Pretty Sure I'm Dropping Out/Quick Question Forum

[maxm2764]

The title says it all. After fighting this feeling for the past three months, I have decided law school is not the right place for me. This isn't a knock on anyone else, it's just personally not a good fit for me.

Anyways my question is, is there any benefit as to dropping out now vs. at the end of the semester? I was pretty set on still trying to do well on exams even though I am planning on leaving, but today all I could think about was leaving and barely paid attention to my work. Obviously, the tuition is a sunk cost one way or the other so that is not really part of my consideration.

Should I stick it out until after exams and then pack it up, or does leaving now have any real benefit/detriment?

[Metaread]

How much money do you get back if you drop out now? I don't really see a reason not to stay one semester if they give you barely any money back. Out of curiosity, what made you feel like you need to drop out?

[DCDuck]

Benefit to dropping out now: You don't have to put in the time/deal with the stress of finals. You can focus full time on getting a job.

Drawback: You might do really well on finals, or find you actually enjoy certain aspects of law and change your mind about dropping out.

Only you can tell if you might end up regretting not even taking law school finals. Like you said, you already paid for it and have probably put in a good amount of time already. I'd stick it out until the end of finals, then you can make a better educated decision. But it's entirely up to you.

[FeelTheHeat]

Don't have an answer, but happy to see you realized it wasn't for you and that you knew to get out before it got any worse. Best of luck in the future

[maxm2764]

Thanks for all the advice and well wishes everyone. I fought my decision to go before I actually went and now I'm 100% sure I made the wrong decision.

Honestly, I just hate the way that I have been for the past three months. It's not the amount of work that is bothering me, I'm all for working hard, but I don't like getting up in the morning to go to class. I feel like life isn't supposed to be so mechanical and uninspiring, and that's how I've been. I have a half-tution scholarship to a school outside of the top 100, but I'll still end up paying around 70k if I end up staying for three years. The risk just isn't worth the hypothetical reward to me. I wouldn't be able to get any of my money from this semester back, but it's 10k compared to 70ish which I think is a lot less daunting.

It's a tough decision though, because part of me wants to stick it out and do well on finals just to say I could do it. The other part of me want to say screw it and leave because I don't want to put myself through finals if it's going to be for pretty much nothing and I want to get on the job hunt starting right now.

Edit: Also, I thought I'd like learning the law. I've never been so wrong in my life.

[Bildungsroman]

I have a half-tution scholarship to a school outside of the top 100, but I'll still end up paying around 70k if I end up staying for three years.

Get out now.

Although this rationale worries me:

I don't like getting up in the morning to go to class. I feel like life isn't supposed to be so mechanical and uninspiring

[BarbellDreams]

Thanks for all the advice and well wishes everyone. I fought my decision to go before I actually went and now I'm 100% sure I made the wrong decision.

Honestly, I just hate the way that I have been for the past three months. It's not the amount of work that is bothering me, I'm all for working hard, but I don't like getting up in the morning to go to class. I feel like life isn't supposed to be so mechanical and uninspiring, and that's how I've been. I have a half-tution scholarship to a school outside of the top 100, but I'll still end up paying around 70k if I end up staying for three years. The risk just isn't worth the hypothetical reward to me. I wouldn't be able to get any of my money from this semester back, but it's 10k compared to 70ish which I think is a lot less daunting.

It's a tough decision though, because part of me wants to stick it out and do well on finals just to say I could do it. The other part of me want to say screw it and leave because I don't want to put myself through finals if it's going to be for pretty much nothing and I want to get on the job hunt starting right now.

Edit: Also, I thought I'd like learning the law. I've never been so wrong in my life.

Emotionally speaking it would be great to ace finals. Practically speaking, if you are 10% sure you never want to do law you should drop out now and find a job. Otherwise all the money you could be making while studying for and taking finals is out the window. 10k isn't a terrible blow.

