Will Summer class be Bad? Forum

[jared6180]

Looking ahead at my undergrad I could take my time and finish in Fall 2013 or I could cram some classes in with a couple 18 hour semesters and be done in Summer 2013. Will taking a Summer 2013 class that will end about August 1 keep my from attending the Fall 2013 semester of Law School?

[grovevilleroad]

I cannot foresee that being a problem.

[mrtoren]

Looking ahead at my undergrad I could take my time and finish in Fall 2013 or I could cram some classes in with a couple 18 hour semesters and be done in Summer 2013. Will taking a Summer 2013 class that will end about August 1 keep my from attending the Fall 2013 semester of Law School?

Personally, I think you should stretch it out. Cramming UG and then going straight into law school is an easy way to burn yourself out. Finish in the fall, get some work experience in the spring and following summer and then start law school.

[jared6180]

Personally, I think you should stretch it out. Cramming UG and then going straight into law school is an easy way to burn yourself out. Finish in the fall, get some work experience in the spring and following summer and then start law school.

I'm struggling with two thoughts, First, I am ready to get on with my life, I am not a traditional 4-year FT student, I have been taking a class here and there for four years, sometimes just 1 class a semester, in any case in the last year I have finally decided to pursue my dreams, and would love to get about the business of being an attorney...I have a plan for that!
Spring 2012-18 credit hours
Summer 2012- 6
Fall 2012- 18
Spring 2013- 18
Summer 2013- 3....... Fall 2013 - 1L! YAY!

Second, I am thinking about the health of my two biggest factors, the LSAT and GPA. A lighter schedule means more time to dedicate to the normal work of studying and trying to get a great score on the LSAT. Better numbers means better chances at a T20-T30 school, and thus a higher chance at earning a great opportunity at a firm. I also have a plan for this!
Spring 2012- 12
Summer 2012- 6
Fall 2012- 12
Spring 2013- 12
Summer 2013- 6
Fall 2013- 12
Spring 2014- 12....... Fall 2014 - 1L! YAY!

BOTH sound like good plans to me, although logically #2 is probably what I should do.

[tomwatts]

BOTH sound like good plans to me, although logically #2 is probably what I should do.

Yes, and yes.

[NoleinNY]

Looking ahead at my undergrad I could take my time and finish in Fall 2013 or I could cram some classes in with a couple 18 hour semesters and be done in Summer 2013. Will taking a Summer 2013 class that will end about August 1 keep my from attending the Fall 2013 semester of Law School?

Personally, I think you should stretch it out. Cramming UG and then going straight into law school is an easy way to burn yourself out. Finish in the fall, get some work experience in the spring and following summer and then start law school.

[Nate895]

Looking ahead at my undergrad I could take my time and finish in Fall 2013 or I could cram some classes in with a couple 18 hour semesters and be done in Summer 2013. Will taking a Summer 2013 class that will end about August 1 keep my from attending the Fall 2013 semester of Law School?

I recently made a similar decision (except subtract a year). I chose to go the route that is going to help my GPA, and hopefully give me some summertime work experience in an area related to a legal career. I'll still be taking summer courses, but instead of using the credits to graduate, I'll be retaking easy courses I slacked off and got bad grades in (my school replaces those with an "R," so it will help my GPA a whole lot). So, instead of applying this year with a 162/3.2, I'll be hoping to apply next fall with a 170+ (I think with six months of study, I can conceivably get 175+)/3.4-3.45, and possibly even applying the next year with an even better GPA if things don't go according to plan next cycle.

Do whatever route you think gives you a better GPA and LSAT score. Most likely, if you work hard and focus, a few extra credits will really help that GPA, particularly if you slacked off for a semester or two.

[jared6180]

I am really struggling with this, it looks like this semester's classes and Summer semester will be pretty easy, I am really having trouble making up my mind for some reason, I see merits of both sides, add to that, in the last week my wife has made it very clear she wants to leave town for a while...like at least 3 years! LOL!

