Boston College (BC) 3L Taking Questions Forum

[FiveSermon]

What do the approximately 60% of people do get biglaw/clerkships/pi/gov do?

[mettasutta]

-Is there a gym on the Newton campus that law students can use?
-What GPA does BC curve to?
-Is LRRW pass/fail or graded?
-How do students who rank medianish fare at OCI?
-Is there a strong public interest culture at BC? Are stipends guaranteed for students who take on unpaid or low-paying PI or gov't work during their 1L/2L summers?

[sullidop]

Any knowledge of motorcycle parking at bc?

There are a couple of triangle spaces but mostly regular spots.

[sullidop]

What do the approximately 60% of people do get biglaw/clerkships/pi/gov do?

People that do get or don't get? Are you looking for types of orgs?

[FiveSermon]

What do the approximately 60% of people do get biglaw/clerkships/pi/gov do?

People that do get or don't get? Are you looking for types of orgs?

Don't*. Sorry.

[sullidop]

-Is there a gym on the Newton campus that law students can use?
-What GPA does BC curve to?
-Is LRRW pass/fail or graded?
-How do students who rank medianish fare at OCI?
-Is there a strong public interest culture at BC? Are stipends guaranteed for students who take on unpaid or low-paying PI or gov't work during their 1L/2L summers?

In class so I'll have to abbrev but feel free to ask me to expand:
Yes, but it's crappy.
3.2
Graded, 5 credits full year.
OCI is only for the top 40%
There is a lot of PI at BC (see strong LRAP), I did it myself last summer and both of my roommates will do PI post-grad. While stipends are not guaranteed, most students get the standard 4k.

[sullidop]

What do the approximately 60% of people do get biglaw/clerkships/pi/gov do?

People that do get or don't get? Are you looking for types of orgs?

Don't*. Sorry.

Mostly small and medium sized firms or do quasi-legal work like lobbying, consulting, etc.

[BCLS Alum]

I would estimate that around 40% of my class year got biglaw. A handful who were not in biglaw were working in some capacity for the federal government (SEC, IRS, DOJ, etc.). A significant portion of those not working in biglaw obtained jobs at midsized firms in New England or New York (50-200 attorneys; salaries typically in the 100-125 range). There were a few that went to work for state governments, and a larger number than I would have expected were pursuing public interest work.

I graduated a few years ago. I didn't know anyone in my class who was unemployed. Those who were at the bottom of their class took jobs they didn't initially want, but they were all employed (most making at a minimum 100k per year, which is what boutiques and smaller firms in the northeast pay). A friend at the bottom of the class ended up at a large employment firm (not Vault 100 but the firm is AMLaw 100) in California because he couldn't get biglaw in the northeast. As long as you're willing to look at other markets, finding a job was not hard for the majority of BC law students when I was there.

Obviously the market took a turn in recent years so I have no idea what the students are currently experiencing. However, if the market goes back to normal, this was the outlook in the 2005-2008 years.

[pferaso]

That time is upon us when the snow begins to retreat and accepted 0Ls flock to accepted students days/campus tours. Please hit up this board with any questions you may have regarding BCLS!

A little about me. Went to BC undergrad (class of 2007), worked at a big firm for a couple years, and went back to BC for law school. The collegial atmosphere and laid-back student body brought me back to my alma mater.

Hi Sullidop, thanks for taking questions!!

I was accepted at BC and would like to know your sincere opinion in my case:

I´m an international applicant from South America, and will be attending under a student visa, this means a couple of employment restrictions, as you may know.

BC didn´t offer me any kind of financial aid. Therefore, the money for my degree will come from family help (US $80.000) and debt (around $100.000).

Do you think that this investment is justified in my case? please assume three possibilities:

a) I finish in the top 25% of my class,
b) I finish in the top 50% of my class, or
c) I finish in the bottom 25% of my class.

Thank you very much for your help, it will be extremely valuable to me.

[sullidop]

That time is upon us when the snow begins to retreat and accepted 0Ls flock to accepted students days/campus tours. Please hit up this board with any questions you may have regarding BCLS!

A little about me. Went to BC undergrad (class of 2007), worked at a big firm for a couple years, and went back to BC for law school. The collegial atmosphere and laid-back student body brought me back to my alma mater.

Hi Sullidop, thanks for taking questions!!

I was accepted at BC and would like to know your sincere opinion in my case:

I´m an international applicant from South America, and will be attending under a student visa, this means a couple of employment restrictions, as you may know.

BC didn´t offer me any kind of financial aid. Therefore, the money for my degree will come from family help (US $80.000) and debt (around $100.000).

Do you think that this investment is justified in my case? please assume three possibilities:

a) I finish in the top 25% of my class,
b) I finish in the top 50% of my class, or
c) I finish in the bottom 25% of my class.

Thank you very much for your help, it will be extremely valuable to me.

Before I can answer I'd need to know a little more about what you want to do with the degree. Do you plan on staying in the US after law school? Do you plan on going into law? What type of position would you like after law school?

