American graduate, some concerns (long)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I have a dilemma. I’m an American graduate of an Ivy League university. My GPA is somewhat weak (mid 3 range), I did philosophy (in-major: upper 3 range). I know this isn’t the best major for future job prospects. I’ve had some medical conditions that prevented me from actually having an unbroken undegraduate career. I took medical absence once (for several semesters), and managed to graduate with enough credits by pursuing my remaining 2 credits outside of said school by attending a closer university for the 2 credits this past fall. I receive my degree this May. My medical condition is almost completely improved. </p>

<p>With this situation, going to a good law school is out of the question, given my GPA and my poor LSAT (lower 160’s). I didn’t prepare for the LSAT, so I’m partly to blame for that. </p>

<p>I feel like all the ambition and responsibilities that I failed to exhibit during my undergraduate career have returned now. However, I find myself with a somewhat weak GPA and somewhat weak LSAT. I’m not really interested in going to a mid-level law school because if I were to go to law school, it would be to maximize my potential salary afterwards. A mid-level school, it seems to me, equals a large amount of investment relative to my expected salary grade after graduation (not including opportunity cost). </p>

<p>I’ve considered other options:</p>

<li>) Study Abroad - In this scenario I would pursue a masters in the UK for a year in something I’m interested in. This will give me some time to assess what I want to do, study something interesting, and give me an extra year to re-take LSATs and re-apply for law schools.</li>
</ol>

<p>Caveat: My (hopefully) improved LSAT performance still won’t brighten prospects for good law schools considering my weaker UGRAD GPA.</p>

<p>2.) Find work: Perhaps go into consulting (financial or technology). I have a strong tech background even though I pursued philosophy. </p>

<p>Caveat: I’m perhaps still underqualified for positions here as well given my undergraduate major and somewhat weak GPA. I have not actually attempted to apply to any of these firms, but many of them seem to have fierce competition (I live close to a major US city). I am unenthusiastic about my chances.</p>

<p>3.) Apply for LLB programs: I don’t have a preference for practicing either in the US or the UK (I’ve been back and forth between them quite a bit over the years). Given that I already have an American undergraduate degree, and assuming I can sit the LNAT and do well, perhaps my chances of being accepted into a good UK LLB program might be an option.</p>

<p>Caveat: Good LLB programs in the UK are also competitive, and I am unsure as to my chances.</p>

<p>I can probably retake LSATs and sit the LNAT again for next year’s admissions cycles and then choose the best school I get into out of both the UK and US pool. </p>

<p>At this point, everything is so up in the air it’s depressing. I have no set plan for the summer and fall, and it seems job prospects are slim. I don’t regret doing philosophy, I only regret not being more proactive about either law school or finding suitable employment afterwards. There’s also a good level of anxiety, and it is not helping my medical condition. </p>

<p>I ask here in the “What are my chances?” because I am hoping some graduate was in a similar situation and would be able to share his/her wisdom as to their chances with any of these options. Perhaps others can offer some general advice.</p>

2

<p>IMO, do #3 and find a job in the meantime, and if that doesnt work out try #1? Just an idea. Also, you might want to copy and paste your post into the Graduate School forum. You migh get more responses there.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the advice, I'm leaning toward #1 (for this fall) then #3 (for next year). I'm going to repost this in the graduate section also.</p>

4

<p>I feel sorry for you, it sounds like you were a victim of circumstances and that your dissapointing results are not on you.</p>

<p>I HATE recommending law school to people, but that would be my recommandation to you after a gap year. Indeed, a good thing would be to do a master's abroad (that's what I thought before I read about it in your post), and BEAT THE S--T OUT OF THAT MOTHERF---ER. (Ahem.)</p>

<p>In other words, SHOW that you can have outstanding academic performance with that master's, and spin your bad undergrad GPA in your essays as the consequence of your medical condition, and that this condition has in fact given you a renewed outlook on life which is the reason why you want to study the law, blah blah...</p>

<p>LSATs are real easy, you just need to prepare for them. Take them again next year and you'll do great.</p>

<p>Then you'll have no problem getting into a top law school.</p>

<p>ALTERNATIVELY, you could try to get a job in journalism. If you studied philosophy, it shows an employer you can write, and in fact several people with Ivy League philosophy degrees ended up with really good jobs in journalism. With your tech background you could get a job as a tech writer and move on to more general stuff. </p>

<p>But of course that has to be something that you would be interested in (to me, anything would be better than lawyering).</p>

5

<p>Kant - you have a serious case of "prestige-itis".</p>

<p>A 3.5 GPA is not "bad" and while a 160-165 LSAT isn't great it is good. Neither will get you into a top 10 Law school, but, frankly, if you feel you must attend such a school to be "successful" you probably shouldn't consider Law as a career.</p>

<p>If you're seriously interested in Law, look for an opportunity in your off year to work in the field while studying up for next year's LSAT. Taking a master's in some other field won't buy you anything unless it is related to your planned speciality.</p>

<p>Use the online GPA/LSAT "chances" calculator to target an LSAT score, then study with that in mind. Even with a 3.5, you still have a chance at a top 10 school given a 170+ LSAT and a compelling personal story. You likely have the latter, you just have to nail the LSAT (and accept the fact that even with 170+ you're still looking at 50% or less for the big name schools).</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
frankly, if you feel you must attend such a school to be "successful" you probably shouldn't consider Law as a career.

[/quote]
This is a very important thing to remember. Very few people I know who went to law school had any business being there.</p>

7

<p>Perhaps your right about the prestige bit. I guess another part of me rationalizes it this way:</p>

<p>I find it objectively does not makes sense to invest in law school if it won't produce a healthy return. Attending a top-tier law school will produce a healthy return (at least one can do BIGLAW long enough to pay off the loans and then be left with a respected professional degree to apply to something more interesting). Attending a mid-tier law school will not (relative to investment, unless you finish near the top).</p>

<p>Of course, the counterargument is that you can go to a less prestigious school and still do something interesting (you will probably spend a lot longer paying off loans, though). </p>

<p>But at the core of it, you're probably right. I guess it's something left over from my high schools years applying to colleges and all the hype that surrounded going for "prestige" (I grew up in a high school that was virtually obsessed with it). In retrospect, I really find it corrosive and it's difficult to let go of that mindset.</p>

<p>In any case, I'm truly interested in studying abroad, and I am leaning toward using a gap year and getting a masters in philosophy. I understand it probably won't lead to anything but I'm doing it for a number of reasons (not the least of which is pure interest). If I'm going to do something I want, I might as well do it when I'm younger and retake an opportunity to study something free from my past medical situation. </p>

<p>Subsequently, I'll mostly likely re-apply to law schools with a (hopefully) stronger LSAT and some perspective.</p>

<p>The suggestion about journalism is also well-taken (I was a writer and editor of a school publication). I enjoy writing as well, and perhaps if I decide ultimately not to go the law school route, I might just look into something along those lines.</p>