Is Drop Year a Good Solution? | Pros and Cons

In this article, we will discuss a common dilemma many CLAT aspirants face: whether to take a drop year or not. It’s a genuine concern, especially after your board exams. You might be wondering if you should give CLAT another shot after not making it the first time. Let’s discuss the pros and cons and hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer perspective.

The Conventional Wisdom vs. Modern Reality

If you ask your parents or someone from their generation, they might discourage taking a drop year. They might argue that it takes up too much time, which is understandable. Back in their day, the path to becoming a lawyer involved a lengthy process of first completing a graduation and then pursuing a law degree, which took around six years in total.

Nowadays, the integrated five-year law degree has become the norm, shaving off a whole year from the traditional path. When you consider this in the context of a 30-year career, that one year seems quite insignificant. You’ll likely be working until you’re 55 or 60, so why not invest another year to get into a top-tier law college with excellent placements and a strong alumni network that can benefit you throughout your life?

The Case for Taking a Drop Year

1. Better Opportunities: Dropping a year gives you a chance to get into a better law school. Top-tier colleges offer better placement opportunities and have a strong network of alumni who can help you throughout your career.
2. Maturity and Experience: Having gone through the exam process once, you now have a better understanding of what it takes to succeed. You know your strengths and weaknesses and can focus on areas that need improvement.
3. Reduced Pressure: Sometimes, the pressure of board exams and CLAT preparation simultaneously can be overwhelming. Taking a year off allows you to focus solely on CLAT without the additional stress of board exams.

Addressing Common Concerns

You might worry that taking a drop year could negatively affect your placements. However, this concern is largely unfounded. From experience, around 50% of the students in CLAT coaching around droppers. It didn’t make a difference when it came to placements. Recruiters primarily care about the college you graduate from and your performance there, not the number of attempts you took to get in.

It’s also important to learn from your previous attempts. Many students don’t perform well the first time due to the pressure of class 12 exams and projects. By taking a drop year, you have the opportunity to correct those mistakes and approach the exam with a clear mind and focused strategy.

The Journey Ahead

Remember, it’s okay if things don’t work out the first time. This doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your dreams. With the right preparation and mindset, you can succeed. We aim to guide you to your dream National Law University (NLU) and make your dream come true.

We’ve had the privilege of seeing many students achieve their goals and we want you to be the next success story. But it requires hard work and dedication. So start working hard, stay motivated and trust the process.