Bidding second market as backup Forum

[stewie27]

I'm at Duke, roughly top third of the class. I really want DC but don't want to strike out completely so I plan to bid on some NY firms as a backup. In general, does anyone have advice for what kind of a split there should be between DC and NY bids. I was thinking 2/3 DC, but TLS has me paranoid that might be using too many bids on DC. Also, is it better to focus on just "safety" NY firms or split those up into target/safety/reach too?

[DallasCowboy]

just my opinion, but I think it would be pointless to bid a NYC reach high in that situation. Also, it's hard to say that any of the firms are a "safety" firm at top 3rd- you are going to make the usual grade cutoff or not, at which point the interview is what matters. Just make sure you interview at 5 firms you know you are well above cutoff for NYC and swing for the fences at DC, I'd say.

Do you have a home market that is not one of those 2?

[beachbum]

Relevant to my interests, though splitting between Chicago and NY.

[stewie27]

just my opinion, but I think it would be pointless to bid a NYC reach high in that situation. Also, it's hard to say that any of the firms are a "safety" firm at top 3rd- you are going to make the usual grade cutoff or not, at which point the interview is what matters. Just make sure you interview at 5 firms you know you are well above cutoff for NYC and swing for the fences at DC, I'd say.

Do you have a home market that is not one of those 2?

Thanks for your input. I don't consider anything a home market. I didn't grow up near any cities or what one would think of as a market. I have more ties to DC than any other market. I'll probably bid mostly DC and then put a handful of NY firms that are less selective/bigger class sizes.