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Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:38 pm
by 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...
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:40 pm
by Desert Fox
Anonymous User wrote: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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:04 pm
by Anonymous User
I've done 50 more, but I'm not feeling any better. I gotta get out of this mood...
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:53 pm
by 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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:15 pm
by bk1
Anonymous User wrote: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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:40 pm
by Anonymous User
Was in a similar position. Go see the school's counselor, get a referral to a therapist.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 11:22 pm
by 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!
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:23 am
by rickgrimes69
Anonymous User wrote: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?
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 4:41 am
by reasonable person
You must be a horrible interviewer...
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 8:46 am
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:21 am
by 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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 11:24 am
by Anonymous User
smallfirmassociate wrote: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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:02 pm
by 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?
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:04 pm
by Desert Fox
Anonymous User wrote: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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:04 pm
by DELG
OP sounds clinically depressed.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:05 pm
by Desert Fox
DELG wrote:OP sounds clinically depressed.
SSRIs aren't going to help in time. OP start ur mass mailing now.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:10 pm
by FSK
Desert Fox wrote:Anonymous User wrote: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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 2:46 pm
by 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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:17 pm
by Pikappraider
Anonymous User wrote: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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:18 pm
by 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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:37 pm
by 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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:47 pm
by mvp99
I also suggest you drop out before you're unable to get this semester $$$$ back.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 6:36 pm
by 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.
Re: Lack of motivation after OCI Strikeout
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:33 pm
by 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!