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With grades coming in soon I was considering what would happen if I miraculously got a 4.0, and I was thinking if that happened I would probably take a few steps to improve my standard of living at the cost of taking out more loans. Obviously this is a bit risky, as it far from guarantees a prestigious job post-graduation, but I think your odds after a 4.0 first semester would be good enough to bet against. What do you guys think? Generally this is probably more pertinent to people who wouldn't self-identify as wealthy, but a wider perspective would probably be interesting.

BluePurgatory wrote:With grades coming in soon I was considering what would happen if I miraculously got a 4.0, and I was thinking if that happened I would probably take a few steps to improve my standard of living at the cost of taking out more loans. Obviously this is a bit risky, as it far from guarantees a prestigious job post-graduation, but I think your odds after a 4.0 first semester would be good enough to bet against. What do you guys think? Generally this is probably more pertinent to people who wouldn't self-identify as wealthy, but a wider perspective would probably be interesting.

No. Borrow the least amount possible. You don't have a job yet and when you do have a job you will want to spend the least amount of time possible repaying. The TCR is to get a scholarship or transfer or threaten to transfer if you dont obtain a scholarship.

That said, it is highly unlikely you will get a 4.0 anyway.

And a 4.0 doesn't guarantee you a job anywhere. It just gets you in the door of the interview room for a 2L SA, which you then have to convert into a job.

Ahh, to be a 1L again. There is a magic time before you get your first round of grades when the world is still potentially your oyster.

Then you rock that 3.1, and all the sudden law review and a supreme court clerkship are out the window.

Savor it while you can.


That said - in the same way that going to hys may make you more comfortable with taking out a bit more money than you otherwise would, so should getting a 4.0.

NYstate wrote:

BluePurgatory wrote:With grades coming in soon I was considering what would happen if I miraculously got a 4.0, and I was thinking if that happened I would probably take a few steps to improve my standard of living at the cost of taking out more loans. Obviously this is a bit risky, as it far from guarantees a prestigious job post-graduation, but I think your odds after a 4.0 first semester would be good enough to bet against. What do you guys think? Generally this is probably more pertinent to people who wouldn't self-identify as wealthy, but a wider perspective would probably be interesting.

No. Borrow the least amount possible. You don't have a job yet and when you do have a job you will want to spend the least amount of time possible repaying. The TCR is to get a scholarship or transfer or threaten to transfer if you dont obtain a scholarship.

That said, it is highly unlikely you will get a 4.0 anyway.

And a 4.0 doesn't guarantee you a job anywhere. It just gets you in the door of the interview room for a 2L SA, which you then have to convert into a job.

Of course it doesn't guarantee a job. The piece about the 2L SA - it really depends on where you got your 4.0.

ETA: there are lots of other considerations, of course.

Are you planning on biglaw? Does your school have good safety nets for you (e.g. LRAP)?

You are still a person during law school. You can choose to balance debt aversion against enjoying yourself a bit. Staying within reason, your time in law school may well be the most free time you get in the next half century - so you might choose to enjoy yourself a bit.

BluePurgatory wrote:With grades coming in soon I was considering what would happen if I miraculously got a 4.0, and I was thinking if that happened I would probably take a few steps to improve my standard of living at the cost of taking out more loans. Obviously this is a bit risky, as it far from guarantees a prestigious job post-graduation, but I think your odds after a 4.0 first semester would be good enough to bet against. What do you guys think? Generally this is probably more pertinent to people who wouldn't self-identify as wealthy, but a wider perspective would probably be interesting.

Shit I did that with top 20% grades after first semester. Took out like 2k more loans and had a great time spring semester. Don't regret it.

Nah, it would probably make me try even harder to maintain it second semester though so I guess that is a lifestyle change.

.

are we taking bets yet on what OP's actual gpa ends up being?

If you get a 4.0, you will complain that you didn't get more A+'s. Nothing is ever enough for a law student.

.

No, I definitely wouldn't. I'm not in law school yet, but I've been down graduating with a 4.0 route and found it's no gaurentee of a high paying job. Plus unforseen circumstances following semesters can take a 4.0 and drag it quickly into the gutter. I'd be happy as hell (alright I'd probably take a party night off ), but it means you've found a successful formula and should continue with it.

Danger Zone wrote:If you get a 4.0, you will complain that you didn't get more A+'s. Nothing is ever enough for a law student.

So true. I have been chasing that A+ dragon.

DZ is credited here. Youll find something else to hate about yourself.

Dearly, your friend,

stillMFwater

This also counts if from some quirk of luck you get a 3.91 but end up #1 anyways because no one straight 4.0'd

Danger Zone wrote:If you get a 4.0, you will complain that you didn't get more A+'s. Nothing is ever enough for a law student.

This is SO true.

Danger Zone wrote:If you get a 4.0, you will complain that you didn't get more A+'s. Nothing is ever enough for a law student.

brotherdarkness wrote:Unfortunately, this is true.

UnderrateOverachieve wrote: So true. I have been chasing that A+ dragon.

rambleon65 wrote: This is SO true.

Wow, this post was a douche magnet

My bad for providing an accurate insight into the law student mentality?

Danger Zone wrote:My bad for providing an accurate insight into the law student mentality?

I meant that your post was a douche magnet, not that you were a douche, if that was unclear

Oh, gotcha. Thought you meant the OP was the magnet.