[Husky93]

Wouldn't stretching it out leave you mired in debt? (At least more-so than taking care of it quickly would).

[jared6180]

Wouldn't stretching it out leave you mired in debt? (At least more-so than taking care of it quickly would).

An angle I had not really considered. It would cost be about $10-12k.

[lawiscold]

Personally, I think you should stretch it out. Cramming UG and then going straight into law school is an easy way to burn yourself out. Finish in the fall, get some work experience in the spring and following summer and then start law school.

Second, I am thinking about the health of my two biggest factors, the LSAT and GPA. A lighter schedule means more time to dedicate to the normal work of studying and trying to get a great score on the LSAT. Better numbers means better chances at a T20-T30 school, and thus a higher chance at earning a great opportunity at a firm. I also have a plan for this!
Spring 2012- 12
Summer 2012- 6
Fall 2012- 12
Spring 2013- 12
Summer 2013- 6
Fall 2013- 12
Spring 2014- 12....... Fall 2014 - 1L! YAY!

BOTH sound like good plans to me, although logically #2 is probably what I should do.

Drop the 12 summer credits. Put them during the year. That should minimize the cost to save you cash. And then follow this plan.

[CaptAdams]

You can do either one, but the plan for study time for the LSAT is best. My last two years of school:

Fall 2010 -- 15
Spring 2011 -- 15
Summer 2011 -- 15
Fall 2011 -- 18
Oct. LSAT
Spring 2012 -- 18
Fall 2012 -- 1L

I also worked at least 40 hours a week during this time. You need to put time in to study for the test. I didn't do great, but I've been accepted to one of my top choices. That said, with some more study time (maybe one or two fewer classes), I would have killed the LSAT.

[jared6180]

I also worked at least 40 hours a week during this time. You need to put time in to study for the test. I didn't do great, but I've been accepted to one of my top choices. That said, with some more study time (maybe one or two fewer classes), I would have killed the LSAT.

I gotta say you are a soldier and I respect your hard work if you worked 40 hr/wk plus 18 credit hours, that would be a tough schedule to keep. You mind if I ask what you scored on the LSAT and how you studied?

[CaptAdams]

I gotta say you are a soldier and I respect your hard work if you worked 40 hr/wk plus 18 credit hours, that would be a tough schedule to keep. You mind if I ask what you scored on the LSAT and how you studied?

Thanks! It has been difficult, but I have an understanding boss and have been in a career for over a decade, so I can get away with more than some... My time management skills have been nothing short of amazing (if I say so...)

My LSAT wasn't great -- mid-150's. But like I said, I weaseled my way into one of my top choices and am still waiting on several more. I took the Powerscore weekend virtual class. It was a real pain sitting down for three hours each Sunday, and then plodding through the homework through the week, but I think it helped. It would have helped MUCH more if I didn't have one of the other time-sucks (class or work), but what do you do? I've got mouths to feed...

[jared6180]

I would like to take the PowerScore Full class, however the closest one is 1.5 hours away. I want to do BluePrint of PowerScore, as a prep class, but obviously I will probably have to do it online.

[jared6180]

I may have to take a single class Summer 2013, will that keep me out of law school for the fall cycle?

[willwash]

Stretch it out and pad your GPA with tons of easy classes.

[jared6180]

I may have to take a single class Summer 2013, will that keep me out of law school for the fall cycle?

Still wondering about this!

I will be cramming UG it looks like. I am confident I can get it done, will need to change my sleeping habits for sure, and probably need to start eatting better and going to the gym a couple times a week to get my blood flowing better, and get my mind working better. For some idiotic reason I really believe I can pull this off. This will be my most challenging semester thus far, and probably for the remainder of UG, with studying for the LSAT and all, but I just feel more motivated than I ever have for school. I went so far as to post on FB that my social life this semester will just have to RIP until I am done. I have let my friends and family know that I may not come out of my cage much, but I still love them all.