Undergraduate prestige? Forum

[Anonymous User]

How much of an effect does having gone to HYPSM matter for biglaw? I go to DCNG and went to HYPSM for undergrad--is it a "plus" in that I have a big name on there, or a minus? If it has an effect, is it a large one?

[Anonymous User]

Little or no effect, I think, unless your interviewer happens to be an alum of your undergrad as well. I went to a top LAC for UG and didn't notice any perceptible bump on that basis.

[Anonymous User]

Anecdotally, some firms seem to give prestigious undergrad a little weight. It's not going to help you overcome grades that are below what they want, but it's an extra plus that can turn a screener into a callback into an offer if you are within their range as a applicant. This seems to have a more noticeable effect at top NYC firms with huge classes since they aren't as particular about specific strengths once you meet their GPA criteria (Davis Polk comes to mind). That said, for most firms, especially in NYC, prestigious undergrad means HYP(S) and not much more.

[Anonymous User]

Anecdotally, some firms seem to give prestigious undergrad a little weight. It's not going to help you overcome grades that are below what they want, but it's an extra plus that can turn a screener into a callback into an offer if you are within their range as a applicant. This seems to have a more noticeable effect at top NYC firms with huge classes since they aren't as particular about specific strengths once you meet their GPA criteria (Davis Polk comes to mind). That said, for most firms, especially in NYC, prestigious undergrad means HYP(S) and not much more.

Agree with this. I went to HYP undergrad and go to a top 20 law school. I feel like the undergrad helps "dress up" the law school as it were.

[Anonymous User]

As an attorney who's been out a bit, when I see HYP(SM) undergrad and then a law degree that's outside of the T6 (and really HYS), I usually think "oh, s/he must not have done very well in college." One can compensate for that with a T14 JD and a top-flight clerkship, but that's about it.

[Anonymous User]

Would undergrad prestige really kill an otherwise promsising application? If you see State U ==> T20 or T14, you usually think "hey this guy is smart and scrappy"... especially if you grabbed honors at the law school.

[Anonymous User]

As an attorney who's been out a bit, when I see HYP(SM) undergrad and then a law degree that's outside of the T6 (and really HYS), I usually think "oh, s/he must not have done very well in college." One can compensate for that with a T14 JD and a top-flight clerkship, but that's about it.

The Yale undergrad website actually shows how Yale undergrads do each year in applying to law schools. You would be surprised (I guess) because they aren't all incredibly brilliant. The average gpa is fairly low and the average LSAT is only like 165. They get into T6 schools with some frequency but tons don't hit T14. LSAT is a pretty special skill and some people can't prep correctly for it regardless of the prestige of their undergrad.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, I'm at DCNG (as stated above) and I know a bunch of people who went to HYPS. I think it's fairly common as far as I can tell, even if more HYPS types, per capita, are in the T6.

Although keep in mind that undergraduate LSAT averages are skewed because people who don't do well are less likely to go to law school at all.

[Anonymous User]

Also, I found that Yale data to be really interesting: http://ucs.yalecollege.yale.edu/sites/d ... istics.pdf

Only 30% get into HLS, for example.