Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with student

College Quandary!!

Griffinlb — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:01:41 -0800

Help a young boy make the right decision! Any and all advice for a soon-to-be-undergrad trying to secure his future! So, this is a little specific, but here's the breaks. Specific suggestions/advice are ideal, but any general comments are also greatly appreciated.

I just got accepted to Reed (in Portland) on Early Decision. I also applied to SVA (an art school in NYC) as a transfer student for Spring '09, and was recently accepted.

I love Reed and want to go there more than anywhere else, but finances are a big issue, (I would have started school at another school over a year ago had my financial aid package not shrunk dramatically). If I don't get the financial aid that I need, I was planning on attending SVA, which is (just barely) affordable.

So, here's the predicament: Accepted to Reed but waiting on financial aid package (which is a make-it-or-break-it issue). Probably wont get this info until friday. In the mean time I have to confirm with SVA whether I will be attending by tomorrow at latest in order to receive the full-housing-scholarship I was awarded. SVA can't extend this deadline, and Reed can't send my financial aid info earlier via email or anything else due to 'federal privacy legislation' or something or other.

I've been left up the creek before and I really really don't want to make a faulty decision here. If Reed is unaffordable, and I've nixed my scholarship (and potentially my admission status) with SVA by waiting too long, then I'm screwed.

So, what can I do? If you wise metafilter gurus have an answer, lay it on me. Otherwise, wild suggestions, off-topic advice, or just about anything vaguely related is welcome.

Thanks folks!

(This is all rather complicated, so if there's any important info that I left out, let me know)

What should I do this summer?

Paulefinch — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:31:16 -0800

What are some life-changing things I, as an art student, can spend my summer doing? Here's a little background before I get to my real question.

I'm a 19 year old, gay male student double majoring in Art Education and Studio Art at the University of Central Florida. I'm finishing my sophomore year this semester. After growing increasingly frustrated with the college grind, I want to make some changes! I don't like the fact that I have to have a degree to do what I want to do. What do I want to do? I want to design avant-garde clothing and performances. (e.g. Lady Gaga, Of Montreal, and the Cremaster Cycle by Matthew Barney) Instead of dropping out of school, which I know isn't a very good idea, I just want to develop the parts of my life not directly related to school. I'm considering dropping the Art Education major, because while I want love to teach, I don't think my school's College of Education is right for me. Next semester I'm taking a minimum number of classes (12 credit hours) instead of my typical 15-17, so I'll have more time to create work that my current schedule doesn't allow.

What should I do this summer? I really want to do something that will provide me with amazing experience. I would love to live abroad, study abroad (I have languages bases in French and German.), get an internship, visit museums, or get an apprenticeship. Basically I want to do something with my summer that will change the direction of my life for the better.

Is there something I haven't even thought of? I'm supremely interested in everything related to design, art, and culture, so I'm open to almost anything!

Teacher pretends to be a student on the first day of class: where is this idea from?

solipsophistocracy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:37:59 -0800

It is the first day of class and the instructor does not show up. The members of the class discuss their options, and when the first person starts to leave, one of the "students" stands up and announces that she is in fact the teacher. Is this a campus legend? A scene from a sitcom? An actual demonstration? I know that I've heard of this before, but I can't remember where. I have spent a lot of time with ole goog, but to no avail. Where can I find out more about this exercise (or a fictional depiction of it)?

I'm teaching a cognitive science class this summer, and I have always sort of wanted to do this. I get mistaken for an undergrad pretty frequently, so I think I could pull it off appearance-wise.

It's an upper level class, and probably not too big (20-30 students), so I think there would definitely be at least some discussion before the first person decides to leave. I can see how this could go horribly wrong as far as setting the tone for the teacher-student relationship is concerned. On the other hand, I think it might also provoke a neat discussion about information processing under conditions of uncertainty.

If you've had an experience like this, please share it.

Where can I learn more about any sort of precedent for this kind of exercise?

Note: I'm not talking about the anthropology professor who enrolled as an undergrad and posed as a student for a semester. I'm looking for info on an in class demonstration.

