WUSTL Class of 2019 Applicants Forum

[LadyProspero]

Also I never received my t shirt so I'm actually kinda still sad about that... Haha, I was looking forward to it!

[regulartime]

Also I never received my t shirt so I'm actually kinda still sad about that... Haha, I was looking forward to it!

I got mine but they sent the wrong size and it was way too small so I hope they do them again.

[chuckbass]

2L here that transferred from WUSTL to lower T14. Feel free to ask questions.

To the posters that are reapplying, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. WUSTL adcomms are great and are very understanding that making the decision to go to law school is a big one and will not hold anything against you.

[LadyProspero]

2L here that transferred from WUSTL to lower T14. Feel free to ask questions.

To the posters that are reapplying, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. WUSTL adcomms are great and are very understanding that making the decision to go to law school is a big one and will not hold anything against you.

Hey! Hope you're enjoying GT! And thanks for reassurance. I'm sure it will be fine, just dumb anxieties haha

[regulartime]

2L here that transferred from WUSTL to lower T14. Feel free to ask questions.

To the posters that are reapplying, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. WUSTL adcomms are great and are very understanding that making the decision to go to law school is a big one and will not hold anything against you.

Thanks for the reassurance. It's hard not to worry, especially when I already regret not just attending this year.

[PourMeTea]

2L here that transferred from WUSTL to lower T14. Feel free to ask questions.

To the posters that are reapplying, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. WUSTL adcomms are great and are very understanding that making the decision to go to law school is a big one and will not hold anything against you.

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

[regulartime]

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

As transferring is iffy, would you suggest someone with a lower T14 acceptance to just avoid WUSTL then if Big Law was the goal?

[KMart]

Also I never received my t shirt so I'm actually kinda still sad about that... Haha, I was looking forward to it!

It took me months to get mine and the only way I did was through ASW.

[PourMeTea]

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

As transferring is iffy, would you suggest someone with a lower T14 acceptance to just avoid WUSTL then if Big Law was the goal?

Yes, although transferring to a T14 from median is very much a possibility, and WUSTL's massive scholarships are nothing to scoff at.

[Scalvert]

So, does everyone else's status checker say that they're currently under review, yet the status date hasn't changed from the application submission date? I think the status checker is just lying to spare my feelings.

[benwyatt]

Post removed.

[sublime]

..

[Scalvert]

So, does everyone else's status checker say that they're currently under review, yet the status date hasn't changed from the application submission date? I think the status checker is just lying to spare my feelings.

Mine doesn't say I'm UR

Maybe I really am UR somewhere!!! 1/12! Yes!

[regulartime]

So, does everyone else's status checker say that they're currently under review, yet the status date hasn't changed from the application submission date? I think the status checker is just lying to spare my feelings.

Nope, mine still says Application documents received.

[LET'S GET IT]

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

As transferring is iffy, would you suggest someone with a lower T14 acceptance to just avoid WUSTL then if Big Law was the goal?

I would respectfully disagree with the line of thinking that anyone who wants biglaw should transfer to any T14. I'm thrilled it worked out for Tea, but that is one case. The biglaw numbers aren't that much different at somewhere like GULC than at WUSTL, and you could easily go there, take on an extra 100K in debt, and still strike out. Obviously if you are on a small/no scolly at WUSTL, then go, or if you have extenuating circumstances (a la ChuckBass) then by all means go. But GULC and Michigan will take WUSTL kids from well below median and I don't think you should go depending on class rank and how much $$ you are getting from WUSTL. In some situations it makes sense, in some it doesn't.

Point being is that when it comes to transferring, blanket statements don't make sense and every situation should be evaluated separately.

PSA: I'm a WUSTL 2L who passed on transferring after applying, so maybe I'm biased in the same way that the people who did transfer and had it work out are biased that way. I'm just presenting an alternative viewpoint.

[chingwoo]

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

As transferring is iffy, would you suggest someone with a lower T14 acceptance to just avoid WUSTL then if Big Law was the goal?

I would respectfully disagree with the line of thinking that anyone who wants biglaw should transfer to any T14. I'm thrilled it worked out for Tea, but that is one case. The biglaw numbers aren't that much different at somewhere like GULC than at WUSTL, and you could easily go there, take on an extra 100K in debt, and still strike out. Obviously if you are on a small/no scolly at WUSTL, then go, or if you have extenuating circumstances (a la ChuckBass) then by all means go. But GULC and Michigan will take WUSTL kids from well below median and I don't think you should go depending on class rank and how much $$ you are getting from WUSTL. In some situations it makes sense, in some it doesn't.

A big portion of the allure of transferring is to get in front of firms with a Wash U gpa. Even if you end up median and get 15 screeners at Georgetown, you will still have a 3.5.

