| Topic Name: |
Time off after undergrad |
| Message Name: |
Taking time off; my experiences. |
| Date Posted: |
04/16/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
Almost everyone who have consulted advises me to take a year or two off before entering law school for various reasons. Although this might sound pathetic, I really don't want to do anything else after college except go to law school. Even still, people say it's better to take some time off. Is that time off really that valuable? Should I force myself to take time off assuming that must do me some good? Any suggestions or opinions would be gladly appreciated. |
| Message: |
I graduated from undergrad on 05/01 and thought that I wanted to go straight to law school. In terms of admissions acceptances, I would have been better off. There's NO question that this has been a tougher year than usual. But, hindsight is always 20/20.
I took a year off and I have NO regrets. I found it helpful to get away from academics and academia. College is great, but being surrounded by eggheads can really screw with your head and your perceptions of the world. And believe me-- your first job is NOT nearly as hard as your senior year. :-) Plus, I'm going to have $15,000-$18,000 sitting in the bank for school expenses. Yeah, I'll need loans. But, that won't be any different than most other law students. Time off is also allowing me to enjoy life for a bit before returning to the academic grind. I'm finally learning to motorcycle, I'm getting out and enjoying myself more, and I'm out at the range a whole lot more.
On the other hand, I do worry about what leaving the academic environment may be doing to my brain. I don't know how good my first few papers will look. I hope I can still handle the reading I used to be able to handle. Hell, I hope I remember how to use a library. :-)
But, I've got no regrets. I did what I did, and I'm prospering because of it. My advice is to take the year and relax. But, if you REALLY want to go right in AND you've got a solid admission acceptance, go straight from undergrad to grad.
Mike
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