<p>I know there are already a couple of threads on graduating early, but my case is a bit unique, so I am hoping you can share some insights with me.</p>
<p>I am an incoming freshman at Univ. of Michigan-Ann Arbor and I plan to major in economics (like every other JD applicant lol). With my transfer credits I can easily graduate in 3 years, and if I try hard enough and take spring/summer semesters I can shorten it to 2 1/2, or even 2 years (if I try really really hard). </p>
<p>With these kinds of situations the age question usually comes up. But both fortunate (but mostly unfortunate) thing for me is that I am going to be 20 years old during my freshman year (1 year older than everyone else in my grade), because of the differences of education systems in the various countries that I grew up in. </p>
<p>Graduating in 3 years will equate myself with the peers that I should have been associated with in the first place. Being the driven person that I am, I have been toying the idea of finishing my undergraduate in 2 years, since it appears that merely one semester isn't enough to make any significant differences. But I will have to take extra classes and may lose chances for, say, a summer internship (I have done one with a marketing company before and they still want me back next summer). </p>
<p>Which plan would you prefer? I am aiming for top 10 law schools (international law at Columbia would be nice!). </p>
<p>Since my class schedules for the next couple of semesters would look dramatically different depending on a 2, 2 1/2, or 3 year plan, I will appreciate any inputs you can give me now.</p>
<p>Why does everyone seem to be in such a rush to finish college in less than 4 years!! College isn't just something you have to get thru before you can get to law school -- it is an important experience in and of itself!!</p>
<p>Your college years can be some of the best of your life -- the freedom to explore interests, the personal freedom, the chance to meet people (some of whom may actually be important to you later in life) -- why would you want to rush thru that!? </p>
<p>Law school and a legal career will always be there if you still want them. Open yourself to the possibility that college can change who you are and how you view the world -- don't limit the experience by what you NOW think is where you ultimately want to be when it is done.</p>
<p>I would urge anyone to not view college as something to be rushed thru, but rather as important years of your life that should be enjoyed and savored! You will not get that type of chance again once you start work!</p>
<p>If you are concerned about being a little older - don't be! Especially when you get to law school this won't matter at all since there will be many students who didn't go directly to law school.</p>
<p>To add to what unbeliveable said, rushing through your college years often results in a lower GPA than you would have obtained had you gone at a regular pace. In the end, law schools would much rather see a higher GPA than a younger graduate, and it does seem to be the case that these days maturity (as in age/experience) is prime.</p>
<p>brand 182. i think that is an assumption and maybe based on your own experience you may have a lower GPA, but I have "rushed through" my first two years so that I can transfer with better grades and I have a better GPA with 25-28 units a semester than I do with 15</p>
<p>I think your case is an exception. Most people that rush through school to the extent that they do four years worth of work in two years are likely to be burnt out or not to do as well as they would if they'd paced themselves a bit better. That may be different for you and others, but I doubt it's true for most. </p>
<p>Regardless, top law schools do value age and experience these days. It is getting harder for a student fresh out of undergrad (even at 21/22) to compete with a 25 year old that has significant work experience, ECs, or possibly even an advanced degree, especially at the very best schools like Yale, Stanford, etc.</p>
<p>Are you referring to the second paragraph (about Yale and Stanford) or to the first? The first is my opinion and is based on logic. The second is straight from the mouths of Yale/Stanford adcoms and can be witnessed by examining the results of applicants on LSD/LSN. </p>
<p>If you're worried, I might suggest sending them an email or doing some research. Certain schools are known for greatly favoring work experience / advanced degrees...among them, Northwestern, Yale, Stanford, Harvard (to a lesser extent), Boalt.</p>
<p>Aztec -- There have been a number of threads re: whether age/experience really help an applicant, either in applying to law school or, three years down the line, in applying to jobs. The dominant, but by absolutely no means unanimous answer is "yes." Just checking through the first few pages in this forum should yield some more detailed info (most of it anecdotal, though sometimes from particularly notable sources).</p>