Graduating Early Forum

[csmichae]

I'm a junior at a run-of-the-mill state school who can graduate this semester, a year early, bc of AP credits. I currently have a 3.85 GPA and would have a 3.87 GPA if I graduated next semester. If I stayed another year and took fluff classes, I could raise my GPA to a 3.93. I was an EECS major for my first three semesters and have done all of the introductory math and phys classes required for the major and am now a philosophy major. Recently, I interned at a corporate law firm and didn't enjoy my experience - even though I didn't do a whole lot. I've heard that IP lawyers make a fair amount of money relative to how many hours they work and that the work is somewhat interesting. Although beyond that, I know very little about becoming an IP lawyer. With that said, I'm thinking about graduating early and then finishing up a physics degree in three semesters so I could have a shot at sitting for the patent bar. Also, cost isn't an issue bc this state school's tuition is really really cheap.

So would I even be competitive for IP with my background? Is IP really worth going back and getting a second degree? Would doing physics for three semesters be better than taking fluff classes and studying for the LSAT for my last two semesters?

[SPerez]

If money isn't an issue, I always say "Stay in school, kid." You'll never get this time in your life back. Don't screw up your grades, but join clubs, get involved, volunteer, study abroad, etc. If you do graduate early, I would recommend not going to school right away. In that scenario, it comes down to what you would do with that year. Either way, your next year should include a TON of LSAT prep.

My ultimate GPA wouldn't be a factor in the decision. Yours is already really high, and at best it would improve to a tiny bit higher. Only two law schools last year had median GPAs over 3.90.

My understanding is that without a STEM degree, you likely don't have enough STEM hours to sit for the patent bar. (The document I found said you need 24 hours of physics to qualify with a non-STEM degree so you wouldn't have to get the full degree, really.) I would think, though, that before undertaking all that work you might try to know more than "very little" about becoming an IP lawyer. Another good use of the next year.

I think I'm just showing my age, but I'm more and more perplexed at the rush to get out of college early. Do it right and it should be the best time of your life. I imagine very few people look back on their lives and say "Man, I wish I had spent less time in college," and even fewer say "I'm so glad I had a 35 year legal career instead of a 33 year legal career."

Dean Perez
Texas Tech Law

[Tls2016]

I'm a junior at a run-of-the-mill state school who can graduate this semester, a year early, bc of AP credits. I currently have a 3.85 GPA and would have a 3.87 GPA if I graduated next semester. If I stayed another year and took fluff classes, I could raise my GPA to a 3.93. I was an EECS major for my first three semesters and have done all of the introductory math and phys classes required for the major and am now a philosophy major. Recently, I interned at a corporate law firm and didn't enjoy my experience - even though I didn't do a whole lot. I've heard that IP lawyers make a fair amount of money relative to how many hours they work and that the work is somewhat interesting. Although beyond that, I know very little about becoming an IP lawyer. With that said, I'm thinking about graduating early and then finishing up a physics degree in three semesters so I could have a shot at sitting for the patent bar. Also, cost isn't an issue bc this state school's tuition is really really cheap.

So would I even be competitive for IP with my background? Is IP really worth going back and getting a second degree? Would doing physics for three semesters be better than taking fluff classes and studying for the LSAT for my last two semesters?

Where did you hear IP lawyers make more and work less?
My view you should get an engineering degree or something more useful than philosophy and skip law school. Why do you think you might want to be a lawyer instead of something else?

[csmichae]

I'm a junior at a run-of-the-mill state school who can graduate this semester, a year early, bc of AP credits. I currently have a 3.85 GPA and would have a 3.87 GPA if I graduated next semester. If I stayed another year and took fluff classes, I could raise my GPA to a 3.93. I was an EECS major for my first three semesters and have done all of the introductory math and phys classes required for the major and am now a philosophy major. Recently, I interned at a corporate law firm and didn't enjoy my experience - even though I didn't do a whole lot. I've heard that IP lawyers make a fair amount of money relative to how many hours they work and that the work is somewhat interesting. Although beyond that, I know very little about becoming an IP lawyer. With that said, I'm thinking about graduating early and then finishing up a physics degree in three semesters so I could have a shot at sitting for the patent bar. Also, cost isn't an issue bc this state school's tuition is really really cheap.

So would I even be competitive for IP with my background? Is IP really worth going back and getting a second degree? Would doing physics for three semesters be better than taking fluff classes and studying for the LSAT for my last two semesters?

Where did you hear IP lawyers make more and work less?
My view you should get an engineering degree or something more useful than philosophy and skip law school. Why do you think you might want to be a lawyer instead of something else?

To your second question: Pretty much because I think I'd be a better lawyer than an engineer. I've had some internships doing both and I really couldn't see myself doing engineering or even engineering-ish work for the rest of my life.

[SPerez]

I'm a junior at a run-of-the-mill state school who can graduate this semester, a year early, bc of AP credits. I currently have a 3.85 GPA and would have a 3.87 GPA if I graduated next semester. If I stayed another year and took fluff classes, I could raise my GPA to a 3.93. I was an EECS major for my first three semesters and have done all of the introductory math and phys classes required for the major and am now a philosophy major. Recently, I interned at a corporate law firm and didn't enjoy my experience - even though I didn't do a whole lot. I've heard that IP lawyers make a fair amount of money relative to how many hours they work and that the work is somewhat interesting. Although beyond that, I know very little about becoming an IP lawyer. With that said, I'm thinking about graduating early and then finishing up a physics degree in three semesters so I could have a shot at sitting for the patent bar. Also, cost isn't an issue bc this state school's tuition is really really cheap.

So would I even be competitive for IP with my background? Is IP really worth going back and getting a second degree? Would doing physics for three semesters be better than taking fluff classes and studying for the LSAT for my last two semesters?

Where did you hear IP lawyers make more and work less?
My view you should get an engineering degree or something more useful than philosophy and skip law school. Why do you think you might want to be a lawyer instead of something else?

To your second question: Pretty much because I think I'd be a better lawyer than an engineer. I've had some internships doing both and I really couldn't see myself doing engineering or even engineering-ish work for the rest of my life.

This is a really interesting point that I find myself discussing with a lot of prospective students (usually in the 20-23 age range). Anyone over 35 can tell you, NO ONE will do ANY job "for the rest of their lives" pretty much. Although I get that when you're 19 or 20, "the rest of my life" is basically a 10 year period, haha. But even using engineering as an example, 10 years into your career chances are you're probably in more of a managerial role. I have a good friend who works at a large IT company. He was hired because he was an awesome network admin and problem solver. We were talking over the holidays about how now, 15 years in, his teams code in new languages and have certifications he would never have time to learn/earn. But that's because he's now an awesome manager and team leader; he's not a coder anymore. I heard an interview with NASA administrator and she said the same thing. She hadn't done an equation in decades. She was basically a CEO.

Sometimes decisions seem like these HUGE daunting things because we think this is the only chance we'll ever get to make the decision. I see it really often with students choosing locations for law school or post-grad employment. Like no one ever changes jobs or cities.

All that is just to say I think it's important to have perspective on decisions you make, which is sometimes hard when you're younger (and don't realize how young you are). I'm not really directing this at OP or even this particular question, just thought it was an interesting point.

Dean Perez
Texas Tech Law

[Tls2016]

Look into being an IP lawyer. If you already didn't like your law firm experience, I'm not sure IP will be better.