Below Median OCI 2015 Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am under median by .04, and have no CBs. Screeners seem to go fine. It's possible I am not selling myself enough, and I wouldn't say I necessarily have any brilliant questions, but I express enthusiasm for the firms and the interviewer's work. Many of the screeners have appeared to be fluid and natural conversations. Not sure WTF I can change for these last few.

[Anonymous User]

3.1x at CCN. I have one callback coming up next week at a V30. I am hoping to nail but realize how much I can't control, and how random this may be. I don't think I've ever felt like at a lower point in my life. Random panic and anxiety attacks followed by moments of utter dejection and numbness.

[Anonymous User]

So I'm a 3.1 at lower t14. Went to a callback where a junior associate interviewer from a TTT actually took the time to calculate my GPA before I arrived (we're not allowed to post our self-calculated GPAs on our resumes). She drilled me on my grades and asked if I would hire someone with my transcript. I fumbled through and stuttered all over the place.

I am above anon. Actually just received an offer from this firm, so I guess my fumbling wasn't too bad. It isn't my top choice and I still have two more callbacks, but it feels good to have an offer. I'm definitely going to keep massmailing. Thanks for all the advice though; she was the only interviewer that even asked about my grades.

[Anonymous User]

3.1x at CCN. I have one callback coming up next week at a V30. I am hoping to nail but realize how much I can't control, and how random this may be. I don't think I've ever felt like at a lower point in my life. Random panic and anxiety attacks followed by moments of utter dejection and numbness.

Chin up. Do you still have a lot of firms that never got back to you post screener? Those can still be call backs.

[Anonymous User]

So I'm a 3.1 at lower t14. Went to a callback where a junior associate interviewer from a TTT actually took the time to calculate my GPA before I arrived (we're not allowed to post our self-calculated GPAs on our resumes). She drilled me on my grades and asked if I would hire someone with my transcript. I fumbled through and stuttered all over the place.

What a b*tch. Should have popped her with something like this.

Interviewer: (looking at my resume and other information they requested) I must say, you somehow overcame such a poor academic performance in law school to have such a position as you currently have, along with your body of work and reputation. This firm only hires those with excellent academic credentials.

Me: My current employer didn't hire me to take law school exams. They hired me to be a lawyer. Did I misread your job opening stating you were looking to hire someone to take law school exams?

Oh BTW, for the thread: T20, below median, came into OCI w/ 3 offers... did 7 interviews and 1 callback + one phone screener so far. I'd say the offers helped out but the callback is from a firm that didn't ask if anyone had given me an offer and I forgot to give them my updated resume.

There's still hope.

[Anonymous User]

Dings and silence. Maybe I just don't get along with lawyers...

[Anonymous User]

Dings and silence. Maybe I just don't get along with lawyers...

What have your screeners been like? conversational, question/answer?

[Anonymous User]

Dings and silence. Maybe I just don't get along with lawyers...

What have your screeners been like? conversational, question/answer?

It varied a lot. The ones where I thought I was able to make a very positive impression, where I felt I was building rapport with the interviewer and putting them at ease, as well as conveying my professional value and personality, are the ones where I got dinged. The ones which were to one extreme (just shooting the **** most of the time versus super-professional discussion) are sill silent.

I've worked for quite a while in the professional world beforehand in a non-introvert profession, but maybe my grades really just suck too much. No URM status either.

[Anonymous User]

Keep your chins up guys and gals, there still a lot of time left!

[Anonymous User]

Got my first offer from EIW at 3.1. Feeling relieved. Good luck to everyone else too! It can happen!

[Anonymous User]

Congrats on the offer!

[Anonymous User]

Got my first offer from EIW at 3.1. Feeling relieved. Good luck to everyone else too! It can happen!

3.1 from where?

Congrats!

[Anonymous User]

Don't lose hope folks, its getting better out there. At Penn I know of:
<3.0 :: 5 callbacks and 3 offers so far
<3.0 :: 10+ callbacks and 2 offers so far (IP)
3.0-3.1:: 7 callbacks and 4 offers so far (non IP)
~3.2-3.3 :: 15+ callbacks and 3 offers so far (non IP)

All of them have recommended to be conversational and confident.

[Anonymous User]

Keep hoping! 3.1 at lower half of T14, aiming at NYC, 2 pre-OCI interviews, 4 callbacks from OCI, 2 mass-mail interviews, just got an offer. All at firms that had never hired anyone with a GPA as low as mine at my school before. Non-URM, K-JD, no work experience, useless college major. People on TLS also said I'd never get into my law school and I did with a significant scholarship. If I could do it, so can you!!! Don't let the negativity on some of these boards get to you.

[Anonymous User]

3.1 at upper T14 and just got a V5 offer. Still in shock, thanks for all the support ITT.

[Anonymous User]

3.1 at upper T14 and just got a V5 offer. Still in shock, thanks for all the support ITT.

holy shit. what are your softs like?

[Anonymous User]

3.1 at upper T14 and just got a V5 offer. Still in shock, thanks for all the support ITT.

holy shit. what are your softs like?

Wondering as well. I am thinking if you got "Former Major, US Army" on your resume that makes people more willing to forgive that B- in Torts.

[Anonymous User]

Lower T14. One V50 CB and feeling like this could be my only shot.

[Anonymous User]

Lower T14. One V50 CB and feeling like this could be my only shot.

be calm, be confident. i can't say they'll overlook a low GPA altogether, but there is something they liked about you to give you the cb--and that could be good enough. good luck and let us know how it goes.

[Anonymous User]

3.1 at upper T14 and just got a V5 offer. Still in shock, thanks for all the support ITT.

holy shit. what are your softs like?

Congrats to the OP, but 2 things to note:
1. what is "upper T14"? I've never seen that before. Is "upper T14" CCN + P?
2. More importantly, it's also important to remember that an offer from a non-DC Skadden office could be the V5 offer in question.

That's not to rain on OP's good news. But Skadden as a whole is less selective than V5 connotes. This is true even in cities where its offices rank highly, like LA & Chicago. But I'd imagine it's more true in offices like Wilmington DE, Texas, pretty much any non-DC office.

But congrats again.

[Anonymous User]

Don't lose hope folks, its getting better out there. At Penn I know of:
<3.0 :: 5 callbacks and 3 offers so far
<3.0 :: 10+ callbacks and 2 offers so far (IP)
3.0-3.1:: 7 callbacks and 4 offers so far (non IP)
~3.2-3.3 :: 15+ callbacks and 3 offers so far (non IP)

All of them have recommended to be conversational and confident.

I can add myself to this list. Penn 3.0 GPA, 7 callbacks (one at a V5), 2 offers so far. It's all about maintaining confidence despite getting those (inevitable) ding emails. Good luck everyone.

[Anonymous User]

this thread has turned into a really weird anonybrag that isn't very helpful to anyone

[Anonymous User]

this thread has turned into a really weird anonybrag that isn't very helpful to anyone

[Anonymous User]

Congrats to everyone who has been fortunate enough to recently receive an offer! if it's not too much trouble, could you let us know how long it took between CB and the offer?

[Anonymous User]

how long before radio silence becomes a very likely ding? still waiting on 17 firms. some interviews three weeks ago.