Fordham Law 1L - Below 50% - Drop out? Forum

[1Lpanic]

I got a grade back for my 5 credit Property class and only got a B. I actually felt well-prepared for this exam and felt good about the exam afterward. I thought it was the best exam that I wrote and felt much worse about my other two exams. I haven't received my other two grades but am pretty certain I did not fair as well as my Property exam.

I highly doubt I got above a B in my other two exams based on how I felt, so I am looking at a 3.0 or worse for my first semester. A 3.0 puts me in the bottom 50% of the class (or even lower, something like bottom 30%).

Would I even be able to find a decent job that will allow me to pay off my $200,000 in loans if I stick with it, or should I drop out?

I am seriously panicking. Help.

I worked really hard this semester and I don't know how I could do more work for next semester (but could reevaluate my study strategy). Is it too late?

[sting]

how you felt after a law school exam has no bearing on how you actually did. relax and wait for your other grades to come back before you start making plans to drop out.

[1Lpanic]

Hypothetically though, if my grades do end up being a 3.0 or below, are my prospects bleak enough that I should drop out?

My crim exam was split multiple choice/one essay and I am pretty sure my essay was really not good and I found the M/C to be really tough.

[CE2JD]

You should wait to get all of your grades before REALLY panicking.

[1Lpanic]

I am already panicking pretty severely because I know a B isn't going to cut it in terms of getting a job that will help me pay off my loans if I finish law school. Am I totally screwed with a B if it's likely the other grades aren't higher?

[thesealocust]

Give up friend, you'll never make it to Tuesday. The bus doesn't go there anymore.

[1Lpanic]

No clue what that means.

[1Lpanic]

Also, if I drop out, should I still continue next semester and drop out afterwards, or do it now?

[Oban]

finish the year, then come back to us.

[CE2JD]

Also, if I drop out, should I still continue next semester and drop out afterwards, or do it now?

If you get your grades back before tuition is due for next semester and you determine that you'll be unable to repay your law school loans, I would DEFINITELY drop out before enrolling next semester.

[1Lpanic]

If I have a B average on Fordham's B curve (below top 50%) are there reasonable job prospects for someone like me, or am I looking at temp work doing doc review when I graduate?

[awesomepossum]

If I have a B average on Fordham's B curve (below top 50%) are there reasonable job prospects for someone like me

--ImageRemoved--

[1Lpanic]

So basically I should drop out?



I feel so effed. I'm 27 and have no idea what kind of career I could get going at this point.

[awesomepossum]

Can you sing?

[CE2JD]

Can you sing?

goddam AP...

[09042014]

Are you big law or bust? If you are interested in being a public defender or an ADA being below 50% might not kill your career.

[LSATfromNC]

Take some solace that there is an IBR now. Maybe this will give you the motivation to kick ass next semester? Good luck.

[awesomepossum]

ok ok ok............





So here's the question.... do you know WHY you messed up? Is it something you can fix? If for example you were dying of some dread disease during exams and think you can actually pull all A's next semester then maybe there's something there.

One thing I would try to do for sure is talk to the profs and see what the problem was. It probably won't feel that good to go through that, but it could help you figure out where you stand.

If you worked hard and your solution is just to work harder, that's probably no good.

I know some people who improved things through sheer hard work, but most of those folks were studying next to zero the first semester.

[1Lpanic]

I worked really hard and my only insight is for me to improve in the areas that other 1Ls seem to have issues with (finish outlining earlier, start practicing writing essays earlier in the semester), but I felt fairly solid with my preparation. Ugh.

[1Lpanic]

At this point, I am just hoping to know whether I can realistically find any job that will enable me to pay off 210k in loans if I am below 50%. Can I make monthly loan payments on an ADA salary or with a similar job?

[awesomepossum]

If you think you knew the material, then it's probably some problem with how you looked at issues and formulated answers. Again, I suggest you ask the profs.

When I studied, I found those commercial essay question/answer books to be really helpful and I went crazy on practice tests and seeing how my answer differed from the model answers.

[awesomepossum]

At this point, I am just hoping to know whether I can realistically find any job that will enable me to pay off 210k in loans if I am below 50%. Can I make monthly loan payments on an ADA salary or with a similar job?

I would go talk to your financial aid office and career services office as well.

I think it's a combination of what they think your prospects are, where you plan on living and what if any LRAP there is available to you.

FYI, I was under the impression that it's really hard to get an ADA job in NYC.

[1Lpanic]

I actually had used the Siegel's Multiple Choice & Essay question books for all three courses, although admittedly I didn't get to go through the Contracts one as much as I would have liked because I ran into a time crunch towards the end of studying.

[1Lpanic]

I would also like to stay in NYC because I've lived here for the past ten years, so the job would hopefully be here or at least in Westchester or somewhere commutable.

I don't really have anywhere else to go.

[Philo38]

At this point, I am just hoping to know whether I can realistically find any job that will enable me to pay off 210k in loans if I am below 50%. Can I make monthly loan payments on an ADA salary or with a similar job?

Don't forget loan repayment programs for public service jobs.