Econ major or Ghana? Forum

[charlesacar]

Hey guys I am a newbie to the forum, and I was hoping I could get some advice about a decision I have to make.

Question:

Basically I would like to know which would mean more to an admissions board (Specifically the top 11): graduating with an Economics Degree, or spending a semester abroad in Ghana? In Ghana I would be taking courses as well as working for a NGO

Some facts:

---My Dream School is Duke
---I have a 3.8 GPA
---I am currently an academic JR and a triple Major: Political Science/Global Multinational Studies/Economics
---I preform 300 hours of community service a year in the city of Trenton
---I am an RA, and am involved in numerous campus organizations
---I am a displaced minority
---I am an Educational Opportunity Student (meaning I am poor and from a bad neighborhood)
---I haven't yet taken the lsat but for the sake of the question assume I get in Duke's low range average

Why I can't do both: I am currently taking 8 course....and I really don't want to ever again. I take 1 course every winter break and 4 every summer. Even at this rate however I will not be able to graduate with all three majors without remaining an extra semester. My school is 44 thousand dollars a year, but with scholarships, and about 2 k in government loans, I pay nothing. My scholarships will run out in a year though so staying an extra semester is not an option.

So basically I cannot do both....sooo which should I stick with?

Any advice (that isn't "take the lsat, get a 170") would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance. = )

[NZA]

Any advice (that isn't "take the lsat, get a 170") would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance. = )

In all seriousness OP, those are decent softs, but you've got to study hard for the LSAT. It sucks, I know, but this is what matters.

For now, do what you love! No major will benefit you tremendously or really in many ways at all.

[AreJay711]

Lol Ghana X 10000. It might give you something interesting to talk about. You major or number of them makes no difference really.

[BrownBears09]

Triple majors are a waste of time. As are double majors tbh.

[pwyoung]

Ghana.

[charlesacar]

In all seriousness OP, those are decent softs, but you've got to study hard for the LSAT. It sucks, I know, but this is what matters.

For now, do what you love! No major will benefit you tremendously or really in many ways at all.[/quote]

Thanks for the awesome reply. I am going to take a prep course this spring and take the lsat shortly after. I don't have the time or discipline to study in my free time so I'm paying for the course to structure it.

[applepiecrust]

Ghana.

And slow down with the academic burdening - enjoy undergrad, it'll be over all too soon. Triple majors are unnecessary.
Though impressive job on the GPA with all the credits you're taking!

[BrownBears09]

---I have a 3.8 GPA
---I am currently an academic JR and a triple Major: Political Science/Global Multinational Studies/Economics
---I preform 300 hours of community service a year in the city of Trenton
---I am an RA, and am involved in numerous campus organizations
---I am a displaced minority
---I am an Educational Opportunity Student (meaning I am poor and from a bad neighborhood)
---I haven't yet taken the lsat but for the sake of the question assume I get in Duke's low range average

I crossed out the items that don't really set you apart from other applicants (even I have similar softs tbh,) but Ghana would be a unique experience.

[St.Remy]

Do you plan on taking the June LSAT OP? And is the potential semester abroad this coming semester? I might be a bit worried about getting the materials/free time to study while in Ghana. I know that in my time abroad taking four hour chunks out of my day to do a logic test would have been very difficult for me to do in terms of motivation.

As long as study environment for the LSAT is not an issue though I vote Ghana all the way.

[ahduth]

---I have a 3.8 GPA
---I am currently an academic JR and a triple Major: Political Science/Global Multinational Studies/Economics
---I preform 300 hours of community service a year in the city of Trenton
---I am an RA, and am involved in numerous campus organizations
---I am a displaced minority
---I am an Educational Opportunity Student (meaning I am poor and from a bad neighborhood)
---I haven't yet taken the lsat but for the sake of the question assume I get in Duke's low range average

I have crossed out the items that don't really set you apart from other applicants. Enjoy Yale.

[merichard87]

Don't pay for a course until you've taken a few prep tests and assessed your abilities. Many prep courses are pointless for specific students because they don't work for that student's needs. Take a few tests. Assess yourself. Get the bibles. Don't pay $1000 for a course unless its absolutely necessary.

[BrownBears09]

---I am a displaced minority

I have crossed out the items that don't really set you apart from other applicants. Enjoy Yale.

Displaced minority =/= URM. Nice try though.

[Stanford4Me]

Take the LSAT.

[Montevillian]

What exactly do you mean by displaced minority? That could make an impact on your application, although it's a bit of a broad term..
Also, Ghana. Totally. Law schools don't care what you major in, no matter how many majors you have. They won't really care about the Ghana thing very much either, but that seems like a much more fulfilling and worthwhile use of your time.

[BlueDiamond]

drop your third major and don't stay the extra semester

go to ghana

come back and get duke's median LSAT or higher.. if URM get in the 160's

[charlesacar]

Thanks for all the great advice.

