Page 1 of 3
What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:17 am
by CardinalAmbition
Hi Everyone,
I am 0L strongly considering law school but I'm not sure what to major in. I was thinking something practical like Computer Science or Business if I change my mind at some point over the next 3 years. Anyway, I was wondering what everyone here majored in as an Undergrad so i can get a sample of what different law students decided to do undergrad.
Thanks!
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:51 am
by McGruff
There are like maybe 2 reasons to major in something and whatever most law students do is irrelevant to either. Since UG major is largely irrelevant to practicing law (with some minor exception for finance bg and/or hard science stem types who know they want to go into those fields and end up being right) you should pick a major that you (1) are fascinated by or (2) can see yourself using if you didn't get a law degree to get an actual job.
eta: imo business is far less practical than computer science if I'm understanding what you mean by practical, but you really shouldn't be considering these things without also taking into account what you think you're good at and what you might be able to most easily tolerate slogging through a lot of...
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 10:03 am
by Fiero85
CardinalAmbition wrote:Hi Everyone,
I am 0L strongly considering law school but I'm not sure what to major in. I was thinking something practical like Computer Science or Business if I change my mind at some point over the next 3 years. Anyway, I was wondering what everyone here majored in as an Undergrad so i can get a sample of what different law students decided to do undergrad.
Thanks!
Go with this instinct, OP. LS students have a wide variety of majors, it doesn't matter what you choose for LS admissions. Important thing for LS in keeping your GPA sky high. But more importantly, major in something you could see yourself pursuing after college full time. LS may not be a good idea right after college (most applicants benefit from real job experience after college, not just for LS admissions but also for law-job search). And LS might not be a good idea ever. do something practical that you are interested in, computer science or business being great picks already. Good luck!
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 10:05 am
by Clemenceau
If were using practical to mean employable, then both business and comp sci are solid, with a definite edge to comp sci.
If one interests you and you think you would do well in that major, then go for it.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 10:31 am
by White Dwarf
Biology/Pre-Med
Just pick something you're interested in, and one that will challenge you enough for you to learn actual skills. The basic facts you are taught don't really matter in the long run. You can always re-learn facts.
The biggest problem with college grads today is that so many of them can't read properly, write, or think critically. Just don't be one of those bare-minimum-for-a-3.xx, never-do-a-reading, slap-together-everything-at-the-last-minute, all-nighter-pulling numbskulls, and you'll be fine.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:11 pm
by chingwoo
White Dwarf wrote:Biology/Pre-Med
Just pick something you're interested in, and one that will challenge you enough for you to learn actual skills. The basic facts you are taught don't really matter in the long run. You can always re-learn facts.
The biggest problem with college grads today is that so many of them can't read properly, write, or think critically. Just don't be one of those bare-minimum-for-a-3.xx, never-do-a-reading, slap-together-everything-at-the-last-minute, all-nighter-pulling numbskulls, and you'll be fine.
As one of these numbskulls, "bare-minimum-for-a-
2.xx, never-do-a-reading, slap-together-everything-at-the-last-minute, all-nighter-pulling numbskulls, and you'll be fine." I think it actually helped me take law school exams.
No one else is used to counting how many pages an hour you would have to type to get your paper in time. Thus you are much more used to creating semi-fluid arguments in very short periods of time. Additionally when you don't know much about subjects, you have to apply what you do know to the subject and thus you do in very creative ways.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:16 pm
by KMart
I did accounting because I enjoyed it, knew I had a good chance of doing well, and knew it was a solid employment outcome if law never worked out.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:35 pm
by sandwhich
I agree with the above posters. But I'll add that if after your sophomore year you still plan on pursuing law, tacking on a minor that will force you to practice writing and to read more often could be useful in many respects.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:36 pm
by KMart
sandwhich wrote:I agree with the above posters. But I'll add that if after your sophomore year you still plan on pursuing law, tacking on a minor that will force you to practice writing and to read more often could be useful in many respects.
I don't know. I see what you're saying but if it's too overbearing and is going to make OP get a lower GPA I'd skip it. The GPA will matter more than the minor.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:38 pm
by sandwhich
KMart wrote:sandwhich wrote:I agree with the above posters. But I'll add that if after your sophomore year you still plan on pursuing law, tacking on a minor that will force you to practice writing and to read more often could be useful in many respects.
I don't know. I see what you're saying but if it's too overbearing and is going to make OP get a lower GPA I'd skip it. The GPA will matter more than the minor.
I meant more for the benefit of practicing skills every lawyer needs to practice while getting the opportunity to take some classes you have genuine interest in but wouldn't be able to take otherwise. The intrinsic value of a minor degree in and of itself is exactly nothing.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:40 pm
by KMart
sandwhich wrote:KMart wrote:sandwhich wrote:I agree with the above posters. But I'll add that if after your sophomore year you still plan on pursuing law, tacking on a minor that will force you to practice writing and to read more often could be useful in many respects.
I don't know. I see what you're saying but if it's too overbearing and is going to make OP get a lower GPA I'd skip it. The GPA will matter more than the minor.
I meant more for the benefit of practicing skills every lawyer needs to practice while getting the opportunity to take some classes you have genuine interest in but wouldn't be able to take otherwise. The intrinsic value of a minor degree in and of itself is exactly nothing.
