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2L grades worse than 1L

Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:50 pm
by Anonymous User
My 1L grades were median (a lot around median, some above, some below), but after I took a leave of absence during my first 2L semester, my second 2L semester grades were all median or below, including a B- in Evidence.

I know 2L grades are traditionally supposed to be higher than 1L grades, so I don't know how to explain this in interviews. Nothing personally devastating happened during that semester, and I didn't study less than I did in 1L year. I did have a pretty nasty cold during exams but I don't know if "I was sick" is really going to fly.

For reference, I'm now slightly below median at CCN, and my initial leave of absence was for personal reasons, but again, nothing devastating like a death in the family or anything like that.

Will I be asked about this grade drop in interviews? If so, is there anything I can really say aside from "I wasn't feeling well that week"?

Re: 2L grades worse than 1L

Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:57 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:My 1L grades were median (a lot around median, some above, some below), but after I took a leave of absence during my first 2L semester, my second 2L semester grades were all median or below, including a B- in Evidence.

I know 2L grades are traditionally supposed to be higher than 1L grades, so I don't know how to explain this in interviews. Nothing personally devastating happened during that semester, and I didn't study less than I did in 1L year. I did have a pretty nasty cold during exams but I don't know if "I was sick" is really going to fly.

For reference, I'm now slightly below median at CCN, and my initial leave of absence was for personal reasons, but again, nothing devastating like a death in the family or anything like that.

Will I be asked about this grade drop in interviews? If so, is there anything I can really say aside from "I wasn't feeling well that week"?
Did you strike out of OCI / doing 3L OCI, or are you a PI person? Answer probably partially depends on that.

Re: 2L grades worse than 1L

Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 4:01 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:
Anonymous User wrote:My 1L grades were median (a lot around median, some above, some below), but after I took a leave of absence during my first 2L semester, my second 2L semester grades were all median or below, including a B- in Evidence.

I know 2L grades are traditionally supposed to be higher than 1L grades, so I don't know how to explain this in interviews. Nothing personally devastating happened during that semester, and I didn't study less than I did in 1L year. I did have a pretty nasty cold during exams but I don't know if "I was sick" is really going to fly.

For reference, I'm now slightly below median at CCN, and my initial leave of absence was for personal reasons, but again, nothing devastating like a death in the family or anything like that.

Will I be asked about this grade drop in interviews? If so, is there anything I can really say aside from "I wasn't feeling well that week"?
Did you strike out of OCI / doing 3L OCI, or are you a PI person? Answer probably partially depends on that.
I took my leave before my school's 2L OCI last fall, so I was told that I am still eligible to participate in the upcoming one. I do have a SA at a non-BigLaw firm this summer.