[sullidop]

I would estimate that around 40% of my class year got biglaw. A handful were working in some capacity for the federal government (SEC, IRS, DOJ, etc.). A significant portion of those not working in biglaw obtained jobs at midsized firms in New England or New York (50-200 attorneys). There were a few that went to work for state governments, and a larger number than I would have expected were pursuing public interest work.

I graduated a few years ago. I didn't know anyone in my class who was unemployed. Some took jobs they didn't want. A friend at the bottom of the class ended up at a large employment firm (not Vault 100 but the firm is AMLaw 100) in California because he couldn't get biglaw in the northeast.

Obviously the market took a turn in recent years so I have no idea what the students are currently experiencing. However, if the market goes back to normal, this was the outlook in the 2005-2008 years.

It'll be interesting to see what the stats on my class end up being. I'd estimate that 25-35% of my class will end up in nlj 250 firms with maybe 20ish% in V100 firms. It's so unpredictable though. For example, just a couple weeks ago a v100 firm hired a few 3Ls who were not SAs at the firm. This would've been unheard of in years past. Maybe we're moving into a different paradigm...

[pferaso]

That time is upon us when the snow begins to retreat and accepted 0Ls flock to accepted students days/campus tours. Please hit up this board with any questions you may have regarding BCLS!

A little about me. Went to BC undergrad (class of 2007), worked at a big firm for a couple years, and went back to BC for law school. The collegial atmosphere and laid-back student body brought me back to my alma mater.

Hi Sullidop, thanks for taking questions!!

I was accepted at BC and would like to know your sincere opinion in my case:

I´m an international applicant from South America, and will be attending under a student visa, this means a couple of employment restrictions, as you may know.

BC didn´t offer me any kind of financial aid. Therefore, the money for my degree will come from family help (US $80.000) and debt (around $100.000).

Do you think that this investment is justified in my case? please assume three possibilities:

a) I finish in the top 25% of my class,
b) I finish in the top 50% of my class, or
c) I finish in the bottom 25% of my class.

Thank you very much for your help, it will be extremely valuable to me.

Before I can answer I'd need to know a little more about what you want to do with the degree. Do you plan on staying in the US after law school? Do you plan on going into law? What type of position would you like after law school?

My priority is to pay the debt and have a "secure" job, so I am not biased toward big law or anything like that. Financially speaking, working in the US may be a necessity, at least during a few years. After that, I will have a lot of flexibility to, for instance, return to Colombia or work in another country.

[sullidop]

That time is upon us when the snow begins to retreat and accepted 0Ls flock to accepted students days/campus tours. Please hit up this board with any questions you may have regarding BCLS!

A little about me. Went to BC undergrad (class of 2007), worked at a big firm for a couple years, and went back to BC for law school. The collegial atmosphere and laid-back student body brought me back to my alma mater.

Hi Sullidop, thanks for taking questions!!

I was accepted at BC and would like to know your sincere opinion in my case:

I´m an international applicant from South America, and will be attending under a student visa, this means a couple of employment restrictions, as you may know.

BC didn´t offer me any kind of financial aid. Therefore, the money for my degree will come from family help (US $80.000) and debt (around $100.000).

Do you think that this investment is justified in my case? please assume three possibilities:

a) I finish in the top 25% of my class,
b) I finish in the top 50% of my class, or
c) I finish in the bottom 25% of my class.

Thank you very much for your help, it will be extremely valuable to me.

Before I can answer I'd need to know a little more about what you want to do with the degree. Do you plan on staying in the US after law school? Do you plan on going into law? What type of position would you like after law school?

My priority is to pay the debt and have a "secure" job, so I am not biased toward big law or anything like that. Financially speaking, working in the US may be a necessity, at least during a few years. After that, I will have a lot of flexibility to, for instance, return to Colombia or work in another country.

If your loans are only 100k, I think you'll be in good shape (disclosure: I'm not a debt hawk, I'll have 130k-ish and do not see this as an issue). You'll have to make at least 80k a year to finance this, preferably 100k. I do not know what debt financing you'll be eligible for. Citizens and permanent aliens (I believe) can get a few different loans from the US gov at fixed rates. As a foreign student I do not know what your lending options will be. Definitely look into this as borrowing 100k at 7% is much different than borrowing at 10+%.

I'm curious as to what you mean by "secure". As you know most jobs are "at will" meaning that you can be fired at any time for any lawful cause. Many large firms shed a significant number of their associates within the first couple years. Smaller and mid-sized firms seem less inclined to follow this up or out approach.

Your hypos (my answers are in US employment):
a) top 25% of my class - not an issue, you'll be able to find a job easy
b) top 50% of my class - you probably won't make 160k a year but should find a position for 80k+ without any issue
c) bottom 25% of my class - tough call, but unlikely you will make more than 50-60k in a legal position

[BCLS Alum]

I would estimate that around 40% of my class year got biglaw. A handful were working in some capacity for the federal government (SEC, IRS, DOJ, etc.). A significant portion of those not working in biglaw obtained jobs at midsized firms in New England or New York (50-200 attorneys). There were a few that went to work for state governments, and a larger number than I would have expected were pursuing public interest work.

