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I want to start a thread for people considering postponing this whole "law school" thing.

I'll graduate in May, and I'm in at some well-ranked schools. After visiting a few, I can't help but think, maybe I'm not ready for this. I've never really not been a student, and I'm scared of getting burnt out. I don't really have a job or any other options lined up, though, so maybe it's best to grit my teeth and push on through.

Anyone other seniors thinking about deferring their acceptances for awhile? Or does anyone who's done that want to share their experiences?

EDIT: Hope this is the right forum. Does choosing "nothing" count as choosing a law school? lol

cold_logic wrote:I've never really not been a student

It's good that you realized that this is significant now and not after law school started.

cold_logic wrote:I want to start a thread for people considering postponing this whole "law school" thing.

I'll graduate in May, and I'm in at some well-ranked schools. After visiting a few, I can't help but think, maybe I'm not ready for this. I've never really not been a student, and I'm scared of getting burnt out. I don't really have a job or any other options lined up, though, so maybe it's best to grit my teeth and push on through.

Anyone other seniors thinking about deferring their acceptances for awhile? Or does anyone who's done that want to share their experiences?

EDIT: Hope this is the right forum. Does choosing "nothing" count as choosing a law school? lol

Worked well for me. Was never really on the fence about law school but I needed a fucking break and the WE helps out during interviews.

I strongly advocate for taking a year off. Not only do you get to experience the real world, and re charge your batteries- but you may decide that law isnt for you, or is for you. Plus WE is always a good thing to have, and with a year to mature and get some partying out of your system you will be able to step back, re assess and make a sound decision about your future, whatever it is.

I'll be taking at least 1, likely 2 years off. Yay for having a 'real person' job! =D

My only concern is that I won't be able to find a job (let alone a "real person" job that doesn't involve food delivery), and that I'll be crazy-bored. My degree is semi-employable (math major), but my resume is basically a blank page.

Anyone want to argue for going straight through?

cold_logic wrote:My only concern is that I won't be able to find a job (let alone a "real person" job that doesn't involve food delivery), and that I'll be crazy-bored. My degree is semi-employable (math major), but my resume is basically a blank page.

Anyone want to argue for going straight through?

I thought about taking some time off (and actually had a sweet job lined up until I decided not to take time off), but ultimately decided that I did not want to start at the bottom somewhere just to leave in less than 12 months, especially since it would be a low paying, high stress job. I'm not trying to convince you either way, but I just wanted to give you the perspective I had, it's really a personal decision.

vanwinkle wrote:

cold_logic wrote:I've never really not been a student

It's good that you realized that this is significant now and not after law school started.

I thought about that too, but I figure that instead of thinking of it like "I've never not been a student," I think of it in terms of "I've always been a student" and I'm good at it. I decided to push through and get my schooling out of the way while I'm still in the habit of going to class and writing papers and all that nonsense. Leaving the academic world for the real world and then trying to go back to school seems like it would make returning to law school that much more difficult. I'm sure that isn't the case at all for a lot of people, but personally I just want to get it done while I'm still in academic mode and then shift into the real world/work mode.

I'm going to be deferring. I have a teaching job in Spain. I guess I just want my last hurrah and trying to apply from Spain when I attended an American institution would have been a gigantic pain in the ass.

cold_logic wrote:I want to start a thread for people considering postponing this whole "law school" thing.

I'll graduate in May, and I'm in at some well-ranked schools. After visiting a few, I can't help but think, maybe I'm not ready for this. I've never really not been a student, and I'm scared of getting burnt out. I don't really have a job or any other options lined up, though, so maybe it's best to grit my teeth and push on through.

Anyone other seniors thinking about deferring their acceptances for awhile? Or does anyone who's done that want to share their experiences?

EDIT: Hope this is the right forum. Does choosing "nothing" count as choosing a law school? lol

This is my EXACT situation right now. I've pretty happy with my top choice LS and would love to go next year (or even 2 years from now), but I can't help but feel anxious about going into the ultra competitive environment that is LS. I've done well in UG and would love to take the time to do something that I enjoy for some time. The problem is that I also have yet to secure a job, and I'm a little scared of requesting a deferral without a solid Plan B. Plus, I don't even know if my LS would grant me deferral if I don't have a job lined up.....I don't know, I'm just really trying to find something now before the deferral deadline. Everyone that I've talked to has advocated for taking time off and working/volunteering, which would help for OCI and interviews later on. On the other hand, NO ONE has advocated for going straight through. I'm sure both groups do fine in LS, but it's really about your own mindset and your personal choice. If you want to defer, I say that's completely fair and more power to ya!

I am right there with you. I'm sad because it didn't hit home until after I got in and visited some schools that I am not ready for this. I have always known that I want to be an attorney, but I also want to really rock law school. Not in a gunny way, but just, doing the very best I can and feeling great about it. Frankly, I'm tired and my mind is clouded.

What makes my situation especially hard is that the two schools I'm deciding between have both offered me great scholarships. I'd be happy to attend either one - but if I defer I'm pretty sure that the chances of me keeping the money are very low. It makes me sigh. It's not that I didn't think this through, it's just that my emotions changed through the application process. I thought I was being smart by applying early but now I feel as if I've made a pretty big mistake.

Not to be a HUGE downer or anything!

innernetp wrote:I am right there with you. I'm sad because it didn't hit home until after I got in and visited some schools that I am not ready for this. I have always known that I want to be an attorney, but I also want to really rock law school. Not in a gunny way, but just, doing the very best I can and feeling great about it. Frankly, I'm tired and my mind is clouded.

What makes my situation especially hard is that the two schools I'm deciding between have both offered me great scholarships. I'd be happy to attend either one - but if I defer I'm pretty sure that the chances of me keeping the money are very low. It makes me sigh. It's not that I didn't think this through, it's just that my emotions changed through the application process. I thought I was being smart by applying early but now I feel as if I've made a pretty big mistake.

Not to be a HUGE downer or anything!

If you are offered a scholarship this cycle- chances are you will be accepted, or offered one next( but you cant count on that though). If you think you would be better off waiting a year- then do so. Either defer from one, or withdraw- and tell them you wanted to do some volunteer work. Re apply early next cycle ( as in the first day possible) and go from then. Its always better to take time off now, than to go and matriculate, only to regret doin gthis.