[ChiCity22]

As someone who considered dropping out a few weeks ago, I'd say stick it out and see how you do. If you do well and still don't want to go back it'l be good to explain the law school gap on your resume if you can say you finished near the top of your class first semester but had to be honest with yourself that it wasn't for you. This being said I might be joining you on the law school dropout list by the end of the year; best of luck homie.

[maxm2764]

I have a half-tution scholarship to a school outside of the top 100, but I'll still end up paying around 70k if I end up staying for three years.

Get out now.

Although this rationale worries me:

I don't like getting up in the morning to go to class. I feel like life isn't supposed to be so mechanical and uninspiring

Would you mind elaborating? I'm not trying to be sarcastic or a dick or anything, I'm truly curious.

Also, I don't assume that life is all rainbows and sunshine all of the time, but I also don't think it should be really shitty all of the time either.

Honestly, i thought law school would be a way to further myself, and for some it undoubtedly is, but I just came to think at what price?

Sorry, I'm just venting. it's been an emotionally exhausting couple of days.

[Mick Haller]

Yeah try working in a dead end, 35k job with no room for advancement. That'll make you want to get out of bed every day. It's a sad fact of life. I think we're past the point of trying to find personal satisfaction in our careers.

Congrats on your decision though, it sounds like you are making the right choice. School rank doesn't matter much. I am attending a lower T1 and looking at about the same level of debt, and my job prospects are no better than yours would be.

[maxm2764]

Yeah try working in a dead end, 35k job with no room for advancement. That'll make you want to get out of bed every day. It's a sad fact of life. I think we're past the point of trying to find personal satisfaction in our careers.

Very very true. But I just figure at least I'd be making money rather than dishing it out, right?

[CanadianWolf]

Interesting since you had a preview of law school by taking a summer course at Houston. Was that course much different than your current 1L courses ? Are you at the same law school ?

[Mick Haller]

Also, I don't assume that life is all rainbows and sunshine all of the time, but I also don't think it should be really shitty all of the time either.

I think very few people actually enjoy the work they do. I've worked in IT, at a law office, and for a website. The law office was the only mildly stimulating experience of the bunch. I think if you really want to get a deep sense of satisfaction from your work (and earn a decent living) you need to have some kind of special skill. Like an artisan or something. Build wooden sailboats by hand or something.

[Mick Haller]

Yeah try working in a dead end, 35k job with no room for advancement. That'll make you want to get out of bed every day. It's a sad fact of life. I think we're past the point of trying to find personal satisfaction in our careers.

Very very true. But I just figure at least I'd be making money rather than dishing it out, right?

Yeah totally, I think that's the right way to look at it. If you add in lost wages you'd be at more like 75k + 70k so your total losses would be far worse. (assuming a 35k salary...if you have an econ or accounting degree you can probably do a little better)

[maxm2764]

Interesting since you had a preview of law school by taking a summer course at Houston. Was that course much different than your current 1L courses ? Are you at the same law school ?

Yeah, it was different but it's hard to say why. I think partly because it was only a month. Also, it was a watered-down version with great guest lecturers and really interesting assignments. No, I'm not at the same school. In the same city, but not the same school.

Believe me, I really did think about the decision to go to law school before I made it. I guess I was just overly-optimistic and excited. Definitely not feeling that way now.

[maxm2764]

Also, I don't assume that life is all rainbows and sunshine all of the time, but I also don't think it should be really shitty all of the time either.

I think very few people actually enjoy the work they do. I've worked in IT, at a law office, and for a website. The law office was the only mildly stimulating experience of the bunch. I think if you really want to get a deep sense of satisfaction from your work (and earn a decent living) you need to have some kind of special skill. Like an artisan or something. Build wooden sailboats by hand or something.

Lol. Unfortunately I'm not that great of a carpenter.

[BruceWayne]

Also, I don't assume that life is all rainbows and sunshine all of the time, but I also don't think it should be really shitty all of the time either.

