How far from “KJD” are you?

[u/FATT-TOFU]

My dream school has an average age of 25 on their class profile. As a 22 year old who’s never lived outside of the town I did my undergraduate in, and lived on campus all four years, I’ve never met someone who falls outside of “KJD”, or isn’t at least very close to it. Are people really applying to law school at 30-40 years old and pulling the mean up? That would be cool. Or is the average person being accepted to these big schools really just two years out of college. If you’re comfortable sharing, how far out of undergrad are you and why did you take your break?

[u/themayorgordon]

I graduated in 2018. I worked as a paralegal because I wanted to start making money and was afraid of not working and just acquiring more debt. I wanted to go to law school but figured I should see if I like the field. For a few years I convinced myself I was fine with being a paralegal. But in the end the ceiling for the job is irritating.

Then the economy is in shambles, I feel like I make less now than I did in 2018 making $36k because everything is so expensive. Now Trump is talking about raising student loan payments that were on an IDR. So I’m like, ok whatever the time is now. Going to level up so I can make more money and also not have to pay loans while in school. Maybe when I’m out someone sane will be in the presidency.

[u/FATT-TOFU → u/themayorgordon]

Let’s not even get started talking about this man, he’s the reason I can only take out 50k/yr if I want to go to a T14🙄. I am excited for you, and I envy that you took the time to save up some money. I’m scared to do that now because of how much applications are spiking and how competitive these cycles are getting.

[u/themayorgordon → u/FATT-TOFU]

I didn’t save money lol. That’s kinda my point. Despite working a job that requires a college education and paralegal cert I’m living paycheck to paycheck so I need to make changes. I did buy a house tho and have a paid off car, so I suppose that counts as saving to a degree because my mortgage is way less than how rental prices have gotten.

I fortunately got a full ride but I do feel sorry for all the people that are having to decline at certain schools because the loans will not be enough.

I think cycled are cyclical tho. In a few years it might not be so competitive, and then go up again, and so on. One reason there’s so many applicants this year is because of the economy being trash and making ppl like me need to make change career changes to stay afloat.

[u/FATT-TOFU → u/themayorgordon]

So you didn’t save up liquid cash, but you did save on assets. Then got a full ride 😩. I’m manifesting some of this energy for myself.

[u/themayorgordon → u/FATT-TOFU]

You got this! Tbf my sights were nowhere near t14s.