WUSTL Recent Grad (and others) Taking Questions Forum

[TatteredDignity]

Is it true that grades play no role in getting law review? That's atypical, right?

[TatteredDignity]

Never mind. The website implied that writing on was the only way, but the truth was buried on page 2 of the FAQ doc. I didn't think write-on only would be the case...

[ihp12]

Trying to plan for ASD. How long would it take to go from the airport to downtown on the metrolink? How long from downtown to Wash U?

Thanks

[ihp12]

Trying to plan for ASD. How long would it take to go from the airport to downtown on the metrolink? How long from downtown to Wash U?

Thanks

NVM - google maps

[TatteredDignity]

So, I've noticed the grading scale seems to be a little different at WUSTL... 75-100 grades, or something like that, where 95 or above puts you in the top 1% and 89 or above is top 1/3. What is the effect of having a much higher number of grade possibilities? I'm sure that statistically it works out to be the same, but I'd think it'd be nice to be able to get a 91, 92 etc. and not worry about the difference between a B+ and an A.

[romothesavior]

So, I've noticed the grading scale seems to be a little different at WUSTL... 75-100 grades, or something like that, where 95 or above puts you in the top 1% and 89 or above is top 1/3. What is the effect of having a much higher number of grade possibilities? I'm sure that statistically it works out to be the same, but I'd think it'd be nice to be able to get a 91, 92 etc. and not worry about the difference between a B+ and an A.

We don't really have letter grades, it is more just based on numbers. In any given class, it is absolutely possible to get grades like 91, 92, 93, etc. 87.5 is the median grade in most classes. Very few profs will give out grades in the upper 90s or 100 it seems like. I can comment more on grade distributions once some of my professors get them back. Apparently it takes law profs over a month to grade 100 exams, despite the fact that they have no classes to teach right now, so it could be a while.

[TatteredDignity]

So, I've noticed the grading scale seems to be a little different at WUSTL... 75-100 grades, or something like that, where 95 or above puts you in the top 1% and 89 or above is top 1/3. What is the effect of having a much higher number of grade possibilities? I'm sure that statistically it works out to be the same, but I'd think it'd be nice to be able to get a 91, 92 etc. and not worry about the difference between a B+ and an A.

We don't really have letter grades, it is more just based on numbers. In any given class, it is absolutely possible to get grades like 91, 92, 93, etc. 87.5 is the median grade in most classes. Very few profs will give out grades in the upper 90s or 100 it seems like. I can comment more on grade distributions once some of my professors get them back. Apparently it takes law profs over a month to grade 100 exams, despite the fact that they have no classes to teach right now, so it could be a while.

My bitterness radar is going crazy.

Here's hoping I'm in the same spot in a year.

[romothesavior]

So, I've noticed the grading scale seems to be a little different at WUSTL... 75-100 grades, or something like that, where 95 or above puts you in the top 1% and 89 or above is top 1/3. What is the effect of having a much higher number of grade possibilities? I'm sure that statistically it works out to be the same, but I'd think it'd be nice to be able to get a 91, 92 etc. and not worry about the difference between a B+ and an A.

We don't really have letter grades, it is more just based on numbers. In any given class, it is absolutely possible to get grades like 91, 92, 93, etc. 87.5 is the median grade in most classes. Very few profs will give out grades in the upper 90s or 100 it seems like. I can comment more on grade distributions once some of my professors get them back. Apparently it takes law profs over a month to grade 100 exams, despite the fact that they have no classes to teach right now, so it could be a while.

My bitterness radar is going crazy.

Haha nah, its just a looooong stressful wait. Check out the 1L Grade Waiting thread, people are going nuts over there. I have actually been able to maintain my patience pretty well (through copious amounts of X-Box and partying with old friends), but I'm really starting to get anxious!

