WUSTL c/o 2018 Applicants Forum

[regulartime]

Thanks guys.

[valen]

Florida is where I am from.

An NYC V20 is where I am going.

Although I struck out in StL, all midwest secondaries, DC, Chicago, and was on my way to striking out in FL. Dumb luck.

Imo, especially if you are debt averse, I wouldn't come here to transfer because that is probably an extra 100 to 120k before interest, and unless lower T14 really wants your LSAT gives you a lot, if you want Minnesota, I think your two best options would be WUSTL or UMN with close to a full ride. Each would have its pros and cons. We had a number of MN firms here at our OCI, but I have heard that market is difficult to get. Neither would really be a bad choice imo.

I'm extremely debt averse, that's why wustl sounds so good. Honestly I don't really want to transfer from wherever I end up, but I do like knowing it's an option if absolutely necessary. I am considering minnesota but it makes me nervous if I ever wanted to work out of state/Midwest, since they don't place well anywhere else. At least wustl can place in other markets.

Can you PM me your class rank range (if you're comfortable)?

[DoveBodyWash]

I'm extremely debt averse, that's why wustl sounds so good. Honestly I don't really want to transfer from wherever I end up, but I do like knowing it's an option if absolutely necessary. I am considering minnesota but it makes me nervous if I ever wanted to work out of state/Midwest, since they don't place well anywhere else. At least wustl can place in other markets.

Can you PM me your class rank range (if you're comfortable)?

The presumption should be that you're not going to transfer. If you don't have to, then you shouldn't. And if you can't..then you can't. It really only makes sense if you're in a situation where your grades are high enough to transfer to a worthwhile school but WashU can't give you options that you need. Assume that WUSTL can give you a decent shot at NYC>>>Wherever you're from>>>>>>>>>>>St. Louis>>>>>>Kansas City (unless you are from STL/KC)

Regarding transferring up, from what I have read and personally heard from admissions counselors is do not do it unless you are transferring up for reasons other than finding BigLaw employment upon graduation.
I was told that transferring up "doesn't work" during OCI - specifically, T14 schools look at where you attended 1L and select interviewees based on that school and the grades you received there.
One example given was a student who attended WUSTL Law for 1L then transferred to Harvard. He was totally ignored during OCI at Harvard and had no idea why - turns out it was bc of where he attended 1L - it was like he never transferred.

I had 7 offers from 3 different markets after i transferred. Offers ranged from V5 to midlaw. Am going to V10 (not NYC though)

It is indeed true that your OCI prospects as a transfer are partially dependent on which school you're coming from. But if you transfer from WashU, then it's not a problem. All of the older students/new graduates from WashU that transferred into my school are headed to or are working at top firms including Cravath/Skadden/Kirkland etc...

Half of my transfer classmates are going V10 (most of this cohort is actually going V5). A few going to litigation boutiques which are just as competitive.

However i do have transfer peers who came from much lower schools who had less options, but they still had options, which is way more than they would have had from their original school. But this isn't really a problem if you're transferring from WashU. Certain firms like Wachtell will beyond your reach as a transfer, but everyone else is in play. If you strike out at HYSCCN as someone who transferred from WashU, then it's a mixture of bad bidding, bad luck, and shitty interviewing.

[DoveBodyWash]

This was PM, but posting reply here for posterity's sake since I suspect that many WUSTL admits will have some kind of T14 option.

Do you regret not going for a T14 originally?

No i don't. My best T14 options at the time were Penn/NU at very high cost (minimal scholarship, basically nothing)

As an 0L i had NOOO idea whether or not i would do well on these law school exams that pretty much shape your career prospects. I didn't want to gamble 250k plus interest that I would do well. Yes the margin for error isn't as slim at NU/Penn, but students do still strike out from schools. I also didn't have a clear idea of where i wanted to practice when I was an 0L but knew to a degree that i didn't want to go to NYC.

So at the time i made my decision as an 0L, i decided to play it safe by taking the full ride at WashU. I still think it's an excellent school with great people/profs. Made lifelong friends there. At the time i figured that if i did well, then yay. If i didn't, then i had minimal downside risk since full ride. Transferring to Chicago was a decision i made after (1) i got my 1L grades; (2) I decided i wanted to be in Chicago; and (3) saw my Chicago options from WashU and decided it wasn't good enough (only 1 screener with firm that has history of no-offers)

[valen]

Thanks again Cuse, your input has been very helpful

[sublime]

..

[chuckbass]

Cuse means ne when he talks ab awesome classmates lol

U drunk bro?

[sublime]

..

[chuckbass]

Cuse means ne when he talks ab awesome classmates lol

U drunk bro?

hell fucking yea.

what gave it away? The ne? Or the self confidence?

I'm also on my phone.

So jealous. Brb lemme join you in a month.
And just lol to the rest of that.

