. Forum

[warandpeace]

.

[gov]

To be honest, minors are not that big of a deal. At my UG, it wasn't even posted on your transcript. If you can get an internship that isn't too taxing, that may give you a better chance to study for the LSAT.

eta: maybe I read this wrong...

Also agree with goose...there is not any rush...

[fathergoose]

So today I was checking my college audit and I realized that I actually only have 39 units of coursework left. This translates to 13 classes for me. I'm an English major at a cal state, and I'm in my "sophmore" year. I'm 20 on Sunday. I wasn't planning on graduating until 2 years from now, when I'm 22, however, I'm kind of in a dilemma.

This is how I see it: I have 13 classes left, so even if I took 5 classes this fall and 5 classes next spring (what was going to be my junior year), I'll only have finished 10 classes. I would have to stay in school for the next fall to complete the last 3 classes.

I have 2 options (if anyone thinks I have a 3rd or 4th option, please share):
1. Stay in school and get a minor in Political Science (only 18 units!! = 6 classes!)
2. Graduate next Spring (by finishing 3 courses this summer, too) and spend all of the rest of next year studying for the LSAT, taking the LSAT, and applying that year by October/November.

My mom would like me to do the 2nd option (I asked her what I would do for the rest of fall after applications/spring waiting, and she said get an internship or write) and I have a feeling my dad will lean towards me getting a minor. I feel like getting a minor is the safer choice, and I feel like getting a minor would be more advantageous than getting internship experience.

*note: the reason why I don't want to take advantage of the "graduating a year early" deal, is due to the fact that if I apply THIS cycle, I'll have to take 3 summer courses and study LSAT and TAKE LSAT all in this year, as well as apply and not have the 10 classes count towards my gpa, which is what I was counting on previously.

I hope I make sense, and I know it's a lot to read, so I truly appreciate the time that you guys take in responding. I appreciate all thoughts/ideas/criticism. I'd really like to know what process would be more beneficial overall. Thanks!

I wouldn't graduate early. It's not worth it in my mind. Take the full four years, make sure you get good grades, and enjoy your free time. Pick up a hobby or something. Law school will still be there.

[bhan87]

So today I was checking my college audit and I realized that I actually only have 39 units of coursework left. This translates to 13 classes for me. I'm an English major at a cal state, and I'm in my "sophmore" year. I'm 20 on Sunday. I wasn't planning on graduating until 2 years from now, when I'm 22, however, I'm kind of in a dilemma.

This is how I see it: I have 13 classes left, so even if I took 5 classes this fall and 5 classes next spring (what was going to be my junior year), I'll only have finished 10 classes. I would have to stay in school for the next fall to complete the last 3 classes.

I have 2 options (if anyone thinks I have a 3rd or 4th option, please share):
1. Stay in school and get a minor in Political Science (only 18 units!! = 6 classes!)
2. Graduate next Spring (by finishing 3 courses this summer, too) and spend all of the rest of next year studying for the LSAT, taking the LSAT, and applying that year by October/November.

My mom would like me to do the 2nd option (I asked her what I would do for the rest of fall after applications/spring waiting, and she said get an internship or write) and I have a feeling my dad will lean towards me getting a minor. I feel like getting a minor is the safer choice, and I feel like getting a minor would be more advantageous than getting internship experience.

*note: the reason why I don't want to take advantage of the "graduating a year early" deal, is due to the fact that if I apply THIS cycle, I'll have to take 3 summer courses and study LSAT and TAKE LSAT all in this year, as well as apply and not have the 10 classes count towards my gpa, which is what I was counting on previously.

I hope I make sense, and I know it's a lot to read, so I truly appreciate the time that you guys take in responding. I appreciate all thoughts/ideas/criticism. I'd really like to know what process would be more beneficial overall. Thanks!

This really depends on what your GPA is right now. Do you have a 3.8+?

If yes: GRADUATE ASAP AND DON'T DAMAGE THAT GPA! (unless graduating early involves overloading on classes, in which case you should take your time to avoid Bs)

If 3.6-3.8: It depends on where you're aiming to go, but taking the extra time to raise your GPA maybe worth it

If below 3.6: Better try to raise it as much as possible if you have T-14 aspirations

[mebo28]

Internships are worth a lot more than any minor imo.

