Pretty Sure I'm Dropping Out/Quick Question Forum

[Renzo]

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.

I was going to suggest you start looking for work now, and drop out A) when you find something, or B) you finish the semester, whichever comes first.

[dixiecupdrinking]

General rule: If the only people not in favor of your decision are the ones who think it's an inevitable discovery that "life sucks," well, it sounds like you've made the right decision.

[IAFG]

General rule: If the only people not in favor of your decision are the ones who think it's an inevitable discovery that "life sucks," well, it sounds like you've made the right decision.

oh no, i support dropping out completely, i just wanted to note that life's suckage is inevitable

[c3pO4]

I don't think you can know whether you will like the practice of law based on a few months of 1L. Apples and oranges.

Drop out only if you know there's something else you want to do that you actually can do, like if you had a previous career. If you are just a strait from undergrad person, you gotta stick it out. This is related to the other point made ITT, which is that your concerns raise a red flag of not appreciating that most people aren't "fulfilled" by their career. Likely whatever entry level shitsales/marketing job you will make you just as miserable as law school does now (in fact, probably worse and you will wish for the days when you could be bored in class).

If you get bad grades, or go to a TTT where your chances of paying back loans are slim, that's another story.

But "I'm unhappy at school" is not a reason drop out.

I absolutely fucking hate school. Can't stand it. Every single day is a struggle to go to class and pay attention. However, I work part time at a firm and loved the work I did last summer and it's awesome. Many people aren't "school people" but do much better when they are working towards a team goal or something in a non-school environment.

I'm all for dropping out. Some of my best friends have done it and gone back to consulting careers and make bank and are happier for it. But your reasons all suck. Sack up.

[the11111111]

I know a lot of people that feel just the way you feel I would say stick it out... see how you do and you might be surprised. Good grades or even mediocre grades may change your perspective.. not to mention you will have a christmas break to sit down and truly figure out what your best option is and where your heart is.

1l year seems to be made to make you question why you're in law school and if you're cut out for that grinding job that comes your way if decide to go the BigLaw way... but maybe thats not what you're looking for, there are plenty of other jobs that make it much easier to settle down and seem much more fun. Remember that there is a lot of ppl that feel the way you do, but you need to stick it out.

Lastly, have fun with law school... understand that it doesn't matter, stop pushing yourself to compete with the rest of the class, if you're going to leave F the grades and see what happens. Say stupid stuff in class, only study so many hours in the day, watch movies, make sure you workout, and have fun. Its kinda like peer pressure in school when you think everyone is doing something and they really aren't, not everyone is studying all hours of the day and even the ones that think they are might not really be as productive as you think.... Time to make it fun, suck it up, and get back in the game... lol Sorry felt like a coach for a second.

[de5igual]

one other thing to consider:

if you drop out before final exams, you can always tell people during interviews that you didn't like law school

if you drop after grades come back, people assume you failed out or simply couldn't cut it

[jess]

.

[maxm2764]

Than for the input everyone, I really appreciate it.

Here's what it boils down to, for me at least. I go to a crappy school with half-tuiton scholarship that is contingent on me begin in the top 1/3 of my class. I find the law boring and it isn't worth 70k for me to suck it up and plug through three years of this shit. Even if I stayed for a year but for some reason lost my scholarship, I would drop out immediately. The realities of that shitty scenario make my decision a lot easier.

I'm not afraid of the work, I can definitely work hard. I think I've been fighting this feeling for a reason, and I'm not willing to push everything else in my life to the side for some career that I honestly don't think is right for me. I always used to be really motivated by the prospect of good grades because I was truly interested in what I was doing. Now, the grades just seem meaningless and I feel like there's nothing to work for, even with the economy/shitty TTTT/scholarship contingencies. It just sort of adds up to me.

I'll probably stick it out until the end of the semester, but I definitely think I'll lighten my mood a little bit and try to have a little fun with it. Who knows, my grades may be better for it.

[maxm2764]

I was going to suggest you start looking for work now, and drop out A) when you find something, or B) you finish the semester, whichever comes first.

I think this is probably TCR.

[sunynp]

If you hate what you are doing why stay? The only thing that makes me wonder is the thread title where you say "pretty sure.". If you are certain, why would you bother to take finals? What a waste of effort and energy that would be. If you are not certain, then you had better do your best on your finals . But if you know in your heart that law school isn't for you, then leave and don't look back.

[c3pO4]

I go to a crappy school

In this case, I'd say drop out. You'll be better off than 95% of your classmates because you sniffed the scam out before it was ttto late.

You'll just have to hustle like crazy to get an entry level job somewhere.

[romothesavior]

I'd drop now. Sorry to hear it OP, good luck to you.

