American graduate, some concerns (long)

Graduate School
1

<p>Reposting this here as this subforum seems to be more relevant to the situation.</p>

<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>
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<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 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>You can also consider applying to some safeties, some with a reasonable chance, and some reaches and see what happens</p>

<p>Retake the LSAT to improve your chances.</p>

<p>If you end up at a low-tier law school, then do well your first well and transfer to a higher tier.</p>

<p>All hope is not lost.</p>

3

<p>You can still end up doing BIGLAW out of a second tier law school if your graduate in the top 10% of make Law Review. Why you would actually want to do BIGLAW boggles my mind, but whatever floats your boat.</p>

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<p>I'm actually less and less inclined toward BIGLAW (I don't think I ever was initially). But it's not so much BIGLAW as it is the fact that I find it objectively does not makes sense to invest in law school if it won't have a healthy return. Attending a top-tier law school is a relatively healthy investment (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).</p>

<p>Yes, finishing top 10% at a mid-tier law school is an option which I could look into, but it seems also a gamble. This isn't to say I wouldn't be able to do it, but I cannot predict the competition. At this point I feel probably spending a year studying something, re-taking LSATs, taking the LNAT, and then applying to US/UK schools and attending the best ranked school I get admitted to is the wisest option. If end up only being accepted to a lower-ranked school, then I guess the last resort is attempt to finish in the top 10% or transfer to a top-tier school. But it certainly seems I have a long way to go if I choose to take the law school route.</p>