As we approach the bid deadline for the off-campus programs and OCI Week 1, please contact your advisor with specific questions. In the meantime, we’ll address some that commonly come up . . .
- How can I figure out which employers will hire someone with my GPA?
Most employers do not have a GPA cut-off. So, in some respects, you should not disqualify yourself from any employer that you’d like to work for just because you think your GPA is not high enough.
The best way to figure out where you’re likely to get traction with employers is to look at their hiring criteria on Symplicity (if they included it) and on nalpdirectory.com. You will see “prior work experience,” “strong work ethic,” and other things that are not strictly tied to 1L GPA. You should then use your resume to highlight those non-GPA factors. Although it’s not an exact science, it will give you a good sense of where you’ll feel comfortable applying and focusing your efforts.
2. Can I bid for an employer that is participating in more than one program (OCI, off-campus, BLG, etc.)? / What does “no multiple interviews” mean?
Yes, you can bid for multiple offices of the same employer through any number of programs. However, when the employer says “no multiple interviews,” you can interview for only one of them, regardless of how many times the employer selects you.
3. Some employers ask for unofficial transcripts. Should I get one from the registrar and scan and upload it?
No. Use the grade sheet template from the CDO website. Upload that to Symplicity, and then bring a copy of your unofficial transcript from the registrar’s office to any interview.
4. When is the best time to bid?
The bid deadline for OCI Week 1 and all off-campus programs is Friday, July 6, at NOON. You can bid any time before that. We encourage you to submit your materials earlier rather than later, but that’s just because you don’t want to be scrambling on the morning of the deadline to make sure you get it all in. Once the deadline hits at noon, there’s nothing that can be done.
5. Symplicity says my profile is only 50% complete. Do I have to complete it to participate in OCI?
Your Symplicity profile is a purely internal thing. Employers will not see it, so there is no need to update it before participating in OCI.
However, it is helpful for the CDO to see if you’ve shifted practice area interests, or geographic focus, so do keep it up-to-date.
6. The employer’s hiring criteria says “journal/moot court preferred.” I plan to do moot court in the fall. Can I add that to my resume now?
No. You can add only those things that you are already enrolled in (including 2L clinics and externships). Because moot court sign-ups aren’t until the fall, you cannot add it to your resume just yet. “Journal/moot court preferred” is sort of a boilerplate statement for hiring criteria that firms will use, and those employers who recruit from BU know that no one will have moot court on their resume for OCI.