Take a year off? Will it hurt my career plans? Forum

[Pebbles]

Okay so here's my story:

I'm a college senior, and I've always wanted to go to law school. I've prepped for it all of UG. I have two internships under my belt, and national awards in oral advocacy. I have a 3.70 LSDAS GPA currently. (On track to make all A's this semester, and probably next semester as well, which could bring me up to a 3.78). My passion is for appellate and constitutional law, so I know that I need to get a good clerkship out of law school, so I have to go to the best school possible (So, I'm definitely aiming for T14).

My initial test ranges for the LSAT sophomore and junior years when I took a couple prep tests on a whim were 165 and 168, without prep. I was originally going to take the LSAT in October, but due to family circumstances I was unable to prepare at all, and postponed until Dec. Now, time has barreled forward, and 1 month away from the test I've barely done any prep due to a deluge of school work. (but my grades are stellar!) Also, I haven't even started any applications.

I know that I need to take another prep test to see where I stand now to make a better judgment, but I really need to know if taking a year off will hurt my chances at T14 or at getting a Clerkship. Additionally, what should I do in the gap year? Will it make my strong EC's and internships less important/ worthless?

(Maybe a bit of info about my LSAT will help: my weakness is logic games, I already miss 0-3 Arg.s per section. My practice last section of Reading was not so good, but that was probably due to my own stress and anxiety about the whole situation leading to a lack of concentration.)

Short story: want to get a clerkship/go to T14. Have a 3.71 gpa, but feeling scared about the LSAT. Gap year?

[bk1]

No, it won't hurt you.

[American_in_China]

Do something useful during your gap year and it shouldn't hurt you at all. As always, I suggest learn foreign language.