Visa Problems

The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:23:50 -0800

I'm supposed to be at the Spanish Consulate in Miami getting a student visa tomorrow (appt. at 9:25am), but I don't have all the paperwork I need because some of it hasn't arrived from the school that I'll be studying at next semester(as a visiting student). What do I do? What can I do? Fun complications after the jump. So, i'm studying abroad next semester through Saint Louis University's Madrid campus. They (SLU) were supposed to send me the documents I need to apply for a student visa, but they have not arrived to me in the mail. These documents are (I believe) coming from the Saint Louis campus of SLU. Because of the time difference and the fact that I have an appointment with the consulate at 9:25am tomorrow and that I live in Tampa and i'll be driving to Miami (which takes about 5 hours), there's no way I can wait and call SLU in the morning to see what's up and/or potentially get them faxed to me.
I'm going to call the Madrid office when they open in 2 or 3 hours, and see if they can do anything, but what should I do in the meantime? Is there anything I can do, realistically?
Also, as a sidenote, what do you wear when applying for a visa? Should I put on a shirt with a collar/tie/etc?

Where can I meet fellow grad students?

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:27:11 -0800

Where can I go to meet cool UT grad students in Austin. I am a grad student at UT in Austin in a field full of professional types. Think business, law, public affairs. In college, I had friends from a variety of areas, including creative types (arts, film, music) and science people. I miss this, but my program is very insular. Where do the grad students hang out around campus or in the city? Seeking the ability to meet a variety of people. I need friends outside of my program, and grad students are great because we have similar lifestyles, spend a lot of time on campus, etc. It would also be nice to have a dating pool one day that is not in my same school. I am 25, if that helps. Thanks!

Academic novels from student perspective

alicat — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:21:46 -0800

I'm looking for academic novels from the student's perspective (apparently this is a subgenre of campus novels called varsity novels). Bonus for books considered "young adult." Ideally, I want books like Tam Lin by Pamela Dean: fiction set at a university, narrated by a student, written for an adolescent audience.

But I'll also take adult fiction such as Donna Tartt's The Secret History. Novels that include students among other point-of-view characters, such as Jane Smiley's Moo, are also fair game.

Already on the list:

YA
Ivy League novels by Diana Peterfreund
Light Years by Tammar Stein

Adult
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Waking the Moon by Elizabeth Hand
Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd
Joe College by Tom Perotta
The Magicians by Lev Grossman

I'll take any genre: literary, mystery, SF/fantasy ... Thanks!

What makes a good academic scholar?

jfricke — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:32:08 -0800

Where can I find personal stories of popular scholars on their life as students, phd candidates and/or professors? I love my field of study and I am a smart student. But sometimes I feel like this might not enough. That there is something more I should have.

Thus, I am looking for personal stories of popular scholars on their life as students and/or scholars. An example would be Leon Lederman's Low Pay and Long Hours that is also quoted in another ask metafilter thread:

"It was probably five years after my PhD when I began to realize I was fairly competent. By year 10, I realized to my surprise that I was as productive as those best friends who brought me into physics, even though they understood much more than I did (...) Hard work--yes, it really accounts for a lot of the success. Most scientists aren't brilliant. Some are even very slow. Being solid is important--that means really knowing what you have to know even if it takes a long time. Many "brilliant" guys are superficial. Determiniation, doggedness and hard work are the characteristics that are highly valued in a group."

Although I am more interested in humanities or social sciences, personal accounts from any field are fine with me.

What kinds of questions do I ask during a parent/teacher conference?

lynnie-the-pooh — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:58:23 -0800

What kinds of questions should I ask my daughter's Kindergarten teacher during a parent/teacher conference? I'm trying to formulate some good questions to ask. One thing I will ask is.............is there anything specific I can do at home to help her. Also, she can read at the first grade level, or at least it seems that way to me. Should I ask the teacher if she could be put into an advanced reading class next year?

My Glasses Are Not Held Together With Tape, Honest.

VioletU — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:35:05 -0800

I've just returned to college as a mature student and I'm doing really, really well (marks in the low to high 90s, for the most part). I'm proud of myself but I have no idea how to interact with my classmates who aren't doing as well without sounding like a complete jerk. I don't have experience with this! I could use some advice or etiquette. There have been some... incidents. Some details that might help:

This is the first time I've ever done really well in school, despite being a so-called "gifted" child - I've always been the sort who either had to do well naturally or I just didn't bother to try. I was kicked out of university when I was in my early 20s and I later dropped out of other college courses. My good marks this time around aren't due to some form of magic; it's a combination of hard work, effort, obsessive attention to detail and a sheer determination to do my best in a program that's really meaningful to me.