[warandpeace]

I wouldn't graduate early. It's not worth it in my mind. Take the full four years, make sure you get good grades, and enjoy your free time. Pick up a hobby or something. Law school will still be there.[/quote]


I agree with you wholeheartedly, but when you say take the full four years, does this mean get a minor or just take less classes and continue with just my major...?

[SemperLegal]

So today I was checking my college audit and I realized that I actually only have 39 units of coursework left. This translates to 13 classes for me. I'm an English major at a cal state, and I'm in my "sophmore" year. I'm 20 on Sunday. I wasn't planning on graduating until 2 years from now, when I'm 22, however, I'm kind of in a dilemma.

This is how I see it: I have 13 classes left, so even if I took 5 classes this fall and 5 classes next spring (what was going to be my junior year), I'll only have finished 10 classes. I would have to stay in school for the next fall to complete the last 3 classes.

I have 2 options (if anyone thinks I have a 3rd or 4th option, please share):
1. Stay in school and get a minor in Political Science (only 18 units!! = 6 classes!)
2. Graduate next Spring (by finishing 3 courses this summer, too) and spend all of the rest of next year studying for the LSAT, taking the LSAT, and applying that year by October/November.

My mom would like me to do the 2nd option (I asked her what I would do for the rest of fall after applications/spring waiting, and she said get an internship or write) and I have a feeling my dad will lean towards me getting a minor. I feel like getting a minor is the safer choice, and I feel like getting a minor would be more advantageous than getting internship experience.

*note: the reason why I don't want to take advantage of the "graduating a year early" deal, is due to the fact that if I apply THIS cycle, I'll have to take 3 summer courses and study LSAT and TAKE LSAT all in this year, as well as apply and not have the 10 classes count towards my gpa, which is what I was counting on previously.

I hope I make sense, and I know it's a lot to read, so I truly appreciate the time that you guys take in responding. I appreciate all thoughts/ideas/criticism. I'd really like to know what process would be more beneficial overall. Thanks!

Graduate early, save yourself the useless minor, the debt (or the loss of goodwill to your 'rents), take a year off, earn some money in the real world, and then start law school the same time you would have if you graduated in four years.

Theres no rush, the economy is not going to get worse. If it does then I suggest not going to law school at all and instead buying a gun. The year off will give you some cash, something interesting to talk about to employers, and maturity (not to be insulting, but believe me college life:the real world :: the "AA" baseball: MLB).


ETA: Assuming you can graduate without damaging your GPA or self.

[warandpeace]

To be honest, minors are not that big of a deal. At my UG, it wasn't even posted on your transcript. If you can get an internship that isn't too taxing, that may give you a better chance to study for the LSAT.

eta: maybe I read this wrong...

Also agree with goose...there is not any rush...

What was your undergrad? Your law school apps had your minor though, right?

And if did do that and get an internship, I'd get it in the spring of 2012, not fall 2011.

[gov]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but when you say take the full four years, does this mean get a minor or just take less classes and continue with just my major...?

If you are going to stay all four years do what interests you. If you want to get a minor and don't mind taking 15hrs, then do it. But if you think just taking 4 classes will give you a leg up on studying for the LSAT, that could be beneficial. They will not care about a minor, just the GPA. But if you want to, then go for it!

[warandpeace]

So today I was checking my college audit and I realized that I actually only have 39 units of coursework left. This translates to 13 classes for me. I'm an English major at a cal state, and I'm in my "sophmore" year. I'm 20 on Sunday. I wasn't planning on graduating until 2 years from now, when I'm 22, however, I'm kind of in a dilemma.

This is how I see it: I have 13 classes left, so even if I took 5 classes this fall and 5 classes next spring (what was going to be my junior year), I'll only have finished 10 classes. I would have to stay in school for the next fall to complete the last 3 classes.

I have 2 options (if anyone thinks I have a 3rd or 4th option, please share):
1. Stay in school and get a minor in Political Science (only 18 units!! = 6 classes!)
2. Graduate next Spring (by finishing 3 courses this summer, too) and spend all of the rest of next year studying for the LSAT, taking the LSAT, and applying that year by October/November.

