Degree choice for Law schools Forum

[HarvardHopeful93]

Hey guys,
I know most law schools don't care which major you take as long as you have the GPA to get in. But I have talked with several people that say an interdepartmental degree between Political Science-Economics is frowned upon as compared to simply double majoring in Political Science AND Economics. At my school (IU), it would take 60 credits for a double major (30 per each major), whereas it would take 42 credits for the combined Poly Sci-Econ degree. Are there any downfalls to the interdepartmental major? Is it looked negatively upon?

Thanks guys

[NoodleyOne]

Does.

Not.

Matter.

[elblufer]

Does.

Not.

Matter.

+1

[Br3v]

Do the major(s) that you enjoy and can get the highest gpa in.

[bp shinners]

But I have talked with several people that say an interdepartmental degree between Political Science-Economics is frowned upon as compared to simply double majoring in Political Science AND Economics.

Same advice as posters above.

And probably disregard future law school advice from the quoted sources.

[dkb17xzx]

Pick a major that'll help you get a job after. Other than that, it doesn't matter.

[WhiteyCakes]

Pick a major that'll help you get a job after.

This

[TheThriller]

1. Get online degree
2. Get 170+ Lsat
3. Get into a T6 with those numbers
4. ??
5. Profit

[spleenworship]

1. Get online degree
2. Get 170+ Lsat
3. Get into a T6 with those numbers
4. ??
5. Profit

Has anyone with an online BA ever actually gotten into a T6 that we know of?

[TheThriller]

1. Get online degree
2. Get 170+ Lsat
3. Get into a T6 with those numbers
4. ??
5. Profit

Has anyone with an online BA ever actually gotten into a T6 that we know of?

OP could be the FIRST.

But yes, I believe there are 1 or 2 military vets who completed their college online, scored 170+ (174 for one of them I think) and was accepted into Harvard.

[spleenworship]

1. Get online degree
2. Get 170+ Lsat
3. Get into a T6 with those numbers
4. ??
5. Profit

Has anyone with an online BA ever actually gotten into a T6 that we know of?

OP could be the FIRST.

But yes, I believe there are 1 or 2 military vets who completed their college online, scored 170+ (174 for one of them I think) and was accepted into Harvard.

I got my degree online from local state school. My GPA was, however, awful. So I didn't apply above T20. I got in most places without any issues because I took my classes online, but I didn't apply to the top tier, so I was just curious.

I do wonder how much the military service was seen as a good excuse for online education by the admissions deans in those situations though. I wonder if a non-servicemember would get the same breaks.

[TheThriller]

1. Get online degree
2. Get 170+ Lsat
3. Get into a T6 with those numbers
4. ??
5. Profit

Has anyone with an online BA ever actually gotten into a T6 that we know of?

OP could be the FIRST.

But yes, I believe there are 1 or 2 military vets who completed their college online, scored 170+ (174 for one of them I think) and was accepted into Harvard.

I got my degree online from local state school. My GPA was, however, awful. So I didn't apply above T20. I got in most places without any issues because I took my classes online, but I didn't apply to the top tier, so I was just curious.

I do wonder how much the military service was seen as a good excuse for online education by the admissions deans in those situations though. I wonder if a non-servicemember would get the same breaks.

Oh probably most likely not. And you probably have to assume these were not run of the mill enlistees.

[AllDangle]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)? I'm a CJ major who is mostly interested in transactional biglaw. Grades at LS are the most important, that goes without saying. But would biglaw firms be wary of hiring someone with a CJ or liberal arts degree for transactional work?

[TheThriller]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)? I'm a CJ major who is mostly interested in transactional biglaw. Grades at LS are the most important, that goes without saying. But would biglaw firms be wary of hiring someone with a CJ or liberal arts degree for transactional work?

Top LS grades are Top LS grades. It won't hurt you. Relevant WE may help you but CJ as a major won't hurt you if you have the grades.

[dietcoke0]

Do the major(s) that you enjoy and can get the highest gpa in.

this is the correct answer.