[LET'S GET IT]

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

As transferring is iffy, would you suggest someone with a lower T14 acceptance to just avoid WUSTL then if Big Law was the goal?

I would respectfully disagree with the line of thinking that anyone who wants biglaw should transfer to any T14. I'm thrilled it worked out for Tea, but that is one case. The biglaw numbers aren't that much different at somewhere like GULC than at WUSTL, and you could easily go there, take on an extra 100K in debt, and still strike out. Obviously if you are on a small/no scolly at WUSTL, then go, or if you have extenuating circumstances (a la ChuckBass) then by all means go. But GULC and Michigan will take WUSTL kids from well below median and I don't think you should go depending on class rank and how much $$ you are getting from WUSTL. In some situations it makes sense, in some it doesn't.

A big portion of the allure of transferring is to get in front of firms with a Wash U gpa. Even if you end up median and get 15 screeners at Georgetown, you will still have a 3.5.

I get that but that still doesn't mean you necessarily get a job. You are paying the extra 100K, or whatever it is, to get it front of more firms. But it's still a big gamble. Frankly a 3.5 GPA is going to probably get you ~8-10 screeners w/o transferring. That's a lot of money to pay for 5 or 6 more screeners.

[acr]

I was accepted ED last year so if anyone has specific questions about that I can probably help

[chingwoo]

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

As transferring is iffy, would you suggest someone with a lower T14 acceptance to just avoid WUSTL then if Big Law was the goal?

I would respectfully disagree with the line of thinking that anyone who wants biglaw should transfer to any T14. I'm thrilled it worked out for Tea, but that is one case. The biglaw numbers aren't that much different at somewhere like GULC than at WUSTL, and you could easily go there, take on an extra 100K in debt, and still strike out. Obviously if you are on a small/no scolly at WUSTL, then go, or if you have extenuating circumstances (a la ChuckBass) then by all means go. But GULC and Michigan will take WUSTL kids from well below median and I don't think you should go depending on class rank and how much $$ you are getting from WUSTL. In some situations it makes sense, in some it doesn't.

A big portion of the allure of transferring is to get in front of firms with a Wash U gpa. Even if you end up median and get 15 screeners at Georgetown, you will still have a 3.5.

I get that but that still doesn't mean you necessarily get a job. You are paying the extra 100K, or whatever it is, to get it front of more firms. But it's still a big gamble. Frankly a 3.5 GPA is going to probably get you ~8-10 screeners w/o transferring. That's a lot of money to pay for 5 or 6 more screeners.

People at median here aren't getting 8-10 screeners from WUSTL programs without super good softs. Even so its also the difference between getting screeners with v50 NY firms that have huge classes and small midwestern firms with really small classes.

[LET'S GET IT]

Also a 2L who transferred from WUSTL to lower T14, and more than happy to take questions about professors/transferring whatever. Also, WUSTL -> transfer is credited af if you want biglaw.

As transferring is iffy, would you suggest someone with a lower T14 acceptance to just avoid WUSTL then if Big Law was the goal?

I would respectfully disagree with the line of thinking that anyone who wants biglaw should transfer to any T14. I'm thrilled it worked out for Tea, but that is one case. The biglaw numbers aren't that much different at somewhere like GULC than at WUSTL, and you could easily go there, take on an extra 100K in debt, and still strike out. Obviously if you are on a small/no scolly at WUSTL, then go, or if you have extenuating circumstances (a la ChuckBass) then by all means go. But GULC and Michigan will take WUSTL kids from well below median and I don't think you should go depending on class rank and how much $$ you are getting from WUSTL. In some situations it makes sense, in some it doesn't.

A big portion of the allure of transferring is to get in front of firms with a Wash U gpa. Even if you end up median and get 15 screeners at Georgetown, you will still have a 3.5.

I get that but that still doesn't mean you necessarily get a job. You are paying the extra 100K, or whatever it is, to get it front of more firms. But it's still a big gamble. Frankly a 3.5 GPA is going to probably get you ~8-10 screeners w/o transferring. That's a lot of money to pay for 5 or 6 more screeners.

People at median here aren't getting 8-10 screeners from WUSTL programs without super good softs. Even so its also the difference between getting screeners with v50 NY firms that have huge classes and small midwestern firms with really small classes.

Lol. Look I'm not trying to derail the thread, but most of the firms you are talking about aren't hiring median WUSTL students whether they transfer or not. Just because you get a screener with them by way of lottery does not mean you have a chance to get hired.

[ForgotMyPassword]

Hey all, 2L who transferred to a T6 willing to take Q's on the WUSTL 1L experience, which I enjoyed a great deal for the most part. Profs, studying, clubs, finals, stir fry - these are my areas of expertise from which I will dispense advice both on what I got right and what I got wrong.

