Below Median OCI 2015 Forum

[Anonymous User]

I know I'm not alone (statistically I can't be). Let's make a thread and discuss all things OCI! Discussions on bidding, preselects, networking, pre-OCI interviews, hustling, and our mediocre grades are all welcome!

I'll start: I'll be a 2L at a lower T14 with grades just below the median. I've spent the last few weeks meeting with alumni and setting up informational interviews. I have one callback scheduled pre-OCI so far.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 2L at CCN, grades just barely below median. My interviews are all lottery based so I have 25+ screeners scheduled, but I've been doing a fair bit of mass mailing too. I'm pretty sure I won't strike out, not from my school, but it never hurts to have more interviews lined up. I've also been setting up phone calls with attorneys at the offices where I'm interviewing (some alumni, some non-alums in the practice group I'm interested in). I also have a pre-OCI callback set up.

Good hustle, OP!

[Anonymous User]

God, I don't know why the people above are even that stressed. Barely below median at a T6-14 isn't
that bad. I'm rocking a GPA .2 below median at a lower T14 and am currently thinking about purchasing tuition insurance. I can't even get a pre-OCI screener cause all the alums I've met with visibly cringe when they see my GPA

[Anonymous User]

.7 below median at a T14 so I have a significant uphill battle. But I am entering OCI with a V50 firm offer despite my grades. I also have two pre-OCI interviews. It helped to have a 1L summer associate gig and WE. We will see what happens. Just doing this for options.

[Anonymous User]

Rising 2L around bottom 1/3 or so at a T-10, on law review. Will hit 7 screen interviews before OCI. No CBs yet. Not sure how many screen interviews I'll have at OCI, but they will all be lottery based. Still mass mailing, sent around 80 so far.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for starting this thread!

I am at a T-10 and .2 below median. I have been networking hardcore ever since the firms started courting 1Ls during second semester. I have been keeping in touch with people at firms that I like the most and reaching out to them with questions. So far, 3 of my contacts have asked for my resume to help me get an interview/ bypass the screening process. I got between 14-18 interviews through our OCI lottery process. I have had 1 pre-oci call back and will be scheduling 1 in the near future. I have not yet started reaching out to alumni/ students at firms that I no clue about, but I will be doing that this week.

Also, I am a URM female.

[Anonymous User]

Have around a 3.0-3.1 at CCN which would put me on the cusp of bottom quarter. Got 22-23 OCI lottery screeners, but they didn't get to see our transcript. Bit nervous about striking out at OCI so I am starting to send out mass mails.

[Anonymous User]

0.1 below median at a T10 and headed into OCI with two offers.

Mass mail like crazy, people. Reach out to alums and utilize your personal network. Things will work out for most of us if we hustle.

[Anonymous User]

This should be a sliding scale. I'm top 3rd at a t25 with 4 screeners out of 80 oci bids.

[Anonymous User]

I'm sure it varies, but if you are preselected by a firm, does that essentially mean they would be okay with your grades? Does it mostly come down at that point to fit?

[trebekismyhero]

I'm sure it varies, but if you are preselected by a firm, does that essentially mean they would be okay with your grades? Does it mostly come down at that point to fit?

Mostly yes, but it also depends on your school and the firm. Say you are at a t30 school and a V10 firm interviews, they might have 20 spots for interviews, but might only consider the very top students.

With that said, mostly comes down to fit for majority of preselect

[Anonymous User]

I'm the poster above. For my purposes they're preselects at a lower T14 and not V10 firms. Soo that's encouraging, thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Is anyone sending a cover page along with their transcripts for mass mail applications? My career advisor suggested writing one mentioning how I have been improving my grades, but I think this can only come off looking like an excuse. Thoughts??

[Foghornleghorn]

Is anyone sending a cover page along with their transcripts for mass mail applications? My career advisor suggested writing one mentioning how I have been improving my grades, but I think this can only come off looking like an excuse. Thoughts??

This will result in an auto ding. Don't mention your grades.

[Anonymous User]

checking in-- a little bit better than bottom third, LR, T10. significant ties to an insular market and good WE. should be an interesting ride...

[Anonymous User]

Have you guys been including your transcript in MMs? No one's been biting on for my low grades. Bottom third at T6. Have significant WE though.

[Anonymous User]

I've been sending mine in--theyre going to ask for them anyway. And to the above poster that was thinking about including in their cover letter an explanation for bad grades, I would not do that. if the conversation of grades comes up, just sell yourself on other things (like non-graded legal writing)

[Anonymous User]

Got what is probably an automated response from a firm but what could also be a good sign for the just-below-median people. I had sent my resume, cover letter, and transcript. The firm's response came down to "your credentials are very impressive, please resend your materials in August because we start reviewing candidates then" so at least the below-median grades weren't an auto-ding!

[Anonymous User]

^Nice! Yeah I've gotten some similar responses, though I'm mass mailing and bidding conservatively. I'm also trying to focus on my hometown a lot more than I otherwise would and they all seem very interested

[Anonymous User]

Got what is probably an automated response from a firm but what could also be a good sign for the just-below-median people. I had sent my resume, cover letter, and transcript. The firm's response came down to "your credentials are very impressive, please resend your materials in August because we start reviewing candidates then" so at least the below-median grades weren't an auto-ding!

so is it a bad sign if you're only getting automated responses? Am I overthinking this?

[Anonymous User]

Just below median at a lower t14. ~15 screeners, all secondary markets. Good luck everyone!

[Anonymous User]

Got what is probably an automated response from a firm but what could also be a good sign for the just-below-median people. I had sent my resume, cover letter, and transcript. The firm's response came down to "your credentials are very impressive, please resend your materials in August because we start reviewing candidates then" so at least the below-median grades weren't an auto-ding!

If it was from Quinn Emanuel, it's absolutely an automated response.

[052220152]

.7 below median at a T14 so I have a significant uphill battle. But I am entering OCI with a V50 firm offer despite my grades. I also have two pre-OCI interviews. It helped to have a 1L summer associate gig and WE. We will see what happens. Just doing this for options.

So you dont have an uphill battle at all is what you're saying?

[Anonymous User]

.7 below median at a T14 so I have a significant uphill battle. But I am entering OCI with a V50 firm offer despite my grades. I also have two pre-OCI interviews. It helped to have a 1L summer associate gig and WE. We will see what happens. Just doing this for options.

So you dont have an uphill battle at all is what you're saying?

[BizBro]

^lol. Yea GTFO.