The best series of events would be if you 100% are going to law school:

1. Pick easy major at cheap school with lots of boozes and lots of sex
2. Do it in 5 years, with your last semester only 6 hours, so you can study for LSAT
3. Super high GPA cuz easy school (that gives A+s)
4. Go abroad for at least a year, soaking in the sun and suds, while applying for school
5. Come back, and go to YSHCCN and kiss the rest of your life goodbye.

[dingbat]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)?

The easy answer is IP law, which requires a technical UG.

[ScottRiqui]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)?

The easy answer is IP law, which requires a technical UG.

+1

Although, if all you want to do is preserve the opportunity to sit the patent bar as a "Category A" (the most straightforward way to qualify for the patent bar), there are easier and harder ways to do that, too. I can't help but think that a bachelor's in "general chemistry" or "food technology" is going to be easier than electrical engineering or physics.

[elblufer]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)?

The easy answer is IP law, which requires a technical UG.

+1

Although, if all you want to do is preserve the opportunity to sit the patent bar as a "Category A" (the most straightforward way to qualify for the patent bar), there are easier and harder ways to do that, too. I can't help but think that a bachelor's in "general chemistry" or "food technology" is going to be easier than electrical engineering or physics.

I found this out my Junior year. I wish I would have known earlier. I'm a government major but work as a web developer. Could have easily gotten a comp sci degree as well and have gone into IP law (which, I'm interested in).

[ScottRiqui]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)?

The easy answer is IP law, which requires a technical UG.

+1

Although, if all you want to do is preserve the opportunity to sit the patent bar as a "Category A" (the most straightforward way to qualify for the patent bar), there are easier and harder ways to do that, too. I can't help but think that a bachelor's in "general chemistry" or "food technology" is going to be easier than electrical engineering or physics.

I found this out my Junior year. I wish I would have known earlier. I'm a government major but work as a web developer. Could have easily gotten a comp sci degree as well and have gone into IP law (which, I'm interested in).

Well, Computer Science is tricky - it doesn't automatically qualify you to sit the patent bar unless it was ABET-accredited by the Computer Accreditation Commission, or CSAB-accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission. All the other technical degrees that the US Patent & Trademark Office lists for "Category A" qualification are automatic.

[KingsCup]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)?

The easy answer is IP law, which requires a technical UG.

+1

Although, if all you want to do is preserve the opportunity to sit the patent bar as a "Category A" (the most straightforward way to qualify for the patent bar), there are easier and harder ways to do that, too. I can't help but think that a bachelor's in "general chemistry" or "food technology" is going to be easier than electrical engineering or physics.

Ya, having the option of doing it as a mechanical engineering major is cool, but it doesn't outweigh my crappy GPA because of how hard my classes were

[cinephile]

Pick a major that'll help you get a job after.

This

[dingbat]

Can your degree have a negative effect on what type of law you want to practice (or think you want to as a 0L)?

The easy answer is IP law, which requires a technical UG.

Well, Computer Science is tricky - it doesn't automatically qualify you to sit the patent bar unless it was ABET-accredited by the Computer Accreditation Commission, or CSAB-accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission. All the other technical degrees that the US Patent & Trademark Office lists for "Category A" qualification are automatic.

I originally was gonna say that the other easy answer is that a non-accredited UG can have a negative effect on getting into any school other than Cooley, which would affect the type of law you want to practice

[hq2x]

1. Get online degree
2. Get 170+ Lsat
3. Get into a T6 with those numbers
4. ??
5. Profit

Has anyone with an online BA ever actually gotten into a T6 that we know of?

Pretty sure awhile back someone got into Yale with a U Phoenix degree and it wasn't a troll... I'll try to find the thread.

[DougieFresh]

1. Get online degree
2. Get 170+ Lsat
3. Get into a T6 with those numbers
4. ??
5. Profit

[TheThriller]

I don't get it?

Those are clearly underwear gnomes