Posts Tagged ‘Law School’
This is version two of the blog, which currently contains 110 published posts. To some extent, this blog represents the creative excesses of a design enthusiast who is somewhere in the process of applying to grad school, working at a law firm and resides in the Financial District of New York City.
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So, right now, I’m sitting in a room, surrounded by boxes and packaging tape and hangers and plastic bags and…yeech. It’s moving time and it sucks. The most obnoxious thing is that damn painting, haha. I love it, partially because of the sentimental value it holds for me, but it doesn’t fit any box, it’s oversized and it’s just a pain to move/ship. I’ve fashioned something that resembles a box for it, but I’m worried that UPS will reject it when they see it cause it looks like a hot fucking mess — no joke. It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic.
But anyway. I don’t have much to report — things are proceeding relatively smoothly, I think. I have seven days left in the city, and mostly I just want to finish packing and I’d ideally like to see everyone at least one more time before I go, but obviously there’s time constraints and I have a lot of administrative stuff to deal with, so I’ll do the best I can. Plus I’m still working as of right now. Nate’s in town this weekend, so I really hope we get to see him at some point, but we’ll see. It sucks that I was sort of sick last weekend and had to cancel on people, so I’m a little worried since I’m actually running out of time. Eeek.
I thought I would feel lonely and depressed the month before law school starts since I thought it would be a lot of nothing, but I’m actually getting really excited. Ali is living in Chicago now, my parents will be flying in when I first move and then Kendra will be visiting, then my sister, and then Dan and maybe Rita at some point that month — plus I realize that I actually know quite a few random people in Chicago already. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
I’ve given up reading stuff I actually like in order to spend time getting through The Bramble Bush and Getting to Maybe (which I’m also outlining) in order to prepare for school. It’s probably overkill, but considering how much the sticker price is for law school (without scholarship money, around $225,000 by the end of three years if you include interest that’s accumulating) — well, I figure I should do my best. Obviously, my loans will be nowhere near there, but even still, it’s a daunting figure to consider.
I have mixed feelings about leaving New York. I’m sad, but hopeful. It’s weird how people come in and out of your life. I remember a few months ago (I can’t remember who this conversation was with), but we were talking about the saying “a rolling stone gathers no moss” and whether that had a positive or negative connotation. On one hand, it’s referring to escaping responsibilities, on the other it’s about preventing stagnation. Wikipedia seems to think it could go either way…which I find annoying in a way — I keep wondering if I should make an active effort to stop moving around and changing career paths, and it would be easier if there were a clear answer.
I’ve said before, I hate the process of saying goodbye to things and people, of reformulating life plans, of trying to create social and support systems from scratch. At the same time, I’ve gotten to cross paths with a diverse swath of people and lifestyles, which is important, I think. Anyway, it’s just something that’s been on my mind. Maybe I’m just adverse to change, but I generally feel like I’m happy and positive about life, but still not entirely satisfied. Like, I don’t think I’ve ever felt entirely content.
Well, whatever. In a completely different tangent, I’ve finally gotten back to finishing up this blog which has been under construction for almost six months, haha. I really should just recode everything cause it was a mess the last time I did it — I didn’t take time to read up on the changes going from WordPress 2.x to 3 and I actually migrated the entire blog to a completely new installation and directory which complicated things. But, depending on how busy the next few weeks are, it may or may not ever happen. Oh well.
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I’m going to the University of Chicago for law school! It’s been decided, and I am more relieved than I can explain here.
Figuring out my next step has been exhausting, thrilling, stressful, uncertain and, well, all other sorts of adjectives, but I feel good about this, though a bit apprehensive about how hard it’ll be and how cold Chicago will be. I was at more or less a complete impasse until I had the aha! realization that a lot of my indecision had been stemming from my reluctance to give up my life in New York and uproot myself. But I’m determined to be back and, really, it’s nine months out of the year — now I’m just excited to choose housing, buy a UChicago hoodie and to find out what my 1L classes will be! (I know, the peppiness is nauseating, but cut me some slack. Life decisions are hard.)
