Postby Anonymous User » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:31 pm
When people post that they have high honors, LR, and are hearing back from every V20 firm they applied to, they are doing a lot more harm than good for people reading this forum that aren't having such a breeze through the EIP process. I realize you're excited about your success (and you should be! you've accomplished a lot. congrats on that). But let's put this all in some perspective.
Remember that these are callbacks, not offers. EIP to this point has been screening interviews. That means you're being let through the door, but not invited to stay. It's a lot easier to get through the door based solely on credentials, but there's a lot more than that going in to permanent offers.
For those with lower numbers and fewer callbacks, take some heart. Getting callbacks despite having less competitive numbers means that you've already given them a reason beyond your grades to hire you. A lot of breezers can't say the same. Since callback success is based heavily on additional factors like personal appeal and firm fit, you've already demonstrated a level of fit that made them want you even though your grades aren't the bee's knees. That means that even though your callback ratio might be low, your odds of getting an offer are probably relatively high.
The thing we should all be worried about is finding a firm where we'll be happy and that fits us as people. BigLaw is miserable for so many people because so many of us get caught up in rankings and prestige and forget that we should be working in places where we'll be happy. I got callbacks from a few highly-rated firms that had reasons to call me back (based on interest, demeanor, and background). Other highly rated firms and a lot of lower-rated firms dinged me quickly because they weren't for me and I wasn't for them. My perspective is this: a ding from a firm I don't really want to work for is just as good as an offer from a firm I don't really want to work for (unless I'm left with no other option). We aren't in this to stroke our egos, we're here to find jobs (hopefully the right ones).
But that's just my two cents. Good luck to all of us with callbacks, regardless of whether we're batting .100 or 1.000.