Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm a little worried, friends…

I have a Dean's List GPA (which means I didn't do all that well as a 1L) at a T14 and I was one of the ~40% that struck out at my school's OCI. I was hoping to do better in my 2L/3L, but the disgust over striking out is making it hard for me to focus. I've e-mailed 50-75 firms, I'm responding to all leads, but the fear of not having a job is getting the best of me. I received a big scholarship, but I will still owe 100k at graduation.

The worst part is I am on moot court, a journal, I am writing an article, and I have a huge course load but all of my motivation is sapped. I'm trying to flip that switch, but it's hard.

Sorry to vent, I'm just worried...

[Desert Fox]

I'm a little worried, friends…

I have a Dean's List GPA (which means I didn't do all that well as a 1L) at a T14 and I was one of the ~40% that struck out at my school's OCI. I was hoping to do better in my 2L/3L, but the disgust over striking out is making it hard for me to focus. I've e-mailed 50-75 firms, I'm responding to all leads, but the fear of not having a job is getting the best of me. I received a big scholarship, but I will still owe 100k at graduation.

The worst part is I am on moot court, a journal, I am writing an article, and I have a huge course load but all of my motivation is sapped. I'm trying to flip that switch, but it's hard.

Sorry to vent, I'm just worried...

50-75 firms isn't enough bro.

[Anonymous User]

I've done 50 more, but I'm not feeling any better. I gotta get out of this mood...

[Anonymous User]

Keep mailing. I'm at a t14 and struck out through OCI but have received 1 DC screener, 1 DC straight to callback and 1 Philly straight to callback this week from a ton of mass mailing. It's not too late yet.

[bk1]

I've done 50 more, but I'm not feeling any better. I gotta get out of this mood...

You should be applying to get a job, not to motivate you. The motivation should be because you want a job.

[Anonymous User]

Was in a similar position. Go see the school's counselor, get a referral to a therapist.

[Anonymous User]

You can do it. I have friends who were in similar situation last year, and they kept on mass-mailing and things turned out fine. Being in the T14 will certainly help you! You haven't missed the boat yet, keep trying!

[rickgrimes69]

I'm a little worried, friends…

I have a Dean's List GPA (which means I didn't do all that well as a 1L)[b/] at a T14 and I was one of the ~40% that struck out at my school's OCI. I was hoping to do better in my 2L/3L, but the disgust over striking out is making it hard for me to focus. I've e-mailed 50-75 firms, I'm responding to all leads, but the fear of not having a job is getting the best of me. I received a big scholarship, but I will still owe 100k at graduation.

The worst part is I am on moot court, a journal, I am writing an article, and I have a huge course load but all of my motivation is sapped. I'm trying to flip that switch, but it's hard.

Sorry to vent, I'm just worried...

I'm confused by the bolded. Isn't Dean's List a good thing?

[reasonable person]

You must be a horrible interviewer...

[Anonymous User]

Keep mailing. I'm at a t14 and struck out through OCI but have received 1 DC screener, 1 DC straight to callback and 1 Philly straight to callback this week from a ton of mass mailing. It's not too late yet.

This is encouraging. Thanks.

With the motivation, I was talking about being motivated in general. I just feel pretty defeated.

As for the therapy, I've been thinking about that. I probably should.

Dean's List seems like kind of a booby prize.

In terms of my interviewing skills, perhaps. I will say I had callbacks with firms where my GPA was below their minimum reported GPA, so maybe certain people like me while others don't. I fancied myself a good interviewer, which is why I didn't mass mail sooner, but you're probably right.

[smallfirmassociate]

Do something that's going to make you feel better. Leave town and go on a two-and-a-half-day bender somewhere. Go rent a boat and go fishing. Grab a friend and hike / camp. Rent a beach house for the weekend. If you absolutely don't want to go outside, go on a Netflix marathon of a show you like or something.

Say fuck it all, recharge the batteries, and you'll come back better. Otherwise you're just going to spin your wheels being relatively unproductive for those days anyway.

[Anonymous User]

Do something that's going to make you feel better. Leave town and go on a two-and-a-half-day bender somewhere. Go rent a boat and go fishing. Grab a friend and hike / camp. Rent a beach house for the weekend. If you absolutely don't want to go outside, go on a Netflix marathon of a show you like or something.

