Ask 1L Dropout of the Class of 2014 anything. Forum

[jetsetter12]

And I will answer. No I am not ashamed. Went to a law school ranked somewhere between Georgetown and George Washington (14-20).



EDIT: Forgot to mention my LSAT was 165 and GPA 3.56 from a TOP 25 undergrad. In case anyone has "chance me" qs. URM...3rd reserve at Columbia--->Ding as a highlight.

[shoeshine]

Why did you leave?

What were your first semester grades?

How much debt did you have?

LSAT/GPA?

Any scholarships?

What have you said to family/friends about quitting?

[TLS_noobie]

Reasons for dropping out?
Things learned from the experience?

[edit] Woops, scooped by shoeshine

[tedalbany]

What are you doing with your life now, or planning to do (i.e. back in school, working, etc)?

[jetsetter12]

Why did you leave?

What were your first semester grades?

How much debt did you have?

LSAT/GPA?

Any scholarships?

What have you said to family/friends about quitting?

1) Now, as of April 2012, abundant and mutually-confirming articles pointing out the American legal profession has countless problems, namely, a sickening overabundance of Lawyers (both fresh grads and unemployed). This in addition to learning I'm not in love with 80 hr work weeks so I could maybe have a chance to be half way okay career-wise by age 30. Oh, and did I mention tuition money goes to my professors to write crap-filled esoteric nonsense about law such as "Aristotelian Ethics and MisNomers in Contracts" or some such crap.

2) Writing A, Torts A-, Property B, CivPro B, some other B.S. ethics crap class B.

3) Left after first semester. 22 gs

4) Like 8 g in schollys

5) Family was enormously worried about shouldering debt when I had 0, none, zilch after undergrad....so generally happy actually.

[shoeshine]

1) Now, as of April 2012, abundant and mutually-confirming articles pointing out the American legal profession has countless problems, namely, a sickening overabundance of Lawyers (both fresh grads and unemployed). This in addition to learning I'm not in love with 80 hr work weeks so I could maybe have a chance to be half way okay career-wise by age 30. Oh, and did I mention tuition money goes to my professors to write crap-filled esoteric nonsense about law such as "Aristotelian Ethics and MisNomers in Contracts" or some such crap.

LOL.

New question: You mad?

[jetsetter12]

Reasons for dropping out?
Things learned from the experience?

[edit] Woops, scooped by shoeshine

Law Students literally have no personality. During orientation I asked some douche that went to UC Davis if he knew a friend of mine from High School (who also went to UCD and who I knew was interested in law). He comes back with "well there were 30000 kids at UCD how should I know 1???" Yeah....that's how it really is.

Even the "cool" kids are complete dorks and literally forced me to get drunk just to deal with them on a week to week basis. Law school walls suck the life out of you and make you forget the beauty in things like a motorcycle ride through Montana or the Oregon Coast. It's all materialistic BS...gunning to be able to work your life away for money. And yes...don't get it confused....if you're not gunning....you're losing.

Also I learned there are MILLIONS of ways to slice bread. You can live a happy life worry-free without the "money" from being a lawyer.

[dandoe123]

Reasons for dropping out?
Things learned from the experience?

[edit] Woops, scooped by shoeshine

Law Students literally have no personality. During orientation I asked some douche that went to UC Davis if he knew a friend of mine from High School (who also went to UCD and who I knew was interested in law). He comes back with "well there were 30000 kids at UCD how should I know 1???" Yeah....that's how it really is.

Even the "cool" kids are complete dorks and literally forced me to get drunk just to deal with them on a week to week basis. Law school walls suck the life out of you and make you forget the beauty in things like a motorcycle ride through Montana or the Oregon Coast. It's all materialistic BS...gunning to be able to work your life away for money. And yes...don't get it confused....if you're not gunning....you're losing.

Also I learned there are MILLIONS of ways to slice bread. You can live a happy life worry-free without the "money" from being a lawyer.

why did you go to law school in the first place?

[jetsetter12]

What are you doing with your life now, or planning to do (i.e. back in school, working, etc)?

Not ashamed to say I'm starting a job for U.S. Airways Corporate in 2 weeks in Arizona. It took this job to finally get up the courage to face what a horrible thing I had done and turn it into a positive to hopefully help kids like me on TLS.

[jetsetter12]

1) Now, as of April 2012, abundant and mutually-confirming articles pointing out the American legal profession has countless problems, namely, a sickening overabundance of Lawyers (both fresh grads and unemployed). This in addition to learning I'm not in love with 80 hr work weeks so I could maybe have a chance to be half way okay career-wise by age 30. Oh, and did I mention tuition money goes to my professors to write crap-filled esoteric nonsense about law such as "Aristotelian Ethics and MisNomers in Contracts" or some such crap.

LOL.

New question: You mad?

Lol...ask that to my former classmates punishing themselves for upcoming Finals.

[tedalbany]

What are you doing with your life now, or planning to do (i.e. back in school, working, etc)?

Not ashamed to say I'm starting a job for U.S. Airways Corporate in 2 weeks in Arizona. It took this job to finally get up the courage to face what a horrible thing I had done and turn it into a positive to hopefully help kids like me on TLS.

