GW OCI 2014 - Meh? Forum

[Anonymous User]

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[Anonymous User]

So my GPA is a little lower than I wanted, sitting at a 3.4. I have a few years experience working (not in the legal field) before coming to law school and I got zero OCI interviews. Somewhat unsure of what my next step should be.

[lawsch16]

^ Mass mail and spend some time in the hospitality suites. I have a feeling that, given the way it seems to be turning out for people, it'll be crowded.

[Anonymous User]

Just was able to grab all of my offered alternates.....feeling good about that!

Edit:

...converted all my NY program alternates into screeners to.

This year seems weird. 6 Alternates --> Screeners doesn't seem right. It seems like many in teh top 15% hit their 20 interview cap very easily, and much of the rest of the class is shut out.

[Anonymous User]

Also picked up two more through alternates. One filled up in minutes but another stayed open until I went to bed last night. Everyone I talked to had similar success.

[Anonymous User]

I really hope that interviewers don't knock me for being an alternate. I'm def. within their posted GPA range...I'm honestly not sure why I didn't get more screeners in the first place.

[Anonymous User]

I really hope that interviewers don't knock me for being an alternate. I'm def. within their posted GPA range...I'm honestly not sure why I didn't get more screeners in the first place.

I'm poster with results at top of page. You were selected as an alternate, but you weren't rejected. I think we have a better shot than someone who just bid them really high and was not screened at all.

[Anonymous User]

I really hope that interviewers don't knock me for being an alternate. I'm def. within their posted GPA range...I'm honestly not sure why I didn't get more screeners in the first place.

I'm poster with results at top of page. You were selected as an alternate, but you weren't rejected. I think we have a better shot than someone who just bid them really high and was not screened at all.

Different anon--not sure I understand what you mean by "bid them really high"--we are all preselect. I agree that being an alternate might not be that much of a strike against us. That said, we are on the "fringe" for these firms and that means our interviews will have to go quite well in order to get a callback.

Anyways, I'm posting to echo what others have said about alternates converting into interviews at a surprising pace. The above-mentioned theory about top students getting more than 20 interviews in DC is probably TCR, but that doesn't really explain why alternates are getting spots in NY this late in the game. One would think that students in NY with more than the maximum 15 interviews would have already released their spots to alternates last week.

Do people think employers are simply adding spots? (Doesn't seem to be the case on any of the schedules I can see on Symplicity). My other thought: some highly-ranked students transferring out of GW into the t14 bid on GW's DC and NY programs in addition to bidding at their new schools and subsequently notified GW of their transfer. Not sure if that is possible, just a thought.

[Anonymous User]

Career services could be moving really slowly.

[Anonymous User]

V50 alum interviewer here.

I really hope that interviewers don't knock me for being an alternate.

You won't be knocked for this. The interviewer probably won't know you were an alternate. If it makes you feel better, I don't have that info for my schedule; I will just get a list of students and their application materials a few days before OCI (once the schedule is set). Now, you may get knocked for any problematic credentials that rendered you an alternate in the first place, but if your GPA is above the cut-off then you should be fine. Don't think about it. Treat it like any interview. See below for more details.

I think we have a better shot than someone who just bid them really high and was not screened at all.

This doesn't make sense because GW is 100% pre-select.

Anyways, I'm posting to echo what others have said about alternates converting into interviews at a surprising pace . . . Do people think employers are simply adding spots?

No, firms are not adding spots. Your theory on transfers is plausible but not the top reason for alternate conversion. The most likely reason is the unprecedented number of students receiving pre-OCI offers this year. These students are either accepting those offers and withdrawing from OCI completely, or else withdrawing from firms they know they wouldn't take over the one they've been offered.

Since the students with pre-OCI offers are also the ones with 20+ interviews, they're likely freeing up a lot of slots to go to more "fringe" candidates. As I explained above, this doesn't mean you have a strike against you just because you were an alternate to start with. Rather it means the firm has to lower its expectations (no offense) because the top students are going elsewhere. This is merely a function of the 100% pre-select system where every firm wants to interview the same top twenty or so students.

[Anonymous User]

Only way you can drop a screener is if you're above the 20 limit (duh) or you've already accepted an offer. Apparently, this is to protect the firms' egos, as they want to believe they can land anyone if given the opportunity. GW doesn't want to prevent firms from "having a shot" at the top students. So, even if a top student wants to let someone else have a shot at the firm (because the top student knows he/she doesn't want to go there, now that he/she has a pre-OCI offer from a better firm) he/she has to go.

I believe the increase in alternates has much more to do with the 20 screener limit that was just instituted this year. The same 20ish students get all the top firms, and that same chunk has to turn down 15 screeners, opening up a lot of screeners for alternates who, otherwise, would not have got them.

--Admiral Ackbar--

[Anonymous User]

The 20 interview limit is 180. Like 180 180 180 180. The kid with a 4.0 is going to W&C or Covington, not the other 33 firms that wan't their preftigege.

[Anonymous User]

See some of you in NY tomorrow! I'll be the guy completely disgusted with the legal profession.

[Anonymous User]

just got Weil Gotshal CB from NY Regional

[Anonymous User]

I'm hearing Davis Polk and Paul Weiss (in addition to Weil, posted above) have made callbacks. Has anyone received a callback from elsewhere?

edit: unnecessary given that DC program has not begun, but this is regarding NY regional.

[Anonymous User]

CB at Seward

[Anonymous User]

Millbank, Fried Frank, Proskauer, Cahill- all have sent callbacks

[Anonymous User]

Millbank, Fried Frank, Proskauer, Cahill- all have sent callbacks

I really liked Millbank, hoping I've just not been called back yet.....

Edit:
Nope, there's the ding.

[Anonymous User]

Morgan Lewis (Philly) Callbacks- Any other Philly?

[Anonymous User]

Morgan Lewis (Philly) Callbacks- Any other Philly?

You have one? I've got radio silence so far.

[Anonymous User]

v10 alum here. this board was very helpful when i went through OCI so thought i'd give back. sad to see that it doesn't seem as active as when i was a student a while back.

[Anonymous User]

v10 alum here. this board was very helpful when i went through OCI so thought i'd give back. sad to see that it doesn't seem as active as when i was a student a while back.

Is there any way to try a "walk-in" style interview when the firm is doing interviews at their office and not the OCI hotel?

[Anonymous User]

v10 alum here. this board was very helpful when i went through OCI so thought i'd give back. sad to see that it doesn't seem as active as when i was a student a while back.

Is there any way to try a "walk-in" style interview when the firm is doing interviews at their office and not the OCI hotel?

not really sure what this means. if the firm is only inviting interviewees to its office, seems unlikely. if you're really interested in that firm for whatever reason, seems like the best way to proceed may be to reach out to someone from your undergrad or from GW and express interest that way.

[Anonymous User]

CBs today from Paul Weiss, Cleary, and Simpson Thacher.

Anyone hear anything about Cravath?

[Anonymous User]

Any dings out of Ny/Phi outside of Milbank?