How rankings work
Rankings are how you tell firms which ones you actually care about. There are only two tiers, and both are intentionally limited so the signals stay meaningful. Here’s the whole system in plain English.
Gold Medal
You get one
Your #1 firm. The one you’d say yes to over any other.
Gold Stars
3 to start · +1 per friend you invite
Your shortlist of firms you’re seriously interested in.
The basics
What’s a Gold Medal?
Your top pick. You only get one. It’s the firm you’d take an offer from over any other - and that firm sees the signal directly. If you change your mind later, you can reassign it any time, and the old firm loses Medal status.
What’s a Gold Star?
A Gold Star is for firms you’re seriously interested in but aren’t putting at #1. Everyone starts with three. You can earn an extra Gold Star for every classmate you invite who joins BigLaw Bear - both of you get one.
Why so few?
Because scarcity is the point. If you could star every firm, the signal would mean nothing. Three Stars plus a Medal forces a real choice, which is exactly what makes it valuable to firms (and to you).
Can I change my mind?
Yes, but swaps are intentionally limited. Your first Medal and first three Star placements are free; after that, each saved swap uses one of your limited changes for that category. Scarcity is what keeps Stars and Medals valuable.
Do I have to rank a firm to apply?
Nope. Applying and ranking are completely separate. You can apply to a firm without ranking it, and rank a firm without applying. Use rankings to tell firms what you actually want; use applications to actually pursue them.
Should I Medal a firm I’ve already applied to?
Whatever feels honest. Some students Medal a firm they’ve applied to as a way of saying “please - this is the one.” Others save the Medal for a firm they’re still researching. There’s no wrong answer.
How firms see your rankings
You should know exactly what a firm sees on the other side - no hidden math, no inflation. Here’s the whole picture.
Can a firm see who else I ranked?
No. A firm only sees the tier you gave them - Medal or Star. They can’t see your other firms, who got your Medal, or how many Stars you’ve used. Your full list is yours.
What does it look like to the firm?
If you Medal a firm, they see “This student gave you their Gold Medal - their #1 pick out of every firm.” If you Star a firm, they see “This student Gold Starred you - you’re one of their top firms.” That’s it.
Will firms hold it against me if I don’t rank them?
They can’t. Firms have no way to know whether you ranked them at a lower tier, ranked someone else, or just didn’t rank anyone yet. Silence isn’t a signal.
How should firms use this?
Firms tell us they prioritize Medal and Star students for screeners and callbacks because the interest is real and structured. It’s the first time they’ve had this kind of signal before recruiting, and they take it seriously.
Ready to set your rankings?
Pick your Medal, Stars, and Gold List directly from your tracker, five minutes, two-minute reset anytime during the cycle.