[Chris McCandless]

Wasn't really considering WUSTL but got a wondeful handwritten note from Mary Ann Clifford congratulating me on the LSAT. From what people reported last cycle, WUSTL seems to really be on top of their admissions.

[sublime]

..

[PN-G bamakid]

Got an email today about a partial travel stipend to visit the school. When do y'all think would be a good time to go? May be a little hard for me to squeeze in, but I would really like to go.

[chuckbass]

Got an email today about a partial travel stipend to visit the school. When do y'all think would be a good time to go? May be a little hard for me to squeeze in, but I would really like to go.

If you're patient I'd wait for the ASWs in the spring!

[Phattypattyfrost]

Long time lurker checking in. I had a quick question for you knowledgeable, high achieving TLSers. I am a reverse splitter from Texas and I went complete on 11/08; got an email for an interview today (11/11); scheduled for Friday. I was just wondering what kind of emphasis the admissions interview places on wanting to practice in St. Louis? Thanks ahead of time for y'alls help.

[chuckbass]

Long time lurker checking in. I had a quick question for you knowledgeable, high achieving TLSers. I am a reverse splitter from Texas and I went complete on 11/08; got an email for an interview today (11/11); scheduled for Friday. I was just wondering what kind of emphasis the admissions interview places on wanting to practice in St. Louis? Thanks ahead of time for y'alls help.

You don't have to want to practice in St. Louis at all, but you should show that you want to be here for school. Half my interview last year was about getting me back to DC/NYC. Only like 20-30% of the class stays in Missouri after graduation fwiw. Good luck with the interview!

[hoos89]

Long time lurker checking in. I had a quick question for you knowledgeable, high achieving TLSers. I am a reverse splitter from Texas and I went complete on 11/08; got an email for an interview today (11/11); scheduled for Friday. I was just wondering what kind of emphasis the admissions interview places on wanting to practice in St. Louis? Thanks ahead of time for y'alls help.

It's pretty much a numbers game. Wanting to practice in St. Louis might give you a negligible bump at best. Also, St. Louis is probably going to be difficult for you to break into from Texas unless you have rock solid ties, even IF you get amazing grades. It's difficult to overstate how skeptical this market is of out of town WUSTL students. I would also advise that you consider retaking the LSAT. Reverse-splitter doesn't have to be a permanent designation (unlike splitter).

[Phattypattyfrost]

Yeah, I don't know if I can re-take again. I know thats the typical advice from TLSers but I work 65+/week now and I don't have time to study full time again. I realize that I am probably shooting myself in the foot but I just can't imagine taking that thing again.

In regards to being an out-of-stater in St. Louis, the 'skepticism' is good to know. For the current 1,2,3Ls at WUSTL, how has the name recognition been when interviewing in other areas of the country?

[taptaptop]

Just had the interview.

The best admission officer so far. The whole process was really laid back, and the interview itself was not tightly scheduled as Northwestern. It was more of a conversation than an interview.

[sublime]

..

[hoos89]

Yeah, I don't know if I can re-take again. I know thats the typical advice from TLSers but I work 65+/week now and I don't have time to study full time again. I realize that I am probably shooting myself in the foot but I just can't imagine taking that thing again.

In regards to being an out-of-stater in St. Louis, the 'skepticism' is good to know. For the current 1,2,3Ls at WUSTL, how has the name recognition been when interviewing in other areas of the country?

My class (2016) seems to have done pretty well for NYC, if that is your thing.

How many people honestly got it outside top 10-15% though? NYC biglaw is not a realistic goal for any entering 0L (or 1L without grades).

OP: here's a link to c/o 2013's employment stats by state - http://law.wustl.edu/career_services/pa ... x?id=10045

[sublime]

..

[Shelbinole]

Why haven't I heard back yet

[sfoglia]

Wasn't really considering WUSTL but got a wondeful handwritten note from Mary Ann Clifford congratulating me on the LSAT. From what people reported last cycle, WUSTL seems to really be on top of their admissions.

Ditto. I'm deferring for another year, but WUSTL will definitely be on my list.

[megs2015]

Update time! Interviewed about two weeks ago. Mary Ann Clifford followed up a week ago. My status hadn't been updated since mid October so I emailed her yesterday to make sure there wasn't a problem. She replied within an hour, checked my file and said the committee hadn't made a decision yet but that I would hear back "fairly soon."

I'm basically a reverse splitter so I'm not surprised my decision is taking a little longer than normal.

[Phattypattyfrost]

Update time! Interviewed about two weeks ago. Mary Ann Clifford followed up a week ago. My status hadn't been updated since mid October so I emailed her yesterday to make sure there wasn't a problem. She replied within an hour, checked my file and said the committee hadn't made a decision yet but that I would hear back "fairly soon."

I'm basically a reverse splitter so I'm not surprised my decision is taking a little longer than normal.

How bad a reverse splitter? Just curious cuz I am probably going to be in the same situation.