6 answers
Camari
Student
Lovejoy, GA
2
Questions
Asked
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I'm a sophomore in high-school and now that i'm getting closer to college I'm realizing my choice of career path seemed to broad and i'd like to have a career as child-advocate lawyer things such as helping troubled children or children/teens in dangerous situations or mental well being Harvard had always been the number one university for me because it's the best law school In the U.S I knew I didn't want to pursue a career in criminal law so now that I'm really looking into it I'm not even sure if Harvard is the right way to go anymore do I pursue a career in psychology? or a specific major relating to it and I'm struggling to find which college would be the best choice for me concerning the career path I'm passionate about as I'm not entirely sure anymore. I've always wanted to go to an ivy league because I thought it would be the best option. Harvard has always been a top choice but Yale has found it's way into my choices as well. Now that I'm navigating my career path I'm not sure if there are the right choices or not or if these colleges have what I need them to offer?
I just want to make the right choices for me and realizing my choices were too broad and that I needed to be very specific with what I want to pursue in my career path I want to start thinking about these choices now so I can meet the criteria for my college though I am undecided as of now.
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6 answers
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
61
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Camari, it is great you are wanting to really home in on your interests. Sometimes getting a clear picture in mind allows you to map a successful career trajectory. I will also say that sometimes this map can change or shift along the way and being flexible to this will serve you well in life. If you are wanting to pursue law, there are many excellent programs within and outside the Ivy League. I cannot stress enough; it is what you do with your education that is much more important than the school itself. I have a few other ideas about how you might pursue such interests- you might consider training to be a family and child victim advocate. This requires less of a financial and academic commitment than law school (or any graduate degree). Child Life is an incredible way to work with children who are undergoing medical care; it involves advocacy, developmentally appropriate education regarding medical procedures, play and creative arts, family support, and more. To look into becoming a Child Life Specialist look at the association website for particulars. Social work with a specialization in child/family will allow you to work intimately with social service systems, families, and children from a social justice lens. You can pursue studies in psychology or child development and go further to gain a graduate degree in child family therapy or a doctorate in child psychology. You might consider a degree in criminal justice or even forensic anthropology. There are many paths available! These are just a few. Cast your net wide and see what sparks your curiosity and passion. Get real life experience as this is the best way to learn first-hand what any job is like outside of your studies. And as for schools, apply to your top choices while also realizing the competition is high and attending Harvard or Yale is not a make it or break it reality. This is a myth; it is not a guarantee of anything. Good luck!
Betsy Walters
Technical Writer
25
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Betsy’s Answer
Camari,
First things first - you have to apply and get accepted to Harvard or one of the other Ivy League schools. BTW, Duke is an excellent Ivy League university. And if you are not stuck on going to an Ivy League school, there are many great Law schools in this country.
It sounds like - not sure - that you want to help children by being a lawyer - this is a great purpose! From what you wrote, I would think that an undergraduate degree in Psychology/Child Psychology might be the best place to start before going on to Law school.
Also, you do realize how expensive Ivy League schools are?!! If your parents can afford Havard, you are very lucky. If you are accepted to Harvard, you are also very lucky. You will have great connections for finding a start to your career.
Like I said there are great non-Ivory League law schools as well. I always suggest getting more information. Get a bigger picture of lawyers' work and talk to them about the school they went to and how they decided to become a lawyer. What would they recommend as far as undergrad/Law school? Informational interviews are where you go talk to people doing the work you want to do. It will give you a clearer picture.
One of our best presidents became a lawyer and didn't go to a university. He self-studied which you could do back in the 1800s. I mean, Abraham Lincoln, of course.
I think all the answers you have gotten are good ones. However, I think sophomore year is a good time to start looking at colleges and what the admission requirements are. Remember whatever you decide you can always change your mind. But you will be prepared to apply to colleges.
I urge you to find out more about what the career is really like. That's another thing - find out what the admission requirements to Havard are so you can be prepared to apply.
It is a big decision. I would recommend that you stop and breathe deeply. Relax and then take an action toward one of your goals. Doesn't have to be a big action, just do one thing. Address an envelope or organize the information you do have into a file. You'll feel better when you are actively working toward your goal. Don't overthink it, you have time.