[beachbum]

So, I've noticed the grading scale seems to be a little different at WUSTL... 75-100 grades, or something like that, where 95 or above puts you in the top 1% and 89 or above is top 1/3. What is the effect of having a much higher number of grade possibilities? I'm sure that statistically it works out to be the same, but I'd think it'd be nice to be able to get a 91, 92 etc. and not worry about the difference between a B+ and an A.

We don't really have letter grades, it is more just based on numbers. In any given class, it is absolutely possible to get grades like 91, 92, 93, etc. 87.5 is the median grade in most classes. Very few profs will give out grades in the upper 90s or 100 it seems like. I can comment more on grade distributions once some of my professors get them back. Apparently it takes law profs over a month to grade 100 exams, despite the fact that they have no classes to teach right now, so it could be a while.

My bitterness radar is going crazy.

Haha nah, its just a looooong stressful wait. Check out the 1L Grade Waiting thread, people are going nuts over there. I have actually been able to maintain my patience pretty well (through copious amounts of X-Box and partying with old friends), but I'm really starting to get anxious!

Good luck man, I'm pullin for you. Those little doubts about WUSTL are gonna seem silly when you land in the top 10%.

[ihp12]

Whats the gym situation at WUSTL? Is there an indoor track? Showers and Lockers? How close is it to the law school?

[romothesavior]

Whats the gym situation at WUSTL? Is there an indoor track? Showers and Lockers? How close is it to the law school?

WUSTL's workout facility and tennis courts are right by the law school (like a 1 minute walk). The gym/weightroom and all that jazz is decent, but nothing spectacular. It doesn't compare favorably to, say, UIUC or anything like that, but it is acceptable. The tennis courts are really nice and they are right next to the LS, if you're into that.

[TatteredDignity]

Romo, saw your post in the 1L grades... nice work so far!

[ihp12]

Whats the gym situation at WUSTL? Is there an indoor track? Showers and Lockers? How close is it to the law school?

WUSTL's workout facility and tennis courts are right by the law school (like a 1 minute walk). The gym/weightroom and all that jazz is decent, but nothing spectacular. It doesn't compare favorably to, say, UIUC or anything like that, but it is acceptable. The tennis courts are really nice and they are right next to the LS, if you're into that.

Thanks

[TatteredDignity]

What schools does WUSTL consider to be its peers for scholarship negotiation purposes? I've noticed that Indiana-Bloomington is pretty liberal with scholarship money for 170+ LSATs... is that too far down for them to care? How about Iowa?

[soccerfreak]

I've been wondering about Wash U's local prospects in Stl. Does it seem to pretty much dominate the local legal market over schools like SLU and Mizzou (I've heard conflicting reports)? And is it fairly easy for students who want to stay local to find internships/jobs?

[romothesavior]

I've been wondering about Wash U's local prospects in Stl. Does it seem to pretty much dominate the local legal market over schools like SLU and Mizzou (I've heard conflicting reports)? And is it fairly easy for students who want to stay local to find internships/jobs?

I came here because I want to be in St. Louis after graduation. I have not gone through OCI and have only just begun to look for 1L jobs, so I don't have a great answer to this simply due to a lack of experience with the job market. But here is my general impression:

Does WUSTL dominate St. Louis? No, but this is more due to self-selection than anything else. My classmates hail from places like Chicago, Kansas City, New York, Florida, Texas, etc. and most of them want to go back. For those who do want to stay in St. Louis, what is important is showing local employers that they really want to stay here and are not just treating it as a backup plan in case going home doesn't work out. For people with strong ties here (family, grew up here, fiancee/spouse works here, etc.), I think getting St. Louis is very doable. For people like me who are just Midwesterners who love St. Louis, it takes more work, but then again, so does getting any job ITE.

WUSTL's second best market is St. Louis (after Chicago), and the myth that St. Louis employers don't like WUSTL students is just wrong. Also, there is no doubt that big/mid sized firms are much, much more likely to take a WUSTL student than one from SLU or Mizzou because they will recruit far deeper into our class.

