Interviews scheduled before grades released... pointless? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I sent out e-mails to a bunch of firms before grades at my school were released. I got two interview requests from big firms and the dates are approaching, but I got my grades back in the meantime and they are pretty crappy (2.88 GPA at a school on the lower end of the T14). I would rather not go to the interview, bring my transcript, and have them laugh at me. Is it pointless or do I have a chance?

[LLB2JD]

I'll say you still go. If not for anything, at least for the fact that you'd get some interviewing experience. You also never know, you might be able to connect with a hiring manager who you might be able to update yourself with in a couple of months say if you pull a 3.6 at the end of this semester.

[vanwinkle]

Building interviewing experience is TCR, especially with those grades.

[pasteurizedmilk]

I sent out e-mails to a bunch of firms before grades at my school were released. I got two interview requests from big firms and the dates are approaching, but I got my grades back in the meantime and they are pretty crappy (2.88 GPA at a school on the lower end of the T14). I would rather not go to the interview, bring my transcript, and have them laugh at me. Is it pointless or do I have a chance?

Sounds like you have something going for you if you got the interviews. Those grades 95% won't get you in the door, but there's a small chance you could still pull an SA gig. (VERY small chance, mind you).

And, like Vanwinkle mentioned, interview experience is always a plus. I bombed my first 2-3 biglaw interviews and idn't get callbacks, then batted 100% for callbacks on the next 10 or so. Probably not a coincidence.

In the interview, mention your grades before they do. Don't be too self-depracting, but say you're disappointed and are taking substantive steps to fix the mistakes you amde this fall.

And if you click with an interviewer/s, keep in touch with them. If you end up bringing those grades up, they'll be good contacts down the road.

Unfortuantely, these are probably no longer interviews for a job, and more a chance to hone your skills and make connections. Use it! Good luck next term. review model exams a lot.

[Anonymous User]

I'm in a similar boat as the OP. GPA is above 3.0, but still well below median at my CN. Firm hasn't yet asked for a transcript, and I have a bunch of other things going for me that probably explain why I got the interview in the first place.

Should I bring it up? Bring a transcript with me? Or just let it ride unless they ask, and give the stock answer(s) for why my fall semester performance sucked?