I know entirely what you mean, but I'm just saying if it's going to lower the GPA, I have no idea how OP will handle extra classes, I'd skip it. Otherwise I see the benefit of taking writing courses.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:42 pm
by sandwhich
KMart wrote:sandwhich wrote:KMart wrote:sandwhich wrote:I agree with the above posters. But I'll add that if after your sophomore year you still plan on pursuing law, tacking on a minor that will force you to practice writing and to read more often could be useful in many respects.
I don't know. I see what you're saying but if it's too overbearing and is going to make OP get a lower GPA I'd skip it. The GPA will matter more than the minor.
I meant more for the benefit of practicing skills every lawyer needs to practice while getting the opportunity to take some classes you have genuine interest in but wouldn't be able to take otherwise. The intrinsic value of a minor degree in and of itself is exactly nothing.
I know entirely what you mean, but I'm just saying if it's going to lower the GPA, I have no idea how OP will handle extra classes, I'd skip it. Otherwise I see the benefit of taking writing courses.
Right and I suppose the same benefit could be achieved without jeopardizing GPA by choosing electives wisely. For example, it's incredibly easy to make an A in most philosophy courses, and phil courses will expose you to both writing and reading difficult materials (aka 1L).
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:47 pm
by Clemenceau
If taking minor-level philosophy or english classes jeopardizes your gpa then I'd say that's a good sign that law school aint for you
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 3:53 pm
by sandwhich
You could just do what I did and MAJOR in philosophy then the fear of unemployed life will force you to study hard in law school.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 4:12 pm
by White Dwarf
chingwoo wrote:
As one of these numbskulls, "bare-minimum-for-a-2.xx, never-do-a-reading, slap-together-everything-at-the-last-minute, all-nighter-pulling numbskulls, and you'll be fine." I think it actually helped me take law school exams.
No one else is used to counting how many pages an hour you would have to type to get your paper in time. Thus you are much more used to creating semi-fluid arguments in very short periods of time. Additionally when you don't know much about subjects, you have to apply what you do know to the subject and thus you do in very creative ways.
Eh, I can see where you're coming from, but I wouldn't encourage OP to go the same way. Yes, being able to rush through something and still pull-off a competent final product is useful. But, I think it's a misconception that writing papers slowly and thoroughly makes you only suited for writing papers slowly and thoroughly.
As a student who went from being a last-minute B/B+/A- type to one that took a couple weeks per paper, the latter made me a much better essay writer; both on 20-minute throwdowns, and long-haul types. Law school exams seem to be more "who can best put what everyone knows" rather than a test of how well you can BS and fill up space (like undergrad is for most people).
Just my (0L) opinion, though.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 4:41 pm
by jbagelboy
Mathematics is indisputably the best major.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 12:48 pm
by Mack.Hambleton
Polisci
But if I could do it again I'd do a BBA, so there's that
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 1:05 pm
by A. Nony Mouse
White Dwarf wrote:chingwoo wrote:
As one of these numbskulls, "bare-minimum-for-a-2.xx, never-do-a-reading, slap-together-everything-at-the-last-minute, all-nighter-pulling numbskulls, and you'll be fine." I think it actually helped me take law school exams.
No one else is used to counting how many pages an hour you would have to type to get your paper in time. Thus you are much more used to creating semi-fluid arguments in very short periods of time. Additionally when you don't know much about subjects, you have to apply what you do know to the subject and thus you do in very creative ways.
Eh, I can see where you're coming from, but I wouldn't encourage OP to go the same way. Yes, being able to rush through something and still pull-off a competent final product is useful. But, I think it's a misconception that writing papers slowly and thoroughly makes you only suited for writing papers slowly and thoroughly.
As a student who went from being a last-minute B/B+/A- type to one that took a couple weeks per paper, the latter made me a much better essay writer; both on 20-minute throwdowns, and long-haul types. Law school exams seem to be more "who can best put what everyone knows" rather than a test of how well you can BS and fill up space (like undergrad is for most people).
Just my (0L) opinion, though.
Yeah, I think the above (about why last minute is better) is much more a rationalization than true. Also, you do actually have to work consistently and manage a workload when you go out and practice.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:55 pm
by unsweetened
My UG was Marketing. I really enjoyed it and that made it easier to get good grades. Post graduation satisfaction is pretty low though. If I could do it all over again, computer science would be the way to go.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 5:28 pm
by Ron Howard
unsweetened wrote:My UG was Marketing. I really enjoyed it and that made it easier to get good grades. Post graduation satisfaction is pretty low though. If I could do it all over again, computer science would be the way to go.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:25 pm
by Outis Onoma
protip: Don't major in fucking classical languages like a retard.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:30 pm
by KMart
Outis Onoma wrote:protip: Don't major in fucking classical languages like a retard.
Is this from experience?
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:40 pm
by Outis Onoma
KMart wrote:Outis Onoma wrote:protip: Don't major in fucking classical languages like a retard.
Is this from experience?
Considering my name is a greek quote from the Odyssey, yes.
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:00 pm
by legit
CardinalAmbition wrote:Hi Everyone,
I am 0L strongly considering law school but I'm not sure what to major in. I was thinking something practical like Computer Science or Business if I change my mind at some point over the next 3 years. Anyway, I was wondering what everyone here majored in as an Undergrad so i can get a sample of what different law students decided to do undergrad.
Thanks!
Three key questions:
1) How good are your grades in computer science/business?
2) Are you attending a top college?
3) What would you do besides law?
Re: What Was Your Undergraduate Major?
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:05 pm
by salander
.