The college program I'm in is highly competitive (they accepted 40-ish students out of more than 700 applicants in our small city). The students are an even mix of adults (our oldest student is in her late 50s, I believe) and recent high-school graduates, and all have a combination of intelligence, experience, and did well on the interviews, references and essays required for admission. I get along well with most of my classmates and would consider a few of them to be actual friends.

The problem is that I keep having awkward conversations that, thanks to my previous academic slacking, I have no idea how to handle.

For example:

Her: I heard you got 98% on the exam.
Me: Yes.
Her: I failed. I mean, really, WHO would know the answer to X and Y?!
Me: ...

I have no idea what to say. Every possible response seems either condescending ("Maybe you should study harder/differently next time?") or like I'm gloating ("REALLY?! You didn't know?!") or just plain awkward ("Oh, well, um.. hey, I like your shoes!"). So I basically stand there silently and inwardly freak out about that silence.

It gets worse.

If I try to give a response along the lines of, "Oh, that sucks. I'm sorry." there are a few people who will say, "YOU don't have to worry about it! YOU are doing really well!" .. which is true, but.. again, I'm working my ass off. SAYING that, however, makes me sound like a jerk because they're probably working their asses off too. My response, then, is to basically stammer something and try to escape.

Wait, there's more!

I have a good relationship, I feel, with the core professors in my program. They seem to recognize that I'm working hard and that I try to contribute meaningfully in class (we're partially graded on classroom participation). It's not uncommon for a prof to say something like, "Good answer, VioletU!" or "The rest of you should consider what she's saying, too.." which makes my little heart glow, of course, but I can see why my classmates might not always be thrilled.

Me: Wow, that class was pretty rough today, huh?
Him: Yeah, well, Prof X thinks you're just plain amazing so you don't have to worry about THAT.
Me: ...

I need the profs to like me as much as possible - they're responsible for my grades, for pete's sake, not to mention my field placements, references, etc. But I'm not sucking up; I legitimately find the classes interesting and want to participate.

I don't want to spend the next 1.5 years being the student everyone hates, however.

I can't hide my achievements, as marks are fairly open to everyone and it's a small class. As the term goes on, I'm hearing more "Smartypants!" and "Brain!" comments and I'm worried it'll become more negative. Any thoughts as to how I can keep achieving without making my classmates hate me? How to respond to the sorts of comments above?

I would like to subscribe to your newsletter, and give you my card!

cgomez — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:21:59 -0800

Help me network like a professional. What are common mistakes that soon-to-be graduates make at network events? What is proper etiquette for name exchanges, gracefully making one's way into a group conversation, and how one does one make an impression without coming off too strong? Particulars after the break. This is a large networking event for accounting students put together by the campus and about twenty accounting firms. If anyone has experience in this job field specifically, that would be great. The purpose is mainly for students to get to know the different firms by briefly meeting representatives and staff from each and asking questions. What is the best way to ask thoughtful questions, but how do I incorporate myself into it or somehow make it more memorable?

Also, I'd greatly appreciate just any general advice for dealing with situations I may not be thinking of.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

j1950 — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:19:57 -0800

Can I use Kansas football student tickets if I'm not a KU student? A friend of mine and I want to buy 2 tickets to Kansas' game next week against Oklahoma. Problem is, they're student tickets, and we're not tickets. I've been told there's an upgrade fee, but it's unclear from the website.

Can we use these tickets? I don't want to buy them if I can't.

Thanks!

"Confronting an injustice" in Chicagoland?

mkrenzer — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:39:50 -0800

My class has been tasked with "confronting an injustice" within our community, and I'm looking past experiences and/or suggestions for action within my areas of interest. (more) This is my first post, so: "Hello, Hive!"

The main project for my "Readings in Race, Class and Gender" course is to "attempt to impact/confront/change/relieve/ et cetra a cultural injustice in the world" and then write about it. A cultural injustice is being defined as "any form of discrimination, hypocrisy, or situation in which one community enjoys certain advantages over other communities..."

