WUSTL c/o 2018 Applicants Forum

[chuckbass]

Is it a percentage of the class or a flat number for interviews? I'm thinking since class sizes are dramatically smaller, if the number of jobs remain the same, will there be more interviews?

Oh I mean there's no straight up cutoff I'm just telling you that only the top 10% is safe. Your class size is smaller which is better since there will be some more interviews to go around, but again you'd still want to be top 10% to be safe, and even then people will still strike out. Others feel free to chime in. Sublime's class size was more like yours fwiw.

[Fiero85]

I'm not sure if this has been asked and answered, but to WUSTLers who transfered to non-T6: why? I just finished orientation, and I love this school. My classmates are all awesome, the professors I've encountered are amazing, and everything is awesome. I came in with transfer at the back of my mind but I'm sure outside HYS I'm staying put. Is it just for more OCI interviews?

[hasn't had a single class yet]

[hasn't had a single assignment/competition/exam yet]

Everyone is nice, the professors all seem great, and everything is awesome before classes start, yes. That will change to a degree.

But you're missing the point: people transfer despite largely liking their classmates, professors, and school. Even though my class was a bit more divisive/dramatic than other recent classes, we got along fine. But, as mentioned, transferring is about the J.O.B.S. risk.

Justified grades for

OCI and other early recruitment

But may

Strike out.

WUSTL's OCI and other placement is just not as robust as T14s and also not as favorable to those outside the top 10% (because of the no-lottery method). It's feast or famine, which is a big risk.

This all is not a simple choice because it matters what you're paying at WUSTL, what your geographic goals are, what your prestige level of jobs goals are, etc.

TL;DR: don't discount the transfer sensibility at face value, it makes sense for some people every year to transfer to non-HYS schools.

[chuckbass]

I love you. 190.

[acr]

So let's say that I land somewhere in the top 20% (not assuming anything) at WUSTL with the primary goal of Chicago big law, but am extremely debt averse and receiving significant money from WUSTL. Is it worth considering a transfer to somewhere like NU or does WUSTL still give you a good shot of accomplishing this goal?

[Fiero85]

So let's say that I land somewhere in the top 20% (not assuming anything) at WUSTL with the primary goal of Chicago big law, but am extremely debt averse and receiving significant money from WUSTL. Is it worth considering a transfer to somewhere like NU or does WUSTL still give you a good shot of accomplishing this goal?

Somewhere in the top 20 is the most stratified group of all lol

Top 1% / Top 5% / Top 10% / Top 20% will be significantly different inputs into your overall decision.

But this is an unnecessary/poorly constructed question because 1) you have no grades and 2) there is no commitment tied to applying to transfer. Just apply. If your goal is Chicago, apply to NU regardless of your grades and apply to UChi if you are like top 35% or better. Throw some other ones in too. Staying at WUSTL will likely be one of your best options considering debt aversion, but you don't gotta fly blind. Wait until you get grades, consider if you are elligible to transfer up, and then weigh your options later. Good luck.

[PeanutsNJam]

yeah I see there's no point deliberating about this until at least 1st semester grades are out, it just seems to be a particularly hot topic at WUSTL since so many people transfer

Just to be clear, the point of my question wasn't to chastise transfers; I wanted to know just how much of a jerbs advantage transferring actually gives (it sounds like quite a bit).

[Fiero85]

yeah I see there's no point deliberating about this until at least 1st semester grades are out, it just seems to be a particularly hot topic at WUSTL since so many people transfer

Just to be clear, the point of my question wasn't to chastise transfers; I wanted to know just how much of a jerbs advantage transferring actually gives (it sounds like quite a bit).

Yeah, no worries, I think we all understood it that way.

And yes, it's way too early, and again also yes that it MAY make sense for a given student to transfer to non HYS schools based on the factors mentioned above. That's just how it is with WUSTL not being a powerhouse of job placement.

[TetrisBlock]

If you're at or near a full ride, I don't think it would be worth the risk unless there is a specific reason for wanting a school, such as targeting Chicago or California. If your goal is mainly just getting into biglaw you would be paying an extra $100,000 for potentially the same result, good or bad. If you get the job you'll wonder if you could have gotten it from WUSTL, and if you strike out after transferring you'll just be $100,000 poorer (which if its debt financed will end up being a lot more than that by the time you've paid it off) at a different school.

I'm just a starting 1L as well so I'm mostly just talking out of my ass, but it's the way I view it. It's possible that spending an extra $100,000 and striking out could be better because the school name might help more with 3L OCI, mass mailing, and networking, but I can't see a situation where it would personally make sense for me. A lot of students are here with scholarships between 70-120k and I think transferring can make much more sense in that situation.

But we haven't even started yet, and we're more likely to get our grades and look back on our posts and go "lol remember when we talked about what to do if we're in the top third of the class?" I think actually meeting people in my section really drove home the reality of the curve to me. It seems like the majority of the people I meet I think in my head "that person is going to do a lot better than me."

