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I go to a T20 and I was ranked #1 fall semester. During the spring semester, the first semester anxiety that pushed me work hard in the fall disappeared. I didn't read at all for one class, and another I only read somewhat. Grades are out and somehow I'm still ranked #6 in the class.

What's the best way to show on my resume that I was #1 fall semester without looking douchey.

So you were not only number one in the fall but you are no 6 wo even trying?

Sorry but I don't think an employer would care if you were #1 at a previous point, more they are going to care about you being #6 now.

That being said, you bring up that you were #1 fall semester, you WILL seem like a douche.

I would just include a statement on your resume explaining why you took such a huge drop (percentage-wise) in the rankings.

Or, just put your gpa and current class rank on your resume. No need to provide a narrative.

OP here. I was actually barely in the top 10% my spring semester but I was #1 in the fall by a lot so it evened out to #6.

I was thinking something like:

Cum. GPA: 3.9X (Top 5%) Class Rank: 6/2xx
Fall GPA: 4.00 (Top 1%) Class Rank: 1/2xx

It looks worse to show a drop because you burned out, lost focus, and did no work second semester. Law practice is a marathon - you can't just sprint your way through part of the year and then slack off for the rest.

Just show your current rank. It should be more than good enough for most employers.

NYSprague wrote:It looks worse to show a drop because you burned out, lost focus, and did no work second semester. Law practice is a marathon - you can't just sprint your way through part of the year and then slack off for the rest.

Just show your current rank. It should be more than good enough for most employers.

I agree with this.

Ded Precedent wrote:

NYSprague wrote:It looks worse to show a drop because you burned out, lost focus, and did no work second semester. Law practice is a marathon - you can't just sprint your way through part of the year and then slack off for the rest.

Just show your current rank. It should be more than good enough for most employers.

I agree with this.

Also, top 5% at a T20 is still pretty good and you should still have a lot of doors open.

And 6/2XX is top 3%, not 5%.

Losing my #1 ranking hurt a lot and I think I can use that to motivate myself to work hard semester. I also know that if I end up transferring wanting to prove myself at the new school will definitely push me to work really hard, so that's probably my top reason for wanting to transfer.

Well it looks like I won't be putting my fall rank on my resume. It's probably for the best, thanks guys.

EDIT: My school doesn't release a 3% cut off but you're right I can just divide my rank by class size to get my own cut off lol derp.

I was in a similar spot. #1 fall semester 1L then fell to 5th percentile after spring. The boat has sailed on touting your number one spot. If you didn't milk it yet for opportunities, you've lost the chance. No one cares now, all that matters is your current rank and GPA. There is no way way to tell anyone without sounding like a douche - and if anything, it'll draw attention to the drop, not that you used to be #1. Let it go, it's gone.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. I was actually barely in the top 10% my spring semester but I was #1 in the fall by a lot so it evened out to #6.

I was thinking something like:

Cum. GPA: 3.9X (Top 5%) Class Rank: 6/2xx
Fall GPA: 4.00 (Top 1%) Class Rank: 1/2xx

Also, have some humility and perspective. Your grades are great. A 3.9 isn't a failure. Youre going to be just as competitive at OCI, youre quibbling with a triviality. This isn't doomsday.

realistically, if you have to ask the question, it is douchey.

btw: how do you know that no one else scored a 4.0 first semester, and that you were not tied for #1, with several/many others?

OP Here. I guess I didn't want my accomplishment in the fall to fade into the abyss but looks like that's what will have to happen. I knew the difference between me and the #2 because the 1% cut off was the #2's GPA and the registrar confirmed it

Anonymous User wrote:OP Here. I guess I didn't want my accomplishment in the fall to fade into the abyss but looks like that's what will have to happen. I knew the difference between me and the #2 because the 1% cut off was the #2's GPA and the registrar confirmed it

Well it faded into the abyss because you sucked in the spring semester. Bite the bullet and put top 3% in your resume like a normal person. Hopefully you're not also thinking of ways to show that you were admitted into a T14 but chose the T20 or that you were scoring 180s on practice LSATs but didn't get above a 165 on the real thing.

