3.0X GPA, How Screwed Am I? Forum

[TheRealSantaClaus]

Agree that secondary markets are a much safer bet than NYC. There are like 4 firms in New York that will take T14 people in the 3.0-3.1 range, and dozens of people in your situation are competing for those spots.

Bad advice. There are plenty of NYC firms, even good ones, that take a bunch of below median T14 students. It would not be surprising to see OP get multiple callbacks if he/she interviews well and bids smartly in NY. Your argument that there are lots of people competing for spots is moot when you consider that the class sizes are relatively massive.

Still stand by this, based on my experience/anecdotal evidence/Duke career center resources. There are always exceptions, but I can't see a 3.0 from Duke getting many (if any) NYC options. Firms with massive classes seem to want at least median. Not saying OP shouldn't try--just saying they shouldn't rely on NY

Fair enough. I think you do sell your school short a little though- they consistently place around 60-70 percent of their class into Biglaw/FC, and many of those below median people are heading to NY.

I'm also inclined to believe that a below median candidate that is near the bottom of her class isn't in much worse a spot than one slightly but discernibly below median. This is mostly why I think the claim that only 4 firms will look at a 3.0 is very untrue.

Edit: Accidental anon.

[SplitMyPants]

That's terrible advice. Secondary markets have their pick of coif from all the local schools. NYC is the catch-all market. bid, blanket, and mail NYC. Mail any secondaries you want. But for the love of god and your career don't bid secondary.

Eta: speaking to original anon. On mobile so didn't feel like quoting.

[Anonymous User]

Agree that secondary markets are a much safer bet than NYC. There are like 4 firms in New York that will take T14 people in the 3.0-3.1 range, and dozens of people in your situation are competing for those spots.

Bad advice. There are plenty of NYC firms, even good ones, that take a bunch of below median T14 students. It would not be surprising to see OP get multiple callbacks if he/she interviews well and bids smartly in NY. Your argument that there are lots of people competing for spots is moot when you consider that the class sizes are relatively massive.

Still stand by this, based on my experience/anecdotal evidence/Duke career center resources. There are always exceptions, but I can't see a 3.0 from Duke getting many (if any) NYC options. Firms with massive classes seem to want at least median. Not saying OP shouldn't try--just saying they shouldn't rely on NY

I agree with you. I think people that say "bid NYC with big classes" haven't really been in this situation. Based on the data from NU, there are only a few NYC offices that will take sub-3.2 on a regular basis. And those offices are NOT taking 60, 40, even 30 SAs.

You probably can't even fill your bid list with firms you will be competitive for. I second the idea of bidding secondary markets you have ties to, so long as you are GPA feasible.

If you have geographic ties, that gives you a big leg up.

Edit: To clarify, my suggestion is that you bid based on GPA selectivity, combining NYC firms with firms in other markets. If somehow you find there are enough NYC firms you are GPA-eligible for, go ahead and build all NYC. I don't think you will find that to be the case.

[TheRealSantaClaus]

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