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I was a science major in college (just graduated in May), but one day decided I wasn't doing well enough, so I decided I'd go into law. For about a year, I was really into it - prepped, did a lot of research, learned all the TLS jargon - then about two weeks before I took the Oct LSAT, I realized I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I got a research tech job and went back towards science. (but still took the LSAT and feel I did well - guess I'll find out soon)

I'm pretty sure I'm going to do a PhD in a couple of years, but I have started toying around with the idea of a JD/PhD joint program the last couple days. Harvard and Columbia in particular, in the T14, seem to offer this program. Can anybody who's doing this, or know someone who is or has, PM me or reply here with any information or advice? Preferably a PhD in biology, chemistry, pharmacology, immunology, or something of that nature - but I'll take anything really.

One question I have in particular is with regards to admissions. The websites say you have to gain admission to both programs at the school separately in order to be considered, but I'm wondering if there's any possibility that applying to one while enrolled in the other (e.g. applying to HLS while in your second year at grad school at Harvard) positively affects admissions beyond just being an extra soft on your resume.

Thanks in advance.

I don't know about Harvard or Columbia, but I got into an advanced degree program at Chicago while enrolled at the law school. It's not science, but honestly I don't think I'd have a shot if I wasn't already a student here. They told us all that stuff about gaining admission separately, getting into the second program on your own merits, etc. but I say whatever, it's not really true! If you think you have a better shot at getting into your choice school in one program but not the other, go for it and apply to the second program once you're enrolled!

Each school is different. Check all the T14 schools for options. I was doing some research on it in the past and Northwestern has a JD-PhD program in any discipline with just one application.

Fully funded for six years to boot.

http://www.law.northwestern.edu/academi ... ochure.pdf

FYI, Stanford loves this shit.

Also, though being enrolled in the law school can positively help your chances in admission for some PhDs (Public Policy, Political Science, Sociology, etc), I doubt being enrolled in the law school would help your chances at PhD acceptance. This being said, I think applying as a PhD student could definitely help your chances of admission into the law school so long as your numbers are competitive.

I'd be competitive for the PhD (which I would apply to first), but maybe a bit low for the law school. e.g. good GRE / 3.5 gpa would cut it for harvard PhD programs (with publications, LoRs, etc) but wouldn't do it for law school (even with a mid 170s LSAT).

Triveal wrote:I'd be competitive for the PhD (which I would apply to first), but maybe a bit low for the law school. e.g. good GRE / 3.5 gpa would cut it for harvard PhD programs (with publications, LoRs, etc) but wouldn't do it for law school (even with a mid 170s LSAT).

Yea...I don't know if a PhD in the sciences could make up for a 3.5 GPA, but it's possible. I believe Harvard accepted a few kids with sub-3.7 GPAs, but it's extremely rare. I would apply to the PhD programs and go from there. Weed out PhD programs that don't have a good JD, but go to Columbia, Stanford, Yale, Harvard, NYU, Penn, etc depending on the strength of their PhD program and its fit for what research you want to do doing.

This being said, why do you want the JD? You didn't say in your post what your interests are.

It's complicated. I'm not even sure if I do want to do it; it's just an idea I've been thinking about. Not dead set on it at all right now.