On New Beginnings: Law School, Summer Start, and Anxiety

And so it begins.

Not the most engaging or romantic start to what will probably otherwise... well... will also not be a very engaging or romantic blog. But so it goes.

We start in the middle of things, post LSAT stress, post admissions cycle, and we end up here: April 9th, 4 weeks until graduation. Only 8 weeks until I start Law School. 

Yes, you heard it right, 8 weeks. Only because I chose a summer start program at a very prestigious school (and in saying that, considering only one does such a thing, I have probably already given that school away). I was given the option of switching to fall, and I refused. If that isn't the first sign that I'm a masochist, I don't know what is.

The decision wasn't always built off masochism, however. It came from a lot of self-searching, and a lot of talking to anyone and everyone who I thought could give decent advice about whether or not starting in the summer was a good idea. Ultimately, it came down to two things:

1. Would starting in the summer increase my chances of burnout and ruin my potential for success?
2. Would starting in the summer give me a leg up in anyway?

The answers turned out to be sort of.. and yes. From almost everyone I talked to.

1. Starting in the summer meant two things: jumping in right out of undergrad, and 3 straight semesters of law school.

Another 3 years of school without a break. Luckily, this last semester of undergrad has been part time. It has felt like a summer vacation as is. I've always been the kind of person who needs to be busy, and now feel that I am more than ready for a new challenge.
The former summer starters I spoke with said that spring of next year will be where the burn out really kicks in. This is particularly unfortunate, since that is when the Law Review competition starts. I'm considering potentially taking a clinic (if I can get one) that semester, or perhaps a lighter load to enhance my GPA for On Campus Interviews come the following August. Two birds, one stone.

2. Would the summer give me a leg up? 

The answer, across the board, seemed to be yes. Summer starters have a lighter load in the summer (3 classes instead of 4). Summer starters have less distractions. Summer starters have a GPA before applying for 1L jobs. Summer starters have extra classes to boost their GPA before OCI. Summer starters can apply for off-plan clerkships before everyone else.

Now of course, all of these legs up require one thing: doing well. 

And herein lays my anxiety. Am I prepared? Will I ever be prepared? With 8 weeks left and my current apartment in disarray as I prepare to move, the questions begin to arise.

I've heard that 0L prep isn't helpful, but I can't help but think I'm sacrificing a valuable summer to get ready for law school. I'm also worried that sacrificing this summer will sacrifice the potential for a new bullet point on my resume, which could hurt in the 1L job hunt. I'm terrified that while I'm going to a truly great school with a scholarship, the debt I will still be acquiring will be with me for a very long time.

I can't imagine that these worries will simply disappear once school starts. In fact, I imagine that as things progress I will need to write down and organize my thoughts more and more. And so, In Forma Pauperis was created.

What are my intentions for this blog? 


Well I hope in some ways it becomes a number of things:

1. A way to rant, and perhaps to maintain my sanity
2. A reminder of my priorities, a way of keeping things organized
3. A calculator of expenses, to keep the budget, and the debt, low
4. A journal of musings, both law and nerd passion related
5. A potential source of useful information for those who intend to jump into the fray that is law school one day

I can't guarantee on any of these. In fact, I can't guarantee I will even post. I've always been terrible at keeping a journal, and I'd imagine with the time constraints that is law school I will only get worse. Only time will tell.

But for now, keep on keeping on. More ramblings to come.