I'm attending school in Elmhurst (wiki), and can theoretically have access to Chicago as needed. I'd like todo something related to LGBT issues and/or youth in the city (I'm gay); or something related to autistic youth (I have AS).

Anybody have any suggestions? Questions, just ask...

Are PhD students responsible for a lot of general lab work (4 out of 5 days of work)?

mallow005 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:09:00 -0800

My girlfriend is a PhD student and is wondering how much general lab work (not related to research) is normal for a student (not a lab employee). Her PI does not pay her anything, all her income (stipend, lab expenses) come from other sources like grants. She is not paid extra for doing the general lab work. Her stipend is about half of the cheapest employee her PI can hire, the entire lab is made up of employees (she is the only student).

Is this a normal situation for PhD students in a lab setting?

The work is cutting into her research, which may delay her graduation. Should she risk confrontation with her PI or just deal with it? Her PI is known for being difficult to talk to and deal with.

Citiassist assistance

Sara Anne — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:30:53 -0800

In order to pay for graduate school a few years back, I took out two CitiAssist loans to pay for food and rent. A couple of years on, I've consolidated all of my federal loans, but the CitiAssist loans can't be consolidated with federal loans. A couple of years on, I have the kind of paycheck that one gets with a degree in the humanities. I've kept up on the loans, but the interest rate just ballooned again, and soon I will have to start choosing between my student loans and health care. I'd like to refinance the CitiAssist, but I don't know where to start looking, and the Citibank website is incredibly unhelpful (surprise!).
And please, I don't need a lecture about my lack of financial savvy- I know that I've gotten into a mess, I need some guidance about how to start being financially wise.

There MUST be some way for me to do student research ...

Xere — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:23:20 -0800

My college's biological sciences dept has run out of student internship/research positions. The professors have emailed me back, saying that they might have openings in the spring. But I want to do something now. What are my other options? I'm in Los Angeles. The career center doesn't have any external biology, microbiology, biochem internships listed, either. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to get a position at a college I don't attend - after all, their priorities are their own students. Searching online comes up with jobs that requires me to have my bachelor's degree ... which I don't have yet. Am I doomed to have a weak resume?

Quiet places to study in Edinburgh?

tyris33 — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:29:54 -0800

Quiet pubs and cafes for a student to study in Edinburgh I'm currently on a year long exchange in Edinburgh, and I'm looking to find quiet places to study--they don't have to be dead silent just no loud music playing and loud conversations at the table next to me. I know noisy cafes are great for hanging out with friends, but I'd like a place where I can focus on what I'm reading. If you know of any pubs, cafes, parks, libraries, etc., that would be great. Bonus points for old places with lots of atmosphere (fireplaces, comfy chairs, etc).

How do I cash a Canadian Student Loan while in South Korea?

Knigel — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:04:37 -0800

Need to cash my Canadian student loan but I am in South Korea. I've been confirmed to receive my Canadian student loan; however, I need to bring the form to the Canadian post office so that they can confirm it. Unfortunately I can't seem to do it from South Korea. Last semester, I had the same problem; however, my mother sent me the form, I signed it, and sent it back to her and there was no trouble when she brought it in. They put the money into my bank account. This time, the post offices state that I need the power of attorney. What can I do? My classes have already started and I need to pay for everything.

How can I insure my laptop and camera in a student house?

lukeo05 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:33:17 -0800

What is the best plan for insuring my laptop and camera in my private rented accomadation with 2 other students in Nottingham, UK? The general move seems to be just use Endsleigh Student Contents Insurance. The problem with this is that it has a minimum of £2000 of possesions insurance which doesn't include my camera and laptop, so I have to add them afterwards when really that is all I want insured.

I have looked at non student contents insurance, but they seem to only allow it if you or your family live in the building. I have looked at insuring my laptop and camera individually, not contents insurance, but the problem with this is that walk in thefts are not covered like with the Endsleigh cover, and though I know I will always lock the door, I can't say the same about my housemates, and Nottingham is very big for oppurtunistic thefts with open windows/doors.

Any other ideas about specific insurers who I can get a decent policy which will cover accidental damage, theft, loss and all that, both at home and out and about for my macbook (£900) and D60 plus lenses (18 - 55, 55 - 200, 50; which equals about £650).

