I transfered for prestige...What to say at OCI???? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I transferred T25 to CCN for one reason, because I'm an egomaniac and wanted to have a better diploma hanging on my wall (which will cost me an extra $100k).

So now what to I say at OCI?????

I have some bullshit lines prepared about how I wanted better employment prospects (which is true) but I feel like that is just as bad.

Help me.

[rpupkin]

So I transferred T25 to CCN for one reason, because I'm an egomaniac and wanted to have a better diploma hanging on my wall (which will cost me an extra $100k).

So now what to I say at OCI?????

I have some bullshit lines prepared about how I wanted better employment prospects (which is true) but I feel like that is just as bad.

Help me.

Everyone will know why you transferred. It's not something that interviewers typically grill transfers about. Calm down.

[instride91]

Better employment prospects is a good reason to transfer. The economy still sucks and you should do everything you can to get biglaw. Employers will understand that.

I would not tell employers you transferred just for the prestige.

Other things you can say are that you were interested in a certain market, you transferred for long term benefits, clerkship opportunities, etc.

[Cerberaus]

Just remember not to put down your old school. You never know where the interviewer graduated from. He might not have graduated CCN (though he probably went somewhere just as good), but god help you if you bring up prestige and rankings only to find out that he went to Fordham, UIUC (for Chicago), or another great local school that's not on par with CCN.

I'm coming from AZ and going to Berkeley. I intend to focus on the fact that I wanted to be in Cali, I have family in the area (focus on ties), and then state that I find their firm to be very impressive and saw a move to Berkeley as a way to solidify my chances with that firm.

[Danger Zone]

Damnit, nebby

[chuckbass]

Also it's not a lie that you transferred for increased job opportunities... even top of the class at a T25 isn't safe

[Desert Fox]

[rpupkin]

Also it's not a lie that you transferred for increased job opportunities... even top of the class at a T25 isn't safe

Top of class at T25 is safer than a CCN transfer. Not flame.

[kaiser]

Totally reasonable to say that you transferred for the increased employment prospects. In fact, they will probably be relieved by your honesty on that point (since most transfers cook up reasons that just come off as disingenuous and are really just sly ways of not saying "I wanted to actually get a good jerb")

[Anonymous User]

OP here

This is all great stuff thanks.

I was top 3% in a major market so to be honest, I'm not sure if CCN will help or hurt my OCI prospects but I am certainly prepared to discuss at OCI. Job prospects was my main motivation but many of the firms also draw from my old school so I wasn't sure if I could say that (I think it would make more sense if I was T50-CCN).

That said, I had a great experience at my old school and would only say positive things.

Saw one T25-GUCL transfer had an alum of his old school for a call back and just crushed him for transferring.

[trey ohh five]

OP here

This is all great stuff thanks.

I was top 3% in a major market so to be honest, I'm not sure if CCN will help or hurt my OCI prospects but I am certainly prepared to discuss at OCI. Job prospects was my main motivation but many of the firms also draw from my old school so I wasn't sure if I could say that (I think it would make more sense if I was T50-CCN).

That said, I had a great experience at my old school and would only say positive things.

Saw one T25-GUCL transfer had an alum of his old school for a call back and just crushed him for transferring.

Top 3% at a T25 major market? Did you have a scholarship at your old school? If you're giving up a scholarship for prestige when you were definitely going to land a biglaw job at your old school then I would call you an idiot. Like rpupkin said, transferring in your position only hurts your chances.

Edit: Just read that this move is costing you an extra 100K. OP is a certified idiot. Hope that diploma on the wall helps you sleep better at night bro.

[CanadianWolf]

Probably top 3% at GWU. If so, transferring to Columbia to be in NYC is a reasonable explanation even though the transfer itself might not have been a wise move.

[Anonymous User]

OP

Paying sticker at original school

My original post wasn't clear, I'm not paying an additional $100k, would have paid it either way.

[Desert Fox]

[trey ohh five]

OP with those stats you could have gone to Harvard or maybe Yale, why CCN?

[Desert Fox]

[Anonymous User]

I didn't think I had a shot at YHS.

H would have been my first choice, don't think I would have even sent Y/S apps.

[Nebby]

Damnit, nebby

This wasn't me! I was banned when this poster posted. I have an alibi!

Honestly, when I saw this, I thought it was DF abusing anon, but the fact that a mod hasn't outed him makes me think that this poster is actually being serious.

OP: Tell them you xfer'd because you wanted to be in that market, and then tell them that you wanted to take x coursework from y professor. "XYZ school is well known for it's expansive coursework on capital markets, and I wanted the opportunity to take a class from professor z, because he's well known in the field." Your interviewers are only there to make sure your grades are up to snuff, and that you're not some weird goober. All you have to do is make a personal connection and you'll receive a callback, unless your grades are below their cutoff.

[Danger Zone]

Fair

[rpupkin]

OP: Tell them you xfer'd because you wanted to be in that market, and then tell them that you wanted to take x coursework from y professor. "XYZ school is well known for it's expansive coursework on capital markets, and I wanted the opportunity to take a class from professor z, because he's well known in the field."

Don't say that. It's weird and—even if true—is not a good reason to transfer. Nebby's first suggestion (you transferred because you wanted to be in that market) is fine.

[Anonymous User]

OP Here

But it gets worse, I am bidding in my old school's market...

Yes this is serious, I'm not trolling!

[Nebby]

OP: Tell them you xfer'd because you wanted to be in that market, and then tell them that you wanted to take x coursework from y professor. "XYZ school is well known for it's expansive coursework on capital markets, and I wanted the opportunity to take a class from professor z, because he's well known in the field."

Don't say that. It's weird and—even if true—is not a good reason to transfer. Nebby's first suggestion (you transferred because you wanted to be in that market) is fine.

Obviously no one transfers for classes in capital markets, because that is just gooby. But I generally meant you can find things at the school to talk about, like maybe they have a clinical opportunity that your old school didn't have.

OP, maybe just not do OCI because if you can't handle this question then I worry about your ability to handle legal questions when your client is paying.

[Danger Zone]

OP Here

But it gets worse, I am bidding in my old school's market...

Yes this is serious, I'm not trolling!

Sounds like you dun goofed. Interviewers will likely hold this against you.

[Slytherpuff]

If you transferred from DC to NY (GW to Columbia or NYU?) then definitely focus on the better job prospects. I know a few rising 3Ls at NYU who were able to break into the DC market after having transferred from a DC school, so it definitely didn't hurt them, but interviewers will probably wonder why you left.

Good luck!