To answer OP's question: you can't.

OP here. I definitely didn't get into a T14 because my undergrad GPA is teh lolz. It was so nice interviewing and doing callbacks as #1 in the class. I wonder if it's the same when you're #7. Probably not.

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. I definitely didn't get into a T14 because my undergrad GPA is teh lolz. It was so nice interviewing and doing callbacks as #1 in the class. I wonder if it's the same when you're #7. Probably not.

I'm curious about your motivational issues. You are so invested in being number 1, yet you didn't work or do reading the second semester. It may be worth your time to understand what motivates you and why. Law is very much a "what have you done for me lately" field. You can't do great work on one project and slack off on the next and expect anyone to care or remember how well you did on the first project. You are only as good as the last work you did.

Nobody cares if you were ranked #1 for a particular semester. You need to man up and not sound like such a schmuck.

Anon Abuse. This feature is not intended as a way for posters to anonymously insult other posters.

NYSprague wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. I definitely didn't get into a T14 because my undergrad GPA is teh lolz. It was so nice interviewing and doing callbacks as #1 in the class. I wonder if it's the same when you're #7. Probably not.

I'm curious about your motivational issues. You are so invested in being number 1, yet you didn't work or do reading the second semester. It may be worth your time to understand what motivates you and why. Law is very much a "what have you done for me lately" field. You can't do great work on one project and slack off on the next and expect anyone to care or remember how well you did on the first project. You are only as good as the last work you did.

I've spent the entire summer trying to find the answer to your question and unfortunately the times in my life where I've performed best all have one thing in common: adversity

think divorce, losing a home, having your mom depend on you, having people doubt you, losing a bunch of scholarships and taking out loans, taking out more loans, etc.

I feel like need to find myself in adverse situations before I can kick it into high gear. I definitely don't sink as low as in my younger days, which is great, but I still feel like I'm under-performing and want to fix it.

EDIT: Also if a shmuck is somoene who asks for helps, takes the advice given, and tries to improve him/herself then yeah I guess I'm a shmuck

Anonymous User wrote:

NYSprague wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. I definitely didn't get into a T14 because my undergrad GPA is teh lolz. It was so nice interviewing and doing callbacks as #1 in the class. I wonder if it's the same when you're #7. Probably not.

I'm curious about your motivational issues. You are so invested in being number 1, yet you didn't work or do reading the second semester. It may be worth your time to understand what motivates you and why. Law is very much a "what have you done for me lately" field. You can't do great work on one project and slack off on the next and expect anyone to care or remember how well you did on the first project. You are only as good as the last work you did.

I've spent the entire summer trying to find the answer to your question and unfortunately the times in my life where I've performed best all have one thing in common: adversity

think divorce, losing a home, having your mom depend on you, having people doubt you, losing a bunch of scholarships and taking out loans, taking out more loans, etc.

I feel like need to find myself in adverse situations before I can kick it into high gear. I definitely don't sink as low as in my younger days, which is great, but I still feel like I'm under-performing and want to fix it.

Well now you have another adverse situation - you dropped a good amount from the top spot.

Yeah exactly, I feel so motivated to kickkk butt next semester now that my ranking dropped! It's gonna be fun.

vstone213 wrote:Nobody cares if you were ranked #1 for a particular semester. You need to man up and not sound like such a schmuck.

Anon Abuse. This feature is not intended as a way for posters to anonymously insult other posters.

This so much.

#6 out of several hundred students is still insanely good. why do people on here hold themselves to such ridiculous standards?

congrats on your 1L performance OP - I honestly don't think you need to mention at all a previous class rank, your current one is strong enough for anything that would come along anyway.

"Hello prospective employer. I did great first semester. Then stopped caring. Please hire me. I promise I'll produce good work product for at least the first month. After that though, who knows."

The narrative that any interviewer will have going in their head when you bring up your PTSD concerning the menial drop in rank.

..