So in short, WUSTL is a good choice if you want St. Louis, and unless you were looking at sticker at WUSTL vs. free at SLU, I would never personally consider SLU over WUSTL.

[soccerfreak]

I've been wondering about Wash U's local prospects in Stl. Does it seem to pretty much dominate the local legal market over schools like SLU and Mizzou (I've heard conflicting reports)? And is it fairly easy for students who want to stay local to find internships/jobs?

I came here because I want to be in St. Louis after graduation. I have not gone through OCI and have only just begun to look for 1L jobs, so I don't have a great answer to this simply due to a lack of experience with the job market. But here is my general impression:

Does WUSTL dominate St. Louis? No, but this is more due to self-selection than anything else. My classmates hail from places like Chicago, Kansas City, New York, Florida, Texas, etc. and most of them want to go back. For those who do want to stay in St. Louis, what is important is showing local employers that they really want to stay here and are not just treating it as a backup plan in case going home doesn't work out. For people with strong ties here (family, grew up here, fiancee/spouse works here, etc.), I think getting St. Louis is very doable. For people like me who are just Midwesterners who love St. Louis, it takes more work, but then again, so does getting any job ITE.

WUSTL's second best market is St. Louis (after Chicago), and the myth that St. Louis employers don't like WUSTL students is just wrong. Also, there is no doubt that big/mid sized firms are much, much more likely to take a WUSTL student than one from SLU or Mizzou because they will recruit far deeper into our class.

So in short, WUSTL is a good choice if you want St. Louis, and unless you were looking at sticker at WUSTL vs. free at SLU, I would never personally consider SLU over WUSTL.

Okay thanks for the insight. I have grown up in the area, so ties aren't a problem for me. I think my decision is going to come down to money at Wash U(whatever 169/3.8 gets me), free at Mizzou, and sticker/small $ at somewhere like Michigan. If Wash U seems like a really good bet for a job here, it will probably be the best fit.

I'd love to be updated about yours/others situations with looking for jobs/internships. When is OCI?

[romothesavior]

Okay thanks for the insight. I have grown up in the area, so ties aren't a problem for me. I think my decision is going to come down to money at Wash U(whatever 169/3.8 gets me), free at Mizzou, and sticker/small $ at somewhere like Michigan. If Wash U seems like a really good bet for a job here, it will probably be the best fit.

I'd love to be updated about yours/others situations with looking for jobs/internships. When is OCI?

FWIW, 3.8/169 will get you close to a full ride. I was 3.7/168 and got 75k total. I'll bet you'll get around 90-100k.

[neeko]

tag

[JDndMSW]

tag

+1

[soccerfreak]

tag

You're it, quitsies, no anti-quitsies, double stamp it.

[soccerfreak]

I'll probably be making a visit very soon. Is there a particular day of the week/class to sit in on that as a student would be best to get a feel for the school?

[romothesavior]

I'll probably be making a visit very soon. Is there a particular day of the week/class to sit in on that as a student would be best to get a feel for the school?

Hard to say because I'm a 1L and I haven't started my second semester yet. I would have said torts with Tamanaha cause he is absolutely fantastic, but that was a fall class. The admissions office will put you in a class when you visit, but I suppose you might be able to request a particular one if you have a certain interest.

[thexfactor]

Speaking about grades....
2/3L here: I still have not all my grades yet. Only 2/5. Most of the 2L/3L class have not gotten all their grades either. This is getting ridiculous. It doesn't take over 1 month to grade and enter exams into a database......

[modmx]

Actually, I took it in June. This also got me off the waitlist (with $$) at Vandy.

180orbust, if youre still reading this thread, can you elaborate more on how you were able to increase your scholarship offer with WUSTL through this? I am also waitlisted at Vandy and considering taking the June LSAT to make a case for any waitlists I get

And anyone else who would like to help, how lenient will WUSTL be in negotiating a scholarship in July if I get a higher score on my June LSAT. currently at 167 and accepted