[chuckbass]

If you're at or near a full ride, I don't think it would be worth the risk unless there is a specific reason for wanting a school, such as targeting Chicago or California. If your goal is mainly just getting into biglaw you would be paying an extra $100,000 for potentially the same result, good or bad. If you get the job you'll wonder if you could have gotten it from WUSTL, and if you strike out after transferring you'll just be $100,000 poorer (which if its debt financed will end up being a lot more than that by the time you've paid it off) at a different school.

I'm just a starting 1L as well so I'm mostly just talking out of my ass, but it's the way I view it. It's possible that spending an extra $100,000 and striking out could be better because the school name might help more with 3L OCI, mass mailing, and networking, but I can't see a situation where it would personally make sense for me. A lot of students are here with scholarships between 70-120k and I think transferring can make much more sense in that situation.

But we haven't even started yet, and we're more likely to get our grades and look back on our posts and go "lol remember when we talked about what to do if we're in the top third of the class?" I think actually meeting people in my section really drove home the reality of the curve to me. It seems like the majority of the people I meet I think in my head "that person is going to do a lot better than me."

Yeah I think the calculus will change once first semester grades are out and things get real. Not something to worry about yet, but there were many transfers that totally surprised me and even with a lot of scholarship money you could be giving up (not you specifically) your priorities may change.

[PourMeTea]

yeah I see there's no point deliberating about this until at least 1st semester grades are out, it just seems to be a particularly hot topic at WUSTL since so many people transfer

Just to be clear, the point of my question wasn't to chastise transfers; I wanted to know just how much of a jerbs advantage transferring actually gives (it sounds like quite a bit).

This is totally anecdotal but I transferred to a non-T6 and got an offer I never in a million years could have gotten from WUSTL because 1) they don't recruit WUSTL students and 2) I did not have the grades. If you're transferring to a T14, even if it's lower T14, big firms will have quotas for those schools that just don't exist for WUSTL.

[Scalvert]

I've been reading through earlier pages of the thread and noticed that many early applicants were contacted for an interview within days and received a decision a couple of weeks later. The application for the class of '19 goes live Tues, and I have everything ready to go. When you received your acceptance, was scholarship information included? If not, how long was it before you heard?

[chuckbass]

I've been reading through earlier pages of the thread and noticed that many early applicants were contacted for an interview within days and received a decision a couple of weeks later. The application for the class of '19 goes live Tues, and I have everything ready to go. When you received your acceptance, was scholarship information included? If not, how long was it before you heard?

It's not included with the acceptance (unless they're changing things up this year) and usually comes a week later iirc.

[Scalvert]

Thanks! Was it via email, and what sort of time frame do you have to accept/decline the offer?

[LET'S GET IT]

Thanks! Was it via email, and what sort of time frame do you have to accept/decline the offer?

Everything is by e-mail. You have until the first deposit deadline before you have to act which I think is April 1st. Also, my scolly info took a lot longer than a week, but it varies I think.

[Scalvert]

Ok that's good to know. I won't freak out then if I haven't heard in a couple of weeks. Because I would have.

[tealeaves12]

Ok that's good to know. I won't freak out then if I haven't heard in a couple of weeks. Because I would have.

yeah to me it seemed like there was a pattern of releasing scholarship info in batch-like patterns (at least before the official application deadline was up) so for some people that was a week after being accepted and for others (like myself) it was 2 months, etc. A lot of folks (myself included) asked for a deposit extension deadline to have more time to consider the scholarship offer/negotiate etc. otherwise it would have been April 1, which was the earliest deposit deadline I had in my cycle.

[Scalvert]

Soooo, is there something special that needs to be done to apply to WUSTL? Their app was supposed to be up 9/1, but so far....nada. Everyone else's was up at midnight. Do you guys remember it going up late last year, or having to do anything unusual? Just wondering if there's something I've missed.

[Fiero85]

Soooo, is there something special that needs to be done to apply to WUSTL? Their app was supposed to be up 9/1, but so far....nada. Everyone else's was up at midnight. Do you guys remember it going up late last year, or having to do anything unusual? Just wondering if there's something I've missed.

No idea what's up, but just sit tight and check again later. Anything before Halloween is early, not really a pressing matter.

[TetrisBlock]

Someone needs to create the 2019 Applicant thread. The campus is beautiful--especially the law reading room--but I'm fine with the only image being the bottomless coffee mug. All hail its glory.

[regulartime]

Someone needs to create the 2019 Applicant thread. The campus is beautiful--especially the law reading room--but I'm fine with the only image being the bottomless coffee mug. All hail its glory.

Seconded. We need a 2019 thread.

[chuckbass]

Someone needs to create the 2019 Applicant thread. The campus is beautiful--especially the law reading room--but I'm fine with the only image being the bottomless coffee mug. All hail its glory.

Seconded. We need a 2019 thread.

Well then someone take up the mantle

[sublime]

..

[regulartime]

Someone needs to create the 2019 Applicant thread. The campus is beautiful--especially the law reading room--but I'm fine with the only image being the bottomless coffee mug. All hail its glory.

Seconded. We need a 2019 thread.

Well then someone take up the mantle

I would, but don't know how.

[PeanutsNJam]

Should prob wait till medians/class profile are out

[OrangeBowl]

.