Grad School: Is It Worth It?

[LiddyRules]

Currently, I am in law school. It was never the big dream for me, it was more of my way of escape (particularly living at home) as I am overall directionless. I don't hate law school and it's somewhat enjoyable but it has never really 'hooked' me. And my grades are for the most part, middling*. I don't get lower than middling but it's mostly middling. And it bothers me how bad middling is, particularly for a law student.

Between my still lack of direction, the exorbinant loans now added to my debt, and having really no sellable skills and a resume worth shit, is it worth it to scrap law school and move onto grad school? Is grad school a legitimate option or is it a just plain stupid plan and working oneself up a better plan?

*NOTE: Despite my grades, I really don't think I'm particularly dumb or totally incompetent at everything. And needless to say, this is doing wonders for my already pretty severe confidence issues.

[Yuppie_Scum]

I just graduated law school myself and I think the answer to your question is a great big -- "it depends".

If you're in a top 35ish law school and have good grades, you can't beat making $160K base plus $30K bonus as a first year associate at a big firm.

If you're not at a "top tier" school or your grades are not so good, the prospects are a lot more mixed. That is not to say that you won't do well, but there are no guarantees. Some mid-size firms pay in the $80K-$100K region, some people wind up doing contract work for $30/hour, some people hang a shingle and start their own practices. Some of my friends who graduated have nothing lined up and their loans enter repayment in a few months, so who knows what they're going to do.

You need to be realistic about your school and your grades and talk to your career counselor about where you stand, because. (At the same time, keep in mind that the career center people are full of shit a lot of the time and cook the employment numbers to make the school look better.)

On the other hand, what would you go to grad school for -- philosophy? (which was my major) How much better off do you think that will land you?

I have $115K in law school debt and $20K in college debt myself so I know that it's scary, but I think for a three year degree law school is still the best bang for the buck.

[envirogator]

Many years ago I got my MBA. In total I have been pleased with the results. I dont think I know anymore than my contemporaries but they do so I'll say it's worth it. Choose your debt; house, school, car, fun. It's up to you; as Ronnie B says, 'follow your bliss'.

[waltermitty]

Average Annual Earnings
Professional Degree
$109,600

Doctoral Degree
$89,400

Master's Degree
$62,300

Bachelor's Degree
$52,200

Associate's Degree
$38,200

Some College
$36,800

High School Graduate
$30,400

Some High School
$23,400

Average Annual Earnings—Different Levels of Education.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys, March 1998, 1999, and 2000.

[MadBiker]

Currently, I am in law school. It was never the big dream for me, it was more of my way of escape (particularly living at home) as I am overall directionless. I don't hate law school and it's somewhat enjoyable but it has never really 'hooked' me. And my grades are for the most part, middling*. I don't get lower than middling but it's mostly middling. And it bothers me how bad middling is, particularly for a law student.

Between my still lack of direction, the exorbinant loans now added to my debt, and having really no sellable skills and a resume worth shit, is it worth it to scrap law school and move onto grad school? Is grad school a legitimate option or is it a just plain stupid plan and working oneself up a better plan?

*NOTE: Despite my grades, I really don't think I'm particularly dumb or totally incompetent at everything. And needless to say, this is doing wonders for my already pretty severe confidence issues.

I had a choice between law school and grad school at one point, and chose graduate work in a field (Education) related, tangentially, to my undergrad major (English Lit). I casually audited a few courses at the Rutgers Law School in Newark. A friend of my boss was a prof there and allowed me to sit in on a few lectures. I felt riveted by the material, but not inspired to go out and actually engage in legal practice. It intrigued me more from an intellectual standpoint rather than a professional one.

When I casually audited grad courses in Education (again, friend of boss was Dean of GSE at Rutgers, my alma mater) I was engaged intellectually, but also found myself wanting to practice and perfect and engage in further research on the things I was learning. Grad school was a better option for me, and after I complete my M. Ed I hope to return for a MA or PhD in Literature.

I think you have to really analyze your strengths, desires, and interests. Do not let salary comparison charts get in the way of following bliss: if you do what makes you happy, money will follow, or you will be so happy that having a smaller salary will not matter.

