for them to process it.

[goldeneye]

Just don't update your transcript through CAS- then WashU can report your good GPA. When they ask for confirmation you graduated to can send the official direct to WashU.

Ah, CAS emailed me for an updated transcript. Totally sent them one, but it's taking forever for them to process it.

I actually don't even know if that's allowed but why would CAS care about your updated transcript? WashU probably just cares about what they can report and whether you actually graduate.

[bsktbll28082]

Just don't update your transcript through CAS- then WashU can report your good GPA. When they ask for confirmation you graduated to can send the official direct to WashU.

Ah, CAS emailed me for an updated transcript. Totally sent them one, but it's taking forever for them to process it.

I actually don't even know if that's allowed but why would CAS care about your updated transcript? WashU probably just cares about what they can report and whether you actually graduate.

They wanted a transcript which stated my undergraduate degree. Apparently the earlier ones did not have it listed as 'completed.'

[Presidentjlh]

To the above discussion, I have walked alone at night and been fine, but I'm also a 22 year old guy that constantly looks pissed, so, take that as you will.

[JCougar]

I lived in the CWE for three years with no problems, and routinely took the Metrolink at all hours of the night, routinely went on like 5-mile walks through Forest Park at like 11pm, biked home from the bars Downtown/in the Grove at like 3am.

I also had friends that lived in much "shadier" areas of the city like Gravois Park, etc. Never had a problem there, either.

I'm a somewhat stocky 30 year old dude, but that probably wouldn't make a difference to someone with a gun. There's random crime in every city, and I certainly heard about a few incidents while I was in school there, but St. Louis' crime issue is completely overblown. The crime "rate" appears artificially high because they city is very old and the boundaries are drawn close to the city center...whereas cities like Indianapolis extend out to where the outer suburbs of St. Louis would be. Overall, the St. Louis metro area is probably average or even above average as far as crime goes.

This story is a good summary of the reality beyond the media-driven anti-St. Louis hype:
http://explorestlouis.com/st-louis-crime-rates/

[chuckbass]

I lived in the CWE for three years with no problems, and routinely took the Metrolink at all hours of the night, routinely went on like 5-mile walks through Forest Park at like 11pm, biked home from the bars Downtown/in the Grove at like 3am.

I also had friends that lived in much "shadier" areas of the city like Gravois Park, etc. Never had a problem there, either.

I'm a somewhat stocky 30 year old dude, but that probably wouldn't make a difference to someone with a gun. There's random crime in every city, and I certainly heard about a few incidents while I was in school there, but St. Louis' crime issue is completely overblown. The crime "rate" appears artificially high because they city is very old and the boundaries are drawn close to the city center...whereas cities like Indianapolis extend out to where the outer suburbs of St. Louis would be. Overall, the St. Louis metro area is probably average or even above average as far as crime goes.

This story is a good summary of the reality beyond the media-driven anti-St. Louis hype:
http://explorestlouis.com/st-louis-crime-rates/

Thanks for all that. I've assumed that safety concerns in St. Louis were overblown. I've also lived in the ghettos of North Philly for a year which have to be much worse, so St. Louis doesn't really seem that bad.