I am going to graduate with a degree in political science in one year. I am considering law school after I graduate, but I would rather not. My goal, aside from making money and hunting as much as possible, is to help gun owners out. I would really rather not do any more school, but if necessary I probably would. I would like to work for the NRA or something like that, but I am wondering how much education it would take to really make a difference there. Any ideas? I have really good grades and could get into some decent law schools or graduate schools, but man, I am about ready to be done with school for awhile. What do some of you do for a living? Do you like it? Would you do something different if you could? Thanks for the input.
My story: I have a total of 7 years of college under my belt and two degrees, wound up as a print producer in the advertising field. It's a love/hate relationship, but I would do it different if I could. Since I can't, I can only give you advice.
If you are fairly young, early to mid 20's let's say, go for it. Why not? Ask yourself, can a political science degree in itself take you where you want to go eventually? If not, then get more schooling. Don't get out of it right now to "test the waters". You may not go back. Get it out of the way. Plus, with a law degree, even if you don't get to chase your passion of doing good for all of us gun owners, you have just opened a huge opportunity for way more than you would have with no law degree. Everyone hates a lawyer, but this world needs them. Needs more like you with a set of convictions that are worth while.
I can't tell you either way what is right or wrong for you, but can say that once you get out of school, with very few exceptions, your college degree has only earned you the right to learn more. Why not broaden that horizon of opportunity to go on and learn more in a number of fields rather than just a few?
God Bless. I hope you the best.
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We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
Next year is my senior year in college. I am going to graduate with a degree in business admin with a minor in english. Like you, I am thinking about law school. You and me are about in the same boat. I am sick of school as well. I go to a military college, so the thought of anything other than unrestricted freedom doesn't sit real well with me. I still have another year to figure out what I am going to do. My grades are good enough to do pretty much what I want, which is a good feeling. I just don't know yet.
What a lot of my advisors are telling me is to get a job in a field I am interested in and get a few years of experiance. Lots of grad programs require two years of work experiance before they will take you. Its also a good way to get grad school paid for.
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Where do I begin...
I guess first, I have been in college for almost 15 years, and am working on my third degree. I could have 2 Master's, but chose to just have one---too long of a story for this BBS.
During this time, I have held numerous permanent jobs, some summer employment, some seasonal, some part-time year round.
I am in the science/math sector, and can without a doubt say that you will not be disappointed in graduate school, whether it is professional---law, medicine, business---or academic---PhD. or MA/MS---in nature.
There is one stipulation however---you must still have a yearning for knowledge. Graduate school is not about getting an advanced degree to make more money---that is merely one of the nice "perks" that comes with earning the degree.
For both of you guys, you may want to apply for some internships in your respective fields---politics and business. Internships in these fields actually pay OK (probably ~20K/year) with crappy benefits. Upside is you usually get to do some grunt work with little recognition---very similar to graduate school, but you get your feet wet with a most sought after introspection into your fields.
And ElCid, unless you're going in for an MBA, MD, DVM or Law degree, almost all graduate students with good grades can find funding for their studies. I've had funding for my entire graduate career because of my excellent undergrad grades and subsequent success.
Whatever you decide, weigh this decision carefully. You do not want to have a family, house and monthly bills when you decide to go back and get the advanced degree...
But that's just my opinion...
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"The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight." Theodore Roosevelt
A career has to be something you want and like to do. Otherwise the drudgery of getting up every day and going to work is meaningless, even for good money. The first job I took was because I couldn't hack school anymore. I worked in an office for 3 years, went back to school and ended with a career in Fish and Wildlife. Those two extra years of college was worth the sacrifice.
Thanks for the replies guys. I am 21 right now, and my GPA is a 3.8, so I have alot of options, which is great. The only thing is, I feel like I am missing something being in school like this. Whether it's hunting trips or whatever, it just seems like school is getting in the way of life. I have an internship right now, but since I am an undergrad it is unpaid. At least I get some credits for it. The only reason I am really considering law school is to get the degree and have a good chance to do something big for gunowners and hunters.
The thing that I am torn between is that I feel like I am wasting my 20's in school. Hunting is my true passion in life, I absolutely love it. And when you are studying all weekend for freakin' midterms, it puts a hamper on it. I get into a cost/benefit analysis of what is going to be better in the end; NOT wasting my 20's in school, or maybe acquiring more education and making a little more money.
Thing is, I don't know that I can help gun owners and hunters the way I want to without an advanced degree of sorts. Anyone got any ideas on that? Thanks again guys.
ORIGINAL: BigBore1895
The only thing is, I feel like I am missing something being in school like this. Whether it's hunting trips or whatever, it just seems like school is getting in the way of life.
The thing that I am torn between is that I feel like I am wasting my 20's in school.
I don't have the knowledge to answer the questions you are after, but I can give you some insight to life after school and after your 20's. You aren't missing much by being in school and wanting to stay in school. I found that at 23 years old with a full time school load, a full time job, a full time wife, brand new baby girl and just bought my first house, that I didn't know a THING! Sure, I had a high GPA and was very book smart, but I didn't know much about life. I say get your education first and don't want things too fast. They will come, and quicker than you expect. When you get to my age (36), you will realize that life travels by 10x faster than it does at your age. That's why you want to get out there and "get on with it" - it's going slower than you wish or you are feeling held up in life. Hold on to that bro, it won't be that way forever. Before you know it, you'll have a new truck, new car, great family, and hunting at your fingertips. For now, stay in school and get what you may not be able to go back and get later. Like Strut & Rut said, before you know it, you'll have that family and payments and won't be able to give that up to go back and get what you should have when the time was ripe. 21? Graduate at 22? Spend another few years in school, get out when you are 26 or so? You are still a kid at that age, just learning about life. Take it now. There'll be plenty of hunting trips in your future my friend. And think about it, if you have that much passion for our great sport, you will be doing us all a favor by getting smarter before you get out here and try to help us.
__________________
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
One more thought: If you are that passionate about preserving our great sport, maybe you should start thinking more long range - what can you do and what will it take to do that.
__________________
We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.
If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a civilization, it expects what never was and what never will be.
Glad to see someone else walkin in my shoes. I'm 20, and am looking into a PoliSci major. But I too don't know if I wanna go to law school and become a lawyer. Though the money is there, I don't know if I wanna put up with the stress and long hours, plus I hate lawyers, most are sleezy scumbags.
Just wanna do something I like, and be able to support the wife and kids. If my girlfriend and I get hitched, I might have to support her, and 4 kids...[:-]
Thanks for all of yall's replies...they've helped me out some too...
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"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
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