Best wishes!
First things first - you have to apply and get accepted to Harvard or one of the other Ivy League schools. BTW, Duke is an excellent Ivy League university. And if you are not stuck on going to an Ivy League school, there are many great Law schools in this country.
It sounds like - not sure - that you want to help children by being a lawyer - this is a great purpose! From what you wrote, I would think that an undergraduate degree in Psychology/Child Psychology might be the best place to start before going on to Law school.
Also, you do realize how expensive Ivy League schools are?!! If your parents can afford Havard, you are very lucky. If you are accepted to Harvard, you are also very lucky. You will have great connections for finding a start to your career.
Like I said there are great non-Ivory League law schools as well. I always suggest getting more information. Get a bigger picture of lawyers' work and talk to them about the school they went to and how they decided to become a lawyer. What would they recommend as far as undergrad/Law school? Informational interviews are where you go talk to people doing the work you want to do. It will give you a clearer picture.
One of our best presidents became a lawyer and didn't go to a university. He self-studied which you could do back in the 1800s. I mean, Abraham Lincoln, of course.
I think all the answers you have gotten are good ones. However, I think sophomore year is a good time to start looking at colleges and what the admission requirements are. Remember whatever you decide you can always change your mind. But you will be prepared to apply to colleges.
I urge you to find out more about what the career is really like. That's another thing - find out what the admission requirements to Havard are so you can be prepared to apply.
It is a big decision. I would recommend that you stop and breathe deeply. Relax and then take an action toward one of your goals. Doesn't have to be a big action, just do one thing. Address an envelope or organize the information you do have into a file. You'll feel better when you are actively working toward your goal. Don't overthink it, you have time.
Best wishes!
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Camari
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
16
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Camari,
I understand you are dealing with a lot of uncertainties now, but you're still a sophomore in high school so there's really no rush to decide if you want to go to law school or even which law school to attend. To illustrate, you still have 2 years in high school and presumably about 4 years of undergrad. That is 6 years before you have to decide anything related to law school!
Harvard and Yale are both excellent choices, and I know folks who graduated from there and made a good career for themselves. But understand that both are extremely competitive and it might be a good idea to cast a wider net by considering other law schools that might be a better fit given your passion in child advocacy. For example, if you have ties to a specific geographic region and wish to serve that community after law school, it might be worthwhile to consider law schools with clinics focusing on child advocacy in that region.
But that's all future considerations you need not worry about today. Today, you need to focus on your high school grades and perhaps consider what major you would like to pursue in undergrad (also, no rush on that). The good news is that law schools do not require a specific Bachelor's degree, so you can major in anything you like. Certain majors such as PoliSci and Government might give you a slight advantage during your first year of law school, but in my experience the playing field is generally leveled by second year since you're likely taking electives that cater to your specific interests anyway.
If you're thinking about becoming a psych major, I would say, "Go for it!" It makes sense given your goal in becoming a child advocate attorney, and even if you decide against going to law school after you complete your undergrad, your degree could still open doors to opportunities in the mental health field. It is perfectly okay if you change your major halfway through college (I did! I went from fine arts to visual arts management). It is also perfectly okay to change what area of law you want to focus in while in law school (I did! I went from intellectual property to tax law).
If you're aiming to get into Ivy League law schools, I would just encourage you to do very well in college, participate in extra-curricular activities, and take up internships to boost your academic and professional profile. Perhaps reaching out to current students on LinkedIn and ask them about the law school admission process and their experience at the school. I hope that alleviates some of your anxiety. All the best!
I understand you are dealing with a lot of uncertainties now, but you're still a sophomore in high school so there's really no rush to decide if you want to go to law school or even which law school to attend. To illustrate, you still have 2 years in high school and presumably about 4 years of undergrad. That is 6 years before you have to decide anything related to law school!
