Duke ($) vs Vandy ($$) vs USC ($$$) vs Gap Year(s) Forum

[BigBear]

[Deleted] Thank you everyone for your advice!

[Dcc617]

Take time off just because that's a valuable thing on its own. Law school will still be there.

[runinthefront]

Take time off just because that's a valuable thing on its own. Law school will still be there.

[floatie]

Take time off just because that's a valuable thing on its own. Law school will still be there.

+1 , best decision I've ever made

[Rigo]

Take the gap years. Don't be tempted by either sticker T14 debt or a big USC scholarship (since USC won't help you outside of Southern California).

Good luck OP. I hope you get that paralegal job. Friends who were intent on law realized it wasn't for them after being a paralegal so you might even gain a new perspective.

[mrtux45]

I'd wait to see how the job interviews go before making any decision. No need to rush back to school, but I'd suggest having something that you consider worthwhile for the interim. If you're lucky enough to have money, go travel. If you've got loans stacked up (me), get a job with reasonable work/life balance and enjoy your early 20s.

I think the average 1L age is 24? So don't stress about delaying, but I'd recommend going for it within 5 years or whenever you'd still have the 166 on your record. Coming up short of your goals is disappointing, but a 166 is very much respectable and good to have as a cushion if your later takes don't go entirely as planned.

[Finickywalrus]

Take the gap years. Don't be tempted by either sticker T14 debt or a big USC scholarship (since USC won't help you outside of Southern California).

Good luck OP. I hope you get that paralegal job. Friends who were intent on law realized it wasn't for them after being a paralegal so you might even gain a new perspective.

This is so accurate! As a paralegal, take the time to find an attorney who is willing to mentor (they are out there I promise). I work with big law attorneys and even though they spoke favorably of their time in big law, most of what they said affirmed my interest in PI. Also, being a paralegal is a great opportunity to potentially get extra work or a writing sample. I've written first drafts of briefs and that's an interesting/beneficial thing to mention during an interview.

If you take the year and come out of it still deciding you want to go to law school, you'll have a year of relevant work experience, a potential recommendation, not KJD status (which is a disadvantage), impressive things to mention during your interview (if you reach out for more challenging work), and confidence that law is the right fit for you. All of those alone will potentially impact your scholarship. If you retake while working (I did, it's difficult but so worth it) there is no down side.

I cannot emphasize enough how beneficial it was during my interview to be able to state with absolute confidence that I want to be a public interest attorney for x,y and z reasons.