For about four days, I thought that maybe I wanted to go to law school. I am not exactly sure why I thought this, but I did. I looked at an LSAT book and got excited about learning the best and fastest ways to do logic puzzles, and thought that actually, the analytical section didn’t look too bad, though of course I’m still fairly slow because that part of my brain is out of shape.
For those of you whose eyes glazed over as soon as you saw “LSAT,” I’ll summarize: I am a nerd and I like logic puzzles and I miss school.
So for four days I’ve looked at law programs (well, a cursory look), studied logic problems like they were my job, and actually felt mildly better about my life. (besides, seeing that Yale Law has a very small number of students and they don’t give grades sounds amazing… wait… the rest of the country thinks so too, that’s why it’s at the top. ok it all makes sense now.)
Today I realized that going to law school would mean that I want to be a lawyer. I don’t really know that I want to be a lawyer. I just want to go back to school, and studying very hard and using the analytical part of my brain sounds fun. Yes, you shake your head, but being in an environment where my brain is challenged sounds perfect. Living in a college town makes me realize how much I enjoy learning, and how much I really want to study again.
But what do I want to study? I want to know what I’m going to do after I finish this hypothetical grad program, and that really is the hang-up. Oh, that and getting into a good/decent program, because I haven’t done anything impressive with my life thus far, but I will eventually need some kind of job to pay off the debt that will be up to my eyeballs once I finish.
16 September, 2009 at 8.34 am |
you should to an MA in philosophy! Unlike law, an MA in philosophy does not commit you to a particular field. You may, of course, afterwards pursue a terminal degree in philosophy. Or you can do anything else, and no one will think boo about it. And you can think about nerdy analytic things all day (and night, depending on the assignment).
Furthermore, law school will put you $100 grand (plus!) in the hole. Philosophy programs know you wont make money afterwards, so they normal given some sort of tuition remission or teaching stipend. Minimal debt.
I think you would really enjoy law school. But practicing law… maybe. Its working 80 hour weeks, sitting at a desk, reading and reading. You could get a job at a firm that is in a tall building and looks at a large body of water (Zac did last summer). But that would probably be the highlight for you. Of course, you don’t have to practice law. But there is the $100 grand of debt to consider.
There is an admired MA program at an institution not far from you… which shall remain nameless due to its enmity with the university in whose town you now work…
4 October, 2009 at 11.47 pm |
Ran across an article at work this past week that I think you may enjoy http://personalmba.com/manifesto/
Not that you’re going for an MBA, but it highlights the do-ability of a self-taught course of study on whatever subject strikes your fancy.
5 October, 2009 at 12.20 pm |
Another option: what interests you about school? Learning and using your brain in different ways? Logical thinking? The environment? Is there a way to take advantage of the college town without getting into debt?
Sit in on a class (you have to pay, but can still keep your job), look at the college library and find books that interest you. Help someone at the college study for an exam- let them explain what they are studying. If you are looking specifically for another degree to go on and do something with, then getting a Master’s is great. If you want to learn and study, then school isn’t necessary. It seems that the resources for learning are right around the corner.
I hope everything is going well, Austin.
8 November, 2009 at 7.53 pm |
I know you wrote this a while ago, but I have to comment because I had a law school moment last week.
8 November, 2009 at 8.34 pm |
Haha! Nice. Thanks for sharing. :) Glad I’m not the only one.