The George Washington University 2012 Transfer Thread Forum

[jarofsoup]

Have any of you started bidding for OCI yet?

[Lawst]

Have any of you started bidding for OCI yet?

I don't even know where to begin.
I guess we can consult with career services by e-mail some how to try to figure it out?

[ran12]

When's the deadline to submit OCI bids?

[anonymouse2828]

When's the deadline to submit OCI bids?

July 16 - 20th, depending on the area I believe. It should be in your info packet or email attachments.

Also, anyone here still waiting on other applications? I got in, and got an extension to July 6th for my seat deposit, but I'm still waiting on other apps which JUST became "complete." All from higher-ranked schools though, so they're all a long shot, especially with my stats. Amazing I even got in here, and that I even managed an deposit extension.

unranked school
#1 both semesters
3.27gpa (2.5 median)
PatBar eligible
Veteran
Currently interning at top tier patent firm in Japan

[crossarmant]

I haven't started with bidding yet, but have looked over a lot of the firms on Symplicity. I'd suggest calling CDO and making an appt with your counselor to go over tactics. They'll look over your resumes, cover letters, and give you an idea of where and how you should be applying.

[Lawst]

I haven't started with bidding yet, but have looked over a lot of the firms on Symplicity. I'd suggest calling CDO and making an appt with your counselor to go over tactics. They'll look over your resumes, cover letters, and give you an idea of where and how you should be applying.

And they'll do an appointment with you over the phone, I assume? I'm in another region of the country for the summer and can't get to DC until August.

[crossarmant]

I haven't started with bidding yet, but have looked over a lot of the firms on Symplicity. I'd suggest calling CDO and making an appt with your counselor to go over tactics. They'll look over your resumes, cover letters, and give you an idea of where and how you should be applying.

And they'll do an appointment with you over the phone, I assume? I'm in another region of the country for the summer and can't get to DC until August.

They will do so over the phone. I'm not in DC until August either. They'll set an appt with your respective counselor and request you send them an email with all your papers about a day before so they can look over all of it.

[JLima2]

I suggest you set up an appointment A.S.A.P. My last name starts with L, and my assigned counselor is booked until 7/13. I snagged one appointment, and she only has like 2-3 left for that day, meaning that her other ones won't be until it is too late on Monday 7/16!!

[ben2587]

IN!!! via email today.

TTT-TTTT top 11-12%

[JLima2]

Congratulations Ben!! Now you have something to celebrate on July 4th! Look forward to meeting you come August

[ben2587]

Is there a workout facility that is available to students free of charge on campus?

(by free I mean included in tuition)

[crossarmant]

Is there a workout facility that is available to students free of charge on campus?

(by free I mean included in tuition)

http://gwired.gwu.edu/gwellness/

[ben2587]

Thanks crossarmant

[aca0260]

Has anyone found out how transfers fare in OCI?

[opX]

Has anyone found out how transfers fare in OCI?

well... im not thrilled to say this, and I chose not to believe it. But last week CDO person told me that transfers do worse than most students, and that i shouldnt expect a job in the v100.

personally, i thnk that this person was just saying canned responses.I havent had my full interview with CDO, thats Friday. Hopefully ill get better info there.

[aca0260]

Has anyone found out how transfers fare in OCI?

well... im not thrilled to say this, and I chose not to believe it. But last week CDO person told me that transfers do worse than most students, and that i shouldnt expect a job in the v100.

personally, i thnk that this person was just saying canned responses.I havent had my full interview with CDO, thats Friday. Hopefully ill get better info there.

I've heard this too. It's very surprising given how many big firms come to GW OCI. I think it may just be 1) Too big of a class 2) Too many firms coming to show face/hire 1 person.

[opX]

Has anyone found out how transfers fare in OCI?

well... im not thrilled to say this, and I chose not to believe it. But last week CDO person told me that transfers do worse than most students, and that i shouldnt expect a job in the v100.

personally, i thnk that this person was just saying canned responses.I havent had my full interview with CDO, thats Friday. Hopefully ill get better info there.

I've heard this too. It's very surprising given how many big firms come to GW OCI. I think it may just be 1) Too big of a class 2) Too many firms coming to show face/hire 1 person.

I should add that the person told me this after they confirmed I had paid my deposit. For whatever that might not be worth.

[anonymouse2828]

I was actually surprised at how many people know GW as an intellectual property school. It's ranked #2 in IP for US News (FWIW), but even some of the partners at my firm know about GW. Granted that I am interning at a large IP-specific firm, but it's in Tokyo.

I wonder about the percentage of people at GWU who are PatBar eligible, and how those people fare at OCI.

[JLima2]

Lucky devils that can market themselves for IP have a MUCH easier time with OCI than non-IP specialists. They have much lower GPA cutoffs because of their unique knowledge. But most IP firms specifically require B.S's in a hard science or computer/electrical engineering, some even require an M.A. or PhD.

I kind of want to kick myself - I majored in Economics because I thought it would be marketable. Obviously I should have done Biology - because, obviously, it is the natural stepping stone into law!

Though to be fair, those who can do IP SHOULD be compensated for their work. The knowledge base is very unique and focused.

But still - can't help the sour grapes =D.

[crossarmant]

I'm having a difficult time understanding why non-IP transfers would have a worse OCI than non-transfers since most all of us were near the top of our classes at our respective schools and should all handily meet any grade requirements that the firms set. Same goes if we get journals at GW.

I know only like 25% get BigLaw from GW, but I imagine between a combination of OCI, Resume drops, Area job fairs, and mass mailing that some sort or large to mid-sized firm would not be wholly unattainable. Especially given that GW's overall full-time, long-term, bar-required employment stats are some of the highest in the nation (even higher than GULC).

[JLima2]

You have to remember, for all intents and purposes we aren't GW students come OCI or job applications. I'm as much a GW student right now as I am a D.C. native (not at all). Firms look at us and see good grades and ranks, but from a school they maybe never even heard of, or from schools they would never actually consider. As transfers, we are in an awkward position of being successful law students, but with no real school pedigree established.

School name opens the door, grades get you in the waiting room, personality gets you in the job. Sadly, our doors are a little harder to open because we are like rebound students - just getting out of one relationship without anything to prove from the current one.

IP acts as a mitigating factor because it narrows down your pool of competition and dilutes the importance of school pedigree, since you can't be super picky.

Ultimately, I don't think any of our job prospects are so dismal that should apply for unemployment just yet. It's just a lot more of an uphill battle for transfers.

[opX]

Everything that has been said is reasonable. - but lets find a way.

[JLima2]

We found a way to get into a wonderful school through perseverance, hard work, and a smidge of luck (the fact that luck and law go so hand in hand is scary.)

Let's recreate that potent combination for OCI people!!

[GodFavor2010]

We can definitely do it!

[Lawst]

I feel like my prospects at GW are still better than at my old school, even if OCI doesn't go so well. Being in DC gives us a great advantage to get experience year-round.