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Below median. How do I explain bad grades while not trying to make excuses and trying to convey my grades are not representative of my intellect, skills, etc.

Thanks in advance

Don't explain your grades. If you're talking about your grades, you're wasting valuable interview time talking about your flaws and that's what they're going to remember. You should just talk about your strengths.

Anonymous User wrote:Don't explain your grades. If you're talking about your grades, you're wasting valuable interview time talking about your flaws and that's what they're going to remember. You should just talk about your strengths.

OP will probably be asked about them...

mephistopheles wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Don't explain your grades. If you're talking about your grades, you're wasting valuable interview time talking about your flaws and that's what they're going to remember. You should just talk about your strengths.

OP will probably be asked about them...

Jesus, have you had any interview coaching? If asked, you acknowledge and change subject deftly to your strengths.

Anonymous User wrote:

mephistopheles wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Don't explain your grades. If you're talking about your grades, you're wasting valuable interview time talking about your flaws and that's what they're going to remember. You should just talk about your strengths.

OP will probably be asked about them...

Jesus, have you had any interview coaching? If asked, you acknowledge and change subject deftly to your strengths.

Exactly as above. I face the same issue and screwed myself in my first CB by talking about it ad nauseam. Rather, you should talk about how even with median grades you've done x y and z (in my case it was reaching senior associate after 2 years at an international investment bank - all without a finance or accounting class ever taken, started my own companies in UG to pay for school, etc etc.). Maybe even say that b/c of the grades you work harder to not only prove to yourself, but to your employer you are as competent as your colleagues from better schools or with better grades.

Anonymous User wrote:Don't explain your grades. If you're talking about your grades, you're wasting valuable interview time talking about your flaws and that's what they're going to remember. You should just talk about your strengths.

This.

But if you are asked about them, own up to it immediately instead of going on the defensive. At a recent CB the very first question I received was, "Why did you do so badly in [Subject] both semesters in 1L?" I was so startled and could only muster up a frank response, "Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing." Fortunately my transcript showed a steep upward trend (way below median in 1L.. ended up graduating with honors).

That interviewer called to give me an offer 2 days later, mentioned that he especially enjoyed my candor. V50 firm in major secondary market.

hungryjumps wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Don't explain your grades. If you're talking about your grades, you're wasting valuable interview time talking about your flaws and that's what they're going to remember. You should just talk about your strengths.

This.

But if you are asked about them, own up to it immediately instead of going on the defensive. At a recent CB the very first question I received was, "Why did you do so badly in [Subject] both semesters in 1L?" I was so startled and could only muster up a frank response, "Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing." Fortunately my transcript showed a steep upward trend (way below median in 1L.. ended up graduating with honors).

That interviewer called to give me an offer 2 days later, mentioned that he especially enjoyed my candor. V50 firm in major secondary market.

this is the type of advice that helps, not simply "change subject deftly" anon jackass

hungryjumps wrote:But if you are asked about them, own up to it immediately instead of going on the defensive. At a recent CB the very first question I received was, "Why did you do so badly in [Subject] both semesters in 1L?" I was so startled and could only muster up a frank response, "Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing." Fortunately my transcript showed a steep upward trend (way below median in 1L.. ended up graduating with honors).

^ Taking this approach also helps the interviewer figure out whether you'll be the type of employee who takes responsibility for your mistakes or the type who wastes effort/time in blaming someone and/or something else. Employers prefer the former over the latter every time.

IMHO, if they are asking about grades, and you are worried about them, then you already lost. Just don't take it personally and move onto the next screener.

Anonymous User wrote:Don't explain your grades. If you're talking about your grades, you're wasting valuable interview time talking about your flaws and that's what they're going to remember. You should just talk about your strengths.

Solid use of anon.

lol wat the fuck ... i don't think there's any good explanation, however, i'd just be honest, take responsibility as indicated above, then move the fuck on to your strengths ... such a question is similar to asking why u have acne, or why u were born in december. IDK.

Nothing you say is believable.

Oh you didn't think they represent your true worth? Lets change that 3.1 to 3.6!

OP here. From the responses, the advice is to "own it" and "take responsibility" when asked about bad grades.

I get that, but what exactly do you say to "own it" and "take responsibility". Something along the lines of, "I found the format of law school exams challenging, however [move on to strengths]" ?

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. From the responses, the advice is to "own it" and "take responsibility" when asked about bad grades.

