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Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 2:30 am
by 000ooo000ooo
In the fall I will be attending University to study architecture. My question essentially revolves around - is it possible to go to a t14 law school with an undergraduate degree in architecture? I am studying architecture - that I am sure of - and I will be coming from a reputable school, an Ivy (though I've read that does not matter much for law school admissions), but is it possible to go to law school? Will they reject me because I don't have a field in social science or a science/engineering field? Is a more art oriented field to disparate from law school and what they look for? I've seen people say major in whatever is easiest/best for you but does that include architecture?

And if it is possible, a high GPA and a 170+ LSAT is what I need right? My thoughts right now is that I'll be looking at Harvard, Yale, Columbia (not Stanford for reasons too long to explain). From what I've read, I'll potentially have a better chance at Harvard because they look less at softs (interning at a law firm etc.)? Could someone corroborate this? Any other advice/admonition would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 4:05 am
by Dr. Dre
don't go to lolschool, dood.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 5:08 am
by Balthy
000ooo000ooo wrote:In the fall I will be attending University to study architecture. My question essentially revolves around - is it possible to go to a t14 law school with an undergraduate degree in architecture? I am studying architecture - that I am sure of - and I will be coming from a reputable school, an Ivy (though I've read that does not matter much for law school admissions), but is it possible to go to law school? Will they reject me because I don't have a field in social science or a science/engineering field? Is a more art oriented field to disparate from law school and what they look for? I've seen people say major in whatever is easiest/best for you but does that include architecture?

And if it is possible, a high GPA and a 170+ LSAT is what I need right? My thoughts right now is that I'll be looking at Harvard, Yale, Columbia (not Stanford for reasons too long to explain). From what I've read, I'll potentially have a better chance at Harvard because they look less at softs (interning at a law firm etc.)? Could someone corroborate this? Any other advice/admonition would be greatly appreciated!

Not having a social science degree won't hurt you at all; it might even, a teeny weeny bit, help, since adcomms may view architecture as a more rigorous program than those of other applicants with similar numbers. Going to an Ivy may also help you a teeny bit. But for all intents and purposes, the fact that you're at an Ivy and that your major might be more difficult than others' won't compensate for a lower GPA, so the most important thing is for you to keep that GPA up.

What LSAT score you'll need to get into Harvard will depend on your GPA. Look into law school numbers and law school predictor to get a sense. Harv is more predictable based on your numbers than Stanford and Yale, and that's why people think they are less concerned with softs.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 12:54 pm
by b123
It really, really doesn't matter. Just keep the GPA up and score well on the LSAT. Additionally, please be sure to enjoy your next four years. Don't worry about law school so much just yet.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:25 pm
by cinephile
Why are you studying architecture if you don't want to be an architect? Get a real degree in a subject where you plan to work. Then graduate and work. Don't go to law school.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:25 pm
by rad lulz
Architecture has shittier prospects than law

Just be an accountant bro

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:33 pm
by ManoftheHour
Omg...don't become an architect. DON'T

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:34 pm
by ManoftheHour
http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/04/news/ec ... /index.htm

http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/15/pf/training_pay/

http://www.economicmodeling.com/2012/01 ... w-and-old/

Every other day I go on yahoo to read the news, I see another article about "Worst Majors"/"Which Majors Have the Lowest Employment Prospects." It's always architecture at the TOP of the list. I'm not even talking about architecture always being on the list. I'm talking about architecture ALWAYS being on TOP of the list.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:35 pm
by ManoftheHour
Image

The fact that you go to an Ivy league doesn't even matter if you're studying architecture. The job prospects for architecture is worst than law. It's worst than ART.

I have a friend that went to Brown for architecture. Unemployed. I have a friend that went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD, the best art/design school in America for all of those that do not know) for architecture. He's over in China right now because he couldn't find work here.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:47 pm
by Micdiddy
Dr. Dre wrote:don't go to lolschool, dood.
You mean "d000ooo000oood"

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 1:50 pm
by ManoftheHour
Micdiddy wrote:
Dr. Dre wrote:don't go to lolschool, dood.
You mean "d000ooo000oood"
:lol:

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 2:01 pm
by hephaestus
This is a great opportunity in your life to do something useful (eg finance, accounting, logistics) so that you can get a real job and avoid law school altogether.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 2:02 pm
by 062914123
.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 3:51 pm
by Gunnar Stahl
major in something useful while you still have the chance

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 5:50 pm
by buddyt
Ghost93 wrote:major in something useful while you still have the chance
This. Major in CS, get a $60k+ 9-5 job without even trying, profit. If you still want to go to law school after that, do patent prosecution and profit again.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:08 pm
by 20141023
.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 11:24 am
by M458
At Cornell, which has supposedly the best architecture program in the country, the program is really intense and grades are a random bloodbath. In addition, I know a few grads from the program who are struggling to find any sort of decent job.

