Penn OCI -- Is splitting between NYC and LA murder? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am trying to put together a bidding strategy and I don't if it would be a good idea to bid on both LA and NYC firms. I would prefer to be in LA but I also have NYC ties and it's a stronger market. All help is greatly appreciated!!

[Anonymous User]

Check the 3.9 MVP thread. Basically, the answer is: how awesome are you?

[Anonymous User]

top 25%

[Lermontov]

Just curious, how do you know you're top 25%? Rough estimation, or did CPP crack?

[Anonymous User]

Just curious, how do you know you're top 25%? Rough estimation, or did CPP crack?

+1 -- what gpa is top 25%?

[RVP11]

top 25%

NYC is the easiest major market and LA isn't nearly as difficult as DC, Chicago, or SF. Why would you think this is "murder?"

I bid the same markets with similar grades from MVP and rocked it.

[MC Southstar]

I am trying to put together a bidding strategy and I don't if it would be a good idea to bid on both LA and NYC firms. I would prefer to be in LA but I also have NYC ties and it's a stronger market. All help is greatly appreciated!!

I am in a similar situation.. assuming your grade estimate is around the same as mine, I would be more focused on the specific firms and your chances with them, not treating the markets as homogenous targets.

[Georgiana]

No one *really* knows what the top 25% is, if you have a 3.5+ you're in good shape for OCI and shouldn't worry too much about grades being a hindrance.

As far as splitting bids, I split my focus between LA and DC with a few NYC IP firms thrown in for good measure. I got callbacks to all three markets and took the job in DC. I recommend doing the regional LA interviews if you're interested in LA, especially if you don't have much connection to the city (I had no connection to LA or NYC and limited connection to CA but I did have ties to DC). It shows that you're committed and you can mention it to interviewers during OCI. You may also get a callback before OCI starts which is a nice little confidence boost

There aren't enough LA firms at OCI to take up all of your bids anyway (at least my year) so you'd have to bid elsewhere too. NYC is a good choice for a backup market because its probably the easiest to get into.

Good luck!

[Lermontov]

There aren't enough LA firms at OCI to take up all of your bids anyway (at least my year) so you'd have to bid elsewhere too.

+1
This really bothered me...

No one *really* knows what the top 25% is, if you have a 3.5+ you're in good shape for OCI and shouldn't worry too much about grades being a hindrance.

And are you suggesting that 3.5 would be top 25% in your humble estimate?

[Georgiana]

No one *really* knows what the top 25% is, if you have a 3.5+ you're in good shape for OCI and shouldn't worry too much about grades being a hindrance.

And are you suggesting that 3.5 would be top 25% in your humble estimate?

I'd say its safe to assume you're top third... assuming you're lower is safer than assuming you're higher

[Anonymous User]

Thanks so much for the help! I'd been in a nervous state for a few days now and I feel slightly more at ease.