[maxm2764]

I'd drop now. Sorry to hear it OP, good luck to you.

Thanks Romo, you've been a big help through all this crap.

[Borhas]

go back to Apple, work your way up to middle management

live for the weekends, savor the little things, have fun w/ your co-workers, get married, love your partner, have kids, raise them well, retire, travel a little, and then dissolve into oblivion/the next life

it's not so bad, really

[MTal]

I'm MTal and I approve of the OP's message.

[SchopenhauerFTW]

I'm MTal and I approve of the OP's message.

lol of course.

[Extension_Cord]

Don't drop out, bro. Take it from someone who did undergrad and took 2 years off to work (internationally and in America) you will feel even more useless working a 9-5 office job. You will watch your friends go along with their graduate undertakings and you will feel like you blew it. Its tough, but if you drop out now before finals you are making a really big mistake. Take your finals, if you lose your scholly, then consider dropping out. Theres a reason you decided to go to law school, dont doubt yourself now.

Maybe even transfer out to a state school.

[c3pO4]

Don't drop out, bro. Take it from someone who did undergrad and took 2 years off to work (internationally and in America) you will feel even more useless working a 9-5 office job. You will watch your friends go along with their graduate undertakings and you will feel like you blew it. Its tough, but if you drop out now before finals you are making a really big mistake. Take your finals, if you lose your scholly, then consider dropping out. Theres a reason you decided to go to law school, dont doubt yourself now.

Maybe even transfer out to a state school.

The dude goes to a crappy law school. His friends will be unemployeds and he will be lol and relieved that he pulled the plug. "Graduate undertakings" is boomer propaganda.

[romothesavior]

Don't drop out, bro. Take it from someone who did undergrad and took 2 years off to work (internationally and in America) you will feel even more useless working a 9-5 office job. You will watch your friends go along with their graduate undertakings and you will feel like you blew it. Its tough, but if you drop out now before finals you are making a really big mistake. Take your finals, if you lose your scholly, then consider dropping out. Theres a reason you decided to go to law school, dont doubt yourself now.

Maybe even transfer out to a state school.

Stupid advice is stupid.

[top30man]

Stupid advice is stupid.

+1.

[SchopenhauerFTW]

you will feel even more useless working a 9-5 office job.

I'm not so sure about that. Stability and no debt? Sounds rad.

Edit: Although you will feel useless when that 9-5 job is at a law school. Kind of hard watching hardcore strivers kick ass while you're making photocopies for the international moot court competition. My life is awesome.

[MTal]

go back to Apple, work your way up to middle management

live for the weekends, savor the little things, have fun w/ your co-workers, get married, love your partner, have kids, raise them well, retire, travel a little, and then dissolve into oblivion/the next life

it's not so bad, really

Also, support Israel.

[goosey]

while I can sympathize with not feeling this is the right place for you...and def smart thinking when it comes to job prospects out of a crappy school/graduating with debt, but....I feel like you are missing the big picture in terms of future prospects. do any jobs even exist right now in the field you are trying to go into? bachelors degrees are virtually worthless. is working at apple for 10.75/hr or whatever they pay actually "inspiring" in any way, shape, or form? being unemployed without debt is surely better than being unemployed WITH debt, but this is precisely why I feel that your attitude is all wrong. the only two options arent grad from a tttt with 70k in debt and o job, or sit around hoping for jobs that dont even exist and work at the apple store in the meantime. you could just work super hard, get awesome grades and transfer. before people scoff at that, I know everyone likes to say that working hard does not equal good grades. I am sure there is some .01% truth to that--some people just do not naturally have it in them to "think" like a lawyer. but even THOSE people can train themselves to by taking a gazillion tests and comparing them to A answers, reading answers in E&E's, etc--point being, you can work yourself to good grades. and naturally, when we feel we are good at something, it makes us like it more.

I know the feel good answer is to say oh yeah, drop out. but really, unless you plan on getting another graduate degree, it would be extremely immature. if you get crappy grades, drop out...and go get another grad degree. but seriously...stop looking to be inspired and fulfilled. part of being a grown up is just doing what you have to do to earn a living. inspiration and fulfillment is for hobbies, not careers.

[IAFG]

there is NOTHING "mature" about getting a law degree. not a goddamn thing.

[goosey]

there is NOTHING "mature" about getting a law degree. not a goddamn thing.

yes, there isnt. but there is something immature about starting something and dropping out because its not inspiring, with no real respectable job perspectives, and no further plans to get an education that will provide such. a bachelors degree in communication is useless, no offense to OP. if he had something else in mind, like going and getting a useful masters degree that would be a different story. but dropping out to get a job with a bachelors in communications in this economy seems a little unwise.