I graduated a few years ago. I didn't know anyone in my class who was unemployed. Some took jobs they didn't want. A friend at the bottom of the class ended up at a large employment firm (not Vault 100 but the firm is AMLaw 100) in California because he couldn't get biglaw in the northeast.

Obviously the market took a turn in recent years so I have no idea what the students are currently experiencing. However, if the market goes back to normal, this was the outlook in the 2005-2008 years.

It'll be interesting to see what the stats on my class end up being. I'd estimate that 25-35% of my class will end up in nlj 250 firms with maybe 20ish% in V100 firms. It's so unpredictable though. For example, just a couple weeks ago a v100 firm hired a few 3Ls who were not SAs at the firm. This would've been unheard of in years past. Maybe we're moving into a different paradigm...

This happened when I was a 3L as well. The new york firms especially like to fill in their starting classes with BC 3Ls for some reason. I think they know a BC 3L that didn't have a biglaw job for the summer would be willing to drop everything and move to New York and work for them.

[pferaso]

If your loans are only 100k, I think you'll be in good shape (disclosure: I'm not a debt hawk, I'll have 130k-ish and do not see this as an issue). You'll have to make at least 80k a year to finance this, preferably 100k. I do not know what debt financing you'll be eligible for. Citizens and permanent aliens (I believe) can get a few different loans from the US gov at fixed rates. As a foreign student I do not know what your lending options will be. Definitely look into this as borrowing 100k at 7% is much different than borrowing at 10+%.

I'm curious as to what you mean by "secure". As you know most jobs are "at will" meaning that you can be fired at any time for any lawful cause. Many large firms shed a significant number of their associates within the first couple years. Smaller and mid-sized firms seem less inclined to follow this up or out approach.

Your hypos (my answers are in US employment):
a) top 25% of my class - not an issue, you'll be able to find a job easy
b) top 50% of my class - you probably won't make 160k a year but should find a position for 80k+ without any issue
c) bottom 25% of my class - tough call, but unlikely you will make more than 50-60k in a legal position[/quote]


Thanks Sulli, that´s exactly the kind of info I was looking for!!! By "secure" job I just tried to mean somwhere I could work for a couple of years and then have a reasonable expectation to build a longer term career.

[mettasutta]

Are any of you paying sticker?

[sullidop]

Are any of you paying sticker?

Yup

[K1988]

Are any of you paying sticker?

yep!

[sullidop]

Are any of you paying sticker?

yep!

The majority of students (in my understanding) pay sticker.

[zonto]

What happens to the bottom 60% of the class then that don't do OCI? Can they still do the off-campus stuff in DC and NYC? Mass mailings and/or networking only?

[RPK34]

What happens to the bottom 60% of the class then that don't do OCI? Can they still do the off-campus stuff in DC and NYC? Mass mailings and/or networking only?

+1. I never knew only the top 40% of BC kids could do OCI.

[sullidop]

What happens to the bottom 60% of the class then that don't do OCI? Can they still do the off-campus stuff in DC and NYC? Mass mailings and/or networking only?

+1. I never knew only the top 40% of BC kids could do OCI.

Sorry for the ambiguity on this. OCI isn't limited to any percentage of the class, everyone is encouraged to participate. However, just because you participate doesn't mean you'll get a call-back (everyone gets some interviews due to the combined lottery/firm preference model...you rank your choices and you'll get at least one of the top 5 in addition to the firms that pick you for an interview). While OCI isn't limited per se, you just won't (ITE) get call-backs at big firms if you're not approx top 40%. Given that the first two rounds of OCI are exclusively big firms, there is a de facto limitation on its usefulness during this time.

For the later rounds of OCI (as well as off-campus recruiting and resume drops) when smaller firms/gov/PI participate, certainly more of the class has a shot.

Does that clear it up?

[RPK34]

What happens to the bottom 60% of the class then that don't do OCI? Can they still do the off-campus stuff in DC and NYC? Mass mailings and/or networking only?

+1. I never knew only the top 40% of BC kids could do OCI.

Sorry for the ambiguity on this. OCI isn't limited to any percentage of the class, everyone is encouraged to participate. However, just because you participate doesn't mean you'll get a call-back (everyone gets some interviews due to the combined lottery/firm preference model...you rank your choices and you'll get at least one of the top 5 in addition to the firms that pick you for an interview). While OCI isn't limited per se, you just won't (ITE) get call-backs at big firms if you're not approx top 40%. Given that the first two rounds of OCI are exclusively big firms, there is a de facto limitation on its usefulness during this time.

For the later rounds of OCI (as well as off-campus recruiting and resume drops) when smaller firms/gov/PI participate, certainly more of the class has a shot.

Does that clear it up?

Yes thanks. I thought it seemed crazy that only certain students could participate.

[zonto]

Thanks for the follow-up post! The more I read about BC the more excited I get about attending.

[skippy1]

How does the housing fair in June work? Do realtors come to this or is it just for people trying to find roommates? Is it possible to find places with a lease starting in August? I'm only seeing places with start dates of Sept 1. 1L orientation is starting Aug 28 - how are others handling this?