Journal Fiver-rah's Journal: Lessig and Other Thoughts 4
The personal statement I sent to law schools ended up looking nothing like the ones I posted here. I talked to some people who have No Geek Background and they were thoroughly confused by words like "public domain" and "Linux" and all that stuff. They just Didn't Get It. Since they're the types that are going to be reading my application, I figured they were right. I ended up writing something that had some happy fun analogies but that's pretty much it.
I took the LSAT in October and ended up getting a 173. This is pretty decent, I guess. Higher would have been nicer, but it's sufficient. And I finished all my applications a while back. I applied to Michigan, Harvard, Duke, and Berkeley. Then I started freaking out because everyone's saying that this is a huge year for law school applications, they're up something like 40% from two years ago. So I also sent applications to Columbia and NYU (who sent me fee waivers because they liked my LSAT). About two days after freaking out and sending the extra apps, I got a letter admitting me to Michigan's JD class of 2006. Yay!
So I'm in at least one place. I'm going to be a lawyer. I'm going to accrue lots of debt, and I hope that I end up being able to make a difference in some way.
Scary statistic of the day: 80% of entering law students say they don't want to do corporate work. 80% of newly minted JDs end up doing so. I've been spending some time thinking about this. How do I stop myself from selling out? How do I stay true to my principles? How do I avoid the thrill and burden of a six figure salary?
I think my first step was to recognize that being a poor student is no excuse. I'm taking the Lessig Challenge. So I don't make a lot of money. It'll be even worse when I'm in law school. Big Deal. If I can find the cash to hand over to the RIAA/MPAA/cable modem people, I can double it and give it away to people I really care about. I think this is really the best answer to the old slashdot question: "How can you love these movies and hate the RIAA?" Answer: "By giving more to the people I love than I do the RIAA."
Every month, I'll be posting my payments either way. If you feel the same way I do, try and do the same thing!
Congrats!! (Score:2)
I was considering going for my MBA there but the 45 minute drive was a bit much- not to mention I probably wouldn't have got the scholarship (so I went for the University of Toledo). Definitely a competitive school!
Go bucks, sure. :) (Score:2)
Principles, money, etc. (Score:2)
I'm afraid that you're the only one that can stop yourself from selling out. But by acknowleding the risk, you're already well on your way. All I can suggest is that if you ever have a niggling feeling that something's not right, it probably isn't. Take a step back, and try and look at the big picture. If you're still not convinced it's all ethically sound, then walk away...
How do I avoid the thrill and burden of a six figure salary?
Burden? No no, it's no burden at all :-) When I first hit 6 figures (that pounds sterling), it
was through some extraordinary circumstances,
and only for a short period of time (I was being
paid two salaries for 6 months or so), but it
allowed me to clear my debts, and get into credit
for the first time since graduating. Just accept
the money, and do your best to bear the burden :-)
BTW, care to educate those of us not familiar with the US legal system... what's a "JD"?
Re:Principles, money, etc. (Score:2)
Luckily, most of the good law schools have loan repayment programs so if you decide not to sell out you're not totally screwed.