Do you see yourself doing anything in particular a few years down the road? If you do, and you like your vision, then take the necessary steps to get there. And school, much as I love it, is not the only means of attaining the dream.

Maybe you need to take a break from school. I did not enter grad school directly after undergrad, I had a 2.5 year hiatus to get my life together and research different programs. You may benefit from doing the same. Work a few different jobs and get some "marketable skills" or start doing volunteer work. You never know what might lead you to your bliss - one of the clinchers in my decision to become a teacher was my volunteer work with kids. I loved seeing their minds grasp a new concept and put it to use, and knew it was the way to go for a career.

If you are far enough along in law school, stay. You do not necessarily have to pass the bar or practice law, the knowledge can be applied elsewhere to a variety of careers. I would not leave if I was within a year of graduation.

[mdr55]

Average Annual Earnings


Master's Degree
$62,300


.


Fuck!!! I'm being underpaid.

[Bob Impact]

It better be.

[JackStraw]

I ask myself the same question every day. Twice I have been accepted to Graduate school and twice I decided against it.
I simply cannot bring myself to take out a loan.

[Fat_Sunny]

When F_S Got Out Of College He Was Sure He Wanted To Be A Lawyer, But He Also Wanted To Work For A Year Of Two Before Going Back To School.

So He Got A Job At A Law Firm As A "Para-Legal", Thinking This Would Not Only Make Him A Few Bucks, But Give Him An Inside View Of The Profession. Well It Did, And That View Told Him That He Would NOT Like To Be A Lawyer, And That He Did Not Like Any Of The Lawyers At The Firm (Except For A Couple Of The Younger Ones Who Had Not Yet Been Fully Corrupted). So He Nixed The Idea Of Law School.

Damn Smartest Thing F_S Ever Did!!

Fat Later Took Some Graduate Level Courses At Night, But They Were Useless, As He Was Already Well-Ensconced In His Career.

Anyway, The Only Advice F_S Might Offer Is To Get A Job For A While, And Then Decide If You Want To Go To Grad School.

[RogerDornShortHops]

New to the community and this is my first time post.

It's so great to see that other people are going through the same thing as me. I just finished completely blowing off a full day of work and, instead, have been roaming the internet looking at graduate programs, both online and at area schools.

I'm like the last poster. Every yr I do this, and, every year I decide against taking out another school loan. I am an insurance broker, still struggling as I'm only in the biz couple of yrs, and feel directionless.

SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

[Crispy123]

Currently, I am in law school. It was never the big dream for me, it was more of my way of escape (particularly living at home) as I am overall directionless. I don't hate law school and it's somewhat enjoyable but it has never really 'hooked' me. And my grades are for the most part, middling*. I don't get lower than middling but it's mostly middling. And it bothers me how bad middling is, particularly for a law student.

Between my still lack of direction, the exorbinant loans now added to my debt, and having really no sellable skills and a resume worth shit, is it worth it to scrap law school and move onto grad school? Is grad school a legitimate option or is it a just plain stupid plan and working oneself up a better plan?

*NOTE: Despite my grades, I really don't think I'm particularly dumb or totally incompetent at everything. And needless to say, this is doing wonders for my already pretty severe confidence issues.


You could always try and manage a Kentucky Fried Chicken. :clap::clap::clap:

[AJDELAWARE]

I have a degree in Business and Finance and am starting school again on monday to get a 2nd bachelors degree, but this time in Web design and photography.

[RogerDornShortHops]

Really? How long before you decided to go back to school? Did you have any real-world experience with your biz degrees? Going to school full-time now? What do you do for $$$$? All loans? Or still working full time?

[AJDELAWARE]

I graduated in 2005, worked in sales for 2 years, now im doing financial analysis for a utility. I am going to be going fulltime (the school im going to makes it very easy to do while working, all night classes), taking a full course load, while still working 40+ hours.

Im getting a loan for the first part, and then hopefully ill be able to get on the permanent payroll here, because they pay 90% of tuition costs.

[RogerDornShortHops]

Very cool to be at a place that pays for the tuition. Good luck!