Scheduling Callbacks Forum

[shadowfish]

What's the general wisdom on scheduling callbacks? I just got one from a firm that I was really excited about. The problem: the firm is across the country, and since I'm at UVA, across the country really means 9 hour flight each way. Should I wait and see if anyone else bites to see if I can minimize my flying time, or should I schedule and/or go ASAP?
Perhaps also relevant: school starts next Wednesday, and I have Friday off with only one class on Thursday.
Thanks in advance!

[papercranes]

suggestion:
Book ASAP for maybe a week from now. Hopefully someone else will bite and you can fit them in?

Also... 9 hours flight? What, are you flying from London? New York/Toronto to LAX is only 5.5 hours.

Or is this in Hawaii? and you're flying from... DC?

[MathewRobertCooper]

Do your callback ASAP.

[MathewRobertCooper]

Just to clarify: You're helping yourself and your classmates. Sooner you get a callback, sooner you get an offer (if you're in the running for one), sooner you can withdraw from other firms, and the sooner you can help your classmates secure a callback and eventual offer.

[shadowfish]

suggestion:
Book ASAP for maybe a week from now. Hopefully someone else will bite and you can fit them in?

Also... 9 hours flight? What, are you flying from London? New York/Toronto to LAX is only 5.5 hours.

Or is this in Hawaii? and you're flying from... DC?

Charlottesville, VA to San Francisco. I have to transfer no matter what. I generally take 9 hours to go west, but I can occasionally find a 7-8 hour time if I get a really short layover.

[gollymolly]

.

[Anonymous User]

Just to clarify: You're helping yourself and your classmates. Sooner you get a callback, sooner you get an offer (if you're in the running for one), sooner you can withdraw from other firms, and the sooner you can help your classmates secure a callback and eventual offer.

Oh good, b/c securing employment for my classmates is definitely my top concern.

[06072010]

Just to clarify: You're helping yourself and your classmates. Sooner you get a callback, sooner you get an offer (if you're in the running for one), sooner you can withdraw from other firms, and the sooner you can help your classmates secure a callback and eventual offer.

Oh good, b/c securing employment for my classmates is definitely my top concern.

Knock of this anonymous bullshit. Next time you get outted.

[Anonymous User]

What's the general wisdom on scheduling callbacks? I just got one from a firm that I was really excited about. The problem: the firm is across the country, and since I'm at UVA, across the country really means 9 hour flight each way. Should I wait and see if anyone else bites to see if I can minimize my flying time, or should I schedule and/or go ASAP?
Perhaps also relevant: school starts next Wednesday, and I have Friday off with only one class on Thursday.
Thanks in advance!

I'm in a similar situation (callback from a top choice firm on the opposite coast, inconveniently located law school, etc.). I scheduled my callback for as soon as the firm had a slot available, and I'd advise you to do the same, what with many firms giving rolling offers and so forth. I'd say fly out for this firm immediately, then try to consolidate some of your lower-ranked callback CA firms into one later trip if you want to cut down on flying time.

[Anonymous User]

I immediately scheduled a flight with the firm's travel agency after my first callback offer. I gave myself three full days in town to accommodate other possible future offers, since the flight would cost the firm the same amount no matter how many days I spent in the city. I only booked the hotel for one night in case I didn't get any other callbacks in that time, then called the agent back to book the room for additional nights once I got more offers. I only interviewed for one market; your mileage may vary.

[Anonymous User]

I've scheduled some callbacks a bit further out (up to 3 weeks). I'd rather not miss too much class and I'd like to leave some time before then in case other callbacks pop up that I need to get to quicker. I'm not sure waiting a few weeks will really hurt me all that much. From the callbacks I've done, it seems that firms are waiting longer to make decisions and might just be waiting for a bunch of people (or all?) to get their callbacks in before deciding.

[shadowfish]

In case anyone is interested, the firm that initially extended the interview *wanted* me to come in later rather than sooner to get cheaper airfare. They also let me know that their hiring committee wasn't going to meet once until Sept. 15 or so. In the meantime, I got another callback (*whew*) and so can put the trip to good use.

[LawSchoolWannaBe]

How many callbacks do you think people should be scheduling? At what point do you think scheduling more is not worthwhile?

[underdawg]

How many callbacks do you think people should be scheduling? At what point do you think scheduling more is not worthwhile?

when you get an offer, then be selective with CB's

[ToTransferOrNot]

How many callbacks do you think people should be scheduling? At what point do you think scheduling more is not worthwhile?

If you have enough callbacks (read: more than one) to be concerned about scheduling "too many," then I hate you.

Take every callback you get until you have an offer with a firm you would be happy working for, in my opinion.

[Anonymous User]

One of the biggest douches in my class was bragging about having multiple callbacks with all the firms in a secondary market city who came to OCI. He is only willing to miss class on Wednesdays, so is taking weeks and weeks to get through all these callbacks just so he can do them on Wednesday. I have just about every class with this guy, and they are all large classes with lots of people who will share notes and profs who accept callbacks as excused absences. Several people including me are waiting to hear from these firms. I hate him so much right now.

[Anonymous User]

In case anyone is interested, the firm that initially extended the interview *wanted* me to come in later rather than sooner to get cheaper airfare. They also let me know that their hiring committee wasn't going to meet once until Sept. 15 or so. In the meantime, I got another callback (*whew*) and so can put the trip to good use.

Agreed. I don't need to fly much to schedule callbacks, so have been trying to schedule them sooner rather than later. However, some firms have alluded for me to sit tight because they're not doing rolling offers this year and are going to be reviewing callbacks in batches, once they get a decent volume of people in first. Still, I think it's good to get the ball rolling just to get them over with and be fresher in the batch... The big downside to that is that I will end up having callbacks too early and then by the time everyone come in and they don;'t review until end of Sept, they will have forgotten about me...

any thoughts on that or are you guys all just scheduling ASAP?