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How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:40 pm
by skhurana
Hi everyone,

I know this question has been asked before; however, I wanted some answers to my specific case. I am currently a student at Cornell University majoring in Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). I plan on completing a minor in Law & Society (which is basically a minor that every Cornell student planning to attend law school completes). This combination of ILR with a minor in law & Society is very common, and when I apply to law school I do not want to look like almost every other Cornell graduate who majors in ILR and has a minor in Law & Society. I plan on continuing on to law school after undergrad.

Thus, since I'm not sure if I would have enough time to complete my major and complete another minor such as economics, I was wondering how law schools would look at a South Asian Studies Minor. I have taken two semesters of Hindi (South Asian language), and would be able to complete this minor without taking classes that would lower my GPA in any way. Would this differentiate me from other students? Would this benefit me in any way in the law schools admissions process? Also, how do law schools look at students taking foreign language classes during their undergraduate years? I took spanish my freshman year, and have been taking Hindi, and will be taking Advanced Hindi this year. I have completed the language progression for Hindi, and besides my interest and good grades in these courses, I was hoping that taking a language course would diversify my course selection and differentiate me from other law school applicants? So, is there any benefit in the law school process if students take classes with the hopes of becoming proficient in a language during their undergraduate careers?

Thanks!

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:42 pm
by stillwater
uh none?

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:43 pm
by ManoftheHour
stillwater wrote:uh none?

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:46 pm
by t-14orbust
Want to know what can help you differentiate yourself from the other ILR L&S Cornellians? Better numbers

edit: I used Cornellians as a humorous guess. Apparently it is the legitimate name for Cornell alumni lol. Cornellites was a close second

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:54 pm
by bananasplit19
t-14orbust wrote:Want to know what can help you differentiate yourself from the other ILR L&S Cornellians? Better numbers

edit: I used Cornellians as a humorous guess. Apparently it is the legitimate name for Cornell alumni lol. Cornellites was a close second
I would've suggested a single Cornell student/alum be called a Cornelius. Plural, Cornelia. Example: "Say, look at that Cornelius drinking an entire pitcher of beer!"

On topic, OP, the minor won't play any role at all. However, further down the road, I hear being fluent in another language is a plus when law firms (with international offices) come a-knockin'. But even then, it's not the minor that would benefit you, but the language skills.

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:29 am
by jselson
I'm pretty sure my minor "Thematic Approaches to Humanities and Society" played a large role in my cycle this year.

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:42 am
by RodneyRuxin
0.


didn't even have to read the OP.

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:43 am
by stillwater
RodneyRuxin wrote:0.


didn't even have to read the OP.
when i read the thread title i thought OP was talking about a minor child.

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:49 am
by AntipodeanPhil
stillwater wrote:when i read the thread title i thought OP was talking about a minor child.
I thought OP was talking about a minor in possession. I was looking forward to some tale of booze-fueled depravity.

OP: just do whatever gets you the highest GPA. Schools don't care at all about how many Hindi classes you've taken.

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 1:18 pm
by PRgradBYU
ManoftheHour wrote:
stillwater wrote:uh none?
/thread

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:02 pm
by JasonH
.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001%

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:06 pm
by sundance95
JasonH wrote:.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001%
you accidentally hit the 1 key there

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:07 pm
by rad lulz
Plenty of people come to LS w young children

You should be ok

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:26 pm
by JasonH
sundance95 wrote:
JasonH wrote:.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001%
you accidentally hit the 1 key there
we look at the wholeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee student

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:29 pm
by jbagelboy
If you minor is a subject vastly different from your major (like biochemistry and philosophy), that could show diverse interests, multiple skill sets, ect. Again though, this is more of a tie-breaker soft, not a overcomes-lower-numbers soft

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 6:31 pm
by stillwater
jbagelboy wrote:If you minor is a subject vastly different from your major (like biochemistry and philosophy), that could show diverse interests, multiple skill sets, ect. Again though, this is more of a tie-breaker soft, not a overcomes-lower-numbers soft
this is a tie-breaker if its against your doppelganger who forgot to put the minor on all else being the same

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:09 pm
by Scotusnerd
The only minor that law schools care about is the one that you got arrested for sending pictures to.

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:16 pm
by Br3v
LSAT
GPA

That makes up 90% of your application.

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:33 pm
by stillwater
Br3v wrote:LSAT
GPA

That makes up 90% of your application.
ha, FOOL, more than that

Re: How much do law schools care about having a minor?

Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 7:51 pm
by KingFish
Br3v wrote:LSAT
GPA

That makes up 90% of your application.