Big drop in 1L GPA so far... Forum

[longhorns89]

I've dropped .3 from 1st semester to this semester, going from all As and A-s to only Bs and B+s so far (one grade still not in). School does not rank but publishes top 25 and median. Before, I was about .2 GPA points above top 25th.I'm now about .1 points below last semester's 75th percentile and .25 or so above last semester's median. I realize that's not a terrible place to be after 1L but the drop does feel almost devastating and could go lower (or a little higher!). Not that it really matters I guess, but anyone have an idea of how common this is? Or whether for OCI employers just consider the final GPA or also consider (officially or not) the difference between fall and spring at a T20 school considered the top in the region?

[de5igual]

I've dropped .3 from 1st semester to this semester, going from all As and A-s to only Bs and B+s so far (one grade still not in). School does not rank but publishes top 25 and median. Before, I was about .2 GPA points above top 25th.I'm now about .1 points below last semester's 75th percentile and .25 or so above last semester's median. I realize that's not a terrible place to be after 1L but the drop does feel almost devastating and could go lower (or a little higher!). Not that it really matters I guess, but anyone have an idea of how common this is? Or whether for OCI employers just consider the final GPA or also consider (officially or not) the difference between fall and spring at a T20 school considered the top in the region?

So you're at UT and have around a 3.6? You're fine. Employers dont give a crap about individual semester grades, just the cumulative.

[Anonymous User]

My situation was a bit different, but FWIW I'll tell you about my experience. I was at a T14, and dropped from top 30% to a hair above median. Now, I still got a few decent grades in the spring, but totally bombed one class. Several people asked me along the lines of "what happened in property?" I didn't really know, so I didn't have a good answer, except "I wish I knew. I prepared the same way as for my other exams. It wasn't really my favorite class, so that might have played a part, blah blah blah." But no one seemed to indicate that my drop in GPA was some sort of disqualification, and I still did well at OCI.

Try to steer the conversation to other things. Internship, prior work experience, stuff not on your resume, etc.

[thesealocust]

GPA/rank matters, not 1L trend between semesters.

[Anonymous User]

My situation was a bit different, but FWIW I'll tell you about my experience. I was at a T14, and dropped from top 30% to a hair above median. Now, I still got a few decent grades in the spring, but totally bombed one class. Several people asked me along the lines of "what happened in property?" I didn't really know, so I didn't have a good answer, except "I wish I knew. I prepared the same way as for my other exams. It wasn't really my favorite class, so that might have played a part, blah blah blah." But no one seemed to indicate that my drop in GPA was some sort of disqualification, and I still did well at OCI.

Try to steer the conversation to other things. Internship, prior work experience, stuff not on your resume, etc.

Well this makes me feel better...I dropped myself from top 35% to barely above median and feel absolutely horrible. Just one B and a bunch of medianish grades this semester was all it took.

[Anonymous User]

Same here. All As and A- and then one B and one B- fucked my whole GPA up. Its fucking ridiculous how one grade hurts so much and I honestly dunno what happened... Still above median but barely.

[Anonymous User]

My situation was a bit different, but FWIW I'll tell you about my experience. I was at a T14, and dropped from top 30% to a hair above median. Now, I still got a few decent grades in the spring, but totally bombed one class. Several people asked me along the lines of "what happened in property?" I didn't really know, so I didn't have a good answer, except "I wish I knew. I prepared the same way as for my other exams. It wasn't really my favorite class, so that might have played a part, blah blah blah." But no one seemed to indicate that my drop in GPA was some sort of disqualification, and I still did well at OCI.

Try to steer the conversation to other things. Internship, prior work experience, stuff not on your resume, etc.

Well this makes me feel better...I dropped myself from top 35% to barely above median and feel absolutely horrible. Just one B and a bunch of medianish grades this semester was all it took.

same shit dropped from like top 25 to maybe top 40 if im lucky depending on what the curve was like this semester

[Anonymous User]

My 1L year at UT I dropped just outside top quarter to median. I had a summer SA and was really freaked about it. Firm didn't really care and I still got interviews and offers at the big firms.