Dean's Scholar on Resume? (HLS) Forum

[John Denver]

Should I list any dean's scholar prizes on my resume? OCS said to, and it makes some sense because it isn't obvious when first looking at the transcript that the grade wasn't just an H. Even still, I feel weird listing it. Thought?

[apparentlynew]

I am not an HLS student and have never worked in Biglaw, but I say put it on.

I don't know what a dean's scholar prize is. I assume it means you're better than other students in some way - is it better than an H but lower than a D (what the hell does D mean, distinction?)?

If so, that's the kind of thing that gets you hired. Furthermore, what reason is there to doubt OCS here? Do they have some perverse incentive to fuck you?

Bragging that you're totally sweet is not cool. However, being totally sweet is how you get a job. Therefore, schools invented subtler ways of bragging that you're totally sweet that look solemn and matter-of-fact, for you people like you to put on your resume.

[John Denver]

I am not an HLS student and have never worked in Biglaw, but I say put it on.

I don't know what a dean's scholar prize is. I assume it means you're better than other students in some way - is it better than an H but lower than a D (what the hell does D mean, distinction?)?

If so, that's the kind of thing that gets you hired. Furthermore, what reason is there to doubt OCS here? Do they have some perverse incentive to fuck you?

Bragging that you're totally sweet is not cool. However, being totally sweet is how you get a job. Therefore, schools invented subtler ways of bragging that you're totally sweet that look solemn and matter-of-fact, for you people like you to put on your resume.

There is no "D" grade, you're probably thinking of "DS," which is what I'm asking about. And I don't think that OCS would purposely give anyone bad advice, but it's possible that they could be out of touch with what employers actually think.

[apparentlynew]

Sorry, I think I saw some Stanford or Yale thread that mentioned "D"s and assumed the letter grading was the same at those schools and H.

I really think the entire point of inventing a prize for best student is for you to put it on your resume. Whether employers like that or not is not something I know, but I would err on the side of less modesty. Also, assume that firms have some basic knowledge of H's grading system - they will probably have seen a Dean's Scholar prize before.

Your sole concern is seeming self-important, but employers know that you know that employers care about grades. The DS is a school-endorsed and -invented distinction, so at worst employers will think you are as dickish as Harvard Law School.

[chasgoose]

It's your OCS's job to know whether putting DS on your resume is a good idea or not. If they tell you to do so, you should listen. Obviously not all OCS advice is the best, especially at a large school like Harvard, but this seems like a good idea. Remember most people at top big law firms got there by being prestige-obsessed and they reward that.

[apparentlynew]

I agree re: trusting HLS OCS. Some OCS advice should be regarded skeptically, especially when you have reason to expect a principal/agent problem, i.e. they might care more about you getting employed at all than about you getting the best firm for you, so they might tell you to bid too modestly. However, this bit of advice can only help you get a job - and there's no advantage to them in screwing you. Either you get the job over another HLS person, which is a wash, or you get the job over a non-HLS person, which is a plus.

[GertrudePerkins]

I also had your hesitation, but also got the same advice from OCS. I did it, both for EIP and for clerkship apps. At this point a lot of lawyers and profs have looked at my resume (and presumably noticed the DS listing) and no one has warned me off the practice. I say do it.

[swampthang]

Every CSO/OCS will say to put it on, and you should.