2 B-minuses at Penn, how bad is that for OCI this summer? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Rising 2L here, just finished my 1L year few weeks ago. So last semester, I got decent grades (except for one): A, A-, A-, and a B-. After my grades came out last semester, I vowed not to get a B- again. Nevertheless, here am I and it happened again. My grades this semester are identical A, A-, A-, and B- (although the damage of the B- may be mitigated because it is for a 3-unit elective course rather than a 4-unit regulatory course). I know statistically speaking I should be well over median here at Penn. But the fact is that I do have 2 B-minuses. How much do you think this will hurt me in OCI this summer? And any advice on how I should explain my disparate grades? What kind of firms am I looking at assuming I do average on interviews?

[Sauer Grapes]

What's median at Penn and what classes did you get the B- in?

If you are well over median, you'll do fine at OCI (You'll probably even do "fine" at median). Just don't look like a whiny person when asked about it at OCI or in callbacks.

[rayiner]

Rising 2L here, just finished my 1L year few weeks ago. So last semester, I got decent grades (except for one): A, A-, A-, and a B-. After my grades came out last semester, I vowed not to get a B- again. Nevertheless, here am I and it happened again. My grades this semester are identical A, A-, A-, and B- (although the damage of the B- may be mitigated because it is for a 3-unit elective course rather than a 4-unit regulatory course). I know statistically speaking I should be well over median here at Penn. But the fact is that I do have 2 B-minuses. How much do you think this will hurt me in OCI this summer? And any advice on how I should explain my disparate grades? What kind of firms am I looking at assuming I do average on interviews?

3.5 should be well above median at Penn. Nobody will care about the B-'s.

[dpk711]

i think median is between 3.2 and 3.3

[Sauer Grapes]

I think you are fine. Be yourself at OCI and enjoy 2L and your summer associate position.

[OutCold]

You are significantly above median. Don't worry about it.

[Anonymous User]

What's median at Penn and what classes did you get the B- in?

If you are well over median, you'll do fine at OCI (You'll probably even do "fine" at median). Just don't look like a whiny person when asked about it at OCI or in callbacks.

As mentioned before, I believe median is somewhere right under 3.3, I got the B- in contracts the first semester and environmental law the second semester.

[r6_philly]

You are fine. Better than fine. If asked, just explain that the class was taught by a non-law professor teaching it for the only time and you approached it differently.

[Veyron]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

[Anonymous User]

I don't know how employers will look at those B-s, but your grades are far better than friends I have who work at Debevoise, Cleary, Paul Weiss, & Skadden. Plus, I recruited 2 years ago when hiring was even worse. Those grades are fine for pretty much anywhere save the super exclusive spots.

[penn0Ler]

I don't know how employers will look at those B-s, but your grades are far better than friends I have who work at Debevoise, Cleary, Paul Weiss, & Skadden. Plus, I recruited 2 years ago when hiring was even worse. Those grades are fine for pretty much anywhere save the super exclusive spots.

3.5 is good enough for those places? Wow. So what firms does a 3.7ish disqualify you from? Is that good enough for Covington or Cravath?

Also, not to get too off topic, but does anyone have an idea of GPA is required to grade on to Penn Law Review?

[rayiner]

I don't know how employers will look at those B-s, but your grades are far better than friends I have who work at Debevoise, Cleary, Paul Weiss, & Skadden. Plus, I recruited 2 years ago when hiring was even worse. Those grades are fine for pretty much anywhere save the super exclusive spots.

3.5 is good enough for those places? Wow. So what firms does a 3.7ish disqualify you from? Is that good enough for Covington or Cravath?

Also, not to get too off topic, but does anyone have an idea of GPA is required to grade on to Penn Law Review?

Remember, the V10+Deb, PW together account for maybe half the SA positions in NYC. They're great firms, but they can't be so super selective because they need to fill ~1,200 positions. During the boom, even Cravath would go below median at CCN and probably P.

Firms like W&C or Covington are in a different league of selectivity. DC is in high-demand amongst HYS and among post-clerks, and the upper echelon of DC firms probably has a couple of hundred positions between them.

[PennBull]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

[r6_philly]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Also, someone who would worry about this may not interview very well, which in turn warrants the worrying.

BTW, how's your summer going? Chill there?

[PennBull]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Also, someone who would worry about this may not interview very well, which in turn warrants the worrying.

BTW, how's your summer going? Chill there?

Are you talking to me? Haha

[r6_philly]

Are you talking to me? Haha

Yup lol

[Veyron]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Also, someone who would worry about this may not interview very well, which in turn warrants the worrying.

BTW, how's your summer going? Chill there?

Meta worrying... I like it!

[PennBull]

Are you talking to me? Haha

Yup lol

Having a great time. Super lucky to have this opportunity, looking forward to exploring DC a bit more once I get some free time. You holding down the Philly fort for us?

[HeavenWood]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Look at grade distributions. Pretty much every vault-ranked firm (including quite a few V10s) has some B-'s in the pie chart. With a 3.5, you're top 1/3 if I'm not mistaken (and at the very least you're significantly above median). Barring a complete aspie-out at OCI, you not only will be employed, but you'll have some damn great options to choose from.

[r6_philly]

Having a great time. Super lucky to have this opportunity, looking forward to exploring DC a bit more once I get some free time. You holding down the Philly fort for us?

Cool man, have fun! I need to take a trip down there at some point. As for Philly, plenty of drinks flowing! See ya soon!

[Veyron]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Look at grade distributions. Pretty much every vault-ranked firm (including quite a few V10s) has some B-'s in the pie chart. With a 3.5, you're top 1/3 if I'm not mistaken (and at the very least you're significantly above median). Barring a complete aspie-out at OCI, you not only will be employed, but you'll have some damn great options to choose from.

Those B- averages are for the most part either (a) from pre-recession years or (b) from very special candidates with unique skills or attributes.

[HeavenWood]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Look at grade distributions. Pretty much every vault-ranked firm (including quite a few V10s) has some B-'s in the pie chart. With a 3.5, you're top 1/3 if I'm not mistaken (and at the very least you're significantly above median). Barring a complete aspie-out at OCI, you not only will be employed, but you'll have some damn great options to choose from.

Those B- averages are for the most part either (a) from pre-recession years or (b) from very special candidates with unique skills or attributes.

Wait I'm confused. I thought the pie chart was a composite of every grade from every successful candidate (ie, a sliver of B-'s would be indicative of the occasional B- grade or two). If that's not the case and they actually represent approximations of grade averages, you just made me very very very happy.

[Veyron]

Sure. But they don't represent the approximations of grade averages over just the past year but rather over the past (4 I believe) years. Still better than what you thought though I would suspect.

[thegrayman]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Look at grade distributions. Pretty much every vault-ranked firm (including quite a few V10s) has some B-'s in the pie chart. With a 3.5, you're top 1/3 if I'm not mistaken (and at the very least you're significantly above median). Barring a complete aspie-out at OCI, you not only will be employed, but you'll have some damn great options to choose from.

Where do you look up the grade distributions?

[OutCold]

You're an idiot (and I mean that in the most collegial way possible). If you don't stop worrying about THOSE grades and go have a beer RIGHT NOW, I will fly to Philadelphia and slap you.

This.

Look at grade distributions. Pretty much every vault-ranked firm (including quite a few V10s) has some B-'s in the pie chart. With a 3.5, you're top 1/3 if I'm not mistaken (and at the very least you're significantly above median). Barring a complete aspie-out at OCI, you not only will be employed, but you'll have some damn great options to choose from.

Where do you look up the grade distributions?

Under the CPP fall recruiting stuff on the Goat.