I get that, but what exactly do you say to "own it" and "take responsibility". Something along the lines of, "I found the format of law school exams challenging, however [move on to strengths]" ?

It depends on what the grades look like. If you have 5 B+'s and 1 C, it hardly makes sense to say "I found the format challenging" because that doesn't explain how you could go from B+ to C in only one class. Instead it would make sense to talk about why that 1 particular class was a challenge and what you learned going forward.

Conversely, do you have any stand out grades? Something like 5 B's and 1 A will let you talk about why that class was different and how you can learn from that going forward.

So, something like "My Civ Pro grade is noticeably higher because I focused on examples and explanations instead of just building an outline. Once I learned that worked for me, I repeated it at my summer job - I would always start assignments by looking at examples of similar past projects."

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. From the responses, the advice is to "own it" and "take responsibility" when asked about bad grades.

I get that, but what exactly do you say to "own it" and "take responsibility". Something along the lines of, "I found the format of law school exams challenging, however [move on to strengths]" ?

Back when I was interviewing (now many moons ago), I rolled in with a fucking B- in Civ Pro because my stupid fucking hippie civ pro professor gave a question so stupid that I hadn't studied for it, flat. (The fucker, who was fresh out of his fucking clerkship, had led a class discussion one day on the justice of the american civ pro system. The question was to summarize our classmates' arguments and identify which we thought was strongest.)

When it came time for interviews did I give the little rant above? No fucking way. And believe me, every fucking firm asked about that fucking B- because thats just how things go, and I wanted to tell everyone how I wanted to punch that kumbaya fuck in his fucking face for asking such a stupid fucking question.

Naturally, I said nothing of the sort. My schpiel was something like:

"As a an ex-engineer, one of the most rewarding aspects of law school is refining my writing skills. Civ Pro was my first exam, and I wasn't there yet, but now I've been really focused on clear, concise writing and it's paying off. I think I have a real advantage over some of my classmates because of my approach to problem solving and . . ."

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. From the responses, the advice is to "own it" and "take responsibility" when asked about bad grades.

I get that, but what exactly do you say to "own it" and "take responsibility". Something along the lines of, "I found the format of law school exams challenging, however [move on to strengths]" ?

Back when I was interviewing (now many moons ago), I rolled in with a fucking B- in Civ Pro because my stupid fucking hippie civ pro professor gave a question so stupid that I hadn't studied for it, flat. (The fucker, who was fresh out of his fucking clerkship, had led a class discussion one day on the justice of the american civ pro system. The question was to summarize our classmates' arguments and identify which we thought was strongest.)

When it came time for interviews did I give the little rant above? No fucking way. And believe me, every fucking firm asked about that fucking B- because thats just how things go, and I wanted to tell everyone how I wanted to punch that kumbaya fuck in his fucking face for asking such a stupid fucking question.

Naturally, I said nothing of the sort. My schpiel was something like:

"As a an ex-engineer, one of the most rewarding aspects of law school is refining my writing skills. Civ Pro was my first exam, and I wasn't there yet, but now I've been really focused on clear, concise writing and it's paying off. I think I have a real advantage over some of my classmates because of my approach to problem solving and . . ."

That's kind of a shitty answer because you are admitting to subpar writing skills.

Aside: if someone asks what your biggest weakness is, don't say writing

Trust me

baal hadad wrote:Aside: if someone asks what your biggest weakness is, don't say writing

Trust me

I actually got an offer at Mayer Brown saying that in my screener.


It was even worse than that.

What is your biggest weakness:

Writin . . . g. ... . no .... um . ummm umm. (actual 10 second pause)

Clearly answering the biggest weakness question is my biggest weakness.

Desert Fox wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. From the responses, the advice is to "own it" and "take responsibility" when asked about bad grades.

I get that, but what exactly do you say to "own it" and "take responsibility". Something along the lines of, "I found the format of law school exams challenging, however [move on to strengths]" ?

Back when I was interviewing (now many moons ago), I rolled in with a fucking B- in Civ Pro because my stupid fucking hippie civ pro professor gave a question so stupid that I hadn't studied for it, flat. (The fucker, who was fresh out of his fucking clerkship, had led a class discussion one day on the justice of the american civ pro system. The question was to summarize our classmates' arguments and identify which we thought was strongest.)

When it came time for interviews did I give the little rant above? No fucking way. And believe me, every fucking firm asked about that fucking B- because thats just how things go, and I wanted to tell everyone how I wanted to punch that kumbaya fuck in his fucking face for asking such a stupid fucking question.

