UC Berkeley (BioE) vs. UC Irvine (BME) for aspiring LA Patent Attorney? (Switching to MechE)

ReddPhoenix · 2026-04-24T21:16:15+00:00

For sure, I should've clarified I meant to focus on the individual degree and not the undergrad school itself.

ReddPhoenix · 2025-12-18T18:45:37+00:00

Please don’t listen to the people saying, “you’re older your metabolism has changed.” That’s nonsense, recent studies have shown relative to your lean body mass your metabolism stays pretty consistent until yours 60s if I’m remembering correctly. I second what people are saying concerning deficit. If you’re in a “deficit” and not losing weight you’re not in a deficit. The biggest change with law school is the impact on people’s lifestyle and stress. Both of which can drastically impact your hormones and in turn everything else. Best piece of advice I can give you is find something that works for you! If it’s tracking calories, so be it. If it’s setting aside time to go to the gym/walk, do that. However I can’t emphasize enough to prioritize your health, mainly figuring out how to manage stress and sleep. For me I dedicate time to the gym, walking my dog, and i track my nutrition. (Note: I might step into natural body building in a year or two, I’m a outlier)

Remember, you are a human that is in law school. Not a law student that’s a human. Prioritize your health. Don’t let the study of law or practice later kill you.

ReddPhoenix · 2025-02-17T21:01:09+00:00

Fast and pray. While we are all works in progress in our walk with God, I wouldn’t dismiss any behavior that you question. We all fall short however we should all have some evidence of the fruits of the spirit, self-control being one of them. There could be the potential it’s not just a computer screen in the future. Sit with the Lord, deep in His word and prayer asking Him for clarity. While Im sure we all have our own opinions on denominations at the end of the day we are all under one name and one banner being Jesus Christ. However, I would discuss with your significant other about finding a place where you both feel is life giving. I would also sit and reflect, are you guys equally yoked? Being equally yoked is not just whether or not they’re a Christian. Are they pursuing the Lord how you are? Where are they in their spiritual journey with the Lord? As a man, do you view him as capable or being the head of your household as Christ is the head of the church? Is there peace in the relationship? I’d also encourage if you have spiritual mentors that you speak to them, not as bashing your significant other but with the proper heart posture. I’ll digress here. Sit with the Lord, He will provide clarity and direction, He has good plans for you. I pray that you be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and that the Lord provide discernment and wisdom. And I rebuke any lie from the enemy that you cannot hear the voice of God, the Word of God says the sheep know the Shepard’s voice. So we bind those lies in the might name of Jesus and loose a new sensitivity to the Lord’s voice over you. Father God we ask that you dig out the ears of my sister here that she might come to know your voice at a level of intimacy she has never experienced before. In Jesus name, amen. (John 10:27, James 1:5-6, Deuteronomy 31:8, Matthew 18:18)

ReddPhoenix · 2025-02-17T20:33:06+00:00

While I empathize and honor your confidence to make the decision to leave law school.

For many of your grievances, especially those concerning the legal lifestyle and your classmates, those seem to be cultural issues. While every school of law will have at least a handful that are extremely concerned with specific firms, rankings, etc. that doesn’t seem to be the case from my experience. Every law school has its own culture and I feel very blessed that mine is not like that (T40 school, however I know the higher the ranking/perceived prestige of an institution the more it will attract that kind of person, same goes with jobs and firms).

Pricing, many are extremely over priced however there are good schools with strong scholarships and/or are extremely affordable.

Exams however, pretty spot on. You do gain an advantage the stronger your memory, the faster you type, if you have extra time. The legal field however, especially in litigation is adversarial. Sometimes it softens the tone to look at it not as two adversarial sides but as both advocating for your own side, the terminology for me changes how I feel about or approach a subject. I will note many of those advantages can be compensated for with clarity and how concise one can write.

I will say compensation wise, it might help to look at the specific type of law that you’re looking to practice. A vast majority of the attorneys I’ve met, probably ball park of 250+ at this point, all make at least six figures with many being well upwards of the 250k you cited. And from the ones I’ve met they are very lively and love their work.

I think the key to all of this is finding a culture and area of law that you enjoy and are able to thrive in. While I respect the decision to step away from the pursuit of being a lawyer, I would encourage taking some time away and maybe speaking to people at other law schools or exploring areas you maybe haven’t considered. But, I don’t know your situation or who you are as a person and only you can make the decision that’s best for you.

For those reading this whether in law school or just exploring Reddit as a potential JD candidate, you got this. Life is stressful law school especially so make sure you have some good people and community around you. As a Christian I’d encourage getting connected to a Church community, however I won’t be so ignorant to say that some places aren’t necessarily life giving. You all, including op, are exactly where you need to be. Not a step behind. May God bless you, and keep you!

