Thinking of withdrawing while smack in middle of 1st semester of 1L. Can I still apply elsewhere? Forum

[lawyergonnabe]

Hi,

Flamers: buzz off.

I am a 1L at a toilet of a provisionally accredited law school. I got a 50% scholarship to ease the sting. Still, I am uber close to just withdrawing before we get too much further into the semester and trying my luck elsewhere. I haven't gotten any grades yet. I don't know what kind of applicant that would make me at the next school, though. That is, would I be a transfer student or applying as a new student, since I didn't get any grades here where I am now???? Is it event possible? I mean, are there schools that admit students who dropped out first semester of 1L before any grades were issued? I'm pretty sure I'm going to get W's, but I'm not so sure those count as grades (the lady in admissions said they don't, but I'm hearing otherwise from others).

Before you say just stay: I can't take it. The environment here is for the birds. I have tried. I am days away from pulling the plug on this little adventure, I only want to know what my options are if I go through with it.

Thanks in advance for the kindhearted lot of you who give feedback.

[acr]

Drop now. Seriously. If it's making you this miserable, it's not worth it.

[lawyergonnabe]

Drop now. Seriously. If it's making you this miserable, it's not worth it.

I hear you, but what I'm wanting to know is, given I won't have any grades, does that mean I return to the "new student" pool or the "transfer students" pool? Or, neither?

[Hand]

You can't transfer anywhere until you've completed the whole year.

[instride91]

I think when you apply to another law school, you will have to note that you already matriculated to another school. I'm not sure how this will effect your chances of admission, but it may be a better option in the long run. As long as you don't have any grades yet, I think you can still redo 1L.

Just FYI: I don't have any experience doing this, so I'm not certain. But either way, dropping out now is probably your best bet (assuming you go to a T3/4). Worst case scenario: you can go to business school.

[A. Nony Mouse]

There are people who've posted here about doing this - you would be a new student, but yes, you would need to disclose that you matriculated at your current school. I don't think it would matter as long as you can give a decent reason for wanting to leave (and assuming that you can get into better schools, deciding you wanted better options than what an unaccredited school would give seems reasonable to me).

[lawyergonnabe]

There are people who've posted here about doing this - you would be a new student, but yes, you would need to disclose that you matriculated at your current school. I don't think it would matter as long as you can give a decent reason for wanting to leave (and assuming that you can get into better schools, deciding you wanted better options than what an unaccredited school would give seems reasonable to me).

Thanks so much for your feedback. I heard the same thing from one of the ladies in financial aid (that I could just re-do 1L), with an explanation, of course. Thanks again!

[lawyergonnabe]

I think when you apply to another law school, you will have to note that you already matriculated to another school. I'm not sure how this will effect your chances of admission, but it may be a better option in the long run. As long as you don't have any grades yet, I think you can still redo 1L.

Just FYI: I don't have any experience doing this, so I'm not certain. But either way, dropping out now is probably your best bet (assuming you go to a T3/4). Worst case scenario: you can go to business school.

Thanks a bunch for your feedback. I really appreciate it. Yes, this school is probably T5, if there's a such thing. It's not even ranked yet by US News. Anyway, I'm glad to hear from so many that it might be possible to redo 1L. I don't mind. It's just that horrible here. Hell, I'm not looking to ascend into even T1 (but I certainly wouldn't turn down an offer to), just anything but here. Thanks again!

[TheSpanishMain]

I'd pull the trigger now, if the school is as bad as you say. Even if you were loving it, the career outlook is presumably awful.

By the way, why do you hate it? I assume you don't hate the subject matter, since you want to try at another school as opposed to doing something else entirely.

[UnicornHunter]

I would drop out, but I would also try to pick up a few years of work experience before you try again.

[BVest]

You can't transfer anywhere until you've completed the whole year.

Not universally true, but close enough. You can't transfer without grades, so you'd be a new student application. As mentioned, you would have to disclose your matriculation, but IIRC, that's a question on most LS apps.

[BigZuck]

I would drop out, but I would also try to pick up a few years of work experience before you try again.

This seems like the correct answer to me

[Nebby]

I would drop out, but I would also try to pick up a few years of work experience before you try again.

This seems like the correct answer to me

[lawyergonnabe]

I would drop out, but I would also try to pick up a few years of work experience before you try again.

Was non-traditional to start with (10+ years in the workforce, in the legal industry, as a paralegal and contracts manager)...

[lawyergonnabe]

I would drop out, but I would also try to pick up a few years of work experience before you try again.

This seems like the correct answer to me

Was non-traditional to start with (10+ years in the workforce, in the legal industry, as a paralegal and contracts manager)...

[CanadianWolf]

Be sure to discuss any ramifications from accepting their 50% scholarship. Does your scholarship require reimbursement to the school f you drop out ? (I'd still leave if in your position, but you need to understand all consequences before making your next move.)

[UnicornHunter]

I would drop out, but I would also try to pick up a few years of work experience before you try again.

This seems like the correct answer to me

Was non-traditional to start with (10+ years in the workforce, in the legal industry, as a paralegal and contracts manager)...

Good, you should be able to find work fairly easily then. I just think it would behoove you to put a little space inbetween your first attempt at law school and the next. Also, unless you went to a shit tier school with a great LSAT, you probably need a retake if law school's going to be a worthwhile endeavor.

[lawyergonnabe]

I would drop out, but I would also try to pick up a few years of work experience before you try again.

This seems like the correct answer to me

Was non-traditional to start with (10+ years in the workforce, in the legal industry, as a paralegal and contracts manager)...

Good, you should be able to find work fairly easily then. I just think it would behoove you to put a little space inbetween your first attempt at law school and the next. Also, unless you went to a shit tier school with a great LSAT, you probably need a retake if law school's going to be a worthwhile endeavor.

Thanks for the feedback. I hadn't thought about the distance in between this attempt in the next; I totally agree with you. I'm going to take that into consideration. It'll probably be easier to explain with some distance. As far as the LSAT, I took it 3 times, 150 being my 3rd score. I can't test again for another 2 years I think (LSAC has a limit). Maybe that's can be the measuring stick for time between my attempts (*thinking out loud)Thanks again.

[BigZuck]

Witha 150 you're not going to find a worthwhile school. Just find something else to do, law school isn't worth it for you. This false start just confirms that.