Help my American girlfriend become a Mrs. McCluskey (UK teacher)!

almostwitty — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:52:36 -0800

My (American) girlfriend is looking to come over to London to study to become a teacher. She already has a certificate substitute teacher licence ... but that's not much use in the UK. Or is it ... ?

Anyway, are there any recommendations for good/cheap universities that offer a teacher training course? Or any way of doing it?

How can I find a room in London without viewing it first?

SamuelBowman — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:53:53 -0800

How can I find a decent room in London without being there to view it first? I'm starting a postgraduate degree in London at the end of September, and need to find a room reasonably close to Russell Square (less that 4 miles away) for a reasonable price (less than £130/week). To add difficulty to this, I won't be able to actually be in London until I move there to start the degree (I'm not in the country at the moment), so I'll need to be able to find somewhere and secure it before I arrive there.

I've been looking at Gumtree.com for flat listings (is there anywhere better that I should be looking?), and most of the places that get back to me are obvious scams: sent from fake-looking Hotmail accounts, attaching pictures of gigantic rooms supposedly in Covent Garden (etc), and asking for tiny rents. The ones that do seem real are extremely relucant to deal with someone they can't meet before confirming everything. In general though, most people don't even bother replying to my emails. (Am I doing something wrong or is this normal?) I don't know anybody in London who would be able to look at flats for me.

I'm really stuck – if you have any advice about finding a nice room in London without being able to view it first, I'd really appreciate hearing it!

You're a college student, what kind of website do you need?

913 — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:46:37 -0800

What kind of website would you, a college student, find useful? It could range from something academic, to solving something that slightly annoys you or causes you great distress.

How would you show a french girl US culture in a nutshell?

tfinniga — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:32:59 -0800

I'm looking for interesting things to show my french exchange student. What is unique to the US experience? I have a french exchange student living in the US for about a month. We'll be visiting the local tourist attractions, but I'm looking for something more fundamental. What would be good to show her that encapsulates the current culture of the US?

I'm not concerned in trying to show only the good things about the US. I'm more concerned about avoiding showing her stuff that is the same in France. So, we will probably eat at taco bell, but I wouldn't want to make a big deal of introducing her to orangina.

Any suggestions? People who have lived in France and the US, what are the biggest differences you noticed?

In case it's useful, she's 16 and from a suburb of Paris. I live in Utah.

Dress me up like my old headless barbie.

teraspawn — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:50:00 -0800

I've happily gained some weight recently - now I'm at the size at which I'd like to stay for the forseeable future, would you help me rebuild my wardrobe? Abstract: I'd really love recommendations for online shops that sell good quality basics, and some suggestions for things that might suit me. Oh, and I'm a female.

Essay: I've got back up to a pleasant UK size 12 after losing a lot of weight through depression. Now I've finally banished the black dog, I'm going to repeat my second year of university in September, and I'm very much looking forward to it! My time in Sheffield is rather inevitably largely spent walking up and down lots of hills. I have a pair of black walking/workman's boots which I pretty much live in. Since I'm a student I can get away with a lot in terms of clothes, so now seems like the time to try new things!

My figure is pretty hourglass, so it's fairly forgiving of most things. I'm bizarrely pale, and in my opinion I suit reds, chocolate browns and purples and look awful with black next to my face.

I have an idea in my head about finding a pair of relatively tasteful pantaloons, and I'm interested in silhouettes that I haven't tried before, and things like unusual hemlines and layering. I prefer plain block colours and what I'd really love to find are some well-made wardrobe staples that will keep me warm but not sweaty. Anything I can buy online or in the UK is good with me! (Oh, and I'm on a student budget, so low cost is preferable, but if it's something I'll be wearing forever I don't mind shelling out a bit more for quality)

Thank you MeFi! :)

What are my options for insurance?

suncoursing — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:39:18 -0800

What are my options for insurance? I'm starting grad school this fall in Texas, after a few years at a startup. If I were an RA or a TA, I'd automatically be enrolled in the staff insurance plan, but I'm not eligible for that because I'm on a fellowship. I can keep my current insurance through COBRA but, at $600/month, it's a bit expensive. The plan is really nice (no co-pay for a lot of things, $200 annual deductible and maximum out of pocket, no maximum benefit for health or perscriptions, etc.), but it's way beyond anything I need.

