A couple years ago there was a similar topic, and someone posted the following:
Obviously that's more than just the top 10 NY firms, but the selectivity seems to be a bit different from what some on here are saying. At my school (and given the people I know working at some of those firms), I'd say this list is more in line with what I would have guessed. Cravath and S&C are definitely the two most selective (leaving out Wachtell, of course). I would have thought Cravath is at least as selective as S&C, but I do get the sense that Cravath may be a bit more flexible if they really like a candidate, where I've heard from numerous people that S&C just has hard grade cutoffs regardless of whether or not they like you.At least at my school...
Super Grade Selective:
Cravath
Sullivan & Cromwell
Williams & Connolly
Gibson Dunn (DC)
Covington
Very Grade Selective:
Paul Weiss
Gibson Dunn (LA)
Kirkland
Debevoise
Boies Schiller
Arnold & Porter
Not That Grade Selective:
Davis Polk
Simpson Thacher
Cleary
Gibson Dunn (NY)
Quinn Emanuel
O'Melveny
MoFo
WilmerHale
Ropes & Gray
Even Less Grade Selective:
Skadden
Weil
Latham
Sidley Austin
Jones Day
White & Case
Shearman & Sterling
I'm also a bit surprised by the seeming consensus that DPW and Skadden are more selective than Debevoise. I had considered Debevoise to be one of the more grade conscious firms -- though not as grade conscious as S&C or Cravath.
It also seems that Quinn has moved up in its selectivity in the last couple years (though I know that wasn't one of the firms in the OP).