I'm at a point where I could change my major without too much fuss, and I've maintained a 4.0 gpa thus far (my current major is biomedical engineering). I'm about 80% sure I want to go to law school, but it's apparent to me that while I might enjoy that environment more, I'm capable of going places in the sciences. Because of this, I've tried to keep my doors open to both sides.
How advisable is it to keep the engineering major? (I'm also considering that having an engineering degree would mean a certain amount of job security, if for whatever reason law school doesn't work out). Would it limit my selection of law schools?
Engineering Major Forum
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stratocophic
- Posts: 2204
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 6:24 pm
Re: Engineering Major
If you can keep that 4.0 up and are semi-literate, you can pretty much get into any law school in the country (3.85 or better is nearly as effective 4.0 for admissions though). Biomed eng means you can take the patent bar, which is about as close to a guarantee that you'll have a 6 figure salary after graduating from a decent school as anyone can have. If you like engineering, absolutely give it a shot first, law school will always be there later. If you're like me and determine that you'd be miserable based on your summer internships, go straight to law school.sosaus wrote:I'm at a point where I could change my major without too much fuss, and I've maintained a 4.0 gpa thus far (my current major is biomedical engineering). I'm about 80% sure I want to go to law school, but it's apparent to me that while I might enjoy that environment more, I'm capable of going places in the sciences. Because of this, I've tried to keep my doors open to both sides.
How advisable is it to keep the engineering major? (I'm also considering that having an engineering degree would mean a certain amount of job security, if for whatever reason law school doesn't work out). Would it limit my selection of law schools?
One piece of advice I will give you - if IP is your goal, take a large scholarship over paying full freight at a better school. It's absolutely worth it for the debt savings, and with that GPA and a decent LSAT you can pull a full ride or close from T25 schools that are good enough to get you a baller job. Hiring for people with tech backgrounds doesn't work like it does for most law students, so don't get gunshy when people start dumping on schools like Notre Dame, GW, Vandy, and WUSTL on this site. The 90-150k you'll save by doing that is more than worth it at that level of school for an IP dude. Below that level, the full ride is less worthwhile IMO since I dunno if IP people at those schools are still mortal locks for the best jobs. Paying sticker at a T14 with a strong engineering background admittedly can put you in line for the best firms in the country. However, the pay's no different below that tier of firm, the hours are often better, and you're sacrificing a ton of money upfront in tuition (plus interest) for opportunities that either aren't very or aren't at all different.