Weighing in on transferring, I agree with letsgetit that as a blanket statement the advice transfer to a T14 for biglaw is overly broad and potentially harmful. The biglaw numbers vary considerably between schools, and the debt load is massive if you move from St. Louis to a high CoL city. This also gets into the difference between preselect and lottery oci's, as well as geographic considerations as to where you want to work. The decision is case by case, there's an entire forum dedicated to it for a reason.

To regulartime, if you have an acceptance to say NW or Duke / similar and are biglaw or bust, take it. You cannot accurately predict now how you will do, and most folks will try just as hard as you to do well. You may kill it and get biglaw with a low debt load, or you may not, so don't risk it.

[PourMeTea]

I agree with LGI that it's absolutely a gamble, but the transfers out of WUSTL have been having phenomenal successes at their respective OCIs that I don't believe would have been possible without screeners. It's a lot of extra cash to get those screeners, but you're talking about the difference between 100% preselect (WUSTL) and schools with a lottery system. Getting in front of a firm in person can make a world of difference. Sure, if someone is top 10-15% at WUSTL they'll probably be fine and should stay at the school, but I think transferring can make a lot of sense for people below that, or even just below top third. It's the difference between <3 screeners and 20.

Also, WUSTL grade inflation is ridiculous and it seems that some firms don't have a baseline for the school if they're not interviewing the students here. Even a median GPA at WUSTL looks impressive against a T14 GPA of 3.3 or whatever

[regulartime]

I didn't mean to start a debate about transferring by asking my question. Sorry, everybody. I was just curious. I appreciate everyone weighing in and being willing to help answer questions.

[DoveBodyWash]

3L here who transferred out of WUSTL. Summered with a Chicago firm then 3L OCI'd to a NY firm because i'm an idiot and apparently enjoy being poor. Also happy to take PM's about transferring (probably too early to think about now) or about WashU generally, i enjoyed my time there. Cheap/laid-back city. Met some great classmates and professors. But job placement-wise i don't think i could recommend attending unless it was at a substantial discount and/or you didn't care about FedGov, BigLaw or federal clerkship.

To regulartime, if you have an acceptance to say NW or Duke / similar and are biglaw or bust, take it. You cannot accurately predict now how you will do, and most folks will try just as hard as you to do well. You may kill it and get biglaw with a low debt load, or you may not, so don't risk it.

(to regulartime) Do not go to WashU if you have an NU/Duke offer. If the offers are at sticker and that makes you uncomfortable then retake until you get more money. Going to WashU for free is not actually free. If you are BigLaw or bust then don't go to WashU.

I agree with LGI that it's absolutely a gamble, but the transfers out of WUSTL have been having phenomenal successes at their respective OCIs

If job placement is what we care about then the bigger gamble is going to WashU and expecting some form of BigLaw. The only person i know who didn't do better after transferring out of WashU was one of those "even Yale couldn't save him or her" type of personalities.

[
Lol. Look I'm not trying to derail the thread, but most of the firms you are talking about aren't hiring median WUSTL students whether they transfer or not. Just because you get a screener with them by way of lottery does not mean you have a chance to get hired.

I also thought this was true before transferring. But after having gone through OCI as a transfer (and seeing my transfer peers--some of whom came from much lower ranked schools than WashU--go through OCI) I don't think the calculus is this black and white. First, i know someone who was closer to median from WashU, transferred, and is now going to NY V10. Second, i saw many students get offers from firms that never never never would have given them an offer from their prior school...and some of these kids were #1 or #2 in their class. I'll use myself as an example. I submitted my resume to several Chicago firms through WashU's shared Chicago Day. I was preselected by one of the weaker firms in the city. Post-transfer (remember i have the exact same credentials as i did earlier minus the new school) I got screeners to all those firms through the lottery. Yes the screeners themselves are meaningless since i got them through a lottery. But i ended up getting offers to all those firms that had turned down the exact same resume three weeks ago.

I'd suggest that 0L's take the time to learn what OCI is like at these schools before accepting an offer. This is all purely from a job placement perspective btw. Debt can change the equation depending on your personal situation.

I didn't mean to start a debate about transferring by asking my question. Sorry, everybody. I was just curious. I appreciate everyone weighing in and being willing to help answer questions.

Saw this after i wrote everything. So i'm gonna post it anyway. Just attend school for as little money as possible and then get top grades. Then you can consider transferring.

[PourMeTea]

A very enthusiastic +1 to everything cuse just said, and want to stress that WUSTL is a phenomenal school to transfer from. Good luck, 0Ls!