I think he has a point here. I sit here and like to think I love being miserable if it means coming out better on the otherside, but who knows how it actually feels when you're there, unless you've done it. Saying the words "chronic depression," "suicidal tendencies," and "alcoholism" are just words with concepts attached, it's probably much different to actually experience it.rpupkin wrote:At the risk of sounding patronizing, I think it's impossible for a person such as yourself to understand what it means to work "pretty much all the time." You have no reference point--the big-law environment isn't analogous to anything you've encountered before. A significant percentage of young associates end up seriously depressed, with poor physical health and failed personal relationships.JustWannaGraduate wrote: I accept the fact I'll have to slog away in big law for a bunch of years after a year or two of clerking if I go down that route. My SO is gonna work on the hill, and we're planning on working pretty much all the time in our 20s.
Some people survive fine. And, as I mentioned in my previous post, a small minority excel and enjoy it. But there's a decent chance that you'll be one of those who hates it. And if you take on a massive debt, you'll have no way out. It's just a huge, huge life risk.
I'm in a sort of similar situation to OP in that I have 0 debt from undergrad. I've been out a few years and working, but have very little savings at the moment. I have scholly opportunities at Cornell and Texas Austin that are generous and I haven't started negotiating yet. I also haven't yet heard back from Michigan, Northwestern, UVA, NYU, or Vandy.
I'd LOVE to think that I'll be able to get in & negotiate my way to a UVA/NYU/Mich scholly, but it's probably not in the cards, and if I got in to any of them at sticker, I'm not sure the threat of future depression would dissuade me. (not that this is a smart call, you're probably all right and I/we probably shouldn't do it, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to make the smart call...)
(Also, inb4 retake the LSAT, I've done 3 takes and this is my second cycle applying. Maybe I'll reapply AGAIN next cycle, earlier this time, with more optional essays, but fuck me I'm sick of this and want to get on with my life)