Harvard and Yale are both excellent choices, and I know folks who graduated from there and made a good career for themselves. But understand that both are extremely competitive and it might be a good idea to cast a wider net by considering other law schools that might be a better fit given your passion in child advocacy. For example, if you have ties to a specific geographic region and wish to serve that community after law school, it might be worthwhile to consider law schools with clinics focusing on child advocacy in that region.
But that's all future considerations you need not worry about today. Today, you need to focus on your high school grades and perhaps consider what major you would like to pursue in undergrad (also, no rush on that). The good news is that law schools do not require a specific Bachelor's degree, so you can major in anything you like. Certain majors such as PoliSci and Government might give you a slight advantage during your first year of law school, but in my experience the playing field is generally leveled by second year since you're likely taking electives that cater to your specific interests anyway.
If you're thinking about becoming a psych major, I would say, "Go for it!" It makes sense given your goal in becoming a child advocate attorney, and even if you decide against going to law school after you complete your undergrad, your degree could still open doors to opportunities in the mental health field. It is perfectly okay if you change your major halfway through college (I did! I went from fine arts to visual arts management). It is also perfectly okay to change what area of law you want to focus in while in law school (I did! I went from intellectual property to tax law).
If you're aiming to get into Ivy League law schools, I would just encourage you to do very well in college, participate in extra-curricular activities, and take up internships to boost your academic and professional profile. Perhaps reaching out to current students on LinkedIn and ask them about the law school admission process and their experience at the school. I hope that alleviates some of your anxiety. All the best!
Joseph Ford
159
Answers
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
You have alot going on there. lol Here is a link I believe you will find helpful. It's from IVY school Penn:
https://www.law.upenn.edu/clinic/child/
Take a look. You may need to take another path, but you can always contact the school, and an Advisor should be able to help streamline the direction you want to go in.
https://www.law.upenn.edu/clinic/child/
Take a look. You may need to take another path, but you can always contact the school, and an Advisor should be able to help streamline the direction you want to go in.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1746
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Camari !
I understand that you want to be an attorney and want to attend Harvard. That is a great plan ! What exactly are you undecided about, though ? It will help you to be more specific with what you need advice on because too much more information about other things can cause more indecisiveness. So, do you want to plan for Harvard because you said you want to make plans now, but end as undecided.
Also, you would first get a Bachelors Degree in something like Political Science or Government and then go to Law School. You do not know what your Harvard social culture will be like and it may not affiliate you with child advocacy. You will have to see which opportunities open up based on your contacts. No, you don't pursue a career in Psychology because you are undecided. You take time to really focus on what you really want to do.
The only way you are going to know if a college has what you want is to read their websites and visit the campus and talk with people there. You can go to Yale or Harvard - the two most famous colleges for Law. Do not doubt it. Express what may be holding you back. You are not going to figure things out by just thinking about it, you must explore, read, phone the schools, watch their introduction videos on You Tube if they have a channel and really start making it real. Know that many types of people of all backgrounds attend Harvard and Yale. Don't shut yourself out before the door is open. Do keep in mind that you become a lawyer first and then can do study for a specialty and even take courses at college for specific types of law. You can try your best to focus on child and family law, but other opportunities may abound that may be ones you'd like better. You can't foretell what will happen, but you must be open minded and be passionate about helping people inside and outside of the courtroom and have a knack for public speaking and research.
It may be time to decide or not to decide. People decide to go to Law School at all different points in their undergraduate path or when they're out of undergraduate college. There's no rush on this. Ask yourself if you want to spend your life dedicated to Law and if not, give it more time to explore various careers other than Law. Also, return here to ask more questions. Your choice of career will come with life experience and being actively doing volunteer work and reading about careers. Activities will surely inspire you. Do not give up if you really see yourself as a future lawyer.
Best wishes in all you do and do feel free to ask more questions ! Have a great day !
I understand that you want to be an attorney and want to attend Harvard. That is a great plan ! What exactly are you undecided about, though ? It will help you to be more specific with what you need advice on because too much more information about other things can cause more indecisiveness. So, do you want to plan for Harvard because you said you want to make plans now, but end as undecided.
