Need school advice...inspired by jenny's post (sorta long)

I have been contemplating getting a dual degree for some time, an MBA/JD. There are a few schools that offer this, mostly Ivy League & tier 1 schools, so I am already stressing admissions. I was considering Yale, Columbia, UPENN & UCONN.

So I meet with one of my advisors yesterday & she asks me why I want a law degree. Basically it is to know 100% what my boundaries are in publishing (I lost my first job b/c a magazine made a very basic legal mistake & went under). I really do not want to be a litigating attorney, I figured it would be a board room attorney type of thing.

So she was telling me that if I can get into Columbia's program, not only do they have a concentration for media (and a sub legalities of media) for their MBA, but they have special international media fellowships.

It is hard to get in, about 4% acceptance rate, but I fit the admissions profile (except for my Gmat whaich I haven't taken yet.) So, what should I do????

Well, the first thing I would do is take the GMAT. I scored WAY better on the LSATS than I did on the GMATs (based on the fact that the GMATs are basically 50% Math)...

I think it's useful to get the joint MBA/JD as it's really only 1 more year of work- so why not? It couldn't hurt.

I'm going for my MBA now- I'm in my 3rd year- I should be graduating in May of 2006 (I'm going Part Time as I work full time).

It's a lot of hard work- WAY more work than undergraduate... although in a way, as I've been in business world since 1997 it's a lot easier as it's practical knowledge (well, besides Stats and Economics)...

Keep in mind that there is a totally unglamourous part of the MBA- all those core clases you NEED to take to get the degree: Accounting, Finance Stats, Economics, etc... They aren't fun..

Yeah, I hate those classes, but I do OK in them. I took a bunch in my Ugrad...finance mgmt, management accounting..... all that fun stuff

MBA and JD are like apples and oranges...Depends on what you really want to do, and only you know that. I will say there is never a sure thing with schools that competitive--my brother is in law school at Penn, and got into Harvard and Yale, and did not get into Georgetown or Columbia. He had 174 on the LSAT and a 3.9 at an Ivy undergrad, along with 4 years law experience. I guess you already have your LSAT scores to see where you fall in that spectrum...My advice is, play it by ear--to some extent where you get in will dictate your plans...If the MBA program adds on additional time, I would definitely think twice about whether it is worth it since you had sounded like you always wanted law...Good luck wherever you end up!

Melani, I would see what schools you can (or will!) get into first before seeing what program you want to do. I don't think I would want to do a double program but I know my limitations - if you think you can do it then by all means go for it A JD/MBA can't hurt your chances of getting a great job.

However don't forget things like spending time with your DH and also where you'll be living by the time you start school. Those things will affect your decision too!

As for being a boardroom attorney - I think you mean corporate law. My firm specialises in that but I think what might fit a 'boardroom attorney' would be working as in-house counsel for a corporation, rather than for a law firm. I think their hours are not as bad as working for a law firm, but I'm not positive.

The Columbia program sounds interesting though. I think you need to ask yourself what you really see yourself doing in the future, where you and DH are headed now and in the future, plans for a family, etc. The fellowship sounds great too but really think it over and talk to DH about all your options first!

Sorry I wasn't that much help was I?

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Posted by Maribelle7777

Melani, I would see what schools you can (or will!) get into first before seeing what program you want to do. I don't think I would want to do a double program but I know my limitations - if you think you can do it then by all means go for it A JD/MBA can't hurt your chances of getting a great job.

However don't forget things like spending time with your DH and also where you'll be living by the time you start school. Those things will affect your decision too!

As for being a boardroom attorney - I think you mean corporate law. My firm specialises in that but I think what might fit a 'boardroom attorney' would be working as in-house counsel for a corporation, rather than for a law firm. I think their hours are not as bad as working for a law firm, but I'm not positive.

The Columbia program sounds interesting though. I think you need to ask yourself what you really see yourself doing in the future, where you and DH are headed now and in the future, plans for a family, etc. The fellowship sounds great too but really think it over and talk to DH about all your options first!

Sorry I wasn't that much help was I?

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You are always a help Mary...and yes that was precisely the type I law I was referring to.




DH is no help...he says, do whatever you want to do

I recently got my MBA and DH is in law school now. After seeing what he is going through I would only go for the JD if you 100% are sure you want to be a lawyer. Law school is so competitive and affects all aspects of your personal life. DH is in the library all the time, especially on the weekends. When I was in school it was OK bc we'd go to the library together, but now we spend less time together. IMO, going through the rigors of law school is not worth it if you just have an interest in some aspect of law.

If you decide to do the joint program, good luck with that. It's a great opportunity as long as you are prepared for the long road ahead.

I thought about doing a JD/MBA but found that it does not make too much of a difference if you are just going to work at a law firm. You'd probably have more knowledge about business/finance than someone who just got their JD, which is a great thing, but it also means another year of school which is another year of loans. One of my soon-to-be colleagues is finishing his JD/MBA this year at Columbia but it didn't really make a difference for him as far as what firms were looking to hire him. Another option if you're interested in business and finance is to take a lot of classes dealing with those topics in law school, such as Corporations, M&A, Secured Transactions, etc. Also, I know that NYU at least allowed its law school students to take some classes at Stern Business School. Hope this helps!!

Thanks jennie

wishi could help you out - but i have no idea about these sort of things...
all i can say is to follow your heart.....apply and see if you get in...if you don't, then look to alternatives....but think positive thoughts and go for it!!

Apply and see what happens!! Good luck!!!