Naturally, I said nothing of the sort. My schpiel was something like:

"As a an ex-engineer, one of the most rewarding aspects of law school is refining my writing skills. Civ Pro was my first exam, and I wasn't there yet, but now I've been really focused on clear, concise writing and it's paying off. I think I have a real advantage over some of my classmates because of my approach to problem solving and . . ."

That's kind of a shitty answer because you are admitting to subpar writing skills.

Well he has the grades to back up his proposition that he's improved his writing. Problem solving is probably the second most useful skill in law next to writing and he convincingly talks about his ability to do so. Not seeing the problem here.

Anonymous User wrote:

Desert Fox wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:
Back when I was interviewing (now many moons ago), I rolled in with a fucking B- in Civ Pro because my stupid fucking hippie civ pro professor gave a question so stupid that I hadn't studied for it, flat. (The fucker, who was fresh out of his fucking clerkship, had led a class discussion one day on the justice of the american civ pro system. The question was to summarize our classmates' arguments and identify which we thought was strongest.)

When it came time for interviews did I give the little rant above? No fucking way. And believe me, every fucking firm asked about that fucking B- because thats just how things go, and I wanted to tell everyone how I wanted to punch that kumbaya fuck in his fucking face for asking such a stupid fucking question.

Naturally, I said nothing of the sort. My schpiel was something like:

"As a an ex-engineer, one of the most rewarding aspects of law school is refining my writing skills. Civ Pro was my first exam, and I wasn't there yet, but now I've been really focused on clear, concise writing and it's paying off. I think I have a real advantage over some of my classmates because of my approach to problem solving and . . ."

That's kind of a shitty answer because you are admitting to subpar writing skills.

Well he has the grades to back up his proposition that he's improved his writing. Problem solving is probably the second most useful skill in law next to writing and he convincingly talks about his ability to do so. Not seeing the problem here.

Anyone who went to law school knows that writing ability has dick to do with grades unless you are so bad you can't make your point. If he had good grades in LRW, this would be fine. Otherwise, I'd worry about it.

Desert Fox wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:OP here. From the responses, the advice is to "own it" and "take responsibility" when asked about bad grades.

I get that, but what exactly do you say to "own it" and "take responsibility". Something along the lines of, "I found the format of law school exams challenging, however [move on to strengths]" ?

Back when I was interviewing (now many moons ago), I rolled in with a fucking B- in Civ Pro because my stupid fucking hippie civ pro professor gave a question so stupid that I hadn't studied for it, flat. (The fucker, who was fresh out of his fucking clerkship, had led a class discussion one day on the justice of the american civ pro system. The question was to summarize our classmates' arguments and identify which we thought was strongest.)

When it came time for interviews did I give the little rant above? No fucking way. And believe me, every fucking firm asked about that fucking B- because thats just how things go, and I wanted to tell everyone how I wanted to punch that kumbaya fuck in his fucking face for asking such a stupid fucking question.

Naturally, I said nothing of the sort. My schpiel was something like:

"As a an ex-engineer, one of the most rewarding aspects of law school is refining my writing skills. Civ Pro was my first exam, and I wasn't there yet, but now I've been really focused on clear, concise writing and it's paying off. I think I have a real advantage over some of my classmates because of my approach to problem solving and . . ."

That's kind of a shitty answer because you are admitting to subpar writing skills.

To be fair, I got offers at S&C, DPW, Cleary and Simpson with grades on the low end of the range for all. It was an answer that had the advantage of working (because I was pimping my problem solving ability and upward grade curve).

It's OK to admit you HAD a weakness (and plays better than "my biggest weakness is I'm a perfectionist!") as long as you immediately transition to why its a strength now.

Desert Fox wrote:

baal hadad wrote:Aside: if someone asks what your biggest weakness is, don't say writing

Trust me

I actually got an offer at Mayer Brown saying that in my screener.


It was even worse than that.

What is your biggest weakness:

Writin . . . g. ... . no .... um . ummm umm. (actual 10 second pause)

Clearly answering the biggest weakness question is my biggest weakness.

LOLbro nice

Some dude asked me my 2 biggest weaknesses; had one prepared but not 2

Went with writing for #2 whoops; framed it as I had greatly improved over my 1L summer n such

Ended up getting another offer so I didn't hear one way or the other on that CB

Next time I'm just gonna say my biggest weakness is my mile time