As a general response to everyone:I am starting my LSAT prep after Christmas, for the June LSAT. I will be going to Ghana next fall, which might suck considering I don't think i can do any interviews from Africa....and Displaced Minority sounds much more hearwrenching than URM.

have a great Holiday everyone, thanks!

[chicoalto0649]

Ghana was a great idea until a few years ago. Now it seems like anyone with time on their hands and who can afford goes to Ghana. You won't be that unique if you go there. And it won't be like working in Darfur. Ghana is pretty damned safe and not nearly as shitty as other parts of Africa. Do well in school and get high LSAT ftw.

It will be slightly better for saying you "worked" on the Obama 08 campaign or some other crap that 60% of kids who attended college at that time participated in.

[BrownBears09]

Displaced Minority sounds much more hearwrenching than URM.

It doesn't matter what "sounds" more heart wrenching (I'm assuming that's what you meant.)

You are a URM if you're Black/African American, Native American, Mexican, or Puerto Rican. Otherwise, your race attribute is moot. Point blank.

[AreJay711]

Displaced Minority sounds much more hearwrenching than URM.

It doesn't matter what "sounds" more heart wrenching (I'm assuming that's what you meant.)

You are a URM if you're Black/African American, Native American, Mexican, or Puerto Rican. Otherwise, your race attribute is moot. Point blank.

I think you underestimate how many applicants have the EXACT same numbers yet the adcoms must make a decision between.

[BrownBears09]

I think you underestimate how many applicants have the EXACT same numbers yet the adcoms must make a decision between.

Your argument is pretty unclear. Are you saying that adcomms must choose between URMs (of different races) with the same numbers? Well, that's pretty obvious.

The point: URM is AA, NA, M, or PR. If you aren't those races, you aren't URM. Just claiming you're a "displaced minority" but being Eastern European will not boost your admissions chances like an actual URM.

[glewz]

---I have a 3.8 GPA
---I am currently an academic JR and a triple Major: Political Science/Global Multinational Studies/Economics
---I preform 300 hours of community service a year in the city of Trenton
---I am an RA, and am involved in numerous campus organizations
---I am a displaced minority
---I am an Educational Opportunity Student (meaning I am poor and from a bad neighborhood)
---I haven't yet taken the lsat but for the sake of the question assume I get in Duke's low range average

I crossed out the items that don't really set you apart from other applicants (even I have similar softs tbh,) but Ghana would be a unique experience.

...Alone, individual items might not matter so much, but the fact that you've performed 3 majors very well AND have done so much sets you apart from every applicant.

It's a tough call between completing the 3rd major & going to Ghana. I mean...don't u have just a few more classes left? I'd finish the 3rd major if I were you. A lot of people go to Ghana these days btw - programs are popping up Everywhere, and it's not half as rare as a triple major IMO.

[BrownBears09]

Keep doing what you're doing - a double major is very common, but a triple major is extremely rare.

That's probably because they're unnecessary and irrelevant to employers.

"So sir, I see you're applying as a financial analyst. Oh, I see you have a triple major in History/Economics/English? You're definitely more qualified than the Economics major."

lol.

[AreJay711]

I think you underestimate how many applicants have the EXACT same numbers yet the adcoms must make a decision between.

Your argument is pretty unclear. Are you saying that adcomms must choose between URMs (of different races) with the same numbers? Well, that's pretty obvious.

The point: URM is AA, NA, M, or PR. If you aren't those races, you aren't URM. Just claiming you're a "displaced minority" but being Eastern European will not boost your admissions chances like an actual URM.

It wasn't an argument at all. It will give you a boost over someone who is also not a URM because it is something interesting and compelling about that person. You said that a heart wrenching story won't have any impact at all which is just stupid.

[glewz]

Keep doing what you're doing - a double major is very common, but a triple major is extremely rare.

That's probably because they're unnecessary and irrelevant to employers.

"So sir, I see you're applying as a financial analyst. Oh, I see you have a triple major in History/Economics/English? You're definitely more qualified than the Economics major."

lol.

...and it requires 60 extra units? And taking 8 classes/semester? And we're talking about applying to law school, not to a financial analyst position?

[BrownBears09]

I think you underestimate how many applicants have the EXACT same numbers yet the adcoms must make a decision between.

Your argument is pretty unclear. Are you saying that adcomms must choose between URMs (of different races) with the same numbers? Well, that's pretty obvious.

The point: URM is AA, NA, M, or PR. If you aren't those races, you aren't URM. Just claiming you're a "displaced minority" but being Eastern European will not boost your admissions chances like an actual URM.

It wasn't an argument at all. It will give you a boost over someone who is also not a URM because it is something interesting and compelling about that person. You said that a heart wrenching story won't have any impact at all which is just stupid.

Here, I pointed out the part you keep forgetting to read.

Edit: From your reasoning, you probably just neglected to read the thread.