What GPA after 1L to dropout from T14? Forum

[Anonymous User]

This might just be the stress/ unknown of spring finals getting to me, but what GPA would be the lowest you would have going into 2L OCI from a T14 and not drop out? I was slightly above median so i'm hoping it won't be a concern, but i'm just curious what others see as an acceptable GPA to remain in school.

[bk1]

Depends on debt, what your realistic options are for a job you'd leave law school to, and what you would be okay with doing for a legal job.

With PAYE, you could theoretically be okay with even high levels of debt if you just wanted to be a lawyer.

[dead head]

Depends on the T14 and your financial situation. You should have a pretty good idea of whether you'll get a shot at biglaw by the time your fall 2L semester begins, and if it doesn't look promising you can drop out before tuition is due. But begin your mass-mail early in the summer to all markets you have ties to (if you have ties to a secondary/tertiary market go hard for them as they don't get many T14 students) as well as all major markets and try to get as many screeners as possible. Do a few mock interviews with career services before you leave school for the summer to make sure everything is OK on that front, too.

[iliketurtles123]

Haven't done OCI yet so I'm not sure what the timetable is like but..
Unless you really, really bomb 1L, wouldn't it make sense to just pay the extra 40k or whatever for the first semester of 2L to take part in OCI?
That's basically the whole point of law school anyway and you'll know if things work out by the time spring semester rolls around so you can drop out then.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, I have about a half scholarship at a bottom half T14, am not paying living expenses, and have a 1L SA. Again, i'm not foreseeing myself absolutely bombing this semester to the point where that does happen, but i've just been having nightmare scenarios flash through my head all the time lately.

[bk1]

So you'll be under 100k debt? Yeah I wouldn't drop out unless you don't want to be a lawyer at all.

[WokeUpInACar]

FWIW, I have about a half scholarship at a bottom half T14, am not paying living expenses, and have a 1L SA. Again, i'm not foreseeing myself absolutely bombing this semester to the point where that does happen, but i've just been having nightmare scenarios flash through my head all the time lately.

You're paying half tuition and no living expenses at a t14, AND have a 1L SA, and are contemplating a scenario where you might drop out? Sounds a lot more like you don't like law and are trying to find a way out.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW, I have about a half scholarship at a bottom half T14, am not paying living expenses, and have a 1L SA. Again, i'm not foreseeing myself absolutely bombing this semester to the point where that does happen, but i've just been having nightmare scenarios flash through my head all the time lately.

You're paying half tuition and no living expenses at a t14, AND have a 1L SA, and are contemplating a scenario where you might drop out? Sounds a lot more like you don't like law and are trying to find a way out.

Not at all the scenario. I've always wanted to be a lawyer, and law school has confirmed that. I'm just absolutely terrified of grades and have had the dooms day scenario of getting like a 2.7 this semester constantly running through my head.

[jarofsoup]

U have a 1l SA which puts u in a better place than most. U should chill and rock finals

[thirtyandseven]

U have a 1l SA which puts u in a better place than most. U should chill and rock finals

[dead head]

U should chill and rock finals

Yeah, just rock finals! Problem solved!

Does your firm turn 1L SA offers into 2L and/or post-graduate offers? Doing good work in the summer and converting into an offer might be easier than simply rocking finals at this point in the semester.

[ph14]

FWIW, I have about a half scholarship at a bottom half T14, am not paying living expenses, and have a 1L SA. Again, i'm not foreseeing myself absolutely bombing this semester to the point where that does happen, but i've just been having nightmare scenarios flash through my head all the time lately.

You're paying half tuition and no living expenses at a t14, AND have a 1L SA, and are contemplating a scenario where you might drop out? Sounds a lot more like you don't like law and are trying to find a way out.

Not at all the scenario. I've always wanted to be a lawyer, and law school has confirmed that. I'm just absolutely terrified of grades and have had the dooms day scenario of getting like a 2.7 this semester constantly running through my head.

It's common to be "absolutely terrified of grades" as a 1L. The feeling will subside, at least a bit, as you go into 2L and 3L. I agree with the other posters, it makes sense for you to stay in school:

1. You want to be a lawyer.
2. You a 1/2 scholarship and are not paying living expenses.
3. You have a 1L SA. I had a 1L SA which turned into a 2L SA and a post-graduation offer. Not sure if your firm will be the same way but it's a nice leg up.

Stick with it and try and remain positive, even though it might be hard.

[hichvichwoh]

stressing over finals is natural. Just do what you usually do to cope with stress

[thegrayman]

Waiting for 1L grades is a terrible experience. It gets slightly better 2L and 3L, but it always sucks. I can't imagine how stressful waiting for bar results is going to be...