My mom would like me to do the 2nd option (I asked her what I would do for the rest of fall after applications/spring waiting, and she said get an internship or write) and I have a feeling my dad will lean towards me getting a minor. I feel like getting a minor is the safer choice, and I feel like getting a minor would be more advantageous than getting internship experience.

*note: the reason why I don't want to take advantage of the "graduating a year early" deal, is due to the fact that if I apply THIS cycle, I'll have to take 3 summer courses and study LSAT and TAKE LSAT all in this year, as well as apply and not have the 10 classes count towards my gpa, which is what I was counting on previously.

I hope I make sense, and I know it's a lot to read, so I truly appreciate the time that you guys take in responding. I appreciate all thoughts/ideas/criticism. I'd really like to know what process would be more beneficial overall. Thanks!

This really depends on what your GPA is right now. Do you have a 3.8+?

If yes: GRADUATE ASAP AND DON'T DAMAGE THAT GPA! (unless graduating early involves overloading on classes, in which case you should take your time to avoid Bs)

If 3.6-3.8: It depends on where you're aiming to go, but taking the extra time to raise your GPA maybe worth it

If below 3.6: Better try to raise it as much as possible if you have T-14 aspirations

I absolutely do not have anything close to those gpas, shamefully. But my point is that with this route, I'd be applying NEXT cycle (next fall), where my full gpa will count, rather than if I were to apply this cycle. Right now I have a 3.2 and I'm around a 3.8 this semester. I'm aiming for 4.0s every semester, and I hope to have a 3.66 by the time I'm done. I'm really counting on my LSAT studying to pull me around a 175 and get into somewhere like Michigan.

[gov]

I absolutely do not have anything close to those gpas, shamefully. But my point is that with this route, I'd be applying NEXT cycle (next fall), where my full gpa will count, rather than if I were to apply this cycle. Right now I have a 3.2 and I'm around a 3.8 this semester. I'm aiming for 4.0s every semester, and I hope to have a 3.66 by the time I'm done. I'm really counting on my LSAT studying to pull me around a 175 and get into somewhere like Michigan.

In this case take the 12 hrs, get a 4.0 and study your butt off.

[firemed]

Get GPA up by staying in school.

[bhan87]

I absolutely do not have anything close to those gpas, shamefully. But my point is that with this route, I'd be applying NEXT cycle (next fall), where my full gpa will count, rather than if I were to apply this cycle. Right now I have a 3.2 and I'm around a 3.8 this semester. I'm aiming for 4.0s every semester, and I hope to have a 3.66 by the time I'm done. I'm really counting on my LSAT studying to pull me around a 175 and get into somewhere like Michigan.

In this case take the 12 hrs, get a 4.0 and study your butt off.

I agree with this. Take your sweet time in school and try to raise it as much as possible. If you hit 3.6+ when you graduate, you can still break into the T-14 with a killer LSAT score. Also consider taking some summer courses at a community college to pad your GPA as much as possible

[SemperLegal]

I don't think believe taking less credits is going to mean that you do any better, humanities are really not that time intensive. In my experience, what matters in the level of seriousness and concentration.

If you are a hard science major who needs to take more science classes than maybe space it out more. Otherwise (wo)man up, work slightly harder, and save yourself a few thousand dollars.

[gov]

I don't think believe taking less credits is going to mean that you do any better, humanities are really not that time intensive. In my experience, what matters in the level of seriousness and concentration.

If you are a hard science major who needs to take more science classes than maybe space it out more. Otherwise (wo)man up, work slightly harder, and save yourself a few thousand dollars.

Valid points. However, it might be good to just stay in school for the extra two years. I know I had the opp. to graduate early and I am glad I did not.

[warandpeace]

I absolutely do not have anything close to those gpas, shamefully. But my point is that with this route, I'd be applying NEXT cycle (next fall), where my full gpa will count, rather than if I were to apply this cycle. Right now I have a 3.2 and I'm around a 3.8 this semester. I'm aiming for 4.0s every semester, and I hope to have a 3.66 by the time I'm done. I'm really counting on my LSAT studying to pull me around a 175 and get into somewhere like Michigan.