I definitely realized that I’m glad I took time off, even if I did end up arriving at the conclusion that I’d anticipated two years ago. I know that I’m in a much better mindset to be able to succeed in law school — more focused, etc. I had time to figure out some stuff about, you know, life. I met a lot of wonderful people. I definitely have a clear idea about what I want and can expect out of a legal career, and I also have a better idea of what to or not to prioritize in law school and later on.
So, yeah, big week for me.
Getting out of career-planning-mode, I also had an IB Hot-Pot Party at my apartment when DK was in town, followed not long thereafter by IB Hot-Pot Party Part Deux to finish up the remaining food due to certain … miscalculations … of ideal meat to people ratios. (Ahem, Amy.)
We also had a farewell party for one of my co-workers at Havana Outpost, which has great margaritas. Yum. It was a lot of fun, but I wish I remembered more of it. I’m told I enjoyed myself, so that’s good, I suppose.
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I’m on a bus on the way back from Charlottesville — I was at the University of Virginia, to be exact, home of the Cavaliers, or the “Hoos” as they refer to themselves. While UVA was lovely, getting there was … not. I got to Penn Station around noon and realized I had left my wallet in a different bag. Sigh. I ended up missing my bus to D.C., which caused me to miss my transfer to go from D.C. to Charlottesville.
While there are a LOT of ways to get from New York to D.C., there are only a few ways to get from Charlottesville to D.C. Namely, Greyhound, Amtrack (sold out) and by Air (very expensive). I ended up taking a Greyhound at 2:15 AM to arrive at Richmond at 4:30 AM. Then, I went from Richmond at 5:30 AM to arrive at Charlottesville at 6:50 AM. I finally, finally got to Sleep Inn at 7:30, unpacked, took at shower and called a cab to get to UVA at 8:45 — just 15 minutes before registration ended and with no sleep. I looked pretty rough that morning, haha.
Anyway, the rest of the trip proceeded much more smoothly, I really liked the current students I met, and I was really excited about the IP Law Curricular Session thing I attended, which reminded me of why I wanted to study law in the first place. The professor discussed why or why not and based on what grounds comedians would or could have a cause of action against other people who stole their jokes, haha.
OF course, I know I’ve been talking about not going to law school, but as much as I want to work in publishing, I do think I’d eventually want to go to law school – in which case, I’d rather do it now than later. Furthermore, I do think practicing publishing law wouldn’t be a complete impossibility from the sounds of it, which is still what I’d love to do. Most importantly, I like the idea of practicing law, which at the end of the day is what should determine whether someone does or does not go to law school.
As for UVA, while I am undoubtably glad I went to visit, the trip really wasn’t determinative. My main reservations are job prospects, location and diversity when it comes to UVA and honestly, I still have those fears.
So that’s where I am. Law school applications are behind me, and law school deposit deadlines loom ahead. I’ll see in the coming weeks how the situation develops.
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So, a lot has been going on the past few months, and yes, I realize I haven’t been posting. Additionally, I have been re-designing this blog/site and working out kinks so any “website” time has been allocated towards that. I’ll probably switch over to the new template soon, but it’ll be a bit messy.
Also, I went to Panama for a week-and-a-half over Thanksgiving and then Texas where it managed to snow the one day I was in Houston. Thanks, Mother Nature. Panama was amazing, except for that one place with bad water that made me break out. Yeech. And I was also tired the first few days — I spoke a lot of Spanish, and I think dredging it out of my memory was surprisingly enervating. However, there was sun, snorkeling and beaches, and I went on a coffee tour, saw dolphins and sloths, met the indigenous people, watched a boat go through the Panama canal locks, went hiking in the mountains, etc., so it was worth it. We also ate a lot of fancy meals and fruit there was so good– I can’t even compare it with the fruit in New York, it’s too depressing.
Anyway, I returned to the dank coldness of the city and managed to get sick. Fast forward two weeks later, I’m all better and now there are inches and inches of lovely power-like snow all over the place. Also, since returning from my trip, I’ve gotten admission into Duke, Georgetown and NYU Law (I’d already gotten into UT in the beginning of November)! (!!!!!) So, I’m excited for law school, but I’m a teeny bit scared of how much work it will be. Regardless, thanks to the happy news, I’m sure it’ll be a very merry holiday season.
