<p>All I see on these threads are a bunch of frazzled 17-19 year olds discussing how they're going to go to law school, med school, get their MBA, get their PhD, etc. etc. Would you guys just settle the hell down? </p>
<p>I hate to break it to all you overachievers, but that's not what your future grad school wants, per se. They don't want you to be some 21-year-old, wet behind the ears newbie. They want an experienced, mature adult. Yes, I know you've all worked at a grocery store, and you know the value of a dollar. But, there is no replacement for a good year or two of workforce experience to really set your priorities straight. If you can get a great job without going to grad school, what's the point?</p>
<p>Now, this isn't to say that you shouldn't go to grad school. But if you look at graduate/professional schools and you notice that the average ages are like 25-28 for incoming students, you have to come to one of two conclusions:</p>
<p>Undergrads are really taking a long time...or...
People are getting work experience and grad schools want it.</p>
<p>Don't worry about grad school! Yes, if there are prereqs, do them. Med school applicants may want to consider going straight, but even then, the average age is in the 24 area. You guys have years to figure out what work has in store for year. Take your time in college to worry about learning, and trust me, you'll find a great job afterwards.</p>
<p>The average age is 24-26 these days for professional programs as well. Students with work experience bring so much more to the classrom than a 21-year-old.</p>
<p>I'm not telling you that it can't be done. I have 1L friends at Boalt, Loyola, Cornell, and UCLA. However, the strength of a 1L with work experience is above and beyond one without. This has been repeated to me by deans, professors, as well as graduate students in medicine, law, and PhD programs.</p>
<p>MBAs RARELY accept undergrad applicants anymore, nor do MPPs.</p>
<p>Why rush into a graduate degree when you're just old enough to drink? There is a logic behind working for a while before graduate school.</p>
<p>If you want to go straight to grad school, fine. But, remember that you will be the little kid in a group of adults.</p>
<p>spn2200, why is the thought of working for a couple of years so repulsive? Think about what you can do with three years of your life! You can do Teach for America, you can do an internship and find out if you actually enjoy law, you can work for the government. In 3 years, you will be a much stronger candidate, and you will offer your future graduate school more than you would've as the greenhorn 21-year-old.</p>
<p>In fact, it's almost becoming a requirement (MBA in particular) to have work experience for many programs.</p>
<p>I do not think it is repulsive, I never said it was. I actually think it is very beneficial. I was just expressing that in my experience that those that I know of that have applied to either med school or law school have done so directly from college. On the other hand, those that plan on going to businss school have dones so after working. I myself, plan on working in banking/finance at least 2 year before going to business school for my MBA. Although I wish I could stay at Cornell forever, haha.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Is that your personal guarantee? Like that stupid "guaranteed scholarships" website....
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, but my guarantee has no money-back provision. </p>
<p>Seriously though, if you just spend your four years of college enjoying yourself, maybe doing an internship over summer, and studying whatever gets you excited, you'll do just fine in the workplace.</p>
<p>my one roommate recentlyg raduated and is leaving for med school in a week. medical is one of those fields where you should go right away. at least in my mind. she's been working in the ER at a hospital for three years now. My boyfriend is starting law school in teh fall, and he graduated college is 2003.</p>
<p>If medicine is one of those fields where one should start right away, then why are medical students, by and large, older? </p>
<p>How is it that I've presented large statistical samples, yet everyone is saying, "well, my friend's friend's cousin got in at 20!" This is getting frustrating.</p>
<p>I said that in my mind medicine is one of those fields that you should start right away, because it takes like 7 years. I don't know about you, but i don't want to be in college when i'm 30. Heck, once I graduate in May i'm pretty much done, unless I absolutely have to go back to school. My boyfriend took two years off between college and law school (he'll be 24 when he starts)... And i didn't go to any of the links that you posted.. and i have no intention in doing so :) because frankly, i don't care what harvard or whatever colleges they were has to say about it.</p>
<p>sorry, i wasnt aware that I was making an argument. I stated that my boyfriend took two years off before law school, and that my one roommate went directly to med school. There was no argument. :)</p>
<p>You attempted to counter my appeal toward working during an interim period between undergrad and grad school. If you had nothing to argue, why did you provide me with your opinion on being 30 and in school? </p>
<p>Supposing that you actually had no idea that you were arguing your case, do you still think that disregarding what the top schools in the respective fields is an educated decision?</p>
<p>I didn't counter your appeal. I stated that one person I know took a break between them, and one person I know didnt. I also stated that, in my mind (once again) it's better to do med school right after college - one because it takes about 7 years, and two because the information is still fresh in your mind.. and because I wouldn't want to be in college when I'm 30. (now i'm arguing..)</p>
<p>I don't hold information from a top school any different than information from a "lesser" school. That's like saying that someone with my major knows more about it since they attended Harvard and I didn't. Just because you go to a school with a bigger name doesn't mean you learned more, or that you got a better education. I'm sure that has been argued many times.. but I'm sticking with what I just said.</p>