Law School Discussion

Quote from: bloomich on March 27, 2005, 12:53:25 AM

Quote from: InVinoVeritas on March 26, 2005, 11:42:37 PM

your behavior is probably typical of most people your age; don't sweat it.  but if all you're trying to accomplish is finding fodder for your resume, your superficial motives are going to show through on your application.  i think you will be better off trying to find something you're truly interested in, no matter the potential drawbacks; get a meaningful experience out of that interest that will give you something compelling to write about or help you secure truly outstanding recommendations.

that's exactly what i'm trying to do... find something that would be meaningful for me... i have plenty of fodder, i suppose... i'm looking for something that would be a truly valuable and fulfilling experience, which incidentally, would contribute to my application because I would have something that was worthwhile to write about, etc

that's not what your doing.  you're looking at your next move from the following perspective: what's the best thing for me to do to boost my application?  stop that.  you'll be a far more compelling candidate if you did whatever it is that truly interests you and you did that with demonstrated commitment.  don't sweat the EC stuff so much.  if you numbers are truly stellar, you shouldn't have a hard time getting into a T-14 school.

Thanks for the reassurance!  But with all respect, that is NOT what I am doing.  I feel that if I do something that is truly meaningful for me, my application will be that much stronger for it.  So while, yes, getting into law school or a "better" law school may be the result, I assure you that my motivation is to do what is "right" for me, and what will be the most fulfilling expierence for me.  Now, with that said, if getting into a "better" law school would provide me with a more fulfilling experience, wouldn't it then follow that such considerations should enter into the equation.  Especially, if, say, an honors thesis or a masters of accounting would be equally self-fulfilling.  But in all earnestness, I have been trying to figure out what is the best option for me because after reflecting on it I felt that maybe I was just doing a masters as a "holding action" to stay in school the seemingly requisite 4 years and to look "better" for law schools.  And that was the precise epiphany that elicited all the ensuing confusion

I'm 20, finishing in three years.

Truth be told, I was shafted at quite a few schools I was above the 75%iles at. 

Maybe they didn't like something else about me, but I've worked 25-35 hours a week throughout undergrad and had some extracurriculars...who knows. 

are you on LSN?  or do you mind telling me your vitals and where you applied?

Quote from: bloomich on March 25, 2005, 06:38:56 PM

If I apply and don't get into the schools I want, and then spend the fourth year the same way I would have spent it had I not applied at all, would my prospects in that next cycle be the same (having already applied the previous year vs. applying for the first time)?  That is to say, do I have anything to "lose" by applying with only the 3-yr degree?

Yes a lot of money...and time.

I don't mind the time...and hopefully I'll get fee waivers

I'm also concerned because law schools would only have 4 complete semesters by which to judge me...

bloomich@umich.edu