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Class Rank on Oscar

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 10:58 am
by Anonymous User
As far as I know, my school only alerts students in the top ten overall. The registrar's office does release the cuttoffs of the top 10% and 20% GPA lines on its website.

I have no idea where I am. I have made Dean's List each term, which indicates the top 30%, but there is no actual way of knowing precisely where I am in the class insofar as percentage since I am below (slightly) the top 20%.

My question is–––is it better to list top 25% on OSCAR (if I am confident I am numerically within), or should I indicate "My School Does not Rank" or "I am not ranked" on OSCAR. Relatedly, I am trying to figure out, especially for judges with an online filtering process, what happens to students who select "My school does not rank" v. "I do not rank" v. a "percentage ranking"

Which selection am I best off with to increase the chance my clerkship application actually gets looked at?

Re: Class Rank on Oscar

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:01 am
by grand inquisitor
it sounds like your school does rank so i'm not sure it's a good idea to choose the "my school does not rank" or "i have no rank" options. if you are confident you are top 25% then put that. or you could go to student affairs and probably get a more definite answer.

Re: Class Rank on Oscar

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:10 am
by HillandHollow
Anonymous User wrote:As far as I know, my school only alerts students in the top ten overall. The registrar's office does release the cuttoffs of the top 10% and 20% GPA lines on its website.

I have no idea where I am. I have made Dean's List each term, which indicates the top 30%, but there is no actual way of knowing precisely where I am in the class insofar as percentage since I am below (slightly) the top 20%.

My question is–––is it better to list top 25% on OSCAR (if I am confident I am numerically within), or should I indicate "My School Does not Rank" or "I am not ranked" on OSCAR. Relatedly, I am trying to figure out, especially for judges with an online filtering process, what happens to students who select "My school does not rank" v. "I do not rank" v. a "percentage ranking"

Which selection am I best off with to increase the chance my clerkship application actually gets looked at?

You should check out some of the responses here for some more insight: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 4&t=275964

Clerks can filter OSCAR apps according to percentage (show me only top 20% student apps). Applicants from schools that don't rank will be included in the results for any limit. Food for thought.

Re: Class Rank on Oscar

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 11:47 am
by cheaptilts
grand inquisitor wrote:it sounds like your school does rank so i'm not sure it's a good idea to choose the "my school does not rank" or "i have no rank" options. if you are confident you are top 25% then put that. or you could go to student affairs and probably get a more definite answer.
Don't do this. If your school doesn't release official percentile rankings aside from the top 20%, you definitely shouldn't try and calculate it yourself. You should set up a meeting with either (1) your clerkship office; (2) the dean; or (3) career services, in that order. They should be willing to release your ranking to you or tell you at least where you fall in the class to help you apply to clerkships. All schools ranks; however, many schools don't make the rankings generally available. If they think it'll help you land a fed. clerkship, however, they probably would.

Re: Class Rank on Oscar

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 12:00 pm
by mjb447
Yeah, I'd start with your clerkship office to see if they can give you a more definite rank or have an official policy on what people in your situation do.