studying and hobbies Forum

[novium]

This is probably going to sound like a silly question, but it has been something I've been wondering. I often hear that law students have absolutely no free time and are virtually chained to their desks and the idea of doing anything but studying is absolutely laughable. However, I've done a masters degree (*NOT* an MBA) and that is pretty much exactly what they said about grad school. There was some truth to it, in that it was nowhere near as carefree as undergraduate, but mostly it was greatly exaggerated. There was time (though not a lot) to sneak in hobbies, sports, and other activities outside of academic pursuits.

So I guess what I'm asking is if law school is really as dire as it sounds in that respect, or if it's the usual complaint of former undergrads.

(As to what prompted this, my local ski resort has a $200 student season pass. Ordinary lift tickets are $75. I was wondering if it was absurd to think that I might be able to sneak in 4 or 5 days of skiing in the 6 months they are open, and that lead me to the grad school comparison...)

[glitter178]

from what i've gathered from talking to students, going to the law days and reading this site, how much free time you have is going to vary a lot from student to student, except during the last month or so before exams, where everyone is pretty equally feeling the time suck. some people on here at least *claim* to have gotten drunk 2-3 times/ week during 1L, while others come off as if they sleep and eat in the law library and bathe in the library bathroom.

[071816]

This is probably going to sound like a silly question, but it has been something I've been wondering. I often hear that law students have absolutely no free time and are virtually chained to their desks and the idea of doing anything but studying is absolutely laughable. However, I've done a masters degree (*NOT* an MBA) and that is pretty much exactly what they said about grad school. There was some truth to it, in that it was nowhere near as carefree as undergraduate, but mostly it was greatly exaggerated. There was time (though not a lot) to sneak in hobbies, sports, and other activities outside of academic pursuits.

So I guess what I'm asking is if law school is really as dire as it sounds in that respect, or if it's the usual complaint of former undergrads.

(As to what prompted this, my local ski resort has a $200 student season pass. Ordinary lift tickets are $75. I was wondering if it was absurd to think that I might be able to sneak in 4 or 5 days of skiing in the 6 months they are open, and that lead me to the grad school comparison...)

I'm a 0L, but that sounds like a hyperbole if I've ever heard one.

[Moxie]

Law school workload is overly-exaggerated, although I wouldn't recommend skipping days of class to go skiing (of course, you can do it on the weekend if you rearrange your schedule)

Every law student I know has a healthy social life, and until finals stress isn't too high.

A current 1/2L myself, who had similar worries a year ago.

[DoubleChecks]

This is probably going to sound like a silly question, but it has been something I've been wondering. I often hear that law students have absolutely no free time and are virtually chained to their desks and the idea of doing anything but studying is absolutely laughable. However, I've done a masters degree (*NOT* an MBA) and that is pretty much exactly what they said about grad school. There was some truth to it, in that it was nowhere near as carefree as undergraduate, but mostly it was greatly exaggerated. There was time (though not a lot) to sneak in hobbies, sports, and other activities outside of academic pursuits.

So I guess what I'm asking is if law school is really as dire as it sounds in that respect, or if it's the usual complaint of former undergrads.

(As to what prompted this, my local ski resort has a $200 student season pass. Ordinary lift tickets are $75. I was wondering if it was absurd to think that I might be able to sneak in 4 or 5 days of skiing in the 6 months they are open, and that lead me to the grad school comparison...)

obviously i can only speak for myself, so there will be those that agree with me and those that disagree. i found the bolded to be true for 1L yr at law school. my weekdays were like work days, kinda a 9 to 7 thing going on (7-8 dinner)

[zanda]

Tons of time for the first 2 months or so. Even the last month isn't terrible.

[BackToTheOldHouse]

To add to the OP's question and to throw something on the table that I've been contemplating the last couple weeks--would it be completely stupid to attempt to play on a club sports team? I'm not talking about frisby golf out on the lawn during lunch, I'm talking more about a competitive club sports team that has regularly scheduled practices and both in-town and out-of-town (even out-of-state) games. I think I remember one of Notre Dame's football players being from their law school, which got me thinking that being involved with a sports team would be doable. The sports team I'm looking into has practices late at night, which seems like it could work into a law school schedule.

I know playing on a club sports team is not the same as playing for ND's football team, but I'm even thinking of just practicing with the team for the first year, then maybe committing to play in in-town only games in years two and three.

Bad idea, right?

[glitter178]

To add to the OP's question and to throw something on the table that I've been contemplating the last couple weeks--would it be completely stupid to attempt to play on a club sports team? I'm not talking about frisby golf out on the lawn during lunch, I'm talking more about a competitive club sports team that has regularly scheduled practices and both in-town and out-of-town (even out-of-state) games. I think I remember one of Notre Dame's football players being from their law school, which got me thinking that being involved with a sports team would be doable. The sports team I'm looking into has practices late at night, which seems like it could work into a law school schedule.

I know playing on a club sports team is not the same as playing for ND's football team, but I'm even thinking of just practicing with the team for the first year, then maybe committing to play in in-town only games in years two and three.

Bad idea, right?

at usc's law day one of the 2 L's said that he played on several intermural sports teams throughout 1 L and that for him, he thinks it helped his performance b/c it was an "outlet" that he needed to forget about law school. he didn't seem to have trouble balancing the two.

[DoubleChecks]

To add to the OP's question and to throw something on the table that I've been contemplating the last couple weeks--would it be completely stupid to attempt to play on a club sports team? I'm not talking about frisby golf out on the lawn during lunch, I'm talking more about a competitive club sports team that has regularly scheduled practices and both in-town and out-of-town (even out-of-state) games. I think I remember one of Notre Dame's football players being from their law school, which got me thinking that being involved with a sports team would be doable. The sports team I'm looking into has practices late at night, which seems like it could work into a law school schedule.

I know playing on a club sports team is not the same as playing for ND's football team, but I'm even thinking of just practicing with the team for the first year, then maybe committing to play in in-town only games in years two and three.

Bad idea, right?

only in-town games? 2L and 3L yrs? night-time practices? iunno, it doesnt sound too bad to me, esp if it is lower commitment -- if work gets to be too much, have to know when to drop it for law school, which is numero uno priority

[Cupidity]

I study 2 hours per day max outside of class and legal writing. Law school is only a full time job during reading period. Don't stress.

[novium]

obviously i can only speak for myself, so there will be those that agree with me and those that disagree. i found the bolded to be true for 1L yr at law school. my weekdays were like work days, kinda a 9 to 7 thing going on (7-8 dinner)

That sounds pretty fine to me- I mean, I'm currently employed in a job where I frequently work very late, but I still have a life. Well, mostly.

[BackToTheOldHouse]

Thanks for the responses. To add, I'm not even sure if the team I'm thinking about would allow a partial commitment, but in my mind that would be the only way I could participate. Law school performance is definitely my number one priority, and I would only join a team like this if I thought it was going to somehow enrich (without endangering) my three years back in school.

I guess I'll talk more with the team to see how big the commitment would be, then make a decision from there. But from the sounds of the few people chiming in here, something like this could work.