I don't do this a lot, but I'm seeking wise advice.

[diablopath]

I'm facing a hard decision, but I'll shorten the hell out of it for you.

Situation: I'm set to graduate in May 2012. This will be the average four years expected of a college student. I kind of want to get out, just anxious for graduation and moving forward. I'm currently planning on going to law school, and to my understanding, they get kind of pissy if an applicant is in UG for longer than four years. However, I haven't been able to find much of anything to support/refute this.

So, here's what's up: I can go study in South Korea for an entire year, nearly free of cost to me. I'll end up with a TESOL certificate, and if I do okay, an intermediate Korean certification. While I'm not entirely interested in TESOL, it's something I won't mind doing, and more importantly, I'll get to experience living in Korea. I've had a considerable interest in the country since I was just three or four, when my father was stationed there for a year.

Doing this will push me back to a 2013 graduation, which means I'd be a five year college student.

Would I be making an ignorant, youthful mistake?
Or should I just go with it?

[Expugnare]

I am by no means an expert, but that seems like the kind of experience and service that can place you above most applicants that just sport great grades and a nice resume. If you are really unsure, I would bet that just talking to the admission departments/professors you hope to work with for their opinions and to express a little bit of extra interest.

[Farsight]

Originally Posted by diablopath

Would I be making an ignorant, youthful mistake?

You say that like it's a bad thing!

Seriously, life's an adventure, and you may never have a good chance to do something like this again. If it's what you want, go for it!

[Adam Blue]

My brother and sister have been in South Korea for the past few years. They originally signed up for one. They love it, and don't even have to know a bit of Korean to get around.

Plus, you'd be getting experience. That's one reason my sister went. Her degree didn't land her jobs because they wanted experience. My bro tagged along because he had nothing else going on, but had a degree.

[wyeast]

a.) I hope you like spicy food.

b.) Stock up on mosquito repellant.

Have a good time!

[diablopath]

Originally Posted by Adam Blue

My brother and sister have been in South Korea for the past few years. They originally signed up for one. They love it, and don't even have to know a bit of Korean to get around.

Plus, you'd be getting experience. That's one reason my sister went. Her degree didn't land her jobs because they wanted experience. My bro tagged along because he had nothing else going on, but had a degree.

Do you know what city they're in? From what I've read before, the further away from Seoul you get, the less people that'll be speaking English. I will be going to Daegu, but there's an Army base nearby, so imagine I won't be too fucked.

My father said South Koreans pretty much hated him. But, he was also there as a soldier, so that might have something to do with it. I'm not entirely sure what to expect.

[Matthias]

What Expugnare said. Interesting experiences like this set you apart from the average applicant, and look great as a humanitarian-style experience as well.

[digitalErich]

I've never heard of law schools getting pissy for people taking 4+ years to finish UG, especially in your case where you are studying abroad. It's not like you took 5 years because you had to retake credits. Now, I say all of this knowing nothing about law school, but knowing a few lawyers.

Onto your second question though, "should you do this?" I did the same thing when I was in school; I went off for a year and lived and studied in Japan. It's a tough choice as it does set your graduation back and all that goes along with that, but here's how I looked at it...

Once you graduate and enter the workplace, what are the chances you'll be able to pack up for a year and go live in another country, all on your own terms? I figured very slim.

Even though I don't use my Japanese basically at all these days, I still consider it one of the best decisions I've ever made, both personally and with regard to my education. Living in a foreign, non-English speaking country for an extended period of time is an experience I would strongly advise anyone to consider for a plethora of reasons. Do it.

[digitalErich]

It will simultaneously be some of the most stressful, scary, memorable, and purely enjoyable experiences of your life.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

Go, but watch out for Fan Death.

If you didn't already have familial attachment to Korea I would suggest Japan instead; Seoul smells, the standard of living is generally better and Korea is where Japan was ten years ago in terms of acceptance of foreigners.

See diagram from one anti-whitey hate group;






That said, you already have an attachment and I have several friends and family members who taught English there for many years and loved it to pieces. I personally am just more interested in Japanese culture than Korean (although I do miss good kimchi, man nothing is spicy here) which is why I am giving you my unhelpful bias.

EDIT: Yeah just to stress, ignore my bias, I pulled that standard of living crap right out of my arse based purely on anecdotal evidence (all my friends were hooked up with pretty slummy apartments in bad parts of various towns, and again despite this they had the time of their lives).

[diablopath]

Originally Posted by Lon Lon Rabbit

Go, but watch out for Fan Death.

If you didn't already have familial attachment to Korea I would suggest Japan instead; Seoul smells, the standard of living is generally better and Korea is where Japan was ten years ago in terms of acceptance of foreigners.

See diagram from one anti-whitey hate group;






That said, you already have an attachment and I have several friends and family members who taught English there for many years and loved it to pieces. I personally am just more interested in Japanese culture than Korean (although I do miss good kimchi, man nothing is spicy here) which is why I am giving you my unhelpful bias.

I've already lived in Japan for three years. I'd like to go back, but I'd also like to experience something new.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

So go for it!

[diablopath]

Originally Posted by Lon Lon Rabbit

So go for it!

The more and more I think about it, I think I will.
I feel like a fucking tool for posting a "TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW" thread, but I suppose I was looking for somebody to provide insight towards the "four years vs five years" debacle. I've asked a few lawyers already, but all they tell me is "Don't go to law school."

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

How old are you if I may ask?

[diablopath]

20, 21 when (and if) I go to Korea.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

Then this is not a hard choice at all.

Some people use these years abroad between/after degrees/jobs cos they still have no idea what they're doing, and they keep putting off establishing any meaningful career well towards 30+.

This kind of experience is a bad idea for those people, but at 21 and for only a single year stay you will have no such problem (provided once you're back and graduating you get on track with whatever career and don't decide to do another 5 years in Asia somewhere, unless that itself is career related).

[Satertek]

This kind of question is one of the reasons you pay your University the big bucks. You really need to go talk to an academic advisor, or if your school has a study abroad program, talk to an advisor there.

[Hawkzombie]

Not even gonna read the other posts. If there's nothing wrong with adding a year to your grad time, DO IT. Getting out there and seeing the world does wonders for a person. I can't recommend doing this enough. I never got the chance, but I wish I had. I hate to travel, but man, it's worth it to see things from a diff perspective.

[Ox]

1. Why do you want to go to law school? What kind of lawyer do you want to be?

2. How much Korean do you currently know? How much will you know at the end of the program?

3. Will you continue your academic studies in Korea, or is this sort of a one-year break in the middle of college?

4. Have you already taken the LSAT? When will you take it?

[Narradisall]

Go for it.

You'll always wonder 'what if?' otherwise. I doubt you will have major issues getting into a law degree after a year out.