Now that law school is close to definite, I’m starting to realize that my time in New York might actually be coming to a close — at least for now. It went by extremely quickly. My two years of indentured servitude to the firm is up in July, so I’ll probably be leaving then or even earlier. Seven months. Weird.
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…are out. I think the first batch came out around 7:00 PM. The curve (for a 170) is -11.
Good luck, and I hope you did well. I’m still waiting on mine. Yuck. I believe that usually the rest trickle in throughout the night. Have fun refreshing, haha.
See the full score distribution scale here.
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D-day, more commonly referred to as the June 2009 LSAT Administration, was yesterday. It didn’t go great, but it could have been worse. I’m signed up for September (e.g. a retake), but it’s possible, depending on the curve of the test, that it may not be necessary. I’ll know for sure in three weeks.
On the upside, until I get my score back, I’m not going to worry about it, and the ’09-10 applications for law schools have not been posted yet, so for the time being I basically have my life back. As such, I now have the opportunity to complete some of the things I have been unable to enjoy thanks to the onus of needing to study for the LSAT.
Chief among these concerns is the completion of Diablo II. I’ve been meaning to finish this game for a while now. I can’t remember who recommended it to me, but ever since I found out that Diablo III was in development, I’ve been wanting to complete it so that I can be caught up by the time DIII is finally released. (Hey, I never claimed to have lofty goals. Sometimes an itch just yearns to be scratched.)
Oh, as an aside, while I’m on the topic of gaming, I should note that Monkey Island is back, bitches. I’ve been waiting patiently for this day for almost five years, so I’m pretty damn happy. Telltale is even re-releasing the game that started it all, except with improvements (e.g. 1080i vs. VGA graphics).
Secondly, I can finally finished some of the books that I’ve been reading, I’m about part of the way through a bunch of random books, but have as of late been trying to spend any free time reading more academic material in order to prepare for the LSATs. It’ll be a relief to read stories again. Yay.
Lastly, I want to finally catch up on keeping in touch with people, figuring out random plans (trips, weekends, etc.) — that sort of thing. You know, things involving people as opposed to multiple-choice questions. So yeah, that’s what’s up with me. I don’t think I’m conveying this very well, but I’m actually incredibly thrilled to be (potentially) done with the LSAT. I’m…copacetic.
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Earlier this week, I decided not to finish my journalism major. Simply stated, there;s too much to do and I have no interest (none whatsoever) of becoming a journalist.
I’m actually pretty excited at the prospect of getting my life back. I spent my Saturday cleaning (we have a bit of an ant crisis in my apartment) and hanging out with Jane, who I haven’t properly hung out with since she left for Freiberg last semester. We went to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack (the pictures below were taken with my cell phone camera so they sort of suck), and then later we hit Lenox Mall. The ribs were delicious, in case you’re wondering.
 
I guess I figure I’m going to spend the next 10 years or so after graduation working non-stop. While there are certain things I want to achieve, I’d also like to take some time to read a book, go jogging, or take a swim in the next year and a half. I’d have time to keep my room clean or just take some time to do something nice for someone else. The thing that bothered me the most about being so busy is that I feel like the people around me have had to pick up the slack. I prefer to be the one that does the most work in group projects, and I don’t like assigning tasks to office assistants at work instead of doing them myself.
Most importantly, I need to bring up my grades. Trying to do a thousand things at once means my grades have suffered. I didn’t think it was a huge idea – they say having a GPA higher than 3.6 really isn’t necessary for marketing and advertising jobs, but as of late it’s been bothering me more and more, especially since I’d like the option of going to law school someday. Yep, that’s right. If this advertising thing doesn’t work out, I think I’d like to try law instead.
So, goals. My Thursday mornings are free this semester, so I think I should either jog or swim (when it gets warmer) once a week. Secondly, I’m going to try for a 3.8 each semester until I graduate. Finally, I am determined to spend more time with my roommates. They get surprised whenever they see me in the apartment — I feel like that’s a problem.
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