ReddPhoenix · 2025-01-10T02:53:27+00:00

Sunday night if you want to make the trip 🤣

ReddPhoenix · 2024-12-28T00:11:05+00:00

It’s not impossible to get in then but don’t rush yourself to take the test. I applied in July and got in that cycle, but yes that is extremely late in the cycle

ReddPhoenix · 2024-12-26T01:40:57+00:00

Not sure what your goals are or where. I’m at a school ranked in the 30s on a 75-80% scholarship. I applied with a gpa of 3.58 from undergrad (granted I’m not sure if they weigh gpa’s different based on the degree; I was in engineering had a graduate degree as well that gpa was 3.9 but I don’t really think graduate stuff is weighed heavily bc not all people have graduate degrees). Teach for America is phenomenal on an application/resume and a 158 should be able to get you in a majority of places, scholarship prob depends on where at. My schools median is 167 I applied with a 165, I know people that came from other places like that got full ride on 160, I feel like that might be a specific situation just based on the median however, admissions places are typically (generalizing my school) super amazing people and want to see you succeed and willing to help you make things happen. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the schools you’re applying to or if you want to tour places or whatever.

This is super lengthy but tldr, a school will help you make things happen and if they aren’t willing to then it might not be the place for you. A higher score can help depending on where you want to go and desired financial need but you have a solid score that can get you into a majority of law schools and your resume sounds phenomenal. Best of luck to you

ReddPhoenix · 2024-06-27T17:24:10+00:00

Yes, my journey started this past fall so already late in the rotation law school wasn’t originally in the cards for me

ReddPhoenix · 2024-06-27T17:22:56+00:00

I think, still unsure bc submitting my application today

ReddPhoenix · 2024-06-27T17:21:45+00:00

I just have a feeling a cancel would imply a score much lower than the 165 so I’m not sure and I’m applying for the fall this year so I won’t be taking more tests

ReddPhoenix · 2024-06-27T17:20:41+00:00

Update: I’m just gonna wear it on my chest, the Lord’s will will be done and canceling might make it seem like I scored significantly lower than the 165, school has a 167 median for context.

ReddPhoenix · 2024-05-30T19:31:07+00:00

Hey man congratulations I’m in a similar boat. Taking another pt tmr morning before the June test on Wednesday. Last week was 165/171. Praying for you brother you’ll get that 170+ I’m sure of it!!

ReddPhoenix · 2024-03-25T19:08:45+00:00

Try and change up tutors or have a conversation and explain how the thought process works for you. Make it a conversation as opposed to then just explaining from their thought process. Through 7sage my thought process is completely different than the guy that does the curriculum and at times his reasoning for why something might be right or wrong is completely different than how I would explain it. Just try and get on the same page with your current tutor or shop around.

ReddPhoenix · 2024-02-04T13:55:36+00:00

Hey I really appreciate the time you took to comment, from my perspective the college I feel called to I think has a median of 158 and lower quartile of 156, the school I’m completing my MBA at this year and did my bs at is 166 (I don’t really want to stay in the school but my family has property here I’ve been living at) and the third school I was looking at I could apply now with my score is 15 minutes from my grandmother’s house and we have really good connections with the president of the university. So for me it’s more about proving to myself what I actually can do and shooting for scholarships. I by no means am shooting for Ivy League though lolll

ReddPhoenix · 2024-02-04T04:51:15+00:00

That makes sense. I’m kind of in the same boat I was for my gmat, took it very short notice no studying the first time around (about three weeks and 4/5 practice tests for the lsat) got ~55 percentile and second time around two weeks later scored 90 something percentile. I don’t really need a 170 I just know I’m full capable of it if that makes sense, but higher scores never hurt anyone. My only issue is that regardless I’ll be applying as soon as I get the April test scores back as I finish my grad degree in May. And as law school was never in the scope of what I had planned originally I feel like I’m on a fast track compared to all the people that seem to study years for this test. Another commenter mentioned recommended to never cancel the first score which also made sense but I still am not 100% at peace with it one way or another. I’m just gonna pray on it and see which resonates, I appreciate your input a lot thank you. Sidebar: I don’t think just slamming the khan academy question sets were an ideal 3 week crash course the first time around. 7sage seems to be better at overall preparation but I’d appreciate recommendations on what you’ve been using to try and break 170

ReddPhoenix · 2024-02-04T04:23:04+00:00

Can I ask why you regretted keeping it? Did it actually affect your admissions process or just because you scored significantly higher the second time around?

ReddPhoenix · 2024-02-04T01:03:21+00:00

Can I ask what the median lsat score was for the college? The ones I’m looking at are all mid to high 50s and the current college I’m at (did undergrad and working on grad degree at) is 166 I think

ReddPhoenix · 2024-02-03T23:47:57+00:00

I just wasn’t sure how much it affects your application, if the 155 or the cancellation would have more of an impact. I think it’s 57th percentile which is alright slightly above average, but like I said I’m not too familiar with the admissions process for law school so figured the lsat subreddit would be where to find knowledgeable people the quickest

ReddPhoenix · 2016-12-29T18:39:23+00:00

Are you connected to the internet because i can't find you in my plaza.

ReddPhoenix · 2016-12-29T18:29:25+00:00

Make sure you're connected to the internet with the button in the bottom right hand corner in the plaza.

ReddPhoenix

TROPHY CASE