What did you major and minor in for law school? Forum

[JimCarrey728]

Im a Political Science major, Im probably going to end up minoring in History, because "he who ignores the past, is doomed to repeat it". I thought about Philosophy, then I would have too many upper division classes at one time.

Then I would like to get a JD/MA or MPH at the law/graduate school.

[KimmyGibbler]

I majored in economics; but you should major in whatever you like the most/can get the best grades in if law school is the primary factor in choosing your major (it shouldn't be, but whatever).

[chitown825]

I majored in economics; but you should major in whatever you like the most/can get the best grades in if law school is the primary factor in choosing your major (it shouldn't be, but whatever).

Truth. It's unfortunate that this is the case, but it's true...

I majored in finance, minored in economics. I was widely involved in extracurriculars, and had a rounded resume instead of a 4.0 in communication or something easy. I never planned to go to law school, though.

When it came time to apply, schools didn't care about softs. They aren't ranked on the "softs" of their admitted students. They care about how high your GPA is.

[Kiersten1985]

I was an International Relations major, no minor. In the fall I'm starting a JD/MA in International Relations.

The above is true re: GPA, though. That's all that matters.

[kn6542]

I majored in economics; but you should major in whatever you like the most/can get the best grades in if law school is the primary factor in choosing your major (it shouldn't be, but whatever).

Truth. It's unfortunate that this is the case, but it's true...

I majored in finance, minored in economics. I was widely involved in extracurriculars, and had a rounded resume instead of a 4.0 in communication or something easy. I never planned to go to law school, though.

When it came time to apply, schools didn't care about softs. They aren't ranked on the "softs" of their admitted students. They care about how high your GPA is.

It's not really all that matters.
They care about your softs and your major insofar as it makes you more attractive than the next person who has the exact same GPA. A person with >3,70 who majored in something challenging, was involved in some extracurriculars and is otherwise kinda interesting is more attractive than a person with a >3,70 who majored in psychology and did nothing else but party.

[KimmyGibbler]

I majored in economics; but you should major in whatever you like the most/can get the best grades in if law school is the primary factor in choosing your major (it shouldn't be, but whatever).

Truth. It's unfortunate that this is the case, but it's true...

I majored in finance, minored in economics. I was widely involved in extracurriculars, and had a rounded resume instead of a 4.0 in communication or something easy. I never planned to go to law school, though.

When it came time to apply, schools didn't care about softs. They aren't ranked on the "softs" of their admitted students. They care about how high your GPA is.

It's not really all that matters.
They care about your softs and your major insofar as it makes you more attractive than the next person who has the exact same GPA. A person with >3,70 who majored in something challenging, was involved in some extracurriculars and is otherwise kinda interesting is more attractive than a person with a >3,70 who majored in psychology and did nothing else but party.

I was a varsity sports captain in college; I would guess that it added a not-insignificant 0.2 to my GPA just based notes written on acceptance letters and on observing my cycle in comparison to the data on lawschoolnumbers. But I also think that varsity captain is one of only a handful of softs that they actually care about. I, like everyone else, did volunteering, clubs, and internships, but I don't think anyone cared.

[dhg5004]

it's definitely true that the law admissions board looks most highly upon business majors. My friend of a friend works on the law admissions board for a Top 20 school and he told me a bunch of things that many people on this site 'think' they know about but really don't. Business majors (and computer science/engineering) are given more credit with lower GPAs than say a theater major or Arts or psychology majors with high GPAs.

Majoring in theater and getting a 3.8 is NOT ahead of someone graduating in accounting with a 3.3 from a good business school. Sorry folks, it's true.

[haters begin quoting me]

[Kiersten1985]

It depends on the school to some degree, but the reason the GPA number matters the most is because that's what schools have to report. They don't need to report majors. You have to demonstrate intelligence through your application, but schools want diverse majors and backgrounds and if you have the 3.8 to go along with it, all the better.

[Charles Barkley]

Majored in journalism and minored in sociology.

[wackjickham]

Majored in Psychology, Minored in Economics.

My school is starting a "create your own major" program for Honors students to combine two or more disciplines. If I could go back as a freshman and do that I would have done behavioral economics, I loved both my major and my minor. Being a psyc major was nice for the GPA too.

[09042014]

it's definitely true that the law admissions board looks most highly upon business majors. My friend of a friend works on the law admissions board for a Top 20 school and he told me a bunch of things that many people on this site 'think' they know about but really don't. Business majors (and computer science/engineering) are given more credit with lower GPAs than say a theater major or Arts or psychology majors with high GPAs.

Majoring in theater and getting a 3.8 is NOT ahead of someone graduating in accounting with a 3.3 from a good business school. Sorry folks, it's true.

[haters begin quoting me]

Law school numbers doesn't back up this at all. It's full of 3.8 communications students getting in over 3.3 business majors.

Why would anyone be impressed by a business major? They are mostly easy.

[09042014]

I majored in Electrical Engineering. Best prelaw degree around if you want to do patent law, and have a great lsat.

[skl]

Majored in Psychology and Economics.