I'm in a similar situation. I hate LS and very frequently think of dropping out, and go to a similar school. So this is relevant to my interests.
How'd you land that job? It sounds pretty nice, good UG/relevant major? WE?

[jetsetter12]

Reasons for dropping out?
Things learned from the experience?

[edit] Woops, scooped by shoeshine

Law Students literally have no personality. During orientation I asked some douche that went to UC Davis if he knew a friend of mine from High School (who also went to UCD and who I knew was interested in law). He comes back with "well there were 30000 kids at UCD how should I know 1???" Yeah....that's how it really is.

Even the "cool" kids are complete dorks and literally forced me to get drunk just to deal with them on a week to week basis. Law school walls suck the life out of you and make you forget the beauty in things like a motorcycle ride through Montana or the Oregon Coast. It's all materialistic BS...gunning to be able to work your life away for money. And yes...don't get it confused....if you're not gunning....you're losing.

Also I learned there are MILLIONS of ways to slice bread. You can live a happy life worry-free without the "money" from being a lawyer.

why did you go to law school in the first place?

Probably best question asked so far. I can hopefully be exceptionally lucid for people here in answering this specific question. I always had fleeting hopes of being Tom Cruise in the Firm or XYZ Actor in ABC law movie/show. Thought that meant go to Law School and get a job. Didn't know paying for it was that big a deal...didn't know good ol' lawyering wasn't quite the secure career path I thought it was. Graduated Undergrad in May 2010. Took a year off. Though Law School would bring returns greater than a 35000 starting salary in the real world. Not true. Basically...I was young and ignorant (not stupid, since rationally that would make sense if it was true).

[bk1]

Had you had better grades and/or gone to a better school do you think you would have made the same decision?

[shoeshine]

If you could do it over would you have retaken and gone to a higher ranked school?

TBF: There is a big difference in the opportunities you would get coming from your school and a T6.

[TLS_noobie]

Reasons for dropping out?
Things learned from the experience?

[edit] Woops, scooped by shoeshine

Law Students literally have no personality. During orientation I asked some douche that went to UC Davis if he knew a friend of mine from High School (who also went to UCD and who I knew was interested in law). He comes back with "well there were 30000 kids at UCD how should I know 1???" Yeah....that's how it really is.

Even the "cool" kids are complete dorks and literally forced me to get drunk just to deal with them on a week to week basis. Law school walls suck the life out of you and make you forget the beauty in things like a motorcycle ride through Montana or the Oregon Coast. It's all materialistic BS...gunning to be able to work your life away for money. And yes...don't get it confused....if you're not gunning....you're losing.

Also I learned there are MILLIONS of ways to slice bread. You can live a happy life worry-free without the "money" from being a lawyer.

why did you go to law school in the first place?

Probably best question asked so far. I can hopefully be exceptionally lucid for people here in answering this specific question. I always had fleeting hopes of being Tom Cruise in the Firm or XYZ Actor in ABC law movie/show. Thought that meant go to Law School and get a job. Didn't know paying for it was that big a deal...didn't know good ol' lawyering wasn't quite the secure career path I thought it was. Graduated Undergrad in May 2010. Took a year off. Though Law School would bring returns greater than a 35000 starting salary in the real world. Not true. Basically...I was young and ignorant (not stupid, since rationally that would make sense if it was true).

Did you know about TLS before you went?

[jetsetter12]

What are you doing with your life now, or planning to do (i.e. back in school, working, etc)?

Not ashamed to say I'm starting a job for U.S. Airways Corporate in 2 weeks in Arizona. It took this job to finally get up the courage to face what a horrible thing I had done and turn it into a positive to hopefully help kids like me on TLS.

I'm in a similar situation. I hate LS and very frequently think of dropping out, and go to a similar school. So this is relevant to my interests.
How'd you land that job? It sounds pretty nice, good UG/relevant major? WE?

What's up dude, I sympathize with your inner-struggle. I come with good news...life goes on man, and you'll be okay no matter what. That's No. 1. Two is, yes my major in UG wasn't in liberal arts but in Economics and a concentration/program (not minor) in finance. Honestly this job is a lot worse than some of my fellow grads of 2010 got. It's not paying much, but it's better than losing 40000 a year for 3 years. I mean, I was also considering (if I didn't get this) hustling and doing book-keeping at a local Sam's Club there was an opening for and maybe doing odd jobs here and there, which is an option for someone with a major in French Art or something. There are jobs, not careers, out there where you can make decent money and at least be independent (not live with parents + pay back loan money), until economy picks up. Making money+saving from 2l and 3l years+having a job in 2 more years for sure (vs uncertain finishing law school)=??? You have to answer for yourself what "???" is to you.

[jetsetter12]

Had you had better grades and/or gone to a better school do you think you would have made the same decision?

Good question. Hopefully people here didn't get the impression I am one of those "it's their fault" types. My decision may have changed had I had better grades. Chances are even greater it would have changed if I had gone to a Top 10. (3rd reserve-->NO at Columbia, Duke No, UVA No). However that's such a fanciful "what if" though. The amount of work I would have had to have done to change my grades (the only thing I could have realistically changed) does not seem, if I'm being honest with myself, realistic since I'm incapable of "gunning." Some people have that in their DNA, I don't.

