From a Future Patent Attorney: Following Passion vs. Following Advice

<p>Hello, </p>

<p>I personally welcome all those educated on subjects of patent law and engineering to take part in this forum – my very first forum, in fact. I instigated this because I have seen wonderfully adept transmission take place in College Confidential (CC) forums, and I wanted to become a part of the action.</p>

<p>A little about myself:
I am an undergraduate student in Chemical Engineering at an ABET-accredited university in the United States. I am doing fairly well, and by this I mean will graduate in May of 2014 with a projected GPA of 3.3. </p>

<p>I want to become a patent attorney. I realize there are a plethora of paths to take in becoming a patent attorney, and so I will delve into my interests so as to concentrate the topics of discussion on said interests specifically. Firstly, I will be going and getting a Master’s Degree in a certain subject – I just cannot decide what. Why the confusion? As said above, I don’t know whether to follow passion or advice, specifically in relation to how it will start off my patent law career. My passion is in forensic engineering. I feel that I would be very successful as a graduate student in a program in forensic science. But, how will this help me become a patent attorney? </p>

<p>This brings me to the advice I have been given by several contacts in IP Law and expert witnessing: get a biotech degree. I could… but it’s not my passion. However, I do not want to pursue forensic engineering if it does not bring me closer and instead takes me away from patent law. After getting a Master’s, I will go to law school. How will a degree in forensic science help me as a patent lawyer? I don’t see how it can.</p>

<p>I absolutely cherish educated discussions from professionals with experience in these CC forums. </p>

<p>And, please, call me Cody.</p>

<p><strong><em>ignore this thread</em></strong>*</p>

<p><strong><em>questions and answers have been directed elsewhere</em></strong></p>