Seeking advice for a modern day Don Quixote Forum

[MistakenGenius]

Post removed.

[AdviceForFriend]

Also, I agree, you strike me as a patronizing asshole in this thread.

I'm genuinely sorry. I hope I haven't been patronizing to anyone I've replied to in this thread. I've just been incredibly frustrated with the individual who is the subject of this thread. I admit that I've been a patronizing asshole in some of my descriptions of him.

[neprep]

Wait, if he really is like a brick wall, then why would the arguments you find here persuade him out of his decision?

Anyway, I don't think the immigration attorney angle is a great idea: You said yourself he wants to move back to Pakistan, so how would it matter what his prospects for continuing in the US are, however dim? Also depending on his LSAT score, T14 is definitely a possibility (and this applies universally), and then so the whole work visa/sponsorship angle. If he doesn't get the T14, and he is indeed after the prestige of it all, then in any case I don't see such a prestige-obsessed person going to a school below the T14.

[Winston1984]

Wait, if he really is like a brick wall, then why would the arguments you find here persuade him out of his decision?

Anyway, I don't think the immigration attorney angle is a great idea: You said yourself he wants to move back to Pakistan, so how would it matter what his prospects for continuing in the US are, however dim? Also depending on his LSAT score, T14 is definitely a possibility (and this applies universally). If he doesn't get the T14, and he is indeed after the prestige of it all, then in any case I don't see such a prestige-obsessed person going to a school below the T14.

Wouldn't many schools outside the T-14 carry more prestige in Pakistan than some in the T-14? I can't imagine the average person thinking UVA was anything exceptional, but a school like UCLA may have more prestige. I have no idea as far as that examples goes, just throwing that out there.

[AdviceForFriend]

Wait, if he really is like a brick wall, then why would the arguments you find here persuade him out of his decision?

If he hears what I'm saying from someone other than me, he might give it more credence.

You said yourself he wants to move back to Pakistan, so how would it matter what his prospects for continuing in the US are, however dim?

I apologize, I should have been clearer on this point. I've only quoted one of our email exchanges. Sometimes he treats going back to Pakistan as the "worst outcome." At other times, he says that going back is exactly what he plans on doing. In his own words, he doesn't like having "tangible goals." That is the main reason I think a JD is not a wise choice for him. If he doesn't know what he wants to do with it, it may simply end up being a colossal waste of time and money.

[neprep]

Wait, if he really is like a brick wall, then why would the arguments you find here persuade him out of his decision?

If he hears what I'm saying from someone other than me, he might give it more credence.

You said yourself he wants to move back to Pakistan, so how would it matter what his prospects for continuing in the US are, however dim?

I apologize, I should have been clearer on this point. I've only quoted one of our email exchanges. Sometimes he treats going back to Pakistan as the "worst outcome." At other times, he says that going back is exactly what he plans on doing. In his own words, he doesn't like having "tangible goals." That is the main reason I think a JD is not a wise choice for him. If he doesn't know what he wants to do with it, it may simply end up being a colossal waste of time and money.

Say that you appreciate intangible goals in the long run, but in the short term you want to address things practically. Basically just try to drill into his head the t-14orbust mentality, and say it's even more important for him to have the mentality because of the citizenship status.

[AdviceForFriend]

Wouldn't many schools outside the T-14 carry more prestige in Pakistan than some in the T-14?

The "prestige" he is after is based on impressing laypeople, in my opinion. I've been in touch with this individual for more than a year and I'm convinced that he just wants to gloat that he has an American law degree. He's applied to approximately 20 schools, ranging from Vandy to Utah.

Furthermore, I'm quite convinced that the legal community in Pakistan doesn't understand or care about our distinctions between T-14 and T1, etc. I'm pretty sure that a law degree from Utah would carry nearly the same amount of weight (professionally, that is) in Pakistan as a law degree from Cornell.

I'm taking a break from this thread. I appreciate everyone's responses. I may end up deleting this in the near future just so that my friend's personal email isn't floating around the internet in perpetuity. Thanks again, everyone. And I'm sorry I've been a patronizing asshole. Believe me, it was not intentional.