College is not a commodity!

BoaltHaas
Tue, 23 Jun 2015 23:18:23 +0000

“A receptionist position at a law firm requires the ability to write a grammatical email; check vendor invoices for errors (deliveries which show up at the “front door” vs. computer equipment and things that arrive via purchase order); know basic life skills like don’t call a partner in Europe at 9 am Eastern time at home-- since you will likely wake her up, etc”

I am a “semi-retired” former managing partner of an AmLaw Top 200 law firm… Our receptionists performed all of the above, and more. They each worked for my firm for a couple of years and then moved on - law school, business school, management jobs, even musical careers. Their base salaries were about $60,000 a year, plus bonuses and full benefits. So yes, we required at least a bachelor’s degree in the screening process.

As to the original question:

(Just my opinion, so no stones, please).

Option A: go to a college, study a subject you enjoy, and do your best (And, chip in a little to help your parents out). As a post above stated, your college record will count more than your college’s pedigree. In my past, my firm would always pick new lawyer hires on the basis of grades and performance rather than academic pedigree. An Ivy League slacker was still just a slacker.
Option B: get a job, work hard, save some money and start your own business. As some of the posters stated, you can get an education of your choice along the way.
Either way, don’t settle for being one of Thoreau’s ants.