Chances at OCI for far below median student Forum

[eaglehawk]

How likely is it for a URM, K-JD 3.05 student at MVP to obtain a position through OCI? I have 25+ screeners and bid on firms that had a reputation to go deep into my school, but just not sure the reality of my chances given the current economic climate.

My career office says that I have a good chance but I don't exactly trust them to be blunt so figured I'd ask you non-biased folks so I can know what to expect going into it.

[Anonymous User]

I am assuming said firms you are interviewing at are NY firms. You have very good chances as a URM/3.05/MVP to get something. Seems like you bid smart and strategically which only helps. Also, if you can send some apps through email to firms you didn't get screeners out if your school or the firm allows it. Additionally, although it might not come up, start rehearsing your short speech and pivot if anyone asks about grades. Basically this is like an acknowledgment of what went wrong, how you are improving, and why you don't think it is accurate reflection of your work ethic and how you are a hard worker—I'm sure your career services has materials on this and/or has prepped you on it though.

[Anonymous User]

How likely is it for a URM, K-JD 3.05 student at MVP to obtain a position through OCI? I have 25+ screeners and bid on firms that had a reputation to go deep into my school, but just not sure the reality of my chances given the current economic climate.

My career office says that I have a good chance but I don't exactly trust them to be blunt so figured I'd ask you non-biased folks so I can know what to expect going into it.

The person above me had a good answer - you need to craft a response when talking about your grades that acknowledges how it looks (not all that bad!), but talks about how you intend to improve and the concrete steps you will take to do it.

Also, the reason you go to one of these schools is that 85%+ people can get BL if they want it (likely more during good economic times). In other words, there have been plenty of people in your shoes who have gotten in and I would guess it is more likely than not, but you should start aggressively networking, bid on GPA-insensitive firms (preferably in NY), do some interview prep, and have a prepped response for what I mentioned above. You got this!!

[TheGreatestGunner]

Flatly, firms are hiring in a blatantly discriminatory way to the point where it is probably illegal.

If you are an actual URM at a T14, you will get tons of offers, even with a bottom 5% gpa.

[Anonymous User]

Flatly, firms are hiring in a blatantly discriminatory way to the point where it is probably illegal.

If you are an actual URM at a T14, you will get tons of offers, even with a bottom 5% gpa.

I think this is a bit overstatement. You will get some offers but definitely not from any firms that are known for being even moderately selective. I know of an AA male coming from CLS/NYU with a similar GPA who ended OCI with only two offers from NY firms that weren't particularly well-known or selective at all. He had a whole spiel to explain his subpar 1L performance and I assume he interviewed really well (he's very charismatic).

[eaglehawk]

Thank you all for your responses.

I did bid NY exclusively and focused on firms that had a reputation of accepting lower GPAs but also compared that to our GPA data to ensure that it was actually in fact the case. I was more worried about the potential impact of a recession on current hiring so appreciate hearing that is not a big deal as of now.

I will be back in a few weeks to let you know how it turns out.

[eaglehawk]

Thank you all for your responses.

I did bid NY exclusively and focused on firms that had a reputation of accepting lower GPAs but also compared that to our GPA data to ensure that it was actually in fact the case. I was more worried about the potential impact of a recession on current hiring so appreciate hearing that is not a big deal as of now.

I will be back in a few weeks to let you know how it turns out.

Done with the process now - for future students in my position, bidding broadly is as important as people say. I had 31 screeners, 6 callbacks (although only completed 3) and 2 offers.

Also, focus on the GPA information that your school has and bid on firms that have accepted people with your GPA before as not one of my callbacks came from a firm that had never accepted an applicant within my GPA range.

[Anonymous User]

Great, happy to hear it went well!

[Anonymous User]

Any tips on how to craft a compelling narrative to the GPA question?

[mandrewsf]

Congrats - it's not an easy position to be in but you pulled it off. Now enjoy the rest of your time in law school!

[LittleRedCorvette]

Flatly, firms are hiring in a blatantly discriminatory way to the point where it is probably illegal.

If you are an actual URM at a T14, you will get tons of offers, even with a bottom 5% gpa.

I agree with this, but I think it only applies to black students (maybe that is what you mean by "actual URM").

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Flatly, firms are hiring in a blatantly discriminatory way to the point where it is probably illegal.

If you are an actual URM at a T14, you will get tons of offers, even with a bottom 5% gpa.

Bottom 5% is a rough place to be for anyone in OCI because it’s high risk for failing the bar exam. I don’t think it’s illegal — other industries that don’t have a competence floor (in the form of a licensing exam) go way farther than biglaw can.

[eaglehawk]

Any tips on how to craft a compelling narrative to the GPA question?

My plan was to talk about the challenge of adjusting to law school style of teaching and then pivot to talking about my summer job and how being in an environment in the actual practice of law was enjoyable.

With that said, I was never asked about my grades point blank. My school does not give our transcripts until after our screeners so they do not have the grades to look at during the screeners and it never came up during the 3 callbacks I completed. I got the "how are you enjoying law school?" which I always answered with how it was a challenge to get use to the style of teaching but I would then quickly pivot to say how I've enjoyed the amount of material that I've learned.

[eaglehawk]

Flatly, firms are hiring in a blatantly discriminatory way to the point where it is probably illegal.

If you are an actual URM at a T14, you will get tons of offers, even with a bottom 5% gpa.

I agree with this, but I think it only applies to black students (maybe that is what you mean by "actual URM").

At my school, the bottom 5% would be a 2.7 and I only saw one firm that gave an offer to a student within that GPA range. Based on the data available to me, it seems that a 3.0 is the floor for most firms and as a non-AA URM, I encourage any URM to apply to firms that have accepted within their GPA range.