I think very few people actually enjoy the work they do. I've worked in IT, at a law office, and for a website. The law office was the only mildly stimulating experience of the bunch. I think if you really want to get a deep sense of satisfaction from your work (and earn a decent living) you need to have some kind of special skill. Like an artisan or something. Build wooden sailboats by hand or something.

This is so true. As much as people talk about law school being a terrible option, when you think about the types of jobs that most people end up working (not the high powered jobs that people who attend elite undergrads have as an option; people on here talk as if these jobs are readily available) it's really not that bad of a deal. The truth is that working a job sucks for the majority of the populace; that's why they call it a job. Worse, is that most people don't get paid that much to work jobs. At least a substantial amount of lawyers get paid well.

[tyro]

The title says it all. After fighting this feeling for the past three months, I have decided law school is not the right place for me. This isn't a knock on anyone else, it's just personally not a good fit for me.

Anyways my question is, is there any benefit as to dropping out now vs. at the end of the semester? I was pretty set on still trying to do well on exams even though I am planning on leaving, but today all I could think about was leaving and barely paid attention to my work. Obviously, the tuition is a sunk cost one way or the other so that is not really part of my consideration.

Should I stick it out until after exams and then pack it up, or does leaving now have any real benefit/detriment?

Sounds like you should study harder so that you will have better options if you wana transfer to a different school (unless you're giving up on law completely).

[IAFG]

Also, I don't assume that life is all rainbows and sunshine all of the time, but I also don't think it should be really shitty all of the time either.

I think very few people actually enjoy the work they do. I've worked in IT, at a law office, and for a website. The law office was the only mildly stimulating experience of the bunch. I think if you really want to get a deep sense of satisfaction from your work (and earn a decent living) you need to have some kind of special skill. Like an artisan or something. Build wooden sailboats by hand or something.

This is so true. As much as people talk about law school being a terrible option, when you think about the types of jobs that most people end up working (not the high powered jobs that people who attend elite undergrads have as an option; people on here talk as if these jobs are readily available) it's really not that bad of a deal. The truth is that working a job sucks for the majority of the populace; that's why they call it a job. Worse, is that most people don't get paid that much to work jobs. At least a substantial amount of lawyers get paid well.

This is why i am so down on K-JDs. Don't get to law school and realize life sucks. Don't get to your firm and realize life sucks. Come to terms with it sometime between 21-24 and save yourself a lot of anguish/money/regrets.

[Mick Haller]

OP what is your undergrad degree? Any prior work experience?

[random5483]

If you have a scholarship, it might be contingent on you not dropping out (heard this is the case in at least some schools). Thus, if you do drop out now, you might have to pay back the scholarship money. You might also run into student loan issues in the future (not sure what the ramifications of dropping out are on future student loans).

Finishing the semester and dropping out is probably a better choice than dropping out now. Consider signing up for classes for next semester and deciding whether or not to drop out once grades come out in January. If you are 100% sure you are done with law school though, you could probably drop out right after finals.


Good luck.

[northwood]

if you know that law isnt right for you, and you are fully committe to leaving, then I would focus your attention on getting a job so that when you leave in december, you have something lined up. Dont drop out now, since you cant get your money back for the fall semester, but use the time to get your applications out and interviews lined up. But you must understand that the vast majority of people dont like their jobs, and dont find them all that enlightening. Be prepared to not like your job, and to work long hours for a crappy ( or so so) salary. HOwever, if you arent totally certain then take the exams and see how you did. It seems as though you know what you want though. Best of luck.

[maxm2764]

OP what is your undergrad degree? Any prior work experience?

Mass Communication. My focus was political communication and I had several internships with Senate/Congressional campaigns. Prior work experience isn't anything substantial. Spent some time working at Apple between graduation and law school.

I'd like to get into some type of communication related field. You know, advertising/PR/Media.

But while I look for a new job, I may going back to Apple.

[bartleby]

Gut it out, mang. You won't be Don Draper-ing nowhere unless you can handle a little 9-9 classes + studying. We are in this grind together.

[kahechsof]

I was feeling a bit down at this point in the semester last year. Then I aced the first semester exams.