So unless you have this burning desire to be an architect (which it really seems like you don't, since you're already thinking of going to law school), don't major in architecture. Your GPA could end up being total shit AND you'll have a degree that "allows" you to work in the hypercompetitive architecture job market where NYC firms pay their new employees less than $30k a year--and that's for the lucky grads! Oh, and if it's not Cornell you're attending, then I'm pretty sure it's a 4-year program you'll be doing, which means you won't even be licensed and will have to do an extra year's Masters to be able to practice architecture.

TL;DR - Don't do it. Please, don't do it.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 11:29 am
by cwid1391
Regulus wrote:OP, while many of the other posters are providing negative feedback, allow me to provide a different (positive) perspective about the choice you are about to make. Just like our country is founded on a sound constitution and system of laws, buildings have to be designed properly and have structural integrity in order to withstand constant use over the span of many years. I think that you would have the opportunity to flourish both during and after law school because the importance of these principles would be deeply ingrained within you as an architect, and both law school admission committees as well as potential employers would recognize and appreciate this. I've studied math for many years, and have finally realized that a negative times a negative equals a positive; accordingly, two negative choices (becoming an architect and going to law school) would doubtlessly cancel each other out and provide you with a meaningful career. Off the top of my head, some of the prestigious positions that await you at big law firms if you decide to go this route are sanitary specialist, secretarial expert, and senior paralegal.
"Where is he going with this? This doesn't seem right at all... what is he sayi---oh, yeah, that's where he's going."

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 12:17 am
by 000ooo000ooo
Thank you for the very helpful replies, b123, superdingle2000. I will keep my GPA up, and if my plan still is to attend law school years down the road, I'll take the LSAT.

@M458 Yes, that is where I will be.

As for the rest of you, I understand the job market for architecture is worse than bad. But I think I will manage. Monetary reward is not at the highest of my priorities, however contrary that may stand to priorities. I don't want to spend my college career majoring in something I'm not interested in, taking easy classes to get 4.0, so I can get into HYS - even if that precludes the possibility of law school. Thank you for your thoughts and advice.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 12:30 am
by rad lulz
,

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 12:36 am
by 20141023
.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 12:42 am
by ManoftheHour
000ooo000ooo wrote: As for the rest of you, I understand the job market for architecture is worse than bad. But I think I will manage. Monetary reward is not at the highest of my priorities, however contrary that may stand to priorities. I don't want to spend my college career majoring in something I'm not interested in, taking easy classes to get 4.0, so I can get into HYS - even if that precludes the possibility of law school. Thank you for your thoughts and advice.
Image

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 1:08 am
by beepboopbeep
Would y'all have listened to random people on the internet telling you not to major in the thing you're most interested in when you were 18?

That having been said, it's one thing to ask how to transition from architecture to law school after having first completed the arch degree. It's another to plan for that.

I'll peace out of this thread by saying my major was called Fundamentals: Issues and Texts. Major seems to be either positive (EE/CS) or neutral, though they may worry about your writing ability.

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 1:17 am
by 90convoy
all I gotta say is...archiTTTecture. Do you want to be an archiTTTect? please don't do it

Re: Architecture to law school?

Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 3:20 am
by ManoftheHour
beepboopbeep wrote:Would y'all have listened to random people on the internet telling you not to major in the thing you're most interested in when you were 18?

That having been said, it's one thing to ask how to transition from architecture to law school after having first completed the arch degree. It's another to plan for that.

I'll peace out of this thread by saying my major was called Fundamentals: Issues and Texts. Major seems to be either positive (EE/CS) or neutral, though they may worry about your writing ability.
That's legit. And I don't mean that in a sarcastic way. When I was 18, I wanted to major in music. Should have, could have, but didn't. Had I, I would have had close to a 4.0 and enjoyed four years of performance art. My college experience would have been even better. Heck, maybe I would have went somewhere with it.

You know what? OP, do what makes you happy. Do know this: Think very carefully when investing a lot of money into fields that don't yield good job prospects. Every year, thousands of grads exit college with tons of debt and shitty (or no) jobs. Law and architecture are literally two of the worst fields someone can focus on. When you are 18/19/20 years old, it is hard to see yourself as anything but the most awesome and special person in the world. I know because I've been there (as probably most TLSers have at one point in their lives). I'm not saying don't pursue your dreams. Just make sure you have a viable backup plan.