Background: I got a B.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Applied Anthro. I also minored in Psychology. I am currently working for a Human-factors (ergonomics) research, testing, and design consulting firm.

In terms of post-undergrad studies, here are the two options I've been considering... I just need some objective, outside POVs...
A) I have been seriously considering law school, as I love looking shit up and arguing about shit (ESPECIALLY law), so it seems like a good choice and I'd make pretty good money. The things I DON'T like about the idea are that I've heard lawyers regularly work 80 hour weeks (I just don't think I'd be able to do that and stay sane) and I don't know that I'd really be "making a difference" in the world like I might if I went into a more academic/research oriented field.

B) On the non-law school side, I've always enjoyed doing research and have often dreamed of going into teaching at the university level. The thing is, I don't know what field to go in to. I'd like to be able to make a difference somewhere (i.e. go into a field wherein my research could help people in some capacity) and make good money at the same time, but i don't know what the fields are that would allow me to do both.

Given this information, does anyone have any advice/insight? I really just need to get some objective POVs since I'm pretty tied up in the problem. Any and all insight will be gladly taken (except from the trollish assholes; they will be set on fire).

10/1/2006 7:06:55 PM

A) There are a LOT of things you can do with a law degree other than be an 80-hr a week lawyer. My father works claims and does well in terms of $$$. Doesn't make six figures, but never pulls more than 40hrs a week and never had to travel out-of-state.

B) Research is a good thing, you'll be doing plenty of it in graduate school. Unfortunately, there are other realities that go hand-in-hand with the research, and you need to be willing to accept those as a part of the package. A university job eventually requires tenure and a long-term inflexibile commitment to living in a specific area. (Not a bad thing, just a reality).

Sounds like you have the right mindset but need to do a bit more research into careers available if you do graduate school.

10/1/2006 10:47:15 PM

The best advice I can give you is to decide what you want to do with your in life. If a graduate degree in ABC will help you achieve your goals, get a graduate degree in ABC.

10/1/2006 11:03:49 PM

^^ That's good to know about the lawyering thing... it gives me some hope

^ you make a valid point on the goal thing... I need to think more about what my goals are

10/1/2006 11:24:32 PM

i'd get in touch with some people in law school and talk to them

one of my good friends is in law school right now-- she's wanted to be a lawyer forever, is crazy smart and a hard worker and law school is giving her a run for her money (not to mention how damn expensive it is)

i wouldnt go into law school unless you were absolutely sure-- the first year is designed to weed out people who are on the fence about it

10/3/2006 6:25:36 PM

search the "old school" section of tww for the law school thread and read what some of those guys are sayin bout it...sounds rough

10/3/2006 8:32:24 PM

I'm currently getting my master's in Sweden and I love it. I am getting to experience a new country while working toward an advanced degree in my field of interest, a lot more worthwhile than a simple study abroad for me. If you have any interest in studying overseas take a look at sweden. They have hundreds of programs that are done entirely in english and tuition is free (plus full, free medical coverage if you apply for it).

10/4/2006 4:40:04 PM

^how is tuition free?

10/4/2006 4:41:54 PM

^ Swedish citizens pay an assload in taxes in order to get a ton of social benefits, one of which being free tutition to all who are accepted into higher education. For some reason, they also extend this little benefit to foreigners (at least for the time being). I pay $30 per semester in student union fees which basically pays for them to organize wild parties twice a month and i get student discounts around town and on train/bus tickets.

10/4/2006 5:27:29 PM

damn, I'm moving to sweden then.

10/4/2006 7:21:51 PM

^^ so how do you apply and get accepted and stuff?

10/4/2006 11:46:12 PM

http://www.studyinsweden.se

That is the main site for general information about studying in Sweden. It lists all of the institutions and with a little digging, you can figure out which ones offer programs in your field in english. It is really easy to apply to most of the schools and I never enountered any application fees which was a huge bonus. It allowed me to apply to more schools and long-shot programs that I wouldnt have considered if I had to shell out $50.

For some programs, it would obviously be smart to study in the US, but for fields such as mine, it is advantageous to get a degree in europe. plus im getting an MS in less time here than I would get an MA at State.

10/5/2006 11:23:32 AM

Quote :

"I love looking shit up and arguing about shit (ESPECIALLY law), so it seems like a good choice and I'd make pretty good money"

You better love, and I mean really LOVE, "looking shit up." I spend 90% of my work life researching and writing. Much of it is not sexy or interesting (e.g. questions of policy or constitutional law), but rather dull questions of substance and procedure related to contract disputes. Most of my arguing is done in memo form to a court. Most litigators don't get to stand up in front of judge and argue all that much.

Talking to law students will give you a good idea of what school is like, but before you consider law school you should talk to lawyers (lots of them) about what they actually do. It's very different than law school.

BTW, whats really good money? The six-figure jobs are hard to get coming out of school. Most of them go to students at the top schools or those at the top of thier class.



[Edited on October 5, 2006 at 1:56 PM. Reason : ]

10/5/2006 1:55:58 PM

The six-figure jobs are hard to get coming right out of school...but necessarily that hard to get later on down the road...it all depends on what path you take.

And whether or not you do a lot of "looking" shit up or time in the courtroom also depends on what path you take.

There are a lot of options in the field of law.

10/5/2006 3:08:44 PM

I'm working on my Ph.D. in human factors psychology now

shoot me a PM if you have any questions about that

10/5/2006 3:31:50 PM