[jetsetter12]

Did you know about TLS before you went?

Yup...was originally gonna start this thread with my Old account. Had to make a new one though because my post history would give away my info.

[Mal Reynolds]

Where did your grades put you in relation to median.

How did you study/how much.

[jetsetter12]

Where did your grades put you in relation to median.

How did you study/how much.

Bottom 50% I'm assuming. My school didn't give standings after 1st semester. Two of my classes my exams were so "poor" I guess (even though they were Bs) that my profs recommended me for a, for all intents and purposes, remedial Con Law class for all students who's profs thought they needed assistance in their second semester to improve lol.

Study habits were admittedly below average. Didn't do a single outline until AFTER, yes AFTER, Thanksgiving Break. Literally did nothing during Thanksgiving Break. As finals approached...had to pull the ol' steal a 2ls outlines and customize..... for 3 classes. Tried a study group up until week 7 if memory serves. Couldn't stand it...couldn't stand the people. Another problem was that I got close with another dude early in the year who was also flippant about the whole thing and we basically chilled and had fun the entire semester and ripped the same outlines and prepped together last minute (I managed to do better than him though...and he stayed ha). Did maybe 1 practice exam per class...leveraged my own intellectual ability but was ultimately stunted by work ethic.


If I may add though...as the semester went on and I read more and more about the legal profession being in shambles...how hard law students had to hussle for 1l summer jobs, oci, etc....and how depressingly boring law can be...its not as if whatever work ethic i have was being helped or encouraged. If anything it was being discouraged.

[SilverE2]

Where did your grades put you in relation to median.

How did you study/how much.

Bottom 50% I'm assuming. My school didn't give standings after 1st semester. Two of my classes my exams were so "poor" I guess (even though they were Bs) that my profs recommended me for a, for all intents and purposes, remedial Con Law class for all students who's profs thought they needed assistance in their second semester to improve lol.

Study habits were admittedly below average. Didn't do a single outline until AFTER, yes AFTER, Thanksgiving Break. Literally did nothing during Thanksgiving Break. As finals approached...had to pull the ol' steal a 2ls outlines and customize..... for 3 classes. Tried a study group up until week 7 if memory serves. Couldn't stand it...couldn't stand the people. Another problem was that I got close with another dude early in the year who was also flippant about the whole thing and we basically chilled and had fun the entire semester and ripped the same outlines and prepped together last minute (I managed to do better than him though...and he stayed ha). Did maybe 1 practice exam per class...leveraged my own intellectual ability but was ultimately stunted by work ethic.


If I may add though...as the semester went on and I read more and more about the legal profession being in shambles...how hard law students had to hussle for 1l summer jobs, oci, etc....and how depressingly boring law can be...its not as if whatever work ethic i have was being helped or encouraged. If anything it was being discouraged.

Below median? What was your GPA? A quick look at the grades should have put you between a 3.3 and a 3.4, if so you were likely at/above median. I don't know of any T15-20s with a median higher than a 3.3.

[gaud]

How much time/what did you do to network and get your name out there?

[jetsetter12]

Where did your grades put you in relation to median.

How did you study/how much.

Bottom 50% I'm assuming. My school didn't give standings after 1st semester. Two of my classes my exams were so "poor" I guess (even though they were Bs) that my profs recommended me for a, for all intents and purposes, remedial Con Law class for all students who's profs thought they needed assistance in their second semester to improve lol.

Study habits were admittedly below average. Didn't do a single outline until AFTER, yes AFTER, Thanksgiving Break. Literally did nothing during Thanksgiving Break. As finals approached...had to pull the ol' steal a 2ls outlines and customize..... for 3 classes. Tried a study group up until week 7 if memory serves. Couldn't stand it...couldn't stand the people. Another problem was that I got close with another dude early in the year who was also flippant about the whole thing and we basically chilled and had fun the entire semester and ripped the same outlines and prepped together last minute (I managed to do better than him though...and he stayed ha). Did maybe 1 practice exam per class...leveraged my own intellectual ability but was ultimately stunted by work ethic.


If I may add though...as the semester went on and I read more and more about the legal profession being in shambles...how hard law students had to hussle for 1l summer jobs, oci, etc....and how depressingly boring law can be...its not as if whatever work ethic i have was being helped or encouraged. If anything it was being discouraged.

Below median? What was your GPA? A quick look at the grades should have put you between a 3.3 and a 3.4, if so you were likely at/above median. I don't know of any T15-20s with a median higher than a 3.3.

Again, that was an assumption. Certainly not as well as I needed to be doing having not attended a T10. I honestly only maintain significant contact with 1 person. Completely in the dark about how others did. My sense is median or slightly below (but then again, I may feel that way because of those recommendations for a "special" 2nd semester con law class I received haha).

[shoeshine]

How much time/what did you do to network and get your name out there?

WTF?

What does this mean?

[gaud]

How much time/what did you do to network and get your name out there?

WTF?

What does this mean?

Lol, I've had a couple drinks. Nvm.