[MC Southstar]

majored in comp sci, minored in economics. might have given me a bump on my gpa.

[dhg5004]

Law school numbers doesn't back up this at all. It's full of 3.8 communications students getting in over 3.3 business majors.

Why would anyone be impressed by a business major? They are mostly easy.

I'd hands down take the word of an admissions board member over a website...especially LSN...which is definitely not a good illustration on where people get into with what numbers.

People lie on that site. I'm convinced.

Oh yeah finance and accounting are really easy in a top 20 business school over someone who went to a small liberal arts college doing theater. Are you kidding me? wow

[MC Southstar]

Thinking business is a hard major makes me laugh hysterically.

[kn6542]

Majoring in theater and getting a 3.8 is NOT ahead of someone graduating in accounting with a 3.3 from a good business school. Sorry folks, it's true.

No it isn't. Where did you get this idea from? Having a >3.70 GPA in any given major is better than <3.70 in any given major.
Incidentally, performing arts degrees from some schools are rigorous, and accountants are pretty much across the board boring as shit and everyone, including lawyers, knows this.

[MC Southstar]

Majoring in theater and getting a 3.8 is NOT ahead of someone graduating in accounting with a 3.3 from a good business school. Sorry folks, it's true.

No it isn't. Where did you get this idea from? Having a >3.70 GPA in any given major is better than <3.70 in any given major.
Incidentally, performing arts degrees from some schools are rigorous, and accountants are pretty much across the board boring as shit and everyone, including lawyers, knows this.

Objection, relevance.

[09042014]

Law school numbers doesn't back up this at all. It's full of 3.8 communications students getting in over 3.3 business majors.

Why would anyone be impressed by a business major? They are mostly easy.

I'd hands down take the word of an admissions board member over a website...especially LSN...which is definitely not a good illustration on where people get into with what numbers.

People lie on that site. I'm convinced.

Oh yeah finance and accounting are really easy in a top 20 business school over someone who went to a small liberal arts college doing theater. Are you kidding me? wow

I didn't say liberal arts are harder, just that business is easy. I went to a school with a top 20 business undergrad program, and the kids in who failed out of my major transferred into it. The business students were constantly drunk and admitted their classes are not hard. *Yes I was very jealous.

As to your friend who works in the admissions department at a t20 school, I don't believe him. His admissions board may like business degrees, but there is no way they take 3.3 accounting majors over 3.8 in anything.

Sure self reported data like LSN isn't perfect, but when you have years of data that constantly matches, it cannot be ignored.

There are also other reason's why no adcom would do it. 3.3 will lower their GPA median, and 3.8 will raise it.

[kn6542]

Majoring in theater and getting a 3.8 is NOT ahead of someone graduating in accounting with a 3.3 from a good business school. Sorry folks, it's true.

No it isn't. Where did you get this idea from? Having a >3.70 GPA in any given major is better than <3.70 in any given major.
Incidentally, performing arts degrees from some schools are rigorous, and accountants are pretty much across the board boring as shit and everyone, including lawyers, knows this.

Objection, relevance.

Law schools care about having interesting, well-rounded ppl in their class. They also care about numbers, but like I said before....well, read what I said before.

[mrm2083]

Majored in Entrepreneurship and minored in film. I couldn't be happier with this background as I ultimately want to make a lot of money and feel that my business major taught me the practical skills to do that and the film minor, well I just really like movies. BTW my GPA was a kinda low and I still got into the school of my choice. I think its good to separate yourself from the pack (though a high GPA is obviously best).

[kn6542]

Majored in Entrepreneurship and minored in film. I couldn't be happier with this background as I ultimately want to make a lot of money and feel that my business major taught me the practical skills to do that and the film minor, well I just really like movies. BTW my GPA was a kinda low and I still got into the school of my choice. I think its good to separate yourself from the pack (though a high GPA is obviously best).

I really doubt a business degree separates you from the pack of ppl applying to law schools. The only thing less distinguished would be a polisci degree.

[lostjake]

Majored in Entrepreneurship and minored in film. I couldn't be happier with this background as I ultimately want to make a lot of money and feel that my business major taught me the practical skills to do that and the film minor, well I just really like movies. BTW my GPA was a kinda low and I still got into the school of my choice. I think its good to separate yourself from the pack (though a high GPA is obviously best).

lulz sersly

[NerdmoD]

I majored in Film in SoCal...not exactly the most rigorous of majors, but it was one of the highest ranked departments in country, which probably helped...

[applytherightway]

After speaking with admission counselors. They do weight the type of major to an extent. But you must look at it from a holistic view. In the beginning of the admission cycle they may see a student with a 3.2 in Engineering and bump them to a 3.4 or 3.5. However when it comes to the end of the admission cycle, and they are staring at two application one Engineering with a 3.2 and one Theater with a 3.8, and they're cognizant to the need to meet the GPA quota, they're going to go with the 3.8 Law schools need to maintain certain statistics to either maintain the exclusivity or to gain some. Like some people said above, they don't report majors when it comes down to median gpa.

[Spam.]