The student insurance plan is ~ $160/month, but it has a maximum benefit of $100k. I could handle a plan with a $100k deductible, but $100k maximum benefit means it would only cover relatively minor problems that I could afford without insurance, leaving me with most of the bill for anything catastrophic. Maybe there's something I don't understand about insurance, but this plan seems completely pointless. There's an option to increase the maximum benefit to $500k for an extra fee, but that's still an order of magnitude lower than the maximum benefit for the BCBS plans I've looked at.

BlueCross BlueShield of Texas has various plans ranging from $40/month to $200/month. The $160/month plans look much better than the student insurance plan, and if I'm willing to take a $10k deductible, I can get away with only paying $40/month. If I don't have a pre-existing condition, is there any reason I should prefer group coverage to individual insurance? Are there other insurance providers I should be looking at? I found this list (http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/health/lhiah_lst_incl.html) through a previous post, but since I know absolutely nothing about any of these companies, I might as well go with BCBS if I'm just going to randomly pick a company off that list.

So my options are (roughly in order of preference):
1. BCBS insurance. Only $40/month!
2. Defer my fellowship for a semester, get an RA or a TA, and then pay $300/month to get the staff insurance through COBRA.
3. COBRA. $600/month.
4. ???. Is there something I could do that I don't know about?
5. No insurance
6. Student insurance.

Other than the large deductable, is there any reason I wouldn't want option 1?

Also, do I actually need dental insurance? It seems like insurance only ever covers half the cost anyway, and I doubt anything really horrific will happen if I skip getting a cleaning for a year.

Risk-aversion shows I'm qualified, right?

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:59:57 -0800

Should I take out a full load of student loans to attend a top-6 law school right now? I just got accepted off the waitlist at the last minute. This is not a "should I go to law school?" question; I'm already excited and fully committed.

The question, rather, is how much risk should I take financially in this economy? I was not offered a grant or scholarship (and might have a better chance at being considered for one next year if I apply very early - I put my applications in very near the deadline instead of in the fall). I currently have a job that pays well enough to put some savings away by next year, let's say at least enough to cover living expenses over all 3 years, and hope to come up with some opportunities to enhance my income given the extra time. I also have some personal projects I could finish up and be satisfied overall with spending another year this way before embarking on a long-term, non-interruptible career path like law. Until this waitlist acceptance, I was perfectly content with reapplying next year.

I am passionate about becoming a lawyer but terrified of becoming a debt slave. I can't seriously consider the possibility of committing to a loan payment plan that lasts longer than 5 years; right now, my 5-year payment plan would be $4,000 monthly starting 6 months after graduation.

On the other hand, schools like Columbia, NYU and Chicago are extremely competitive. As I was waitlisted at all 3 this year, I may not be able to count on getting in next year and they don't give deferrals to waitlisted admittees. After applying to other schools, I am certain that these are the only ones I would seriously consider attending, especially on student loans. I think I might be game for big law, but my freedom to choose is more valuable to me than anything, and I don't want to be stuck with it if I genuinely hate it.

Biglaw isn't even hiring right now, and I certainly don't want to place a $200k bet that they will be by 2012. My loans and interest rates are a certainty; the economy and the effects the recession will have on the legal industry and my ability to thrive or survive as a member of it in the near future are anything but certain. If it becomes clear over the next 12 months that student loans this large would be a death sentence for anyone, I could come up with a plan B and be glad to have escaped such a fate, even if being a lawyer remains my first career choice.

So I could be making the biggest financial mistake of my life (there are suddenly no guarantees of summer associateships and huge starting salaries for anyone at any law school?!) - or throwing away the biggest opportunity of my life (admissions are likely to get even more competitive next year, although I do have competitive numbers and would like to chalk up having been waitlisted to having applied quite late and scoring a 6-point increase on the February LSAT after applying with a lower score from December). If I pass up an opportunity to go to my dream school that might not materialize again next year, I'll always regret it; if I find that my life is essentially over after graduation due to crushing debt obligations, I will probably lose the will to go on after a couple years. Which way to go?