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Hey guys,

I'm currently a junior at a public university, and I'm dual majoring in Applied Ecology & Environmental Sciences/Pre-Law. I added the second major when I was a freshman, thinking it would increase my chances of getting into LS. Now that I've done more thorough research, I don't know if the extra year doing UG to get the second bachelor's degree would be worth it. I'm looking at t14 schools (my LSAC gpa is currently a 3.72, and I've been PTing in the low 170's), and hoping to concentrate in environmental law.

If I drop the pre-law, then I can graduate in four years. If not, then I receive two separate bachelor's degrees in five years. Is that second degree going to improve my chances enough to be worth it?

Edited for spelling

mmcrowle wrote:Hey guys,

I'm currently a junior at a public university, and I'm dual majoring in Applied Ecology & Environmental Sciences/Pre-Law. I added the second major when I was a freshman, thinking it would increase my chances of getting into LS. Now that I've done more thorough research, I don't know if the extra year doing UG to get the second bachelor's degree would be worth it. I'm looking at t14 schools (my LSAC gpa is currently a 3.72, and I've been PTing in the low 170's), and hoping to concentrate in environmental law.

If I drop the pre-law, then I can graduate in four years. If not, then I receive two separate bachelor's degrees in five years. Is that second degree going to improve my chances enough to be worth it?

Edited for spelling

Second major won't improve your cycle at all. Drop it if the only reason you had it was to increase your chances of getting into law school.

mmcrowle wrote:Hey guys,

I'm currently a junior at a public university, and I'm dual majoring in Applied Ecology & Environmental Sciences/Pre-Law. I added the second major when I was a freshman, thinking it would increase my chances of getting into LS. Now that I've done more thorough research, I don't know if the extra year doing UG to get the second bachelor's degree would be worth it. I'm looking at t14 schools (my LSAC gpa is currently a 3.72, and I've been PTing in the low 170's), and hoping to concentrate in environmental law.

If I drop the pre-law, then I can graduate in four years. If not, then I receive two separate bachelor's degrees in five years. Is that second degree going to improve my chances enough to be worth it?

Edited for spelling

Drop the pre-law.

Typically, double majoring will not help much with respect to law school admissions. If you are considering working as a para-legal after graduating college & prior to attending law school, then the pre-law major should help in getting interviews with law firms for these $45,000-$50,000 (overtime & bonus add to these totals) a year para-legal positions. Many highly rated law firms, however, target an elite group of undergraduate schools for para-legal positions & do not require a pre-law type major, but do view that as a sign of interest & basic familiarity with some aspects of para-legal work.

mmcrowle wrote:Hey guys,

I'm currently a junior at a public university, and I'm dual majoring in Applied Ecology & Environmental Sciences/Pre-Law. I added the second major when I was a freshman, thinking it would increase my chances of getting into LS. Now that I've done more thorough research, I don't know if the extra year doing UG to get the second bachelor's degree would be worth it. I'm looking at t14 schools (my LSAC gpa is currently a 3.72, and I've been PTing in the low 170's), and hoping to concentrate in environmental law.

If I drop the pre-law, then I can graduate in four years. If not, then I receive two separate bachelor's degrees in five years. Is that second degree going to improve my chances enough to be worth it?

Edited for spelling

Drop pre-law. Get your GPA and LSAT as high as possible.

I'm going to go a different route with this.

If taking all the classes the second major will ultimately allow you to raise your GPA above 3.8 or so, then it's worth the year to finish it IMO. No, the extra major won't help give you a boost for your application, but the increased GPA could be the difference between getting into HYS or not. If that's the case, then take an extra year.

@Mr. Pancakes: But what if the para-legal courses grade on a higher curve ?

The only reason to keep it would be if classes in it are easier than your other major and so you would be able to raise your GPA. If not, than drop it.

Thanks for the advice guys

Regarding the comment about improving your GPA, LSAC only takes into account your GPA until the first degree is earned. So if you finish one in four years, that's all they will count.

I'm in an almost reverse situation. I was considering changing my major to a somewhat related course (Religion with a Bible concentration to Religion with a Philosophy concentration), adding a pre-law minor, and adding on a year to my bachelor's. It would help out my GPA tremendously. When I would apply next fall, I'd have a 3.5 (I'm confident in my ability to get an "A" in all of the courses) with a very strong upward trend indicating I'd be graduating with 3.6+.

I'd say, if it helps out your GPA and you are otherwise comfortable doing it, go for it. As far as the previous poster said that second degrees don't count, is that once you have been awarded your first degree UG GPA no longer counts. However, if you worked it so that you were not awarded your degree until you were all set and done, then the GPA for the second degree would still count.

mmcrowle wrote:majoring in Applied Ecology & Environmental Sciences

If you have any interest in patent law you may want to investigate whether you can take enough courses to be eligible for the patent bar. It's hard to go back later and take the courses, and if you have taken a lot of fundamental science courses you may need only a few more to become eligible.

http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/oed/grb.pdf

CanadianWolf wrote:@Mr. Pancakes: But what if the para-legal courses grade on a higher curve ?

Do what you need to do to get the GPA up. Start studying for the LSAT if you haven't yet. LSAT and GPA is where it is, in that order.