Advise a recent (desperate) Ivy graduate (LAWYERS ESPECIALLY)

[Anonymous]

You write well. Just go to law school.

[Anonymous]

I'm the LSE PP. The LSE is a degree factory and they literally just want your money. As do Oxbridge, but there while you will be in a fairly bucolic setting, it will feel remote. LSE is in the middle of London, which is a huge plus.

There are tons of Americans and Canadians at the LSE and in the right circles name recognition is not an issue. Generally there are lots of Anglos but as someone else notes, there are tons of rich third world kids so the student body is truly diverse. Everyone is whip smart and extremely motivated. It was easily the most fun year of my life. As I said before, my parents paid for it all (which is typical of the LSE, the only people I know who had loans were all American) so the stakes were lower for me. I ended up getting a great job in London where I still am.

[Anonymous]

I graduAted from an HYP school. Had lot better grAdes than you but not enough to go straight to top law school
I did presidential politics instead. Threw myself into it. Rose faster than anyone would have ever predicted.
Amazing networking opportunities. FAst forward 20 years and I have a career that most of those who ended
Up w top law degrees would trade for in a second. Those from the law schools - well a lot of bored lawyers
I have only found one receipe for success- bloom where you are planted - put your heart and soul into the Campaign.
Make sure everyone there knows you are a star. Repeat in every job thereafter. Stay away from legal academic-cloud jobs
You didn't thrive in that before. Best distrZction from depression is keeping busy

[Anonymous]

PEACE CORPS!

[Anonymous]

Become an author. You write well. Wish I knew you, I could help you with materials. I have materials but I'm a shitty writer.

[Anonymous]

are you still reading this OP? I could have written your first post like 10 years ago (except for the URM part). I liked school, was smart enough to get into a great university, but was depressed/unmotivated and sucked at follow through. After undergrad I worked on a political campaign through the general then was totally lost on what to do. Ended up at a management consulting firm. Have done very well at a job that gives me a lot of quantitative feedback.

A few things - you need to get looked at for ADHD. "Head in the clouds", depression, all red flags for that. You should also look at a job in media. There are a lot of great companies that would hire you to do policy/advocacy work that you might not be thinking of (vox, politico, etc).

[Anonymous]

Lol at affirmative action

[Anonymous]

Here's how you fix it, OP:

1. Stop the excuses. No one is interested in the sob story... especially those of us that are also URM.

2. Work your tail off in this campaign. Deliver results. Network constantly.

3. Leverage your new connections into future opportunities. Continue working your tail off.

4. Never again get comfortable or complacent like you did in college. It's a tough labor market and you will ALWAYS have to prove yourself.