In this case take the 12 hrs, get a 4.0 and study your butt off.

I agree with this. Take your sweet time in school and try to raise it as much as possible. If you hit 3.6+ when you graduate, you can still break into the T-14 with a killer LSAT score. Also consider taking some summer courses at a community college to pad your GPA as much as possible

I'm afraid I don't know what the 12 hrs means? sorry guys :/

[warandpeace]

I don't think believe taking less credits is going to mean that you do any better, humanities are really not that time intensive. In my experience, what matters in the level of seriousness and concentration.

If you are a hard science major who needs to take more science classes than maybe space it out more. Otherwise (wo)man up, work slightly harder, and save yourself a few thousand dollars.

i like your point..i think i'll take 4 classes over summer and get my degree by next spring. late may -end of sept i'll study lsat, oct i'll take my lsat test. that'll give enough time for sending in my applications, right?

[firemed]

i like your point..i think i'll take 4 classes over summer and get my degree by next spring. late may -end of sept i'll study lsat, oct i'll take my lsat test. that'll give enough time for sending in my applications, right?

Yes. Start working on your applications in between studying, then finish them while waiting for score and send them off the day you get your lsat score. Unless you get a score you don't like, and then send off the ones that agree to hold for your new score, keep the rest, and retake in December.

[Curry]

I'm graduating early. You have to look into the effect its going to have on your GPA. Thats the absolute biggest consideration.

For example, if you are applying in September and have the option of graduating the June before, or the June after, I would say, simply because your grades after september don't matter nearly as much, that it might be worth graduating early and saving your money. If you going to apply later in the cycle, things get more complicated. You have to weigh the money vs the potential LOCI with a GPA increase. I decided, for me, the $25,000 wasn't worth a LOCI saying my GPA went up from a 3.65 to a 3.68. Others will disagree. You have to see whats right for you.

[bloobook]

.

[warandpeace]

i like your point..i think i'll take 4 classes over summer and get my degree by next spring. late may -end of sept i'll study lsat, oct i'll take my lsat test. that'll give enough time for sending in my applications, right?

Yes. Start working on your applications in between studying, then finish them while waiting for score and send them off the day you get your lsat score. Unless you get a score you don't like, and then send off the ones that agree to hold for your new score, keep the rest, and retake in December.

sending a score in late won't affect my chances at schools? i think i'm most scared of having to retake.

[warandpeace]

I'm graduating early. You have to look into the effect its going to have on your GPA. Thats the absolute biggest consideration.

For example, if you are applying in September and have the option of graduating the June before, or the June after, I would say, simply because your grades after september don't matter nearly as much, that it might be worth graduating early and saving your money. If you going to apply later in the cycle, things get more complicated. You have to weigh the money vs the potential LOCI with a GPA increase. I decided, for me, the $25,000 wasn't worth a LOCI saying my GPA went up from a 3.65 to a 3.68. Others will disagree. You have to see whats right for you.

this is what i was thinking, thank you!

[warandpeace]

I'd go with option 2. I know a lot of people (myself included) that wish they could have had more time to study for the LSAT.

i think this is going to be the main reason for my decision, thank you!

[cinephile]

I'd go with option 2 as well. You save yourself and your family the expense of a fourth year. You get the chance to have valuable work experience (I would take an actual job over an internship if possible -- maybe even become a paralegal for a couple of years to make sure this is the right field for you). You can save some $$ for law school, spend your free time studying for the LSAT, and some schools will really look favorably on work experience (and some practically require it).

A minor doesn't make a difference.

[firemed]

I'd go with option 2 as well. You save yourself and your family the expense of a fourth year. You get the chance to have valuable work experience (I would take an actual job over an internship if possible -- maybe even become a paralegal for a couple of years to make sure this is the right field for you). You can save some $$ for law school, spend your free time studying for the LSAT, and some schools will really look favorably on work experience (and some practically require it).

A minor doesn't make a difference.

OP has a 3.2 right now. We have no idea what he/she will get on the LSAT. There is no guarantee either that OP will pull their GPA up to the predicted 3.6.

Do you really think it is worth it? to take the year off?

My initial advice was like yours until I saw the GPA.