Say fuck it all, recharge the batteries, and you'll come back better. Otherwise you're just going to spin your wheels being relatively unproductive for those days anyway.

This is 180, and what I'm planning on doing this weekend in a similar position.

[Anonymous User]

Same shoes here, non-t14.

respectable non-t14 school.
Just outside of top 50% of the class.
struck out of OCIs. No CBs.

Should I even bother continuing mass mailing biglaw?
Definitely have done 100+ and have hit up the major markets.
People are saying NYC is still looking, but my GPA is not that great.

Advise?

[Desert Fox]

Same shoes here, non-t14.

respectable non-t14 school.
Just outside of top 50% of the class.
struck out of OCIs. No CBs.

Should I even bother continuing mass mailing biglaw?
Definitely have done 100+ and have hit up the major markets.
People are saying NYC is still looking, but my GPA is not that great.

Advise?

You didn't strike out, you never got an at bat.

[DELG]

OP sounds clinically depressed.

[Desert Fox]

OP sounds clinically depressed.

SSRIs aren't going to help in time. OP start ur mass mailing now.

[FSK]

Same shoes here, non-t14.

respectable non-t14 school.
Just outside of top 50% of the class.
struck out of OCIs. No CBs.

Should I even bother continuing mass mailing biglaw?
Definitely have done 100+ and have hit up the major markets.
People are saying NYC is still looking, but my GPA is not that great.

Advise?

You didn't strike out, you never got an at bat.

Yeah, sadly biglaw was not a realistic expectation for someone in your shoes.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, depression is not out of the realm of possibility. I've spent several hours emailing firms since I made the first post. I've email all of the big firms for a couple major markets and I'm getting ready to email every NY firm.

Thanks for all of the posts.

[Pikappraider]

OP here, depression is not out of the realm of possibility. I've spent several hours emailing firms since I made the first post. I've email all of the big firms for a couple major markets and I'm getting ready to email every NY firm.

Thanks for all of the posts.

Kinda shocking that you are just mailing NYC now, I guess this is a warning for future classes. Good luck bro/ette, hope you land something. Don't let it discourage you, now is the time you need to be going HAM.

[Desert Fox]

Drop out OP. I know how this story goes. You only really look for a job when forced and when you get a hint of a job, you'll stop and wait til you are rejected. You'll graduate with no jerb.

Just drop out now.

[mcs268]

i see no signs of depression. you're just sad you didn't get a job yet. that was me too. i hustled and got like 6-7 more interviews. still offerless but trucking. unless you can't find enjoyment from taking a day off and hanging out with friends, or purposely avoid others giving you comfort, you're not depressed. def see a therapist if these are more than just general sadness.

I don't mean to heckle you, but just to give you real facts. depression does not equal general sadness. don't psych yourself out unnecessarily.

edit: accidental anon. mcs268.

[mvp99]

I also suggest you drop out before you're unable to get this semester $$$$ back.

[Anonymous User]

OP, just received an email from a NY firm I had mass mailed. I was pretty stoked. Here's hoping I get lucky. Still gonna continue mailing. This is just encouraging because now I know mass mailing can work.

[Anonymous User]

Look OP, I was in your exact position this time last year. I hit rock bottom and was undoubtedly clinically depressed. I could barely make it to class and avoided most human contact, especially at the law school out of embarrassment. It was literally the worst experience of my life. I wasn't studying or reading at all for the first half of the semester. But I knew that the only way I would ever have a chance to get out of that mess was to hit the books like a mofo and work harder than I did during 1L to bring my grades up. You need a 3.7+ this year to have a shot at a biglaw job next year man, thats just how it is.

I ended up finding a shitlaw job in flyover country sometime after Halloween. I was able to do alright Fall Semester, and resolved to come into Spring semester guns blazing. I took max credits and worked harder than I ever had. Did my dirt at the firm over the summer, made a shitload of cold calls to network with people, and long story short I just accepted an offer at a V20.

This year is gonna suck really bad. It's probably going to be the most miserable thing you have gone through before. But if you let it totally defeat you it's gonna be so much worse in the long run. Hit the books hard, put in work on journal so you can get a title next year, do extra curriculars for more resume lines, and land a job at some type of firm if you can, even if it's shitlaw. If you can't get a firm, try for government stuff. Then try again next year.

Good luck!