Anonymous User wrote:Anonymous User wrote:I will PM (this is OP again) but I do not agree with your analysis about class rank. If you're in 20-35 % of class at UMN you should be fine. Remember, other regional schools in the area get their top students in to the big firms as well, and the caliber of that student is about the same as one from the top 33 % at UMN. Though "Summa Cum Laude" looks good on the online profile I suppose.
Anyway, I DO think they'd look more seriously at a lower ranked candidate from Michigan, and to a lesser degree Virginia. It is just simple business. Everyone knows Michigan is a great school. It looks good.
I disagree, unless you're in the top 25% at Michigan you're better off at UMN or William Mitchell (assuming you're in the top 15% at those schools). Some big Minneapolis firms have been taking HYS candidates, even some government positions are going to HYS. They will not be impressed with Michigan at 50% in MSP. It's an employers market, as we know. Do not pay sticker at Michigan if you want to stay in Minneapolis
Also, depending on the firm you may do equally well with either at UMN or William Mitchell degree. You would be better off with being top 10% (good WE, LR, etc) from WM than being top 45% from UMN.
I just went through OCI in Minneapolis (well, still going through) and this info is based on my experiences and conversations with students from UMN, WM, Hamline and UST
I am the OP, and the guy you disagree with. I think you make some pretty good points actually. I, personally go to a T25 (not Minnesota), and I have friends at my school who landed callbacks at all the major firms in Minneapolis and they were NOT in the top 15 % or even 25 % of their class. I landed multiple offers there (I have chosen on one), and I am in the top 30 students of my class (roughly top 13 % or so . . . my school's ranking system is sort of screwy).
My point about Michigan is that if you have a significant tie to Minnesota, it is likely that they will call you back more so than someone who goes to Minnesota and has a significant tie, because you in no way stand out from the rest of the pack that way. Minneapolis is a big market, but still, people going to Michigan and other places likely think that Chicago, NY, or LA are the places they want to go, and as such, the Minnesota firms that do OCI there are not only looking for high class rank, but ALSO for an actual commitment to staying in the market.
They want to make sure their investment is sound, and with this economy, and after talking to multiple recruiting partners, they all agree with this analysis-- a commitment to living in the area is important. Going to Michigan and showing that commitment stands out more so than going to Minnesota and showing it in my opinion. It seems that if you go to a Minnesota school, your competition is very strong. Those firms always have a relationship with those schools. But the law firms also want to maintain relationships with the other schools that they regularly recruit from, and this encourages them to do OCI at highly ranked schools and to bring back people who are committed to working in the area.
Also, certain firms in Minneapolis have a rather large number of Michigan alumn. And Iowa, for instance, has a number of associates at these firms that did not graduate at the tippity top of the class (though I have no doubt they were accomplished students).
Just a few thoughts of my own. I don't entirely disagree with you though.