What should I do with my extra year?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around options for utilizing an extra year in academia, particularly for students considering law school or engineering careers. Participants explore various paths, including internships, coursework, and work experience, while weighing the implications of their choices on future opportunities.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest looking for internships in engineering during the fall and spring semesters as a way to gain experience.
  • There is a concern about the job market for law graduates, with one participant advising preparation for the LSAT and considering alternative courses if the extra credits do not need to be in the major.
  • One viewpoint emphasizes the importance of gaining actual work experience over focusing solely on final exam results.
  • Questions arise regarding the hiring practices of engineering firms, specifically whether they can employ individuals without accredited degrees and label them as engineers.
  • Another participant mentions that the job title may not be as important as the experience gained, which can demonstrate teamwork and adherence to guidelines.
  • There is a suggestion to take English or philosophy courses to prepare for law school, emphasizing the need for strong writing skills.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of opinions on the best use of the extra year, with no clear consensus on the optimal path forward. Some advocate for internships and work experience, while others emphasize academic preparation for law school.

Contextual Notes

Participants note specific limitations regarding course availability and the requirements for major credits, as well as the variability in hiring practices among engineering firms.

SuperCat
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I don't know about full-time engineering work, but you could always look around and see who hires interns for the fall and spring.
 
If you're pursuing law school (n.b. a truly horrible job market) then you should be preparing for the LSAT. Do these four credits have to be in your major? If not, take a pre-law class or study a language.
 
I think getting actual work experience in some form would be better than concentrating on maximizing your potential results in final exams.
 
axmls said:
I don't know about full-time engineering work, but you could always look around and see who hires interns for the fall and spring.
I've had multiple internships before. I was hoping to get an actual position just for the sake of having it on my resume.

DrSteve said:
If you're pursuing law school (n.b. a truly horrible job market) then you should be preparing for the LSAT. Do these four credits have to be in your major? If not, take a pre-law class or study a language.
The general job market for lawyers is bleak, but I'm specializing and I don't plan on attending unless I get into a T14 school. The credits have to be in my major, and they are only offered during those semesters.

rootone said:
I think getting actual work experience in some form would be better than concentrating on maximizing your potential results in final exams.
Can an engineering firm hire someone without an accredited engineering degree and call them an engineer? If so I'll look more into applying for a full time job.
 
SuperCat said:
Can an engineering firm hire someone without an accredited engineering degree and call them an engineer? If so I'll look more into applying for a full time job.
That's going to depend very much on what firm it is and what the actual job responsibilities are.
If you don't set your sights too high and go for a junior/assistant position with a middle of the road kind of company you could get lucky, although you won't have the official job description 'engineer'.
That kind of experience looks good on a resume not so much because of the official job title, but as proof of your ability for teamwork, respect for operating guidelines, good relations with management and so on.
 
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If you're going to law school, take a coupe of english or philosophy courses (critical writing intensive). You'll need it.
 

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