CLAT 2023 in 7 Months! Should You Take a Drop?

It’s that time of the year again! CLAT results are out, and unfortunately, despite our best efforts some of us have not made it into the NLU of our choice. It’s important to take a moment and reflect on what went wrong. Perhaps it just wasn’t your day, maybe you didn’t do as many mocks as desirable or maybe you were dealing with other important commitments at the time.

It’s okay, none of these can be undone and it’s too late to cry over spilt milk. So what’s next?

Most people around you might advise you to take a drop year, luring you with the perfect strategy to crack CLAT in one year. However, it is strongly advised to think wisely as to whether this is the right decision. Let’s break down taking a drop this year.

Most proponents of the ‘anti-drop year’ principle for CLAT believe that 12 months is a huge investment to make. There are just too many contingencies. This is true, and perhaps one of the biggest pros of taking a drop year this time is that you have 7 months.

However, it is advised that you see your score and analyse whether you can fix these issues in the next 6-7 months. Could the mistakes you made have been avoided? Are there fundamental errors that you can’t undo in 7 months? It’s important to reflect on these questions before jumping into taking a drop.

Logically, it is true. 7 months of just sitting home. You know what went wrong, you’re well planned, you believe you have a solid strategy. But in reality, this is untrue. Several students take a drop year only to realize 3 months into the drop that this isn’t their cup of tea.

You’re bored, exhausted and it’s hard to keep your focus when your friends seem to do much better. So unfortunately, this principle may not hold good.

We know, you’ve probably watched topper interviews of students who cracked NLSIU in their 2nd or even 3rd attempt, and you’re fuelled with the motivation to ace the exam.

However, you fail to take into account an emergency situation. Maybe you come down with a fever, there’s a family issue you need to cater to, CLAT 2023 gets postponed and you don’t make it. You’ve lost another year.

Instead it’s a good idea to enroll in a college while taking a drop. Maybe it’s a lower ranked NLU, or a private college you’ve made it to. If it’s a college in the likes of Symbiosis, Christ or Jindal. Take it! Perhaps in 3 months you love the college you’re in and don’t see the point in writing CLAT again, or if you don’t clear CLAT 2023, you have a backup option.

You have a safety net. Further, one year of law school, prepares you for the legal profession, when you make it to your NLU, you have an edge over other students. It also helps you develop a routine.

Talk to your family, seek advice from your mentors, find out how good your backup college is from your seniors, and decide if this truly what you want to do

All the best!