. Forum

[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.

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.

True, the potential GPA increase is important. But I'd still take the year off just in case you don't go into law - it gives you a head start on your future and lowers your undergrad debt (but I'm really debt averse, so maybe it's not the best solution for everyone).

[pixytree]

take the extra time in school to study abroad or do something else that interests you/worth discussing when applying to school.

[zozin]

I graduated in 3 years, I wish I stayed in school, but it wasn't possible financially. Stay in school and raise your GPA.
You could only take 3 classes/semester in your junior year, which should give you more than enough time to study for the LSAT, then take more during senior year.

[warandpeace]

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.

i was originally going to take the same amount of classes and apply in the same cycle - the amount of classes i'm taking doesn't make a difference. it was originally going to be 13 more that would count, and that was that...my senior year wouldn't have counted, naturally. i HAVE to get the 3.6, i know that i have no other option here. i'm at a 3.7 this semester currently, and doing everything i can to raise it.

[warandpeace]

I graduated in 3 years, I wish I stayed in school, but it wasn't possible financially. Stay in school and raise your GPA.
You could only take 3 classes/semester in your junior year, which should give you more than enough time to study for the LSAT, then take more during senior year.

i always take 5 classes each semester, and i want to apply next cycle, no later, so my senior grades won't count anyways

[warandpeace]

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.

is it easy to get a job as a paralegal without prior work exp? i only have one year of work experience.

[Bildungsroman]

Graduate early and get a job. As someone who graduated a year early, I can tell you that it sucks and will bum you out for a while when your friends are preparing for another year and you miss out on a whole year of being 21 in college, but I still think it's the right decision because it saves you money and gets you into the real world faster.

[warandpeace]

Graduate early and get a job. As someone who graduated a year early, I can tell you that it sucks and will bum you out for a while when your friends are preparing for another year and you miss out on a whole year of being 21 in college, but I still think it's the right decision because it saves you money and gets you into the real world faster.

makes sense to me.

[warandpeace]

Depends on your GPA (if it's in the thread: didn't read lol).

luls cumulative 3.2 ...ha. :/

[warandpeace]

Depends on your GPA (if it's in the thread: didn't read lol).

luls cumulative 3.2 ...ha. :/

Then don't graduate early, it's more important to maximize your GPA.

but that would still mean i'd have to apply a year later if i was to count my senior year..if i graduate early, the amount of classes that were going to count for the cycle are the same..

[firemed]

but that would still mean i'd have to apply a year later if i was to count my senior year..if i graduate early, the amount of classes that were going to count for the cycle are the same..

so you'll be what, 23? with a year of WE? That doesn't seem like an issue to me. Life ain't a race (unless you have a terminal disease, in which case why would you bother with LS?).

[dr123]

Just graduate early, sticking around for the hell of it is a gigantic waste of money

[firemed]

Just graduate early, sticking around for the hell of it is a gigantic waste of money

My point was to stick around to raise GPA... not for fun. If OP had a 3.5 or up, probably not worth it. OP doesn't. IMO, worth it to stick around.

[dr123]

Just graduate early, sticking around for the hell of it is a gigantic waste of money

My point was to stick around to raise GPA... not for fun. If OP had a 3.5 or up, probably not worth it. OP doesn't. IMO, worth it to stick around.

college is expensive, I dont think .1 or .2 in GPA is worth the tuition

[firemed]

Just graduate early, sticking around for the hell of it is a gigantic waste of money

My point was to stick around to raise GPA... not for fun. If OP had a 3.5 or up, probably not worth it. OP doesn't. IMO, worth it to stick around.

college is expensive, I dont think .1 or .2 in GPA is worth the tuition

Possibly true. OP you go to a state school or have a scholly? If you (or your parents) are paying sticker, go with the good doctor. If not, I would still vote for me.

[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.

is it easy to get a job as a paralegal without prior work exp? i only have one year of work experience.

I don't know, but there are others on tls who have paralegal work experience, perhaps you could create another topic to ask them.

[pixytree]

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.

is it easy to get a job as a paralegal without prior work exp? i only have one year of work experience.

I don't know, but there are others on tls who have paralegal work experience, perhaps you could create another topic to ask them.

It was easy three years ago when I applied, but things may have changed since the downturn. But I was also in a major city, not sure where you are. FYI GPA matters when you're applying for legal work...any legal work. Whether you're applying direct or going through a recruiter, they will want to know your GPA.

[voice of reason]

Please do not stay in school for an unnecessary 4th year just to get a minor in political science. That's a very low-value credential, definitely not worth a year of tuition. I'm not hating on poli sci. I was a poli sci major. But a minor in that field just isn't worthwhile in this situation.

I think these are your top three options:

1. Graduate early and do a 1 year master's program, perhaps even at the same school where you are now. You get to keep the same friends and social experiences, and perhaps spend about the same amount of money as originally planned, but have an advanced degree at the end of year 4. If you've done the prerequisites, a master's in a hard science would position you nicely to be able to do patent law later. Degrees in statistics and economics are broadly applicable and would make you employable if law school doesn't work out. Otherwise, a program in education or public policy might be open to anyone, and you'd get a lot more out of it than a minor in poli sci.

2. Graduate early, get a job, and revel in how much money you saved by finishing quickly. If you can't get a job, volunteer or get an internship in something that will expose you to the legal field.

3. Delay graduation if you'll be able to raise your undergrad GPA. GPA is hugely important for law school admissions and once you graduate, it's locked for life. This means waiting to apply to law school until after you've finished boosting the GPA.

[warandpeace]

basically i decided to double major in business, so i'm going to be here for 3 more years instead. it'll raise my gpa and i'll have branched out beyond english. the only things i worry about are classes like business calc, but that doesn't last too long.

but yeahh i think i'm just applying in cycle fall 2014.

i'm planning on doing internships during different semesters.

thanks so much everyone for the good advice!

[firemed]

basically i decided to double major in business, so i'm going to be here for 3 more years instead. it'll raise my gpa and i'll have branched out beyond english. the only things i worry about are classes like business calc, but that doesn't last too long.

but yeahh i think i'm just applying in cycle fall 2014.

i'm planning on doing internships during different semesters.

thanks so much everyone for the good advice!

Um.... okaaay.

[warandpeace]

basically i decided to double major in business, so i'm going to be here for 3 more years instead. it'll raise my gpa and i'll have branched out beyond english. the only things i worry about are classes like business calc, but that doesn't last too long.

but yeahh i think i'm just applying in cycle fall 2014.

i'm planning on doing internships during different semesters.

thanks so much everyone for the good advice!

Um.... okaaay.

? i'm not 100% on law school, i need to broaden my degree so that i can be more marketable.

[dr123]

A business degree doesnt make you marketable dude. Youll likely be looking at the same prospects with or without the business degree

[Cupidity]

Graduate early. Even if you are on substantial scholarship, attending college costs money, don't waste time on an extra minor. Either take a year off and relax, bum around, or get a little resume-filler under your belt then apply, or just go straight in.

[warandpeace]

A business degree doesnt make you marketable dude. Youll likely be looking at the same prospects with or without the business degree

could you give me an anecdotal explanation as to why this is? i'm genuinely curious.