Also, you would first get a Bachelors Degree in something like Political Science or Government and then go to Law School. You do not know what your Harvard social culture will be like and it may not affiliate you with child advocacy. You will have to see which opportunities open up based on your contacts. No, you don't pursue a career in Psychology because you are undecided. You take time to really focus on what you really want to do.
The only way you are going to know if a college has what you want is to read their websites and visit the campus and talk with people there. You can go to Yale or Harvard - the two most famous colleges for Law. Do not doubt it. Express what may be holding you back. You are not going to figure things out by just thinking about it, you must explore, read, phone the schools, watch their introduction videos on You Tube if they have a channel and really start making it real. Know that many types of people of all backgrounds attend Harvard and Yale. Don't shut yourself out before the door is open. Do keep in mind that you become a lawyer first and then can do study for a specialty and even take courses at college for specific types of law. You can try your best to focus on child and family law, but other opportunities may abound that may be ones you'd like better. You can't foretell what will happen, but you must be open minded and be passionate about helping people inside and outside of the courtroom and have a knack for public speaking and research.
It may be time to decide or not to decide. People decide to go to Law School at all different points in their undergraduate path or when they're out of undergraduate college. There's no rush on this. Ask yourself if you want to spend your life dedicated to Law and if not, give it more time to explore various careers other than Law. Also, return here to ask more questions. Your choice of career will come with life experience and being actively doing volunteer work and reading about careers. Activities will surely inspire you. Do not give up if you really see yourself as a future lawyer.
Best wishes in all you do and do feel free to ask more questions ! Have a great day !
Chetan Jagtap
Legal E-Discovery Manager
2
Answers
Frisco, Texas
Updated
Chetan’s Answer
Hello Camari,
As others have pointed out, you've got a good six years ahead of you (two years of high school, four years of undergraduate college, and the LSAT) before you need to make a decision about your preferred Law School for your Juris Doctor degree. It's normal for high school students like you to feel a bit overwhelmed at this point.
The first thing you need to do is to put your worries about law school aside and concentrate on the immediate tasks at hand. There's a myriad of ways you can make yourself an attractive candidate for Ivy League schools. As a sophomore in high school, your priority should be excelling in your studies, earning high grades, taking as many relevant AP courses as possible, participating in extra-curricular activities, volunteering, shadowing, and demonstrating your passion through your actions. I understand this sounds like a tall order, but it's doable, as evidenced by my daughter's experience.
Your choice of undergraduate major is fine, given that there's no specific pre-law major. You'll have the opportunity to prepare for the LSAT during college, and your scores will help determine which law schools would be a good fit for you. While Ivy League schools are undeniably excellent, there are other great options out there. You could research the top 50 law schools and have backup plans in place, considering the low acceptance rates at Ivy League institutions. Don't rule out applying to public law schools in your state, as all law graduates, regardless of where they studied, receive the same American Bar Association accreditation and can practice law in any state once they pass the state bar exam.
Best of luck.
As others have pointed out, you've got a good six years ahead of you (two years of high school, four years of undergraduate college, and the LSAT) before you need to make a decision about your preferred Law School for your Juris Doctor degree. It's normal for high school students like you to feel a bit overwhelmed at this point.
The first thing you need to do is to put your worries about law school aside and concentrate on the immediate tasks at hand. There's a myriad of ways you can make yourself an attractive candidate for Ivy League schools. As a sophomore in high school, your priority should be excelling in your studies, earning high grades, taking as many relevant AP courses as possible, participating in extra-curricular activities, volunteering, shadowing, and demonstrating your passion through your actions. I understand this sounds like a tall order, but it's doable, as evidenced by my daughter's experience.
Your choice of undergraduate major is fine, given that there's no specific pre-law major. You'll have the opportunity to prepare for the LSAT during college, and your scores will help determine which law schools would be a good fit for you. While Ivy League schools are undeniably excellent, there are other great options out there. You could research the top 50 law schools and have backup plans in place, considering the low acceptance rates at Ivy League institutions. Don't rule out applying to public law schools in your state, as all law graduates, regardless of where they studied, receive the same American Bar Association accreditation and can practice law in any state once they pass the state bar exam.
Best of luck.